Prologue

Through a veil of darkness, something grabbed him. Wound its ghostly fingers around his body and pulled him down. Making him suffocate as if he were drowning in the dark mist lapping against his neck, edging its way higher. As he struggled, the grip tightened and further pale, lifeless hands clawed their way to him, dragging him deeper and deeper, smothering his restraints. Sweating with the urgency of escape, Watanuki tried to scream. Scream for mercy, scream for help, scream for him. But nothing came.

"Say it."

Kicking his feet in an attempt to keep his face above the surface, Watanuki twisted his head to the source of the voice. He had found him. As if overcome by a new boost of hope, he thrashed around more wildly, but the hands held on. He couldn't make it alone. The mist was damp, cold and overpowering; it was clogging up his lungs, blurring his vision. But still Doumeki merely watched from above, face emotionless and relaxed, waiting.

"Say it."

All his dignity was flung aside as another tug from beneath sent him downwards, murky water rising over his mouth and nose, throwing him into a panic.

"S-Save-…Sa-" His words were cut off as he spluttered, sinking further, but his eyes remained clear, fixed pleadingly in those of the archer's, his own, pitiful face reflecting in those dark orbs. But Doumeki only stared back. Waiting…

Giving up the attempt to speak, Watanuki forced an arm out of the water, stretching it towards him, every finger grasping the thin air that separated him from salvation. Nothing came down to meet it. His face still painfully composed, the archer took one last look at the boy as he began to turn away, dissolving into nothingness. No.

"D-Dou-!" Watanuki's eyes widened with terror as the archer disappeared from his view, leaving him to be pulled down completely, where his sight was limited to the white, glowing hands outstretched towards him in the darkness.