Becoming a Monster
Chapter 125: Truth in the Tension

Chapter 125: Chapter 125: Truth in the Tension

"Do you find something I said funny?" Raven instantly pinpointed the person in question.

Raven’s stare narrowed even more when seeing the person in question reminded her much of herself. Despite Isabelle’s expressive laughter, her eyes were devoid of the happiness her laughter would suggest. And underneath her expressionless exterior, there was once a beautiful woman.

But discovering that the person who openly disrespected her was also someone like her only incited Raven’s anger even more.

That anger festered even more when Isabelle suddenly stopped her laughing fit as if the whole display was just a charade to demean her.

"I mean...why would anyone think this isn’t a joke?" Isabelle looked on in a disappointed manner. "What you are about to do is the exact reason why Noah turned the person in question into a monster. But what we say doesn’t really matter right? Go on, we won’t stop you, go try to kill the monster if you can."

The built-up anger that simmered on the brink of eruption quickly subsided. Raven’s early emotion now was replaced with a higher sense of caution. She briefly recalled that dangerous sensation from earlier; when adding in that factor alongside Isabelle’s clear underlying threat, Raven understood maybe things weren’t as clear as she believed.

"Isabelle, why would you say that?" During Raven’s hesitance, Mark quickly addressed Isabelle, and with Raven’s new doubts, she was not going to interfere and just observe for a while longer.

"We came here for their help, to be able to grow and live without Noah’s help. What would be the purpose of coming here if you were only going to force Noah to kill them?"

"I wasn’t going to do anything...this...woman was going to do that all by herself."

"And you know, all of this is starting to become frustrating. We are all constantly labeling Noah as the monster, as the ’bad guy,’ but are we any better?"

"Weren’t ’they’," Isabelle gestured to the many students who were quick to denounce Noah. "Wasn’t it them who were the first to try to manipulate these people into trying to kill Noah first? Wasn’t it ’them’," She then proceeded to gesture to Raven’s group. "Who was so quick to decide to take someone’s life without bothering to listen to what we actually were saying? Didn’t we mention how we decided to follow Noah? Didn’t we mention how Noah is the sole reason we even made it this far? Even now, can this woman not even see that although all of us are over here, that Noah, that ’monster’ isn’t trying to prevent us from leaving?"

The truth in Isabelle’s rants struck a chord in everyone present. Raven’s eyes widened slightly, taken aback by Isabelle’s words. Any last bit of reasoning to confront Noah and possibly "eliminate" the so-called monster was fully clouded by doubt. She knew that she needed to change her approach. There was a subconscious sense of relief in her heart, although she was determined to kill Noah, she didn’t have complete confidence that she would be able to. She didn’t realize that her trauma, mixed with the sudden obtainment of absolute power, even affected her rationale, a fact she would resent if brought up by Levi if he were to learn of this progression.

"Alright," Raven said finally, her tone softer but still held the same rigidness as before. "Let’s take a step back and start over. We’re all here trying to survive in this damned world, and I’m still on edge after our earlier battle so I hope you can forgive me. If Noah has protected you and hasn’t stopped you from leaving, then there’s more to this story than I initially thought."

Both groups exchanged glances, the tension in the air seemed to slowly dissipate, at least it was momentarily.

"No!" An impassioned scream startled the rest, all eyes being drawn towards a particular woman standing alongside a group of guards still bearing guns, although at this point in time, their guns were only being used as decorations, having already run out of bullets.

"This doesn’t make sense! More to the story? Is turning a ’human’ into a monster not enough? Is the fact that he calls himself a monster not enough? He’s only "protecting" us because of that Bitch! Even then, he doesn’t care if any of us are killed. How does someone like that deserve to live? We are worse than monster’s if we let a monster like that continue to live. What will happen if he continues to grow stronger? What will happen if he decides to turn all of us into monsters the next time we say something he doesn’t agree with?" Regina’s overwhelming emotions now left her eyes a bloodshot crimson, her distraught appearance and emotional plea once again put Raven’s thoughts into disarray.

"Oh please!" Isabelle interjected once more, not realizing that this is the most she has ever spoken since the time she lost Derrick. "By your own logic, we should kill you too. You were the first to want to use Ailetta to try to attack Noah. You were willing to kill someone who was innocent just because of your own personal grudge. Even now, why are you still here? If Noah was so much of a monster and if you feared him so much, then you should’ve left with Neal when given the chance."

Isabelle’s once inexpressive expression was subtly turning into one of mild annoyance.

Through it all, Raven struggled extensively to understand what was true while trying to justify it with her own truths. However, making that decision was tantamount to impossible when everything she’s heard was only based on their word versus the other. In the end, she could only make the decision by confronting the sole reason for everyone’s heated discussion.

She needed to confront Noah himself and judge his character with her own eyes. She raised a hand to silence the escalating argument between Isabelle and Regina.

"Enough" Raven commanded, her sharp voice quickly disrupting the heated atmosphere. "Arguing amongst yourselves is not helping the situation at all, it seems that I’ll have to go to Noah myself and hear what he has to say. Until then I won’t consider anything else anyone here has to say."

Regina opened her mouth to protest, but a stern look from Raven silenced her. The others shifted uneasily, unsure of what to expect from the encounter. The ones who were more uneasy than the rest felt the urge to flee to the police station.

Although they uttered such things about Noah, in truth, most of it was either said in fear or because of them having a resentful hatred due to the fact that Noah would never go out of his way to protect. To them, the people that were lost and those who had to confront the zombies despite their insistence not to, all of that was Noah’s fault. They saw first hand that Noah had the power to prevent any of their deaths from happening and that was why they wanted to see his fall. His actions were only a subconscious excuse to try to have him killed.

Understanding that Raven, just like now, was as impulsive as he once was, Mark felt the need to be a mediator between the two. He was most aware of Noah’s strength, and also the one who understood Noah’s limits. "I’ll lead the way, but remember, try to keep an open mind; he’s not like what you would expect." Mark stated as a warning, but Raven didn’t take it the same way. Instinctively she took it as a challenge of authority.

"And who are you to tell me what I should or shouldn’t do?" She asked, her tone carrying with it a sense of danger, one that Mark quickly picked up on. "You can do as you please, but my group’s safety comes before your pride. If you can at least show respect to Noah, then he will reciprocate the gesture, the same holds true if you threaten him. I’m just reminding you to consider that when you address him."

Raven glared dangerously in Mark’s direction, her thoughts undecipherable. And although the hostility within her gaze lessened, her eyes still held a hint of a challenge to her authority.

"I’ll keep that in mind...." She responded off-handingly before turning towards her group.

"Girls, let’s go." She then turned back to address Mark. "Well? Lead the way.

Mark wanted to inwardly scoff at her behavior, yet he held his tongue, not wanting to push the irrational women anymore than he has so far.

"Should we follow them?" Jasmine asked the others in concern. At this point, none of them could say with certainty how Noah would respond. And with Mark being in the midst of the confrontation, her worry for her brother’s safety was even higher than before.

As they set off, Raven’s group fell into a cautious formation, their weapons at the ready but not overly threatening. The students and other survivors cautiously followed, making sure to leave a considerable distance between Raven’s group, A mixture of fear, anxiety and apprehension etched on their faces.

The walk to Noah’s location was tense, the air thickening even more when Noah’s creatures vigilantly observed their advance. Their presence hid Noah’s figure who was crouched behind them, ripping through sacks of hearts with the help of Ailetta so they could store the mana cores for later usuages.

The sound of their footsteps seemed to echo louder while the noise of life around then seemed to amplify even more.

With the three monsters staring them down, their steps began to slow to a crawl, Raven’s group began to assume a more defensive stance.

"I wouldn’t do that if I were you." Mark warned, "Noah is very protective of his beast, especially that human spider one. She’s also capable of speaking, so don’t rashly threaten her either. As I said, Noah won’t attack anyone unless warranted, so what you’re doing now is only inviting trouble."

Raven’s group wavered as they processed Mark’s warning. Everyone on Raven’s team was against the reminder, looking to Raven for her orders.

"Do as he says, we don’t have to give up our weapons, just don’t point them towards the creatures understood?" Her team affirmably nodded, their vigilance heightening even more.

They advanced closer and closer until finally, they were close enough to force Noah to finally address them. He stood up slowly, his back initially facing them before turning towards them. His eyes scanned the approaching group with a calm, assessing gaze. Ailetta stood beside him, her expression one of apprehension and a deep resolve to fully support Noah.

"Mark, you brought quite a crowd," Noah said, his voice even, but with a hint of amusement. "Although I’m sure all of you aren’t here for a pleasant chat, so let’s get this over with.

Before Mark could say anything, Raven firmly stepped forward, not wanting anyone to speak for her. "Noah I take it? My name is Raven, I’m one of the leaders of the group protecting the police settlement near here." She started off, deeply scrutinizing his figure. When the others labeled him as a monster, she thought the term was only mentioned figuratively, but looking at the ’monster’ personally, she understood that calling him a monster wasn’t a clear enough description.

Although his overall figure resembled a human. The exoskeleton features were a clear indication that he was no longer human. But his eyes were what transcended him further from just being a mere monster.