Haunting Ground 2 part 1 - The Return to Belli Castle

Chapter 2 - Call me Ryu

"At the turn of the century, Mankind entered a turning point in science and technology, this gave rise to new forms of exploitation. in the year 2010 the United Nations Security Council put forth an mandate to form a specialized agency to combat these new forms of crime, and the United Nations Security Service was Born. consisting of over 200 specially trained men and Woman. the U.N.S.S. strives to combat any and all threats to world peace. consisting of Police, Soldiers, and Intelligence officials from all walks of life, the UNSS is the most culturally diverse organization in the world. Each agent works in their own country within their own agency acting as a liaison, this in turn with each agents ability to move between any U.N. country creates a web of communication and co-operation, allowing each agent to work alongside other agents all over the world, Our team of Highly Trained Field Support Staff, provides field agents with the tools they need to operate safely and precisely. our agents are heavily trained, spending hours daily in a 1 year training course, both in the field and in the class room. they are taught to be highly adaptable, trained in many forms of armed and unarmed combat, they are taught investigations skills, Espionage, Small and Large unit tactics just to name a few. in these tough time the UNSS is dedicated to bringing your world together, through communication and team work.

Ryu looked up at the screen as the commercial restarted itself, he had heard the promotion so many times he could repeat it off by heart, So far the UNSS had yet to place an agent in England, which is why Ryu possessed British citizenship, the U.N. had it issued under his nose so he would have the ability to enter the county if needed. Apparently her majesty's secret survive didn't like the Idea of having a UN specialist in their corner, no doubt MI-6 would keep tabs on him, as they couldn't legally stop him from entering the country. he made his way slowly to the door and exited the office - "and where are you going young man, without so much as a hug?" Ryu smiled, Speaking of MI-6 he thought. Ryu recognized Jenny Burtory's voice anywhere, the model's ruby lip's sparkled. "So off you go on another harrowing adventure!" Jenny's blonde hair was cut in a bob, her blue eyes showed off years of confidence and wisdom - she in no way looked over 50 years old. "On the way to see the boss man?" Ryu asked, she smiled. "Actually I came to see you, I never see you anymore. you rarely come to any of the yearly reunions." Ryu shrugged, "Gado has me working," Jenny stopped him, "putting her figure to his mouth. like she had always done even when he was a kid, she sneered "don't lie to me Ryu, Gado goes out of his way to make sure your there. and yet you never show up." Jenny had this way about her that made Ryu feel like he was twelve years old. "now Ryu your going to promise me that you will be at the next one right?" she made the often feared agent shake his head, "Yes Madam," she smiled. "Now I believe you owe me some of your time and there's a lovely little cafe near here, where Jane is going to meet us in an hour. we'll have plenty of time to chat." she looped her arm around his, and lead him to a small cafe. it was a nice fall day, not to hot and not to cold. Ryu sat at the small table, ordering a coffee. Jenny smiled, "So, do you have any plans on visiting her?" Ryu frowned but knew where it was going, "who Alyssa?" she put down her cup, Jenny shook her head. "Fiona my boy, work with me here." Ryu smiled, "No one could ever accuse you of being direct." he took in a deep breath, "I don't know, I never really thought about it until now." Jenny frowned. "You never thought about going to see her, find out how she was doing?" she shook her head, "then you no longer care about her?" Ryu looked at her angrily, "what of course I do, it's just would she like what I've become." she smiled, "Come now 'Little one' (her pet name for him) you are successful and sot after agent, putting me even to shame. I would imagine she would be very proud of you." Ryu looked down as the waiter put down his coffee, "Merci," he said, looking the former British agent in the Eye, Ryu got to the point. "I hunt and Track the worst of society. when we were trapped in that castle, we were being chased by people who wanted to do evil things to us. you would think after all that I would want to distance myself from those sorts of things." Jenny smiled, "Think about it this way, you have always been a protector. someone who stands up against an oppressor. It's what you always have been, We know that, Claire knew that, Oliver Knew that, and Batruger knew that, all those times you were trapped you could have very easily let fear take you. but you never did. I don't think of it as you were trapped in there with them, I think they were trapped in there with you." Ryu smiled, he never thought of it that way. Ryu and Jenny had talked for close to an hour and a half, like they used to when he lived in Japan, she had always been there guiding him, even now. Jenny was romantically involved with Gado, and had met him when he was a French Mercenary and her, Herself was an MI-6 Agent, so Ryu and Nagi always had someone to go to for advice. But relations between Jenny and Jane were extremely strained, Jane walked up and sat down. the two shot witty retorts at each other while Ryu prepped his gear for boarder inspection. He had a special Visa that allowed him to cross any UN boarder, but all border patrols appreciated the courtesy of having all his tools and weapons laid out. The trip to London was uneventful, the boarder security didn't even bother checking Ryu's gear, Ryu smiled, Yep MI-6 Knows I'm here, Likely won't even bother to lift a finger if I get into trouble, the Pricks. Jane joked they would likely turn the car inside out on the way back. Jane drove not really saying anything, the exchange between her and jenny likely dampened her mood, Ryu had learned to stay out of it, but he could sympathize with her, the relationship he had with his stepmother was also a little bumpy. "Pretty gruesome stuff," Jane mentioned. Ryu nodded, looking up from the reports "its estimated he's killed over 150 people, yet he never gained the popularity of Jack the Ripper. But what a lot of people don't know is that almost a quarter of the kills were caused by Danny's twin brother, Bobby." Jane nodded, "what did Jenifer have to do with this?" she asked, "Jenifer along with a few others were adopted by Mrs. Barrows, and brought to their mansion, once the kids were there, the whole family began to hunt them like some sort of twisted blood sport. when it was over only two of the children survived, Jenifer and a little boy who later was discovered to be Danny, bobby barrows twin brother. he tried to take revenge against Jenifer for killing his mother and brother. but Jen managed to kill Danny before he could do her in. the police report says that she is quoted as having had help sending him to hell. but she never mentions what kind of help." Jane nodded,

"so what happened to Jenifer?" Jane asked, "Police said that she communed with a power that offered to stop the killings, but by that time she was pretty much over the edge. Last anyone heard of her she was voluntarily living in a sanitarium outside of London." Jane nodded, it was quiet the rest of the way, once they arrived Ryu grabbed his bag and hopped out of the car, "Thanks for the ride." Jane looked up at him with a seriousness he had never seen before. "look you seem to have this habit of getting mixed up in a lot of crazy stuff, everyone is worried and frankly so am I, Ryu Hamilton-Nonomura. Please, for god sakes be careful."

Ryu smiled and Nodded, "I will." Jane drove off, she didn't look back but Ryu could tell she was watching him in the rearview mirror. he turned to find two officers waiting, "This is some welcoming party where's Alyssa?" one of them spoke up "I'm Officer Mitchell, this is officer Rowel, are you ready to leave now? Inspector Alyssa has made arrangements for your belongings to be taken to her home." Ryu frowned, "you still haven't answered my question."

Mitchell looked at his partner, she left for the Burrows Mansion a few hours ago, "We haven't heard from her since." Ryu frowned, "you two seem pretty torn about that." Rowel frowned,

"She always pulls stuff like this, she's issued a firearm and she thinks she's the queen and dose whatever she wants." Ryu smiled "Yeah sounds like her."

Night fall had came quickly, Ryu stared out the window, his mind started to wander to a night he had almost forgotten 8 years ago, Fiona and Belli castle. "Your along way from home aren't you cowboy?" Mitchell said lighting a cigarette, "so what are you doing here?" Ryu looked over at Rowel, "you know why I'm here I'm here to help my cousin with this investigation." Mitchell smiled, "All by yourselves," Rowel scoffed. "I'm sure you didn't come along to just sit around and tell ghost stories, but then again maybe you did." Ryu missed his jeep but it wouldn't be delivered for a few more hours. The vehicle pulled up to the old mansion, a police vehicle was off to the side. "I'll have a look around," Ryu said. "We'll stay and check out the car."

Right, Ryu growled. "Hate to keep you from doing your job." He headed toward the house, he paused a shadow moved in the corner of his eye. He followed it but nothing moved my imagination he thought. Ryu knocked on the front door, it opened slowly. so this is the all Barrows home, "Hello! …Police anyone home?" No one lives here dumbass. Ryu thought to himself, he pulled out a flashlight and looked around he was in a main hall, it was dark, the light illuminating most of the hall. Ryu continued in to his right a stair case lead up stairs and the main floor leading from a main sitting room to a kitchen and dining room and a closed door so Ryu headed for the door, it was a library. Everything was dusty except for a desk with books that had been recently disturbed, Ryu looked it over. It was on alchemy. "Sounds familiar." Ryu thought. Just then the front door slammed, Ryu killed the light and backed in to a corner. Loud heavy footsteps headed for the library, panic flowed in to Ryu like an old dam just giving away, something screamed for him to find a way out, just then he noticed one of the book case's was sitting funny Ryu touched it and it moved, a secret door? He opened it and slipped in and closed it quietly. Someone walked in, Ryu backed up raising his weapon, they waited for a second and left. He turned on the light and looked around, the hall leading past the library, Ryu followed it into the kitchen, weapon up he slowly moved back into the living room. A man of some sort was standing in the gloom the skylight the only illumination; he could hear him mumbling to himself. He had a ridiculously large pair of scissors in his hand, they curved in to a sharp point, he was wearing old raggedy clothes. Ryu booted the secret door open. "Danny Burrows! Or whoever you are Put your hands where I can see them." The figure didn't jump, he just looked up. Ryu thought he had his back to him. Burrows took the weapon in his hand and began to advance. "Freeze!' Ryu yelled. "I said Freeze!" Ryu angled his weapon down, blowing out Burrows knee cap, then aimed at his forehead and fired, Burrows stumbled back, Ryu charged delivering a sidekick to his face. Danny rolled back and landed on his stomach, and started to get up. Ryu Growled must have caught him in the chest he thought, he aimed the weapon and fired a round in to Danny's head, it snapped back and he went down for good, "way to easy." Ryu pulled out his light and kicked Danny's weapon away. then rolled him over, two bullet holes in his head; he was young, real young. No older then Ryu. This guy should have been in his fifties. But what scared him were the markings on the robe, it was a line with 2 , snakes intertwined, it was a symbol used by the Belli's. "could Danny be some sort of clone, like Riccardo?" Ryu turned to the door Mitch and Rowel should have heard the gunshots, but no one came. He finally noticed the fresh blood on Danny's weapon, horrified Ryu headed outside, the car he had come in was dark, Ryu got closer and stopped he could see Rowel and Mitchell staring at him. "Shit..."

Mitchell looked like he was yawning but Ryu could see his throat had been brutally cut open, Rowel had been cut open from chin to his stomach his rib cage hanging open. Ryu didn't want to guess how it happened, if only you had come with me. he thought. He pulled out his phone and contacted Field support, "This is Ryu Hamilton, I've confirmed the bodies of two officers!" the responder nodded, she was a young woman, "We have triangulated your position. in the mean time get out of there help is on the way." Ryu nodded, "Acknowledged, I need to find my cousin." Ryu looked around noticing a shed, Ryu moved to check it out guessing it was where Danny had been hiding when he noticed Ryu move inside. It smelled like blood inside, dark shapes hung from the ceiling, body parts, tools other stuff Ryu didn't want to think about. A cage was in the corner and… a small shape, but he would recognize her anywhere."Alyssa?" the blond woman looked up, "Ryu!" He headed for the cadge, "the keys on the table, hurry he could be back anytime." Ryu grabbed the key and unlocked the door. "I wouldn't worry about Burrows he's dead. But so are Mitchell and Rowel." Alyssa didn't look at all relived "Did you check? Did you confirm he was dead?" Ryu frowned, "He had two bullet holes in his head he's…" the door opened and Burrows stepped in. "Right there." Alyssa pushed open the door. Ryu took aim and fired, "This way!" Alyssa said pointing to a back door, Ryu followed but spotted a barrel, he kicked it over and a clear liquid started to pour out, hoping it was what he thought it was, Ryu aimed at the metal drum and fired the bullet skipping off the can sending sparks on to the forming puddle. They ran as there was an explosion and the shed was engulfed in flames. Ryu pulled out a second gun from his shoulder holster, a Springfield XD and gave it to Alyssa. just as a figure stepped through the inferno. The two ran back towards the house and to a tower realizing too late they were trapped, "Go up" Ryu barked pointing to the tower. and they headed for the flights as the walking inferno followed. At the top was and old clock mechanism, they were in a 7 story clock tower. "Go hide," Ryu barked, "no way" Alyssa yelled as she was pushed in to a corner. The flaming skeleton walked towards him slowly, old nightmares flashing through his mind. Ryu fired, but the shots were absorbed Ryu backed up on to the open balcony. Just as a the bells started to chime, Burrows screamed as he started to run trying to escape the bells, Ryu rolled out of the way as Burrows went running on to the balcony and over the edge. Ryu kept his ears covered until the bells stopped, but his head was still ringing. "You ok cuz?" he felt Alyssa hands on his shoulder, Ryu nodded, "Yeah! I'm Fine!" he yelled.

When the two got down stairs the police were already arriving, the body had been so badly burnt it was hard to identify, so there was no way to tell who or what he was, but Ryu had a pretty good Idea. Ryu waited with Alyssa as she gave out orders to her tactical response team, medical were looking over the two dead officers just as two men ran up, they had just arrived.

both looking like they were ready for a night on the town. Alyssa nodded, "Ryu this is Detective Kyle and Officer Mark their part of the homicide unit." Kyle looked at Ryu, "So what happened here?" Ryu frowned "2 dead officers" Alyssa pointed to the burnt down shed, "I confirmed at least a dozen bodies in there, apparently there is a village nearby where people come and go. but there is no missing person reports listed for that area." Kyle looked over at her "your thinking some sort of cult aren't you?" Alyssa nodded, "exactly what I'm thinking." Mark growled, "So what are they doing kidnapping people from all over?" She nodded, "that's what I'm saying." Ryu looked over at Alyssa, "So mind filling me in on what's going on?" Alyssa nodded, "We were investigating a masked killer using scissors as a murder weapon, as we dug deeper we started to notice similarities with other murders spanning decades, and noticed many of the murders looked ritualistic." Ryu nodded, "I figured your knowledge with cults may come in handy." Ryu nodded, "I kept calling you but you never answered your freaking phone!" she said, Ryu shrugged, "you caught me at a really bad time." She smiled, "Anyway Kyle, Mark this is My cousin Ryu Hamilton with the U.N. Security Service. I asked him here to help out with the investigation." Mark was about to say something when. "Hamilton!" Someone yelled, both Alyssa and Ryu turned, "He's gone! the corpse it gone." "What?" Ryu grabbed a the combat shotgun in one the police car he had arrived in, he pointed to two tactical officers, "you two with me!" they looked to Alyssa, who nodded. the three moved out. Ryu scanned the clock tower, the body was gone Ryu turned on the shotguns flashlight and scanned the ground, where he saw a group of prints heading into the woods. the trio headed in the Two Tactical officers kept their weapons high while Ryu used the shotgun to follow the tracks. they came to a river when they realized they had lost the trail. he got Alyssa on the radio, "something defiantly ran off!" Ryu yelled.

Far away Deep in a dark cavern someone stood not moving keeping his eyes on the massive statue before him, his skin slowly healing from a catastrophic burn. As he smiled his skin tore, blood tickling down his face as he smiled. his clothing so badly burnt that he was naked, Draven had done well, working for almost 4 years to bring him back. he would reward the boy in time. but now he stood before a large shade, whispers emanating all over all speaking in unison. this is what that retched hunter was talking about. the monster in his basement, yet she was beautiful, strong, powerful. she knew all and had knowledge that far exceeded his own, she knew of power that he had never dreamed of, She had sworn to him that if he released her, she would grant him what he most desired. That was Fiona Belli, The azoth.