With the high-pitched squeal of the whistle echoing faintly outside, the Darkliner hurriedly rode along the tracks. Though once lively and active, the Shadow Line rails remained ominously empty as the royal train continued on its journey.
As the hours passed, however, Grita slowly grew restless of where their destination lay in the heavy fog of darkness. No clear sights of the dark depths she once heard of had revealed themselves as of yet, and she was beginning to fear that they, too had succumb to the destruction of the now fallen empire.
Determined, she pushed on ahead as she once again imagined the plan she had committed her heart to. Even if it seemed hopeless now, she had to believe that there was a chance.
Realizing that the other half of the plan still remained unconscious in the other room, she decided it was best to go and check on him as she set the controls on autopilot.
Brushing past the thick clouding of darkness that had accumulated in the air, Grita cautiously entered the room where the fallen Emperor lay.
Kneeling down beside him, she watched as his chest rose and fell with each weak breathe, a relieving sign after all the damage he had taken. With his raven hair falling over his face revealing the strands of white underneath, she couldn't help but smile at how glad she was that he had once again returned to his former appearance. However, pity still filled her heart as she sees him lay motionless on the cold floor, curled around himself as if an injured animal.
It was times like these that Grita questioned why there were no booths or anything besides empty space within the interior of the Shadow Line trains. Though she supposed they weren't necessarily built for sightseeing or comfort, or anything besides conquering light for that matter.
Sighing, she squeezed his hand reassuringly, feeling her heart suddenly be wrenched with loneliness from the silence of the room. As of now, it seemed like they were the only ones left of the Shadow Line, but even then it didn't stop her heart from breaking.
It was strange, she thought, how far away everything seemed now that the battle was over between the Rainbow Line, how it felt like just yesterday her mother was fretting over her appearance for the upcoming wedding. How it felt like years when she last saw her own mother being killed right before her very eyes, the sword cutting through flesh, her fading gaze and smile perpetually haunting her memories as she whispered her last goodbye. How it felt when Schwarz held her hand one last time before...
Her throat seized up just then, tears pooling at her eyes just barely on the verge of spilling over as her heart skipped a beat.
She misses them.
Mother...
General Schwarz...
Home.
She shook her head, knowing full well that there was no home left to go back to. It was only her left. By herself. Alone.
It was a bitter feeling. A feeling of cold, gripping darkness that coated her heart. She hated it. She was better than this.
Standing back up, she swiped away the tears, taking a deep, shaking breath.
This is for the best. She thought as she stared down at the Emperor. This is all for the best.
As the wheels slowly came to a quiet halt, Grita couldn't help but feel the apprehension build inside her stomach.
It was dark here.
Pitch black.
Empty. Cold. Lonely. Terrifying.
She remembered having nightmares of this place from when she was a child, her little mind filled with wild rumors from the castle guards.
Now she understands why his Majesty hated this place.
With his arm draped over her shoulders, she began to carefully drag him along into the dark depths.
Surprisingly, he was quite lighter than she had initially predicted, though it may be due to the fact that he had no energy to resist.
Nonetheless, he remained quite and still, peaceful even. At certain points she stopped and quickly listened for the faint heartbeat inside of him, but otherwise proceeded further and further into the abyss.
She walked for awhile, no exact place in mind of where they were going. Though it was silent the entire time, Grita appreciated this given moment as a way to allow her mind to wander.
She contemplated a lot of things.
However, once she noticed him begin to awaken did she snap out of her daydream.
Watching and feeling his muscles tense and squirm underneath her arms, she placed him down gently upon the floor. She lingered for a heartbeat, her gaze tracing his already fading outline as the darkness began to cling around him.
She whispered a silent goodbye, turning and then disappearing from sight.
His eyes snapped open. Dark, black orbs flickering frantically as they searched through the haze of darkness, the cold flooring pressed against his ribs and cheek.
"Hello?" he called out. His voice startled him for a moment, the sound unfamiliar to his ears. "Hello?" he called out again more cautiously.
Silence.
He sat upright, knees pressed against his chest as he hugged them close.
He didn't know where he is.
His entire body hurt, flared with pain.
Why am I here?
He blinked back tears.
Why am I alone?
He watched the tendrils of darkness swirl around him, blanketing him in woven patterns. Scowling, he waved them off, growling in annoyance as they reappeared.
What is this place?
He sighed miserably, burying his head in his arms.
Why does my heart ache so much?
He screamed. His cry echoing and bouncing off the walls as his eyes widened in fear, his tears streaked across his face as they dripped onto the floor like inky, black blood.
Another nightmare.
He laid there, paralyzed, as his heart pumped wildly, his breathing coming in short gasps as his body shook.
Scared.
That's the only word that seemed to describe his life every night.
Hatred.
The feeling he felt during every waking hour.
Loneliness. Darkness. Nightmares. Nothing.
That's all he had.
He slammed his fist against the floor, gritting his teeth to stop the pain.
I hate it here.
He curled around himself, feeling his heart harden into nothing but stone.
It's not fair.
"Your Majesty?"
He opened his eyes, glaring through the darkness toward the sound of the voice.
"Who's there?" he demanded.
Instinctively, Grita cowered back.
"Who are you?" he called out "Show yourself!"
She stood back, disguising herself in the clouds of darkness to mask away her light.
"Your Majesty..."
"Stop calling me that!" he snapped "I'm..." his voice trailed off.
"Do you recognize me? My voice?" she asked timidly.
He frowned, confused by the softness of her tone.
"No."
She sighed, guessing that her prediction was right after all.
"I'm not going to hurt you, your Majesty, I'm-"
"Why do you keep calling me that? Do you know me?" he asked abruptly, his voice filled with curiosity.
She paused, thinking over how much she should reveal to him.
"Yes. I know you." she began slowly "You're... Zett."
"Zett?"
She nodded, despite his inability to see her.
"Zett..." he repeated, concentrating on the pronunciation.
"Do you like it?" she asked.
He shrugged.
"How do you know me?"
"I'm... your friend."
"Friend?" he questioned "I don't remember having friends."
"You lost your memory, Zett, you got hurt."
"Hurt? By who?" he asked softly.
"You're safe now though." she said, immediately changing the topic "You're safe here."
"What do you mean?"
"Zett, you're the emperor... the Emperor of Darkness. This... is your home."
"Home?" he cried "But I hate it here!"
"I'm sorry... this is how it's suppose to be."
"But why?" he wailed, standing up to face the voice "I want-"
"Zett!" she silenced "You can never leave this place. Just trust me, this is for the best."
She walked away, his cries and protests fading as she distanced herself further and further way from him.
This is all for the best.