As a new day has come, back at the Patientia residence Brandon and Eveline leave the house to go to school.

Eveline: Walking there is going to take a while.

Brandon: Well what can you do? Mom’s at work at the hospital, Iris has morning classes today, and dad hasn’t come home since yesterday cause of work. Sides I have a bike so we don’t need to walk.

Eveline: Should we even go? I mean yesterday on the news it said that some people literally died from the shootout with the Bloodstained Crow.

Brandon: Yeah. *sigh* This place is getting worse and worse each day.

Brandon sees Eveline looking somewhat depressed so he tries to lighten the mood.

Brandon: But, we need those diplomas to leave this city, I think that’s the first step to escaping to a better place.

Eveline: But where? The world is always like this. It doesn’t matter where it is. There are always people killing other people. Escaping won’t do anything for this endless nightmare.

He sees the sorrowful look on Eveline’s face. He then goes into the garage and pulls out his bicycle.

Brandon: Come on, I want to show you something before we go to school.

Eveline reluctantly gets on the back of the bike and so Brandon begins to peddle. As he peddles through the streets they go into a park with a hill that overlooks part of the city.

Eveline: A park?

Brandon: Just wait.

They both get off the bike and go to the hill nearby covered by trees that overlooks part of the city of Los Angeles. They see the city being lit up by the horizon of the sunrise.

Eveline: Wow… the city looks beautiful.

Brandon: *smiles* Yeah, and if you look up you can see that the moon is still visible, even though the sun is out.

Eveline: Oh yeah it is. How’d you know about this place?

Brandon: Cipher showed this to me once. He made me skip school once and brought me here. See, when he brought me here I was depressed because I found out that my real mom and dad died because of a drunk driver.

Eveline: I’m sorry to hear.

Brandon: Yeah, but he showed me this and told me “They’re dead. But your alive, that’s proof that they once lived. You're proof that this world can still have good things!”

Eveline: Huh... He sounds like a real mature adult.

Brandon: He read a lot of books when we were kids. Heck I don’t think he ever stopped reading things like that.

Eveline: No wonder he talked like how you say.

Brandon: He had a way with words sometimes. Right after he said those things to me, he followed it by saying “cause if you stay there all sad, I’ll just punch your face in, until you stop”

Eveline: You and Iris were lucky to have someone like that in your life. A wise and caring friend like that is a blessing.

Brandon: Wise? Na, he just used some lines he remembered from books and said them in his own words.

Eveline: But still, I think I know why Iris might have liked him now.

Brandon: Yep, but still why reject him? She can be a pain sometimes.

They laughed and then look onto the rising sun. Brandon then looks at Eveline with caring eyes.

Brandon: Come on, I gotta go meet someone for a bit.

They get on the bicycle and Brandon starts to peddle away.

Eveline: Thank you Brandon. I'm sorry I sounded like a real downer earlier before.

Brandon: Sure. Besides, you’re cuter when you smile…

Eveline: You say something?

Brandon: What!? Uh no, nothing really important.

Meanwhile back at the hospital, Marshall and Steven are about to ask the mother of what happened at Santa Monica pier. In the room, visitors are with the mom along with her son.

Marshall: Hello there, if you can, we would like to ask you some questions about what happened at the pier yesterday.

Mother: Yes, of course.

The visitors with the son leave the room.

Marshall: I’ll talk to the mom; you go see what you can get from the boy.

Steven: So children still find you freighting huh?

Marshall: Get off my back, will ya?

As Steven leaves to go talk with the child, Marshall stays behind and talks with the mother.

Marshall: Tell me everything what happened at that pier.

At first she was hesitant, as if she would like to not remember those moments. Just as he was going to assure her, she soon started to tell what she had seen that day to Marshall.

Mother: I was with my son at the pier, since I rarely have time off from my job I wanted to take him to the beach. We were just talking with each other, having fun. But then we hear people screaming and so I look behind us. And there was a car running through people, heading towards us.

Marshall: That’s when you grabbed your son and hid in a corner right?

Mother: Yes, but right when I did that, the people in that car stopped across from us and started to shoot people. We were trapped by gunfire. My… my body didn’t want to move anymore, all I could do was hold on to my son tightly, hoping they won’t see us. But they eventually did.

Marshall: What were they doing before they found you?

Mother: It looked like they were shooting at someone. I had my eyes closed the entire time they were shooting. But from the sound of it, they were having trouble hitting someone.

Marshall: I see.

Mother: But, when they found us one of them wanted to use us like some shield. He grabbed my son and… and…

She started to stumble with her words.

Marshall: I understand. When he grabbed your son, he shot you correct?

Mother: *nods* Then I realized that the shooting had stopped, and that there was only one of them standing in front of me. From the way he acting, I think the other people had died.

Marshall: What makes you say that?

Mother: I don’t know, the way he was acting, the shooting had stopped, but I really didn’t notice because he had my son like some hostage and I was incapable of helping him…

Marshall then notices that the mother started to have tears coming down her face.

Marshall: Look, in those types of situations it’s difficult to take control. You cannot blame yourself for something like this.

Mother: … Thank you.

Marshall: There's one last question, did you get a good look of the person they were trying to kill.

Then the mother looked at Marshall with her eyes still somewhat teary.

Mother: Not necessarily, his head was in a hood and a cloak that was covering most of his body.

Marshall: Ah, I see. Well, if you can remember anything else please call me by this number.

The door then opens as Steven comes in with a paper in hand.

Steven: Marshall, I need you to take a look of this drawing.

Marshall: What, why?

Steven then shows Marshall a drawing done by one of the officers when they were with the boy.

Marshall: This is…

Steven: Doesn’t this drawing look like someone familiar.

Marshall: This can’t be…

Right when they begin to walk out of the room, the voice of the child’s mother is heard.

Mother: If you find that person, tell him thank you for saving my child’s life.

The two then leave the room and then the hospital itself. When they get into their car Steven begins to talk.

Steven: So where to now?

Marshall:. There’s no way in hell it’s him, but there's a place that has pictures we can compare this with.

Steven: Makes you wonder the reason these people got involved was only because those mercenaries were using that area to kill the crow.

Marshall: And again he unintentionally saved them. People still died because of him.

After driving for a while they arrive at a church.

Steven: So the boy lived here?

Marshall: Sort of, his mother works here. Apparently she was the only adult that could get close to him when he was a child.

They go into the church and Marshall asks the priest at the front a question.

Marshall: Hello Pastor, I’m Detective Marshall Patientia, is Sister Maria here? I have a few questions for her.

Pastor: Yes, of course. I’ll bring her right away.

The pastor walks away. Marshall then notices Steven looking at the cross in front.

Steven: Marshall, what makes you think that a gang called “Cross” would even call themselves that?

Marshall: Not sure, I looked into it and the shape of the cross seems to be a recurring thing in religions. Usually means a good sign.

Steven: Yes, Cross probably think of themselves as just that.

Marshall: What a load of crap. People like that are just a pain in the ass. By the way where did that question come from?

Steven: Was looking at the cross, sides I kinda can’t stand quiet places.

Marshall: Is that so-

Suddenly he is interrupted by familiar voice. Named Maria Avalon; she is seen wearing a nun’s outfit; brown boots, long wavy black hair, and seems to be around her mid 20s.

Maria: In any type of lifestyle you can’t see where you’re going, but you can get an idea of where you want to be with things you find purpose in.

Marshall: God damn it Maria, can’t you let me finish a sentence without interrupting me all the time.

Maria: I can’t do that; your reactions are too much fun. Also don’t take the lord’s name in vain, or else I’ll smite thee with my god-like fist.*smiles*

Marshall: That’s even more offense!

Steven then introduces himself to Maria.

Steven: My name is Steven Xiao. I’m Detective Marshall’s partner, and I heard you were the mother of a child named Cipher.

Marshall: You’re always so damn blunt about things… But yeah, sorry but we need to ask you about Cipher. I can’t tell you what it is about though.

Maria: Yeah sure no problem, but you’ll tell me in due time, yes?

Marshall: Yeah, of course.

Maria: But first I have to introduce myself after all, your friend did his intro. My name is Maria Avalon, a sister of the church of God.

Maria: My name is Maria Avalon, a sister of the church and grade school teacher for the children here. It’s a pleasure to meet you.

Steven: Likewise, so would you like to go somewhere more comfortable for questioning?

Maria: Aright, please follow me then.

As they exit the church and go into a building behind, the detectives then see some children playing around.

Marshall: So how are the kids doing?

Maria: They’re doing great. The house here is a lot bigger inside then the one before.

Steven: Where was the house they stayed in before?

Marshall: You remember the news of the large earthquake 5 months ago which made people evacuate the area. Well, long story short the original home was there.

Steven: I see; luckily there weren’t any casualties I assume?

Maria: Thankfully, there weren’t any. By the way is that place still abandoned?

Marshall: I would assume so. Only homeless people go that part of the city now and most of those houses were scavenged out. All that’s left are just the houses themselves. The economy was bad when it occurred and since it’s a small part of the city, they just left whatever damage the quake did to that small community.

Steven: Now that area is the home of many homeless; I believe they call it "The Community".

They eventually enter an office and Maria then takes a seat at the desk.

Marshall: Okay, first of all Maria I need to know if what you say is true and all your answers are fact.

Maria: Dude, I’m a nun and lying to you is pointless anyway since this is your job. So what’s up?

Marshall: Forgive me, but did Cipher have any knowledge that the orphanage was moved here or any plans about moving?

Maria: Um no, he didn't. We moved here 2 weeks after he had died. The move was sudden since the earthquake had made damage to the houses there. A lot of them became deemed unfit for living in since the economy was bad back then.

Steven: So I assume you haven’t seen are heard from him since 8 months ago.

Maria: He’s dead, you know that. Why are you bringing him up?

When she asked them that Marshall sees a photo of both her and her adopted child, Cipher. He asks if they can see more photos of Cipher for a case their working on. She grabs one and hands it to them.

Maria: Here. *hands it to Marshall* These are just family photos of me and him.

Steven and Marshall then look through the album. As they look, they see a younger Maria with Cipher as a child. As they flip the pages Marshall sees one photo of a current picture of Cipher in a hooded jacket. He then gets it and compares it to the drawing.

Marshall: What do you think?

Steven: He looks like a know it all type of kid, but they do looks somewhat similar.

Marshall: We’ll be taking this picture if you don’t mind. *puts into pocket* Know what, I want you to look at this. *shows her the drawing*

Maria: What's this about?

Marshall: This is the drawing of the Bloodstained Crow. Does he not look familiar?

Maria: Are you insinuating that the Bloodstained Crow and Cipher are the same?

Steven: Despite his heart having to be removed, his body had gone missing and there seems to be a small resemblance between these two if you compare them.

Marshall: Look this is just a long shot so don't think about it much... but if you come into contact with the Bloodstained Crow, contact us immediately.

Maria: Yeah, I know.

When they leave the office Marshall sees the kids playing with someone he recognizes.

Marshall: Brandon! What are you doing here?

Brandon: We’re just here because Maria called last night if I can help her with moving some boxes.

Eveline: Mr. Patientia, good morning.

Steven: You have a good daughter-in-law there Marshall.

After he says that, Eveline blushes, averting her eyes.

Brandon: W-why the hell does everyone think things like that!

Marshall: More to the point, you have school don’t you? So you can’t help Maria with anything at the moment. So go to school, both of you.

Maria: Don’t worry about it; I’ll take them before they become late.

Marshall: No offense but I want them to get there safely, not getting a heart attack going there.

Maria: You’re an asshat.

Brandon: Maria, should you be speaking like that?

Maria: Meh, it’s your dad so it's fine.

As the group laugh, Steven then pats Eveline on the arm.

Steven: Excuse me, but I want to ask a question if you don’t mind that is.

Eveline: No it’s okay.

As the two begin to speak in private, Brandon questions the current situation.

Brandon: Dad, why are you here? And why is Steven interrogating Eveline still?

Marshall: That’s none of your concern for the moment. I’ll ask him about it when he’s done, but still nothing you should know.

Looking back at them, Steven begins to speak.

Steven: Does this drawing look familiar to you?

Eveline: …yeah. That looks like the Bloodstained Crow.

Steven: I see, now what of this picture. Do they seem similar to what you can remember if him?

Eveline: [looks at picture with drawing] Yes, I remember he had skin color like that and…

She then stops and sees the picture a bit closer.

Eveline: Isn’t that… the same person in the pictures in Brandon’s house?

Steven: You recognize this person?

Eveline: I don’t know him personally, but… isn’t this the same guy that Iris and Brandon grew up with?

Steven: I see. Thank you for your cooperation. Marshall, we should get going.

Marshall: Yeah, let’s go. Maria, I expect you to keep to your word.

Maria: Yeah, yeah. God you’re such a pest. *smiles*

The two detectives begin to walk away and then Eveline looks towards their direction.

Eveline: Wait! *runs to them*

Marshall: What is it?

Eveline: What… what does Cipher have to do with the Bloodstained Crow?

Marshall: So they told you about him I assume?

Eveline: Yes. He was Iris and Brandon’s childhood friend.

Marshall: I won’t say, however I expect you not to tell Brandon or Iris of this situation. They’ve been through enough already.

The two detectives then leave the area. As they get into the car Marshall asks Steven on what he was talking about with Eveline.

Marshall: Were you asking her if the drawing looked like from what she could remember about the crow?

Steven: Yes and on a side note if this is in fact who the Bloodstained Crow is; then we might be stepping into something interesting. Wasn’t the boy’s heart cut out by the leader of Cross?

Marshall: He was the only victim that had died by being sacrificed like that. The others were killed by normal stab wounds.

Steven: Do the children know about it?

Marshall: How he died, not exactly. But the fact that his body went missing afterwards only the reports, my wife, and Maria knows.

Back at the boarding house, Brandon was carrying boxes into the building from Maria’s car.

Brandon: Why did you need my help with these? I’ve seen you carry way bigger boxes back at the old home.

Maria: True, but just because I can, doesn’t mean I want to.

Brandon: Ugh. Such a pain in the ass.

Maria: What’d you say?

Brandon: YOU HEARD ME!

As Brandon continues to move boxes, Maria then turns her attention to Eveline who is watching the children play around.

Maria: So how long have you liked Brandon?

Eveline: Huh!? *blushes*

Maria: Come on, we just met and I can already tell you see him as more than just a friend. So tell me has he confessed to you? Probably not, am I right?

Eveline: I-I don’t, well. No. But I don’t think he would. We’re just friends!

Maria: So you admit you like him. Ah, good luck girly. He’s a shy one; like when he was a child but least he isn’t as bad as he once was.

Eveline: Because his best friend was there to help him.

Maria: So you know about Cipher?

Eveline: Just recently. He never really talked about him until I saw his picture.

Maria: Say, how long have you known them?

Eveline: Since July. Um... if I may ask, what type of person was Cipher?

Maria: So 3 months, okay. Well you see, I was the only person that he first started to speak to. This was 2 years before Iris and Brandon came to live at the old home.

Eveline: So, Cipher… was alone as a child? What happened to his parents?

Maria: Abandoned, I can only assume. The headmaster at that time, found him in front of the door early morning. He was covered properly but was still shivering from the cold night. I believe he came to us when he was only 4 years old. He also had some minor cuts on his body. I’m not sure how he ever got those since he didn’t remember anything about his past. He had some type of hatred towards everyone that approached him too. The adults at the time would bad mouth him behind his back and the children would also want nothing to do with him.

Eveline: How did you get through to him? If he didn’t like anyone why were you able to?

Maria: To be honest, I'm not entirely sure myself. One day he had gotten into some deep trouble by breaking the nose of another kid while fighting. I kinda got stuck with the task of talking to him after defending him from the words some of the adults there, course I was only 15 at the time.

-Flashback-

Staff1: What type of child would beat another to that extreme!?

Staff2: I heard that he was found alone at the front a year ago. His family probably left him because they couldn’t deal with him.

Staff3: A child like that could only be the spawn of Satan.

Maria: How could you people even say such a thing!

Staff4: Maria, even you must believe that child is nothing but a lost cause. He looks at us with such hate no matter how nicely we treat him.

Staff1: That’s true, such an ungraceful creature.

Maria: You… YOU GOD DAMN MORONS!

Staff3: How dare you take the lords name in vain!

Maria: Shut the hell up! I know that the good lord would understand that sometimes in situations like this I would of course lose my temper! You all should be ashamed to even call yourselves messengers of God! We don’t even know what type of situation lead to this outcome.

Staff2: You think we don’t know that! We tried to help him, but he rejects everything we do for him!

Maria: That still does not gives us the right to call him what you do!

Suddenly the voice of the headmaster of the orphanage is heard.

Headmaster: Then why don’t you try to get him to open up Maria?

Maria: Huh? Well I would but…

Headmaster: What, does he frighten you? Even after you were just defending him?

Maria: No it’s not that. I just don’t know how I could even try?

Headmaster: Just try, heck if he can somewhat talk to me then you might have a shot. *claps at the crowd* Okay everyone enough with whatever this is.

As everyone begins to disperse from the area, the Headmaster turns to Maria.

Headmaster: Just don’t think about it too much, sometimes a genuine greeting is more than enough. Also watch the way you speak of the lord, how many times must I warn you.

Maria: Yea, thanks grandfather.

Just the room next to where everyone was at, Maria opens the door and spots a 6 year old kid trying to escape from the window. She makes a dumbfounded face by what she sees.

Maria: … What are you doing…?

Cipher: None your business.

Maria: You don’t say. Well, unfortunately I’ve seen you, so it’s my duty to stop you from running away from home.

Cipher: … This an’t my home.

Maria: Why say that?

Cipher: …

Maria: Well, if you’re not going to answer. Step away from the window and sit back down.

Cipher: Tch. Fine.

With an annoyed face, Cipher obeys Maria’s order and sits back down quietly. Seeing Cipher look angry, Maria then takes out a piece of candy from her pocket and offers it to him.

Maria: Here ya go. It’s your reward for listening to me. *smiles*

Cipher: I’m not your pet and I don’t want the old hag’s dirty candy.

Maria: … Well if you don’t want this Butterscotch candy, then I’ll just eat it.

Cipher: Huh!?

Seeing how he reacted to what type of candy it was. Maria then begins to unwrap it slowly in front of him.

Cipher: No wait! I want it I’ll take it!

She then shows him a smirking face.

Maria: Huh, You just said you don’t want this “dirty candy from this old hag” remember. Are you saying you’re willing to eat dirty candy? You sicko.

She then eats it in front of him. Tears begin to show on Cipher’s disbelieved eyes.

Cipher: Y-y- you old hag!

Just then Maria flicks an object to Cipher hitting him on his forehead, causing him to flinch. When he holds where the object hit him, he sees that it was another piece of candy.

Maria: You want one right? I only flicked it hard enough as punishment for calling me old hag once, after all I'm only 15 years old, and I’m not an old wrinkly person yet. Since you called me that a second time I should think of another punishment.

However by the looks of what she sees, her words seem to just pass by Cipher’s ears. Knowing that he was not listening to her she then continues her talk.

Maria: So, why did you break that other kid’s nose as he was on the ground?

Cipher: … He always picks on the weaker kids. I didn't like seeing that.

Maria: I see, so you wanted to help others; however you didn’t know how to go about it. So you used violence to stop him.

Cipher: What’s that?

Maria: Violence, it’s something that's bad and happens when talking can no longer happen. But you know, that shouldn’t be the first thing you resort to. Next time, try talking; make them stop without using your fists.

While she waited for an answer, Cipher remained quiet for some time. Just before Maria is about get up from knelling down; Cipher asks her a question while not facing her.

Cipher: That's stupid… Why did you try to defend me from those other adults?

Maria: I don’t need a reason to want to help. I do what I know is right, that’s all. I used talking instead of violence and got them to stop.

Just then Maria gets a look on her face, knowing on what his second “punishment” should be.

Maria: I know what your second punishment is. Would you like to know?

Cipher: Lock me up in my room for till dinner is up.

Maria: What!? God no, that’s horrible. Who did that to you?

Cipher: Another more annoying old hag.

Maria: Well, we can talk about that during your punishment. This by the way was just thought of by yours truly, it’s called Counseling. If anything happens to annoy you or is giving you trouble, just come find me. I’ll be either teaching a class or in the kitchen; eating.

Cipher: Why go this far? I don’t want your help! You’re so annoying!

Maria: Meh, too bad. With the way your acting you won’t have friends. Tell you what, I’ll be you first friend. My names Maria Avalon, it’s nice to meet you.

She then holds out her hand for a handshake. But Cipher just looks down to the floor, embarrassed by Maria’s bluntness of her kindness.

Cipher: …

Maria: Aww, you have such a cute way of hiding your red face.

Cipher: Ah! You old hag! *runs away out the door*

-Flashback ends-

As Maria opens her eyes from talking about the past, she then sees Brandon laying on her car looking like he had just finished carrying everything from the trunk into the boarding house.

Maria: Come on Brandon. You’re already tired? So weak!

Brandon: Shut up! Its morning, we’re late for school and I’m too tried to even bother arguing anymore…

Maria: Don’t worry, I’ll take you now and then pick you guys up from school afterwards. I’ll just ask your parents’ permission.

Eveline: So even Cipher was like that?

Maria: What do you mean?

Eveline: From what I heard, he sounded like someone who was really mature for someone his age. But I guess even someone like him was somewhat bratty.

Maria: Well, I did raise him into a fine young man. Heck he was a smart kid since I was able to teach him 4 languages including English. However he still got in fights for what he thought was the right thing. The day he was taken from me was the same day I got a call from his school that he was expelled for a gang fight he went too far when saving some others.

She then sees Maria’s face look somber. Then she looks up towards the sky.

Maria: But I’m sure he’s resting in peace. It took a while but he eventually he opened up to me. He did have a good heart after all. He never once stopped calling me "mom" even after I was able to officially become his guardian.

During the time Maria was explaining her connection with Cipher to Eveline, at a different part of the city Cipher hides in the shadows of the buildings. Long awake since his battle, he watches bellow as people go one about their lives. He then uses his claws to slide downwards. When he finally reaches the bottom he turns his cloak inside out in order to hide the bloodstains on it and walk alongside the public as a homeless. As he walks for sometime he arrives at a bus stop and watches the person he once knew as she walks alongside her friends.

Cipher: (What am I doing here? If I get near her like this, she’ll no doubt get hurt because of me. But how can I know that she’ll be okay if those bastards keep showing me that same damn dream!?)

He stops as she walks into a campus of UCLA College. Unable to bring himself from following her, he turns his body leaving into the small alley between the buildings and then teleports out of the area.