Disclaimer: Otaku-Sage-of-Llamas does not claim to own Tales of the Abyss and its characters. Rather that privilege belongs to Bandai-Namco.
Additional Warnings: nondescript torture (upping rating to M just in case)
Authoress' Other Notes: Sorry for taking so long to update but I had been dealing with a small bout of depression and I was staffing all four days of a con. Anyways, so, the start of a chain of drastic events commences in this chapter (though doesn't end here). I'm actually kind of nervous about this chapter as Lia's/Emilio's path diverges from the party for a while, however not for too long. You'll see what I mean eventually.
Again, thanks go to Random Reviewer for your kind words again (no, it's not bad, part of it was supposed to be funny), Starkitty for your constructive criticism, and everyone else that has taken the time to read and/or favorite this story. It means a lot to me.
Awakening
What reason is there for our existence upon this planet?
That's the question that everyone debates over.
Lost in a barren desert, we struggle to find an oasis,
A sanctuary from the brutal wasteland.
Deluded and misguided, when will we find our escape out of the desert?
Or are we doomed to wander aimlessly for the rest of time?
Chapter 4: Hopeless
"Oh look, there's Anise," Ion commented and my insides started panicking as we reached the edge of the forest. The forest was so dense with trees, that it was nearly impossible to spot the sun from the ground beneath the tree tops, and thus very little sunlight penetrated down to us.
However, as we approached the exit, it became brighter and brighter, illuminating the colorful array of flowers and bushes that were so exotic to me as I have not seen any like that back home. Name any color of the rainbow and there would be a plant matching that shade perfectly. My favorite from the Cheagle Woods was a pale pink flower were purple dots scattered across its petals.
Anise beamed at the sight of the Fon Master and ran over with some soldiers following behind her. The light reflecting off of their armor gave off a bit of a glare, causing me to squint my eyes as spending so much time in the woods made me sensitive to the light, more so than I usually am. I actually preferred darkness, not that it was pitch black here since sunlight was still able to sneak in a bit here.
"Hello there, how's the Tartarus?" Jade greeted, smirking in the way that I was too familiar with. The soldiers saluted him with respect as Anise gave her report to the colonel.
"Right next to the woods just like you wanted.~"
"Hey, what's with this?" Luke scowled as the soldiers surrounded the three of us on all sides.
"Arrest those two. They were the ones responsible for the hyper resonance," Jade commanded to the soldiers, who loyally obeyed.
"Why me?" I shouted when I was grabbed as well by the arms, the soldier twisted my hands behind my back and tied them with rope.
"Oh, just for precautionary measures," I am not buying that excuse and the light bouncing off his glasses did not help either.
"Jade. Please don't hurt them," Ion pleaded as we were dragged onto the Tartarus. We were taken to the same residential room as the video game, seated at a table with Tear between Luke and I. Ion, Anise, and Jade stood across from us.
The quarters were as clean and organized as it was in the game. There were two sets of bunk beds, all of which had their sheets made properly. Metal comprised the entire vessel framework and I could hear a faint metallic sound, possibly from the engine room or such, as the Tartarus moved across the land slowly.
There was an occasional bump that the Tartarus glided over on the surface of the earth as terrain, regardless of where it is, is never perfect and flat but it only rocked us a tiny bit like a very minor earthquake. It was not enough vibration to make us fall from our seats.
"Now, the two of you illegally crossed the borders via hyperresonance, which could be considered an act of aggression against Malkuth. However, first, I believe that you haven't properly introduced yourselves yet," the colonel pushed up his glasses. Dude, that's even more creepy when you are actually there in person.
"I'm aware that Tear is a member of the Oracle Knights but you two are?" Jade looked at Luke and I, causing us to exchange glances with the other.
"I'm Luke fon Fabre, the one that you guys tried to kidnap," Luke scowled as I remained quiet.
"Oh? That must make you the son of the duke that married into the Kimlascan royal family," Anise's face brightened as Jade revealed that.
"However, why are you in Malkuth? And also, I'm not aware of any such unpleasant kidnapping."
"I wasn't aware that Luke was a seventh fonist and our fonons caused a hypersonic, causing us to land in Tataroo Valley. It was no act of aggression by House Fabre," Tear explained.
"Alright, but how about you and how are you involved with these two?" Jade turned his attention to me.
Oh crap…
"I'm Emilio, a Malkuth citizen, and just encountered them at Tataroo Valley," I half-lied. It's not like they had a computer database of names so how would he knew if I wasn't a civilian of Malkuth?
"Location of residence?"
"Keterburg," I answered reluctantly. I couldn't change it after I made that huge lie to Luke and Tear. His face remained neutral but I could tell a slight movement in his facial expression.
"This is a long way from Keterburg," he commented suspiciously.
"Jade, Emilio is just an innocent bystander," Ion spoke on my behalf. Aww, he's so sweet.
"Hmm, very well. Then you are free to leave," What? Wait a minute…
I can't defend myself so how am I supposed to find a way home alone!
"We'll drop you off at Engeve," This shouldn't be happening. Everything is going by too fast to keep up with and process into my brain.
"Wait, what about me!" Luke threw a fit like the spoiled brat he is.
"You are a separate matter," Jade answered vaguely. I guess he doesn't want a "civilian" like me to know about the details about the war brewing and their attempts at peace.
"I have an issue to address you in private that is not the concern of a mere civilian."
"Well, sorry for being ordinary," I replied sarcastically as my mood turned sour, glaring right at the colonel.
"Oh, he's a feisty one, colonel.~" Anise teased.
"Indeed. Now, Anise, will you watch these two as I escort Mr. Emilio off the Tartarus?" Anise saluted him as Jade led me through the corridors silently, with the exception of his tall boots clanking on the metal flooring.
Reaching the exit, a soldier handed me my small bundle of belongings, which for right now was the intricately engraved staff, some gald, and a few apple gels that I found in the woods.
"Thanks," I mumbled to the soldier, who nodded in return. When I turned, I saw Jade staring intently at me. His crimson eyes really were unnerving.
"Do I have something on my face?" Nice Emilio is on vacation right now and I doubt that he will return anytime soon.
"No, there's just something peculiar about you and I can't point my finger at it yet," he held his chin in thought. Oh, like how I make a very effeminate dude?
"So says the Necromancer," I scoffed, rolling my eyes.
"Watch it or I will arrest you for harassing a military officer," and with his tone of voice, I couldn't tell whether he was serious or not.
Without exchanging any more words, I departed from the Tartartus and returned to Engeve. It took me about thirty minutes, though thankfully there was a nice wind breeze going to keep me cool. I plopped myself on top of an old tree stump near the market area and rested my head on my arms.
I could hear multiple voices conversing with one another, although nothing was distinguishable enough to make sense of the conversations, from the market as it was busy with activity. However, the smell of freshly baked apple pies and freshly caught fish permeated its way until it reach my nose, causing my stomach to growl at me in hunger.
Hunger aside, how do I proceed from here? So far, I've had no clues about my arrival here and how to go back.
Will I ever see my parents and friends again? My body shook uncontrollably as I cried, uncaring of the looks I received from passerbys.
When I exhausted all my tears, I raised my head and almost shouted. There was Van talking, near the fish vendor next to the meat counter, to Sync and Dist! The other God Generals were not present and I presume that they were probably on the Tartarus by now.
Suddenly, thoughts entered my head about Akzeriuth and the countless people that will die there. Here I have this knowledge of what is yet to unfold but could I do anything to stop it?
Raising to my feet, I slowly made my way towards the trio as thousands of panicked, scattered thoughts ran through my head.
Within the haze, I took notice of the butcher's knife lying on the stall of the meat vendor. When the vendor turned his back to rummage through a box on the ground, perhaps grabbing a hold of more stock to place on his table, I swiftly grabbed the knife and lunged at Van with it.
It was a stupid move really. Most people would probably call it suicidal as no one would put their bets on a combat inexperienced girl defeating a very experienced man that was raised to be a knight. I had a better chance if I kicked him in the balls.
Unsurprisingly, Van dodged my desperate blow, grabbing my wrist that held the knife twisting it as he moved behind me to turn the blade at my throat.
"Commandant, are you alright?" Sync asked while Dist remained quiet, not that he cared much about Van's wellbeing or so I imagined based on his actions late in the game. Really, he just used Van as a means to try to obtain the professor's replica data and he could care less about Van's goals.
"I'm fine," he grunted and I could feel the vibrations from his throat right behind my ear. I'm not really comfortable with how close he is standing to me but that should really be the least of my worries.
"Now, what were your intentions? Do you have some grudge against the Order of Lorelei?" Not really, just you and your evil goatee. I struggled in his hold, which made him press the knife harder, starting to actually cut into my pale skin. Again, I could feel some odd sensation of where the cut is but there still was no pain.
"I won't sit by idly as you sacrifice countless of innocent people!" Tears poured down my face yet again. Even if I am to die here, then at least it would honorable.
At least…I tried to change something, even though I failed. I can't remain weak and pathetic forever. Always depending on others to fight my own battles.
No…that ends here.
"What do you know?" he demanded harshly as the knife faltered a bit. I bit down on my tongue before I responded with something I would regret.
"There's a crowd of observers forming," Dist commented.
"Fine," Van lowered the knife and dragged me off towards the inn for a more private interrogation. Sync stood watch outside the door of the room while I was tied to a chair. Van paced around me, playing with the knife in his hands, as Dist took a seat on the bed, searching through my sparse possessions.
"Now, tell me," he threatened and when I did not comply, he started sadistically cutting me with the knife. Even though I had no pain to deal with, I cannot stand seeing copious amounts of blood like this. Television and animated gore did not bother me much bit something so real as this did.
Blood completely covered my vision as I quickly fainted, losing consciousness.
Two guards led me through the hallways of some sort of hospital or insane asylum. I shuddered at the thought of the last option. The air conditioner was loud and running, chilling my white gown covered body as we proceeded through a dimly illuminated tile hallway. Despite the darkness hovering across the corridors, I could see that dirt covered the walls and floors, clearly there were no housekeeping crew here.
My mind shifted back to the guards, where exactly are they taking me? Why am I here? What is this place? A thousand more questions plagued my mind.
"Here ya go," I heard one of the burly men grunted in a thick accent as the other opened a metal door and shoved me into a room. The light blinded me temporarily as my eyesight adjusted to the brightly lit room.
However, it appeared that I was not alone. This was someone's office. A lady, dressed in a crimson suit, smiled at me cruelly as she rose up from the seat of her desk, books and papers neatly organized on top of it, and ushered me to lay on the couch beside her desk.
As I opened my mouth to protest, with inhuman strength, she tossed me onto the couch with a loud thud as my back collided with the cushion, my back screaming at me in intense pain.
Her hands wrapped around my neck, her long fingernails digging marks into my skin, as she whispered into my ear, "You have no choice in the matter. You belong to us now and I will not let you ruin years of precious research!"
"Where are my parents?" I demanded as a nasty grin covered her face.
"You are considered dead to the world. That doctor was so easily bribed to let us take your body to use for scientific research since he thought that you would never regain consciousness. Though, it turns out that we were both wrong. Regardless, your parents were informed that you passed away one night," she chuckled as a look of absolute horror and fear crossed my face.
"There's no escape!" she laughed manically and I shivered as it resounded through the rest of the office. Please just let this be a horrible dream…
"Don't you have dreams? Something worth living for?" Ophelia, named after the character from Shakespeare's play Hamlet, asked me, leaning against a railing looking over the water on a pier. There was nothing else but for the endless ocean and the pier that we stood on.
Hmm…that's…this is definitely not real. This is one of the characters that I sketched and made up, I realized. Her long midnight black hair with distinctive bangs, that almost resembled the claw-like bangs used in ancient Roman sculpture to depict Augustus, and piercing light purple eyes.
"I don't know. I'm still trying to discover myself," I replied.
"Just because you had a couple of set backs, don't give up. I know that there's something meant for you."
"Right," I said unconvinced. I am still baffled that I am having a conversation with a character that I made up.
"Don't look so down. Everything happens for a reason," she reassured me.
"Mmhmm…"
"Just hang in there, alright? The world works in mysterious ways…" Ophelia stood up straight from leaning on the rail to rest her head against mine smiling.
When I regained consciousness, I was no longer bound to the chair but lying on the inn bed. As I moved around waking from my sleep, I felt somebody sit down on the bed cleaning my head with a wet cloth. I could smell a hint of a rose-like perfume.
"My, you have such a strong will to live," Dist said softly, washing the blood off of me. His white gloves were off, laying on the nightstand next to the lamp, exposing dark purple nail polish matching his lipstick.
"You don't have to worry, Van is done with his little temper tantrum for now. Though, I must say that you were rather clever in concealing your gender," My body tensed and sensing my reaction, Dist stopped cleaning my body.
"What…?"
"There's nothing to be concerned about. Except for making Sync carry you to the bed, no one laid a hand on you while unconscious," he reassured me, yet, he did not explain how he discovered my gender.
Why him, when everyone else has been so blind? I sat straight up, staring at the effeminate God General at eye level. His skin was just as pale as my own and his red eyes, emphasized by long eyelashes, were not as intimidating as Jade's, actually they were soft despite the harsh exterior he put on.
"Though, I'm afraid that I had to divulge that information to Van. I don't know what he has planned for you but he wants you alive."
"And if I try to escape?" I looked at the door that stood fifteen feet away from the foot of the bed. There was no concern of outrunning Dist as you always see him in the game riding on his floating chair so I presume that he is not the athletic type but the issue is who would be waiting outside of that door.
"Certain death, unfortunately, for a pretty lass like you," he replied grimly.
"Then, I will take my chances," I rose out of the soft bed and the God General could only state at me as if I grew another head.
The cage door creaks open slowly. Flap your wings, little birdie, and find your freedom.
Even if your wings have yet to ripen into maturity, give it your all.
We all die sometime in this life…
…and wouldn't it be better to die attempting to seek freedom than,
remaining trapped within your prison?