Distant specters of screams howl through the caverns. But, there is nothing that can be done anymore. They come from ghosts, imprints of those who failed to escape, playing out an endless play of their last moments. Nothing is alive in this village.
Footsteps and the crunching of gravel. They are all I need. They are enough to tell me who approaches.
Her.
My mind pays her little heed. She could not escape on her own this time, it seems. The same scene plays over and over in my head. Her running ahead, laughing, giggling, defying our promise. Then a scream, a fall, and the blackness of pain.
The darkness within the Abyss broils. The Repentance is coming, and nothing shall stop it. Sadness lingers through my body. Why did she not flee? Why didn't she take the chance to save herself?
And yet...
Another voice whispers in my head: You should be happy. She can't run anymore, when the end is nigh. She can't run away from you like years ago.
She lands next to me, exhaustion emanating from every pore of her body. Words come from her mouth, but I barely care.
But wait! What did she just say? "This is the end...I want us to be together." A lie? No. I gaze towards her. Her beautiful chocolate eyes are shut, but yet, she shows no fear at the impending Repentance, only a quite sense of resignation and acceptance. Could it be...?
Darkness engulfs everything. But there is a vision. A festival, when we were children. Now, though, we see ourselves as we are now. Yet, everything will happen like it did again. She will leave me behind; she won't listen, ignoring my desperate cries, desperate pleas...
Wait!
She stops, and turns back. Joy rushes through me, as I bound desperately forward and take her hand in mine, holding it tightly, so tightly.
Every sight from that festival, we see, beautiful as they always were. Commotion! The gathered people look to Heaven.
A thousand lanterns, just like a flock of crimson butterflies, float to the skies. As it was beautiful eleven years go, so now is it just as beautiful. I cannot contain myself; my appraisal slips out. But just as I turn to Mio, so does she turn, and our eyes meet, only for a split second. But in that split second, I read Mio's eyes, and they say, I understand everything you think, and I feel the same way. We are the same.
We are the same. One. Drawing closer, we watch the lanterns rise and the fireworks go off illuminating the night with their beauty.
A sudden roar and the feeling of a massive, unstoppable force rushing at us.
I have to protect Mio! Even though it is a completely pointless gesture, I wrap my arms around her, trying to defend her somehow; it feels so...right.
Darkness. Eternal darkness. A small smile creeps over my face. It is over. It's all finally over.
For now, in this curse, she is mine, and I am hers. Nothing can bring us apart, and neither of us can leave the other.
Now, we are together.
Forever.