Into the Light

Dedication: To all of my readers who have supported me over this last year of Beyblade Fan Fiction writing. In particular: Saiyan-Chang, Lady Snowblossom, Izure, russle, Castles in the Sky, Melanie, Sammel and everyone else for you are too numerous to mention. Even if you are not mentioned, you are here in my heart, and to all I extend my gratitude. Without you, I would have stopped writing Beyblade fan fiction long ago.
Mostly, this fic is dedicated to my sister, three-and-a-half years my junior, who reads all of my Beyblade work, puts up with all my plot bunnies and possibilities, provides ideas when I am stuck, and nags until I finish a story. Without you, everything would be half completed. However, when I ask "so, what do you think?" after I complete a fic, it would be nice to have an answer other than "yeah, it's okay". :p Thank you.

Note: This fic takes place a couple of weeks after the proceedings of Out of the Darkness.

Warning: This fic contains shonen ai, torture, and rape. It contains major angst, so proceed if you dare.

Disclaimer: Despite my contributions to the fandom of Beyblade, I still have no claim to the rights. Otherwords, I do not own Beyblade.

OUT OF THE DARKNESS

You came out of the darkness,
a familiar face, one I saw everyday,
but I never thought of you like this.

You never haunted my dreams,
nor, did you fill my days,
until I saw your life bleeding away.

I feared I was losing you,
and with that loss, I would fall into a hell,
deeper than the sea.

We are bonded, you and I,
tied by more than mere chains of steel,
our blood lies black upon the ground.

I reach for you, but my fingers fall short,
only by straining my body can my lips reach yours,
in the darkness it is enough.

You are my beacon,
a shining presence evil can not dim,
and I will follow you into the light.

Lady Snowblossom (6/9/04)

Chapter 1

He walked through the corridors of the Abbey, frowning at the unnatural silence. Completely stillness, as if everything and everyone was dead. A chill washed over him, icy cold. He blinked, following the direction of the breeze and noting the icicles beginning to form on the walls.

He found himself moving toward the dungeon. He paused at the top of the stairs, eyes narrowing before he made his way down into the darkness. He spotted a form lying slumped at the bottom and he knelt by it, reaching forward and finding no pulse. He flipped it over, blinking as he straightened abruptly.

Ian.

Looking up, he found the dungeon had become an ice cave. He stepped further inside, no trace of fear. He knew no fear. Glancing at the floor he found other forms, his stomach twisting with dread. Spencer. Aizik. Alexander…

He stopped dead at the edge of the bodies, taking in the two forms before him: Kai and Panas. He moved forward again, breaking into a run as he closed in on the edge of the dungeon and a blinding white light. The icicles continued to thicken, walls nothing more than slabs of ice as he rounded the last corner.

A laugh rolled around the dungeon, twisted and evil: Boris. He blinked, spotting the silver wolf on its back legs in all its glory, owner standing with his legs spread, back to him as he focused on the task at hand.

Abruptly the wolf howled, vanishing into the blade, which instantly shattered. He rushed forward, catching the teen as he fell, crimson staining the pure white of his shirt, dagger protruding from his heart. Sapphire eyes were wide yet unseeing, clearly reflecting the emptiness of death. He gasped, anguish rising up inside him.

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"No!"

He sat up quickly, gasping, eyes darting around as the scene slowly slipped away. He blinked, taking in the darkness, the softness of the bed he lay upon, the reassuring warmth though he was covered in a cold sweat. He swallowed hard. It had all been a dream.

"Bryan?"

He glanced down, taking in the form curled up in the bed beside him, crystal blue eyes watching him with faint concern. He smiled faintly. "It's nothing, Tala. Bad dream."

Tala rubbed his eyes, biting back a yawn. "Want to talk about it?"

"Not at the moment." Bryan lay back down, sighing as Tala slid closer. "I need to think."

"One of those kind of dreams, hm?"

"Indeed."

"Was I in it?"

Bryan didn't answer, Tala looking up, frowning as he took in the expression on the others face.

"I take that as a yes." Tala reached out, brushing the lavender strands from the others face, kissing him gently. "Just remember that it was a dream, Bry. Dreams fade."

"Not this one," Bryan whispered to himself.

Tala caught it. "It's that same nightmare you've been having for these last few nights, isn't it? The one where you said you can't make out the faces." He narrowed his eyes. "You finally worked out who they were."

Bryan shifted, rolling onto his side and putting his back to Tala. "I said not at the moment."

"You're not getting away that easy." Tala wrapped his arms around Bryan from behind, setting his head on Bryan's shoulder. "Tell me, Bryan. Maybe I can help."

"Doubt it."

"You're certainly in a cheery mood." Tala kissed his neck. "Tell me anyway."

Bryan sighed. "Fine, you win. It's at the Abbey-"

"A nightmare in itself," Tala said with a shudder.

Bryan felt it, but didn't comment. "There's nobody around, as if the place is dead. I feel and breeze and follow it to the dungeon. There's ice everywhere. Ian's dead at the bottom of the steps."

"I thought that would be a pleasant dream, finding Ian dead." Tala frowned. "Go on."

"I go further inside, and there gets more ice. I see the other boys, most whom I know, including Spencer. At the edge of the bodies I…" Bryan frowned. "I find Panas and Kai."

Tala blinked. "Dead?"

"Yes." Tala felt Bryan tense. "I run, and I hear Boris laugh. I round the corner and I spot Wolborg. He looks to be fighting. You're there too, directing him. Then he vanishes and the blade explodes, and you fall. I catch you…"

Tala held him tighter. "I'm dead too, aren't I?"

"A dagger through the heart."

Tala winced, swallowing hard, pressing himself against Bryan. "I'm still here, Falcon. Ian and Spencer are in the room next door. And Kai's a level down. As for the other boys, I'm sure they're fine. Boris could never suspect them."

"I hope you're right, Tal."

"Are you… scared for them?"

"Mildly concerned, never scared." Bryan sighed, closing his eyes. "We get away from the Abbey, and yet it still has a hold of me. I'm never going to be free of it."

"Don't say that. Look at me, Bryan." Bryan looked back at him. "We've been through a lot in the last couple of weeks. So much has happened since the finals. Your mind's just trying to deal with it, that's all. That and your sense of over-protectiveness is kicking in again."

Bryan sighed, looking away.

"Bryan…" Tala kissed his neck, smoothing the untameable hair. "Please don't shut me out."

Bryan glanced back, taking in the pleading sapphire eyes and letting out a long breath. He shifted, rolling onto his back and drawing Tala too him. The younger curled up against his chest, Bryan tightening his arms around him protectively. It wasn't long before Tala slipt once more into slumber, and after lying awake staring toward the roof for a while, sleep finally claimed Bryan.

Yes, we're off again. I like beginning fics with dream sequences or memories (see Honesty II). Hope you like the beginning. Everything's going to get darker from here on. :p