Purifying a Miasma... Maybe.

[ghost_bait]

It was a long, thoughtful walk to the Shrine. The odd, high-pitched whine of something Wrong had faded just as soon as she'd entered Religion Row, and Miku spent the rest of her time rubbing her ears to remove the tickle. It was hard to explain to other people the exact feelings that came with her ability

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[daemonomicon]

++Greetings,++ Sigmund called as he hovered over to Miku when she entered. ++The Master is this way.++

The little drone scooted along, guiding her to one of the Shrine's back rooms. There she would find Cargn, hard at work. He was currently drawing strange patterns on the ground in red chalk. The walls were covered in similar patterns.

Something seemed a little off about Cargn, though. His bionic arm, which was normally in pristine condition, seemed somewhat scuffed now. His flesh-and-blood arm was wrapped up tightly with bandages. Most notably, however, he was even more pale than he usually was.

Still, he smiled when he looked up at Miku.

"Ah, greetings, my dear."

[ghost_bait]

She followed Sigmund quietly, wondering why Cargn hadn't appeared himself when they entered the back room. Miku's eyebrows drew together in concern, "Hello, sensei... what in the world has happened to you?" Usually, he was well put together, so this...

Miku gave Sigmund a quick glance as if hoping maybe the Unit would start talking. If Cargn was anything like Steve, she knew he was going to deflect the line of questioning.

[daemonomicon]

"My current work is a bit taxing, that's all," he says simply. "I'm currently taking a break from it, so there's no need for concern, my dear."

He stands up, dusting himself off after putting the final touches on the designs on the floor.

++The Master's vital signs have remained within acceptable parameters,++ Sigmund added.

[ghost_bait]

Miku took a deep breath and tried to keep from murmuring something less than polite. "Whatever it is you're working on, I hope that you remember to be a bit easier on your body." Cargn was certainly long, long past the "spring chicken" era, after all.

She cleared her throat quietly and motioned to all the red marks in the room. "Getting past that... what are all these marks for?"

[downloadtruth]

Faintly, ever so faintly, there was the sound of someone screaming. It was a familiar sound, at least to those who had witnessed Punishment.

[ghost_bait]

It woke her up from a dreamless sleep. Miku had fallen asleep in Steve's room again, and had tensed up the noise. At first, she planned to ignore it, but it tugged at her.

Someone was screaming and needed help. Even if it was just hers. Miku extracted herself from Steve's arms slowly and sneakily, and started to follow the voice.

[downloadtruth]

The screaming got louder and not just because Miku was coming closer.

"No! No, please!"

[rope_victim]

It was a shame that Miku's sense of right and wrong often overrode her sense of self-preservation. She picked her way through the City, following the voice. "Where are you?"

She started to run for the voice. A woman? A woman whose voice was too terribly familiar until she blocked it out. Miku hesitated before a building, and worried her lip.

The woman needed help. Miku would have to help her.

So why did her heart start to speed up in fear?