The Beast Within - A Bloodborne Short Fanfiction

Chapter 5: Fitzgerald

My Dearest Friend, I have committed a heinous crime. My brother and sisters are gone; their blood now flows within me. How ironic. To save them from the beast scourge, I had to bleed them of their blood and consume it so that no other would succumb to it. Does that make me any different from those beasts who relish in blood and violence? Am I still human even though I have lost all shred of humanity? The blood. I can hear it sing. How enrapturing. Fitzgerald

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Through his tattered black garb, the Hunter could see the figure’s emaciated body covered in thick coarse black hair. He was barefoot, showing off his large feet with sharp nails and ankles wrapped in dirty bandages. The same bandages were also wrapped around the forearms and hands that had long sharp black nails. His face, however, was hidden behind a makeshift mask resembling a bird. “Who are you?” the masked figure asked as he slowly walked towards the Hunter. The Hunter did not answer. “Wait,” the figure said as he suddenly stopped. His masked head was now turning sideways, staring at the Hunter. Suddenly, his body straightened up. “It’s you!” he exclaimed with joy, “It’s you, my old friend!” The Hunter watched as the figure started dancing giddily; clapping his clawed hands together. “My prayer has been answered!” he exclaimed again, “I’ve been waiting for you, my old friend. It’s me. Fitzgerald.” The Hunter looked as Fitzgerald removed his bird-mask, revealing a bandaged head with tufts of hair peeking out. Sharp and blunted teeth stuck out from what looked like a grin. “Do you not recognise me, old friend?” Fitzgerald asked in a confused expression before quickly changing to a gleeful one, “Of course, you don’t. You haven’t seen me in years and I must look like a mess. That’s what you get when you’re a priest of the Healing Church.” The Hunter stood still as the priest immediately ran back to the altar. At the statue’s feet were a few strange objects. Fitzgerald quickly grabbed them before running back to the Hunter. “I’m glad you’re here, old friend,” the priest said excitedly as he started checking each item, “The villagers have gone insane, consumed by the beast plague. But I’ve been doing some research and I found a way to cure them.” The Hunter looked at Fitzgerald as he continued checking his items before having a quick glance at the other pews. There were several bodies lying across some of them; dismembered and eviscerated. They wore the same black garb often worn by lower ranked Healing Church priests. “Sacrifices had to be made,” Fitzgerald suddenly uttered with sorrow; noticing the Hunter looking at his fallen brothers and sisters, “They too have been tainted by the beast plague.” He suddenly had an excited expression on his bandaged face as he held a small vial filled with what looked like blood. “Thanks to their blood mixed with my own,” Fitzgerald said with glee, “I was able to purify the Healing Church blood and create an antidote against the beast plague. By my research, this should work. Then, those villagers won’t have to attack us. You can assist.” He then held on to the vial tightly. “Come on,” he said as he walked towards the chapel doors, “Let’s go perform a miracle.” As Fitzgerald reached the chapel’s doors, he turned around. The Hunter was still standing near the altar. “What’s the matter, old friend?” he said; confusion in his voice, “Aren’t you coming?” The Hunter remained where he stood. “Well, come on, friend,” Fitzgerald uttered with a bit of annoyance as he walked back to the Hunter, “Let’s not waste time.” Then he stopped a few feet away from the Hunter. His bandaged head was raised, sniffing the air. “What’s that smell? It smells familiar.” The Hunter’s grip on his Saw Cleaver tightened as he saw Fitzgerald’s eyes widen with realisation. “I recognise that smell,” the priest uttered, “That’s the smell of blood. Bagheadites blood.” Slowly, his head turned to the Hunter; his expression now filled with horror. “It’s coming from you.” His clawed hand immediately loosened and the vial dropped to the floor; breaking on impact. Thin lines of the blood spread across the chapel floor as both the Hunter and Fitzgerald stared at each other. “What did you do?” Fitzgerald stammered, “You didn’t…?” The Hunter remained silent. Then slowly lowered his head. “No!” Fitzgerald wailed as he dropped to his knees, “Why have you done this?! We were supposed to save them! All the horrible things I have done!? It was all for this purpose! To redeem myself! Now, it is all for naught! You have condemned me!” The Hunter watched as Fitzgerald covered his bandaged head and started sobbing. Slowly, the Hunter began to approach. Then he stopped. The hairs on Fitzgerald’s body was bristling. His sobbing was gone; replaced by deep guttural growls. The Hunter immediately prepared his Saw Cleaver as Fitzgerald, baring his sharp teeth in a bestial rage, quickly got to his feet and launched himself forward with his claws extended. The Hunter rolled forward, escaping the lunge attack as Fitzgerald crashed into the altar. The Hunter then wheeled around; focusing on the priest as he stood up from the broken altar. Torn bandages fell to the floor, exposing his head. No longer human or beastman, the head was now that of a Scourge Beast with glowing red eyes and thick saliva drooling from his gaping jaw. The transformed Fitzgerald gave out a guttural roar and ran towards the Hunter on all fours. The Hunter tried to fire a few shots with the Hunter Pistol but Fitzgerald was able to dodge them; closing the distance quickly. Seeing how close the transformed former priest was to him, the Hunter immediately extended his Saw Cleaver before pulling it to his side. Fitzgerald gave a loud roar as he pounced. With the transformed former priest still in mid-air, the Hunter rotated his hips and performed a huge swing. Fitzgerald yelled out in pain as the huge Saw Cleaver blade embedded itself into his side and sent him flying into some of the pews. Not letting up, the Hunter immediately charged forward with the extended Saw Cleaver; chambered for another swing. Fitzgerald was a bit stunned lying on a broken pew; bleeding profusely from his side when he saw the Hunter approaching. Immediately, he leapt backwards as the Hunter swung his extended Saw Cleaver with a downward slash. Too late, the transformed priest realized that he hadn’t jumped away far enough as the Hunter immediately thrust the Saw Cleaver blade to his abdomen. Fitzgerald gave out a pained howl as the blade pierced through his stomach and exited out through his back. The Hunter then quickly retracted the extended Saw Cleaver, transformed it back into saw mode and swung the serrated blade at the transformed former priest’s neck. Fitzgerald staggered back; blood pouring out from his side, stomach and neck. His blurred vision could see the Hunter approaching him again. Even with his throat filled with blood, the transformed priest let out a roar as he swung his free clawed hand forward. The Hunter responded with a shot with his Hunter Pistol. Fitzgerald immediately fell on his knees; staggered. The Hunter now stood in front of him. The transformed priest could only gurgle as the Hunter performed a visceral attack.