This story has been in my mind ever since I witnessed a siege in Siren’s Call. Sorry for any inaccuracies, but I am currently without any reference, so chapters will be vague but as accurate as I can make them. For some reason, when I wrote my first story, the keyboard felt easy to use and very smooth; now that the initial rush of publishing ceased, it began to feel more awkward, and I began to make more mistakes. Thus writing will be slower than it was with The Red Angel due to frustration (and, of course, due to my current task of finishing The Red Angel; the last chapter is saved on my computer, and all I have to do is fill in the blanks. Once chapter 24 is out, 25 will be too.)

The Siege of Grandville

Prologue

‘Indeed it is too early to decide,’ said Vincent Low’s father as they dined at the family table. Vincent just sat, pushing his low-grade meat around with his fork, with a frown on his face. His rags his parents called clothes were beginning to smell bad, and he wished they had more money.

Mercy Island showed them none.

‘Vincent?’ his mother asked as her son sulked. ‘Vincent, are you okay?’

‘Yes Mother,’ he said robotically, ‘I am fine.’ In truth he was fine in the physical state, but he sat in mental agony. His genius was truly beyond all comprehension, for his family was naught but imbeciles. Neanderthals; they only cared for themselves. Longbow was right at the Rogue Isle’s door, threatening their pitiful yet familiar way of life. Word had it they were marching for Mercy.

His family lived in an unimportant house on Darwin’s Landing. With gangs everywhere and the R.I.P. scum assualting his father everytime he turned around, they were in misery. But could do nothing for now.

One more time, he thought, Let them search this house one more time. . .

When the meal was finished, he went to the restroom and began to urinate. Secretly he wished to be bigger (nudge nudge) but there was nothing he could do about that either. He was helpless, hopeless, and in a state of robotic duty, rather than being alive.

Maybe I should kill myself. . . he thought for two seconds. No! I cannot so easily extinguish this genius! I must become an Arachnos Commander! I will save Mercy!

He was flushing the toilet when there was the sound of an airplane, and the bright flash of an explosion. His sister and mother screamed. Vincent ran to the window and looked out: the house just down the street was smouldering in ruin as Longbow climbed out of planes from ladders. They had those ridiculous costumes on, and the oversized guns.

I hate them.

He went to his room and took the revolver out of his bed: when he saw a sleeping Skull, he stabbed him brutally with a pipe and took the gun from him. Dog eat dog.

He saw from his bedroom window the Longbow rushing down the streets, firing at all civilians. Vincent cocked the revolver and ran out. His father opened his mouth to say something but was silenced by the front door being kicked open.

‘Longbo–,’ a soldier began to declare but was killed by a single shot to the head. The soldier behind him yelped ere he was killed, and the Commander screamed ‘Geherd! Oman! You little bastard!’

Vincent shot the Longbow with a calm that was unnerving. He took the machine gun and walked outside. He saw the Police and the Skulls fighting each other while picking off Longbow, but the planes kept coming. Bombs fell consistently, and Vincent felt dread as a bomb fell upon his house.

The screams haunted him forever.

‘Mom!’ he screamed as the fire ate the house and the foundation rotted. ‘Sis! Father!’ He cursed and ran to the street. . .

. . . towards Fort Darwin.

He saw a sight that made his heart skip a beat: Arachnos soldiers rushing down the street with planes soaring above. Red lasers fired, and a plane exploded. The Spiders ran by him and opened heavy fire with thier maces. Screams were heard all over. Suddenly he felt a searing pain in his leg.

A bullet.

The Arachnos had broken formation, and he saw clearly the bastard who had shot him. The idiot wore a stupid smile. Vincent leapt up, ignoring the pain, and charged while opening fire upon all Longbow. One Arachnos, one dressed in white with a strange cape, cast him a gaze. Behind the mask he smiled. When the Longbow were dead, the Arachnos ran back to Fort Darwin. Vincent, as he passed out from blood loss from his leg, heard ‘They’ve attacked Mercy.’

‘We’re getting the planes, send a small division to aid Huntsman Johnston.’

‘Yes sir.’

‘Look at this rat!’ someone said. They kicked him hard in the ribs. He was passed out cold.

‘Kill him!’ someone cheered. They all agreed.

‘Halt,’ the White-clothed Spider ordered. ‘Stop assaulting the boy.’

‘Aww come on Keys,’ one pouted, ‘He’s too weak to survive that wound!’

‘Eclipse can heal him,’ Keys said bluntly, ‘Let him live.’

‘You’re gonna take him in?’

‘He mowed down tent Longbow; such hatred was in his eyes that I’ve never seen before. I think we need that spirit in Arachnos.’

‘Everyone hates everyone in Arachnos,’ someone laughed, ‘You have as much hate as you need!’

‘Even so, he’s to become a grunt. Get him to Eclipse, and if one hair on him is harmed, I’ll sever your limbs off, heal you, and do it again.’ The men reluctantly lifted Vincent.

And behind them, Darwin’s Landing burned.