Just some warnings for a bit of violence and animal abuse, just if anyone is particularly upset by that. But nothing severe. Also! I have changed the name of the story to 'Fated', so don't get too confused!


Fated

Chapter 2


~XoX~

Allen didn't particularly remember sleeping. Perhaps he did nod off for a few minutes between the long hours of the night, but all he could envision was the crumbling ceiling. He wasn't willing to go back outside, not in the cold, but there was also the reoccurring thought that the roof could very well fall down on him. What was there to stabilise it, after all?

Eventually, a new day's shade of orange spilled over the horizon, bringing light to dark, but doing nothing to erase the bitter cold that lingered heavy in the air. Allen rolled, and dragged himself up off of the stone ground with trembling limbs, dreading the moment he would have to set foot outside of the old building. That wasn't to say it was warm – no, it lacked any warmth whatsoever. But he figured shelter would be better than the drifting snowflakes lodging in his hair. However, he could not stay here. Not if he wanted to live.

He sat for a moment, gathering his thoughts and allowing the icy air whistling around him to make him more alert. His fingers stretched out along the cold, cobbled ground, in search of debris and loose rocks that were scattered around him. He slipped a few freezing pebbles into his near-mangled pockets, supposing they could come in handy at some point. If he needed, he could throw them quite hard at anything – or anybody – that might make an attempt to attack him. And, after another moment, of rest, he knew he would have to get up now and make some effort to find… somewhere.

So, despite his fierce shaking, Allen trudged out into the snow, ignoring the bitter chill that nipped at any of his exposed flesh. Cold, cold, cold. Silvery eyes flickered over the landscape that stretched out in every direction, blanketed with a layer of snow. Odd, to think of snow like a blanket, when it, in fact, did everything in its power to keep someone from feeling warm.

Despite his best searching, Allen couldn't find anything. Nothing but snow and trees and more snow. It stretched out as far as the eye could see. He couldn't catch any glimpse of a building other than the train station just behind him, which was especially concerning, considering there were no notable abandoned train stations around where he had been before.

Damn this!

With a huff, he kicked up a puff of white powder from a nearby pile of snow, circling around the building in search of a sign. However, despite the numerous rounds he stalked, he found nothing but the large, glaring sign fastened to the very front of the building – 'TRAIN STATION'. Even that had worn down considerably with age, covered with layers of dirt and grime.

His frustration only welled at the inability to place where he actually was on this goddamn earth. He considered throwing a fist at the building, but the harsh stone would only inevitably hurt his hand. Instead, he focused his rage towards that moron that seemingly lived in his head, yelling into the empty air.

"Oi, four-teenth, or whoever you were! Where the hell did you take me?!"

Nothing but the whistling of the wind in the empty stone building followed.

Allen growled, muttering obscene curses unfit for a child under his breath, glaring into the white snow below his freezing feet. "Come on, you can't just leave me here!" His voice had begun to crack with the overwhelming sense of frustration, and the tinge of panic that had begun to creep into his mind. He couldn't stay here, not with this cold, not with his tattered clothes. He would die. He would freeze to death.

But still, no answer came from the self-labelled fourteenth. Just that weird, silent static that came with his hush. The emptiness of the space set Allen on edge. It was… eerie, contemplative even. But with that anxiety came anger. White-hot anger that burned in his lungs and put red in the edges of his vision. It was near soul-shattering, the sudden feeling that raged in his core, making his hands tremble. He was angry at the fourteenth, for bringing him here.

He was angry at God, for letting this happen to him.

He was angry at himself, for letting this happen to himself.

This was the fourteenth's fault! This was God's fault! This was his fault!

This was Mana's fault!

He tilted his head back, mouth tearing open in a loud shriek, one that echoed through the stone and into the snow-swirled air above him. He continued screaming, letting out as much of that rage in a single yell as he possibly could, until his throat hurt and his lungs ached and tears streaked down cold cheeks. His head dropped forward again at that, tears spilling heavy from closed eyes as he dropped down to his knees, hands lost to a thick layer of snow. And underneath his fingertips, something…

Wood?

His eyes popped back open, reddened around the edges from the tears, surprise filling them. Icy fingers swiped away the snow that covered whatever it was, hoping, praying… Yes! He almost shouted in delight at seeing the wooden arrow, engraved with what appeared to be the name of a town, though it had long faded and was near-impossible for him to read. His eyes followed the direction of the arrow, landing on a post he had ignored when first looking at the building, seeing it as nothing significant. But, perhaps… Did it mark the start of a path?

Whatever it was, it was his only clue, and he was willing to follow it.

So, after running his fingers through his hair to dust out the lodged snow, he began his trek in the exact direction the arrow had suggested and trusted that it would actually take him somewhere.


~XoX~

Red had been studying the ring he'd collected for a while now, almost intensely. Pale eyes focused on the shiny gold band, watched the flickering of the small, clear gem held on the top of it by some kind of… claw-like case. It was very pretty. The kind of pretty he wanted to eat but knew he couldn't. A lot of pretty things couldn't be eaten, unfortunately – and that included the brightly coloured rat poison that was often scattered around the circus.

He was so fascinated by the ring, he was too slow to notice the figure looming over him. Suddenly, a foot met with his ribs, sending him tumbling to the ground and the ring flying out of his hand. Still, his fingers clenched as though he still held it, curled with pain. His eyes travelled up to try and make out the face of his sudden attacker, but the sun glared into his eyes and blinded him, leaving him unable to make out any of their features. Surely it was somebody else from the circus? They were always picking on him. They'd probably seen… the ring!

Immediately, despite the numerous kicks to his body and the unintelligible yelling of the other, his tried to scramble up, eyes searching for the flash of the gold ring. He couldn't spot it anywhere, so it must have gone a fair distance. It was only then that he could make sense of what the other was yelling as they belted him, ears ringing with panic.

"Where is it, you little brat? You had a fucking ring, I saw it, where did it go?"

"I don' 'ave one!" Red screeched back, kicking furiously back at the other, hoping to get them in the shins. Their voice was gruff as they continue yelling, leaning down to try and pry his hand open.

"I know you had it! Just give it to me!"

"I-I-" Red frantically searched for something to say, for anything to roll off of his tongue that could protect him from a less fortunate fate. Leave it to grown-ups to pick on little kids. He never wanted to grow up, not if he would be like that. "I don' 'ave it! Ya kicked it outta my 'and!" Red uncurled his fingers to prove a point, only to regret it as a large foot crushed his empty attachment.

With a shriek, he kicked for their face, now that they were leaning in nice and close. And he got them, right in the nose, and he couldn't have been happier about the crunch under his foot and the blood that sprayed onto his feet. "The ring is on the ground!"

"Little shit…" the man hissed, clutching his bleeding nose and shoving Red away with a swift kick. "You better hope I can find it…"

However, Red wasn't staying for when he did, or when he didn't. Despite the ache of his ribs and arms and legs, he practically sprung up, turning tail and bolting away from the scene. His only idea was to climb a nearby tree, as though he were protecting himself from some kind of wild animal. So, with bony fingers, he dragged himself up, branch by branch, until he teetered dangerously on a high branch.

He could have stayed up there for hours, or for only minutes. He didn't know. Red had never had a clear perception of time. All he knew was that he had waited for that man to leave, and eventually – though it was after a lot of searching for both the ring and for Red – he did.

Slowly, Red slid back down the tree, step by step, careful not to fall. Surely he would die, falling from such a height. But he wasn't scared of heights, not at all. It was simply an awareness that lingered in the back of his head. So, he risked it, taking a larger step onto a more fragile looking branch.

Careful!

Red's head snapped up, looking around the immediate area. That voice again! But, first and foremost, he was worried someone had seen him up in the tree. He'd be in so much trouble if somebody saw him.

But, after another thorough sweep of the area, he saw nobody – at least, nobody who was looking at him. So he shook it off, ignored it. Surely it was just him panicking for his own safety, and he'd mistaken it for an outside noise. Yeah, that had to be it. There was no other explanation.

Once he was close to the bottom, Red dropped from the tree, landing deftly on the ground. Without hesitation, he scurried towards where he was believed the ring to have landed, searching frantically. He didn't remember seeing the man pick it up, but… Oh god, he hoped the man didn't find it. He needed that ring. To sell it, to bargain, to… to live.

He searched for ages. Until the sun had dipped lower in the sky and clouds had begun to fill the air, dark and rumbling. It was going to rain, but Red didn't care. He needed that ring. Yet his eyes caught on a dog after a moment, small, sniffing curiously at the ground. Inquisitively, Red craned his neck to try and catch sight of whatever it was the dog was sniffling. Maybe it was something worth his time.

After catching the gleam of something lodged in the dirt, Red lunged forward, yelling. "Get away from tha'! Tha's mine!"

The dog, unsurprising, reversed rather fast, terrified by the child screaming at it. It barked, though. Red took at as a sign of aggression, rumbling up a growl from deep in his chest, imitating a dog as best he could. He didn't exactly know what a dog would want a ring for, but he felt threatened anyway. It was his.

Red slid down onto his knees to gather up the piece of jewelry, cradling it in his hands like it was far more fragile that it had proven itself to be. With unsteady fingers, he brushed away the dirt on it, heart beating in a timorous fashion, and quickly slipped it into his pocket. It would be safer there. Slowly, he looked up at the dog, who cowered back, tail between its legs. Now that the 'threat' was gone, Red… felt kinda bad. There was no reason to scare the dog away – it had been what helped him find the ring.

"C'mere," he muttered softly, reaching out to the dog with his right hand. "I'm sorry I scared ya…"

Still, the dog cowers, so he kept trying, voice little more than as soothing a whisper he can manage.

"It's okay, I'm not gonna yell again, if tha's what ya scared o'…"

Slowly, ever so slowly, the dog slunk toward him, but sauntered right on past Red's outstretched hand. And, before he can even react, it had licked his left hand.


~XoX~

Allen's feet ached, eyes weary and staring forward in bitter anticipation. His hopes for a town had been quelled, at this point. He had been walking for far too long for there to possibly be anything. The sun was much higher in the clouded sky now, but it brought no warmth to him. No, all he got was the bite of cold water, all thanks to the snow that had soaked into his shoes.

"Please," he begged to nothing, though it was intended for the daft man within his head. "You can't just leave me here, not like this. I'm gonna freeze!"

Still, he was met with that ever-infuriating silence. Seemed he was going to have to make an attempt to play a game of wits. Mana had always taught him not to be rude, but that meant nothing now. Mana was…

With a shake of his small head, Allen pushed back the memories that constantly threatened the edges of his mind, searching for a break in the barrier built up there. Not now. There was no time. He could be sad later.

He thought hard for a few moments, choosing to stand still, eyes catching on the snow swirling on the icy wind that whipped around him. A hand lifted, a finger tapped at his juddering lip. What to do, what to do…? Silver eyes broadened at the inevitable realization – this person lived in his head. If Allen were to die, this man would die too, surely.

So Allen stuck his nose in the air and plopped down into the snow. Indignantly, he folded his arms over his chest, acting much like a spoiled child. "Well, seems we're both going to have to die then, it seems. So sorry, fourteenth, but guess there's nothing I can do about it."

The silence quivered, if Allen could even explain it as such. The static flickered, much like a breath. But it wasn't enough. Allen clearly hadn't convinced the body-stealer that he was serious. So, with a sharp breath in he fell back into the snowdrift, sinking into it. He could already feel the frostbite nibbling at his fingers and toes, but no problem. "Gee, I'm awful tired…" He was, actually, shivering in the bed of snow. His eyes slowly slid closed. "I suppose I'll just have to sleep here."

Get up this instant, you dumb brat.

"Gosh, it's almost like I'm hearing things… Ah, well, it must just be cold." Allen went on with his resting, body quaking amongst the blanket of white.

Get up, or I'm going to make you.

Silence.

A…Are you seriously…?

More silence.

I know you're awake, don't ignore me like this! Get out of the snow!

Allen kept his lips sealed, and his thoughts focused entirely on the cold snow that melted in his hair.

What the hell are you doing?! Listen to me, right now!

A smile quirked at Allen's blue-tinged lips, eyes cracking open to study the clouds that swirled about, snow spinning down from the heaven's and landing on his pale skin. "Doesn't feel good, does it?"

Allen could just about feel the tension building within… whoever the hell was in his head. He didn't want to call him fourteenth, it sounded stupid.

Says you. Your name was 'Red'.

Well, that had Allen bolting dead upright, brushing snow off of his shoulders. "No. It wasn't. Now, are you going to help me?"

Fine. Just keep going the way you're going. There's definitely a town.

"You promise?"

I don't promise anything to little kids.

"Well fuck you too then."

The language seemed to catch the other off guard, as the static died down a little. Allen continued trudging forward, ignoring the water rolling along the curve of his spine. With each crunching step, he grew wearier yet again. How long was this going to go on?

The voice sounded rather amused when it spoke again, ringing with mockery. It could be hours. I wouldn't be surprised if the sun has set by the time we get there, especially with your tiny legs~

So Allen lumbered on, step by step in the subzero temperatures, watching as the sun dipped lower and lower. Soon enough, just as the voice had predicted, it was nearly dark – yet there was still no sign of any sort of town.

I'm sure… Allen didn't like the concern that had suddenly filled the fourteenth's tone. I'm sure it's here. Go over that hill. It has to be there.

With a final push of his weary legs, Allen tramped over the hill – lo and behold, just a few more minutes away were the flickering lights of a snow-drenched town. Thank god. So Allen stumbled right back down the hill, nearly falling and rolling down, desperate to reach the lights that were just out of his reach. Lights meant warmth, warmth meant it was safe to sleep. Finally.

"Look, we're here."

Silence, and then…

I can see, moron. You have eyes, and I use them.

Well, Allen hoped the eyeroll was obvious enough to him, then. Last time he ever tried to be nice. And with sore hands, sore feet, sore everything, Allen stumbled up to the first door he set eyes upon, and rapped his knuckles against it.

Finally.


~XoX~

Red's reaction had been one of fear. Of fear, of disgust, of hatred. The moment the dog dared to near his left hand, dared to lick it…

The anger was blinding.

It had been abrupt, the sudden jump back to his feet, and the instantaneous kick directed at the mutt. It had yelped, cried, scampered away with what was surely confusion. And Red seethed, shouting after it. "That's right, piss off, ya dumb mutt!"

Long after the dog had run away, Red stood, the dirt hot and sharp against his feet, anger and guilt prickling across his neck. For too long, he stayed, and let himself be swept up by the emotions, like one of those… one of those large waves he had seen in pretty pictures, ones that could probably sweep away a whole town, if they wanted.

Red was that town. The waves, his emotions.

He walked away.


...

I basically never update these days. But, I couldn't stop myself from writing this chapter, and I'm just gonna post it now and hate it later, lmao. Hope you enjoyed.

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CryDon'tSmile