Quatre regained his breath, after the initial shock of the terrible news had sunk in. Dead and raped. Quatre paled again. He could not want to believe that such a seemingly peaceful community like this, could harbor such, such violence. It was exactly what he had escaped, during his weeks of recovery, away from the surface world. He looked at Delilah and Stave, who snapped some orders to the messenger and returned their attention back to the golden-haired boy. They looked almost apologetic, and highly embarrassed.

"Quatre...I'm sorry you had to hear that." Stave said, his jaw tightening with anger. Quatre leaned foward, a glint in his usually peaceful blue eyes.

"Tell me about the Sin-Eater." he stated bluntly. The fact that a community that tried to escape the violence of the everyday world, was suffering from an internal predator, gnawed at him. It rubbed part of him locked away, the wrong way, threatening to let his most well-kept secret out: his dark side.

Everyone had one. Most people indulged in it, every once and awhile, letting it out in healthy ways, such as arguing and venting their anger. Even Trowa did that. Heero did it everyday. Even Duo had his dark moods. Quatre bottled it all up inside, afraid of what he might do, if he let it all come out.

It had once, while he was in the Zero System for the first time. He had become an inhuman monster, in his opinion, and never wanted to go through that again. His control, though, was slipping, and he conciously kept a lid on the beast within. Stave began speaking first, telling him about the Sin-Eater.

"The Sin-Eater...that is what we call this unknown man within our community. It started long before you came, and has been our dark secret, so to speak. Nobody likes to talk about it, and as each new victim turns up, there is an uproar, then it dies down quickly. I don't know how this will affect the people, Ambah's father is well respected within the community, and she was well-liked." The man trailed off, his brow furrowed with weariness and thought.

Quatre suppressed another surge of emotion, as his picture perfect view of this peace-filled little community was cracking.

"How many have fallen to the Sin Eater?" he asked, a morbid type of curiosity in his voice. Delilah answered him this time.

"So far, since this has been going on for several months now, six. We have tried our hardest to figure out who he is, but he eludes us everytime. The victims are always girls, Ambah's age or younger." Quatre nearly choked with a wild flow of anger.

"Or younger?!" he asked incredously. Delilah and Stave nodded, silent, for the time being.

"He hadn't acted up in a few months, but now, it seems that he is starting again." Stave held his head in his hands. "I don't know how much more of this we can take, until the people are killing eachother in accusations.

Though nothing is said, people have their own suspicions." The picture perfect world that Quatre had stumbled upon shattered, leaving him with a feeling of lost innocence, and dull anger. The evils of mankind were manifest, no matter where he went.

"I'll stay." The Arabian pilot said, and without another word, got up and hurried out of the chamber.

Quatre walked briskly to Sorcha's dwelling, seeking solace in the warmth of the place. He found none of it. A red-eyed, tear streaked Sorcha greeted him. Worry quickly overtook his initial anger. Hurrying over to her, Quatre placed his arms around her trembling form, his aqua eyes filled with sudden dread. It was the same feeling he had felt, when he thought that he had blown Trowa out of the sky.

"What's wrong, Sorcha?" The woman turned, clinging to his loose white shirt, sobbing into his shoulder.

"Oh my angel, she's gone. Disappeared soon after they found Ambah's body. I-I can only think that he took her, and Lord if anything happens to her..." Sorcha broke off, crying choking her up. Quatre felt the dread deepen, as he asked an all-to-obvious question.

"Who?" he asked quietly, in a soothing voice.

"Damona," Sorcha sobbed, "and I'm afraid the Sin-Eater has taken her. Oh Quatre, what has happened with us? We used to be a proud race, the utmost trust required for our very own survival. I can't trust anyone, anymore..." Quatre tried to sooth her the best he could, fighting off his own mixed emotions of rage and sadness.

"I'll find her." was all he repeated over and over, more to himself than Sorcha. He tried to tell her that Damona was probably just lost, but even as he uttered the words, he knew it was a pleasent lie. The Sin-Eater, had Damona.

"Trowa," he thought, "forgive me, my love, I can't return to you. I must stay here, and help these people, so they can be happy once again."

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PLEASE send some feedback! I'm trying to finish this up the best I can, but it's taking a while! Send your comments to dkaz02@aol.com Thanks!