Led inside by the unwilling Chihuahua- Carlos, the trio noticed the vast change in the church as compared to the last time they were in here. Last time, the pews and other church furniture were neatly arranged, crowds of fearfuls and religious had gathered, some in prayer while others just sought safety in numbers as they awaited the first TRIAL, fearing the unknown.
An event which happened merely a day ago now feeling far longer, the peace, stability and order of the past now felt like a lifetime away.
"Yo Chihuahua, what happened in here. Why does it look like a storm hit in here. And where are the nuns that erected that white barrier yesterday." Rudy asked while gesturing to the overturned pews.
Gritting his teeth while cursing under his breath in Spanish, Carlos turned to Rudy and answered him.
" Two portals opened up in here and people became greedy for kills, the urge to survive also fuelling their attacks. The nuns on the other hand found it immoral to kill even though that was what the weird messages dictated was necessary to survive." Carlos rapped on, pausing for a moment to catch his breath. "They didn't lift a finger nor activate any special skills. They just knelt in front of the altar, reciting various scriptures and praying till the TRIAL ended. Like magic, they remained untouched throughout the whole chaos and just withered away to dust when the time ran out."
"Huh, cool." Rudy said after processing the unique process involved in the church's renovation. "If you don't mind me asking, how do you know Megan."
"I was injured, a step away from death's door. She saw me, healed me and asked for a lifetime of protection. I wanted to disagree, of course. But she didn't try and persuade or guilt trip me, instead she said 'I hope you survive the trial. Just remember, the first day left you half-dead.' " Carlos mimicked Megan. "After that, common sense took over since technically, I can leave anytime I want. She's saved my life twice more, though they weren't free."
"What did she ask in exchange for a HEAL. A hundred bucks, food, weapons, what?" Alex shot out one suggestion after another, faster than Carlos could reply.
"Bodies. Dead bodies to be precise. Though I actually prefer 5 crippled/ injured or paralysed beasts as payment." Megan slammed open the second pair of doors, modeling into the room, hips swaying in an exotic manner meant to catch the attention of Rudy.
"What are you using beast corpses for. And where are we even supposed to get some from, you know that all corpses fade to dust at the end of the trial right." Rudy quizzed, puzzled by the unique payment method.
"Oh no, that payment method is for the regular people. You're a VIP, you're payment method is a bit different, just do me and I'll heal that boy for you. Fair exchange isn't it." Megan proposed, pressing her body against Rudy's as she forced him to feel her assets.
The five guards were crying out at such a blatantly unfair treatment while Timothy made a mental note to take classes on relationship issues from Charles.
Pulling away her arms which had reached his lower back, he told her he was more interested in the normal pay and the reason for such a unique pay.
"Well it's simple. Since I expend energy to heal people, they should bring me back 5 crippled or injured, but alive trial beasts. So that I can kill them and regain my energy back. It's a brutal cycle, I know."
"Hmm, well that makes sense. What if they get injured again or decide to run, then what would you do." Rudy asked, internally marvelling at her genius since he felt Timothy's floating was steadily sapping his.
"I'm not really concerned about them running. If they do, good luck to them finding another healer. And if people get injured while bringing me the injured trial beasts, then I heal them again and charge them 4 injured beasts and 5 to 8 corpses, depending on how much I like them." Megan explained while circling around Timothy who was behind Rudy.
"About the corpses, what exactly do you use them for and how many does the average person need to bring." Rudy asked.
"~Mmm~ Charles. I like the way you want to know me more, but can't we do the question and answer session in a more comfortable place, like in the bedroom, or the kitchen counter or something."
'Damn. Can't this woman take a hint and stop hitting on him when I'm fully available.' The five guards had similiar thoughts in response.
"Well there's no bed around, and I'm pretty sure your apartment was destroyed otherwise you wouldn't be offering your services here, so just answer the damn question."
"Sure, I can answer it but in return I want you to take me to your house." Megan smiled at her normal sounding request, while she imagined more degenerate and debauched activities it could lead to.
"Eh, I don't know. My house is pretty far from here and we came here to heal Timothy, so if you could just, you know heal him, that would be great." In his haste to escape from the seductress, Rudy accidentally let a contradictory piece of information slip, one that she capitalised on the next second.
"Charles darling. How did you know there was a healer here if you live far away, and aren't there any healers where you claim your house is. Surely I'm not the only Charity virtued person in Ameryca, am I?" Megan's squinted her eyes in suspicion.
"You know what, Megan. I'll take you there, just heal Timothy and we'll set off, okay."
"Finally." Megan said while standing in front of Timothy.
"Hello Timothy, can you show me where hurts the most?" Her smooth voice reached Timothy who had basically received a nosebleed in his mind.
"U- Um here, and also here." Timothy stuttered, pointing to his legs and his back where the cats had done the most damage.
A warm green glow was projected from Megan's hands as she healed his back first and legs last.
"I've refrained from healing his face and arms just in case you want to go back on your word, but he's physically fit enough to walk. Now let's go, you'll have to carry me though since my heels and skirt won't allow me to run." Megan pointed to her black pencil skirt which contrasted her white blouse, but highlighted her feminine features. She was clearly at work when the trial started and hadn't been able to change out of them.
"Tsk, fine. But what about those waiting to get healed. You can't just leave them injured." Rudy asked as he side -eyed the father and son duo who were busily hugging it out.
"Well I can leave them since I don't actually owe anyone anything. If anything I've saved them from future debt." Megan answered plainly. "Now do you want me to remove my clothes so that carrying me will be easier, and you'll move faster when running."
Ignoring the trap in the form of a question, Rudy asked the gunmen.
"Is it really okay if I take her away. I mean won't you and everyone else be furious."
"Sure some might be, but they can't really do anything about it. Take care of her for us, she's given us more than a second chance at life." Carlos answered as the other four behind him nodded to show support.
"What I see in him is what will soon be in me. His big d–"