Damaged Forever
Chapter Three: Little Birdie
By: Efra
"In this place…this peaceful place…for a soul seeking blood this place is a prison surrounded by water something blood cannot be extracted from, all the souls running around here like nothing is wrong, how disgusting."
Suferio laid in its usual tropical happy climate with the typical mischievous Menodix's plotting against another. Though it was summer dark clouds loomed up over the lake threateningly. One Menodix, by the name of Roger S. Huxley sat high o mighty on a small island right in the middle of the crystal clear lake proudly. His hench men, as he calls them, Melt and Dribe sat in the grass below him. Roger crossed his arms and looked at the clouds curiously losing all mental contact with his friends' words.
"So I think if we hit them with the water frogs here. They'll go to the north." Melt muttered moving a couple of paper figures across a badly made model of Suferio. "We can hit them here with the mud balls." Dribe reported. "What do you think? Boss?" Melt asked looking to Roger who had found himself more interested in another figure sitting on the bank across the lake. He was cover in a leather skintight coat with his arms rested on his knee that was pulled up to his chest while his other leg was stretched out on the grass, the water of the bank washing up against his boot softly. His face was half hidden from Roger's point of view by the hood attached to the trench with strands of dark blue hair against his dead white cheek, giving him a sort of Grim Reaper look.
Dribe and Melt followed his gaze as a soft wind blew ruffling the stranger's hood softly. "You noticed him too huh?" Dribe asked jumping up to Roger's level. "Who is he?" Roger asked calmly. Melt and Dribe looked at each other and exchanged shrugs. The weather was growing colder by the moment, though the stranger seemed unaffected. "He's been there all morning. The Chef said he's been there since before dawn. He also said he came from the sandy storms of the desert." Melt muttered. Dribe fell into laughter and tumbled off the rock into the shallow water below. "No one could survive through the harsh desert wearing that He doesn't even have any supplies or even a single drop of life on him." Melt said mysteriously not noticing his lost friend wallowing in the water below.
Roger narrowed his eyes noticing something strangely familiar about the new arrival. The wind began to blow more fiercely as all the Suferians retreated to their houses. Melt covered his face from the cold wind as Dribe finally pulled himself out of the water shaking terribly. "Hey we're gonna go home where it's warm you coming?" Melt asked looking concerned at the darkening clouds. Roger shook his head slowly and hopped off the rock scurrying across a couple bridges and through the undergrowth around his house. The stranger looked over quickly as the Menodix stumbled out from the brush clumsily.
The stranger glared looking disgusted as Roger cursed and dusted himself off. "Why aren't you inside like everyone else?" The stranger asked in an even colder tone then the wind. Roger puffed out his chest looking insulted. "Well exc-use me but your looking rather conspicuous yourself mister. Besides those babies are afraid of getting wet. Well not me." Roger said pointing to himself sharply. The stranger muttered under his breath hiding any part of his face on his knee. "Hey don't hide from me!" Roger demanded. "You're on my bank and I have certain rules about sitting here without my consent." Roger huffed.
The stranger scowled raising his head. "It's nothing but rocks and plant life. Nothing anyone in their right mind would want to own." He sneered standing up to his full height, Roger looked up at him soberly. "Yeah well your suspicious around here. Coming from the desert and all. I want to know where you came from your name and your class." Roger demanded pulling his ax. "Or I'll be forced to drive you out." He added. "Drive me out with a little blade stuck to a stick? That's rich." The stranger said sarcastically.
Roger narrowed his eyes nervousness attacking his body. The stranger smiled and leaned down next to Rogers ear whispering "Alright you want to know who I am?" He asked and continued to whisper. There was a flash of lightning and reflected on the water and the bang of thunder. Roger's eyes widened looking the man in the eye. The stranger tilted his head to the side smirking evilly.
"You…your…you came back…." Roger stuttered falling onto the grass.
"What do you mean? I never left." The stranger said sitting down again.
"Dose Nel know?" Roger asked happily jumping to his feet his tail wagging back and fourth.
A smile crossed onto the stranger lips suspiciously staring into the water seeing Roger's refection but not his own. The reflection of a bird-flying overhead caught his eyes; slowly he looked up to it as it pasted overhead. "Oh yes. She defiantly knows." He muttered red blood spattering over his face.
I shot the little birdie
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Cliff hummed to himself as he lay on his back underneath a huge engine. He was covered in grease and black dust. Grabbing a wrench from a red box next to him he took to work on the engine again. Several thoughts crossed over his mind as he worked. How Fayt was doing. How Albel was getting along. Why wasn't Nel replying to him? Wondering if Roger had fallen into a hole and broken his leg like he so deserved. At least until he turned the wrong bolt. Oil suddenly spilt out splashing him over the face. Cliff jumped up hitting his head on the engine cursing loudly.
Gasping for breath and rubbing his head Cliff crawled out from under the piece of machinery clumsily. Cliff muttered angrily under his breath rubbing his head tenderly his hair becoming stained by the oil and blood. "Damn it…" Cliff muttered finally noticing the blood through the oil and his throbbing head. Mirage entered the doorway looking curious. Cliff bit his tongue looking at her blankly. Mirage in return stared blankly at him.
"Don't you dare…" Cliff warned.
"Why not?" Mirage asked a smile crossing her lips.
"Don't you even think about it." Cliff warned again.
Mirage sighed and grabs a handkerchief from the floor walking over to the Klausian calmly. "You should try being more careful." She said rubbing the oil off Cliff's face. Cliff in return looked down dizzily with a look of shame. "I was. My length of careful just isn't good enough." Cliff muttered staggering to one side the pain in his head becoming worse. "Oh dear… seems you gave yourself yet another concussion. C'mon you lets get you patched up." Mirage giggled pulling Cliff towards the door.
A small beeping sound rang throughout the small chamber. Cliff stood straight immediately and dashed over to the engine again. Falling to his knees he retched under it for a small silver device. Cliff muttered flopping onto his stomach and crawling half way back under the engine again finally grabbing the device and crawling back out. Mirage was leaning in the doorway looking pleased with her herself. "Well who is it?" She asked calmly.
Cliff woozily inspected the device that read Leingod, Fayt. His eyes lit up seeing the letters on the screen and pressed a green button on the small console. "Hey Fayt what's up?" Cliff greeted trying to sounds as healthy as possible. There was silence from a moment over the communicator before Fayt's voice, scared and faint carried over.
"…Cliff…"
Cliff looked up to Mirage then back to the communicator again. "Hey buddy what's wrong you sound like…like…" Cliff began but found himself at a loss for words on how to describe the boy's voice. Mirage looking concerned walked over to Cliff quickly.
"Like…I'm dieing…" Fayt finished for him.
Cliff narrowed his eyes. "Fayt what's the matter? Are you ok? Is there someone there with you?" Cliff asked trying to keep calm. "Do you need me to come to you?"
A small groan came over the communicator quietly "It…it hurts…"
"Fayt!"
"…Help me…Cliff…"
And watched it die
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Fayt dropped the communicator the darkness of the room surround him. The cuts on his sounder burned and seared painfully bleeding out the now sticky reddish black color of Fayt's blood. Fayt fell onto the floor again his energy completely wiped out from standing. The room was spinning and blurry his consciousness was slipping away. Visions of that man flashing into his head causing him to shudder. Slowly his eyes were closing. "No…wake up…" Fayt muttered his shoulder screaming in pain now. His body was cold colder then he even thought was possible though lying on a carpet. The floor felt like cold hands caressing over him.
I watched the little birdie
Those words…were they his own? Fayt couldn't distinguish them as well as he should. Was that man still here with him? Or was something else talking to him. A wash of nausea sweep over him. Fayt pulled himself up onto his knees weakly staring at the carpet, another sharp pain stabbed at him in the back. The sickness grew worse with every beat of his heart heaving forward Fayt fell onto his side again. His chest heaved he felt as if he was choking with someone slowly pushing in his rib cage. Rolling onto his back warm liquid fell from his eyes, slowly Fayt reached up wiping the liquid from his eyes onto his hand but it was far from tears…
Fall from the sky
His stomach turned circles seeing the red substance running down his hand. He blinked through dilated eyes; he choked again his breathing constricted, his lungs screaming for more air. His blood was gone from his hand and face. Then he pulled himself up. He sat staring blankly at the floor one leg pulled up to his chest with his arms rested on it. Snow fell down in front of him and he found himself sitting on a wooden wall that fell to sickening depths with one of his legs over the edge. Fayt tried to look around by found himself petrified in the same position. He noticed was wearing a claw on his left arm. Fayt blinked again staring down the huge stonewall to the rocky depths below.
I killed poor little birdie
"They… they…" Fayt spoke unwilling "They left me here…" He spoke again in words that were not his. Those four words echoed mercilessly in his mind. Wait…am I…am I Albel? Fayt thought to himself. Albel! Albel! Can you hear me? Fayt called.
"Don't worry I won't ever abandon you." Another all to familiar voice said. Fayt turned around to see that man standing there just in front of the ladder that lead to Albel's perch as it was nick named in the old days. Slowly he stood up standing mostly on one leg gripping the Crimson Scourge tightly. "Who are you?" Albel voice rang lowly and distant. The man gesture widely stepping forward a few inches. "I'm your friend. Don't you remember me?" He asked. Albel scowled "Your not my friend I've never seen you in my life." He snapped.
Now she'll never fly
The stranger's face twisted into a smirk. "Yes you have. You've been thinking of nothing else but me. And now here I am. Remember?" He asked extending his hand to Albel. Albel took a step back towards the wall. "Careful Albel. You'll fall." The man said stepping forward again slowly. "Who the hell are you!" Albel demanded taking another step back. "You of all people should know. I'm the one person you actually trusted in your life. Now…I don't want to half to dive down after you please step away from the wall?" He asked comfortingly extending his hand to Albel again.
I broke poor little birdie
"Please?" He asked again. Albel hesitated Then slowly reached for the mans hand. Albel no! Fayt yelled to no avail. He was falling all over again visions of his friends before they separated flashed into his mind. The were clear at first but began to blur and fade.
And her pain makes me cry
"What's going on? My friends…where are they? Why can't I see them anymore?" Fayt muttered his own existence becoming less believable by the second. "Sophia? Sophia are you here?" Fayt muttered thinking of her. He stared around the total blackness around him again. "Where are you guys?…Am I alone?" Fayt continued. His surroundings changed again.
I hurt poor little birdie
He was standing just outside The Passageway From Parch To Plenty. The sun beamed down on the desert in it extreme heat. The warmth prickled Fayt all over slowly warming his icy skin. He felt a feeling of anxiousness as he looked around for something or someone. Finally looking to the worn statues that lead to the desert he found a man walking away from them in a cloak. "Wait!" Fayt yelled running after the man. The man stopped and looked over his shoulder with his red cat eyes. Fayt stopped feet away from him. The mans black hair that lead to blonde fell messily around his shoulders. "What do you want Fayt?" He asked.
Oh I wonder why?
Fayt tried to speak but his voice was a hoarse whisper. Albel continued to talk but his voice never meet Fayt's ears. Slowly Fayt fell to his knees again. Albel blurred just like all of his friends before. "What's going on?" Fayt screamed reaching for Albel who grew farther and farther away. He was back in the darkness again running into nothing and everything. There seemed to be no end to his fading friends. Finally Fayt stopped looking down at himself he found that he was fading away as well. "What…where… where are my friends!" Fayt screamed again staring around the darkness again. Are you sure they even existed? Another voice asked him.
Fayt's eyes widened at this thought. "Do they exist? Do I even exist anymore?" He thought staring down at his becoming extinct body again. "I can't feel my heart anymore…I can't see anymore…I can't hear anymore…there's nothing around me…I'm nothing anymore…I don't exists anymore…" Fayt thought closing his eyes. "That's why they aren't here with me…they never existed…and neither do I." Fayt finished and fell lightly face first into the darkness again.
"Fayt!"
Fayt opened his eyes slightly. "Who is that?" He asked himself.
"Fayt! Wake up!"
"Someone else? That's not possible…or is it?" Fayt opened his eyes fully. There were several figures around him, two distinctly solid figures staring down at him. His vision slowly came into focus, his room stood around exactly as he had left it. Two blondes stared down at him looking concerned. Fayt blinked slowly his eyes feeling like someone had thrown sand in his face.
"Cliff?" Fayt murmured.
The taller figure smiled and pulled Fayt into his arms. "Hey buddy welcome back." Cliff said softly. Fayt stared around for a while longer Mirage finally coming into focus. "His eyes are dilated. He might have some sort of poison or drug in him. Let's get him to the ship." She said to Cliff calmly. Suddenly it hit Fayt. All the dreams and visions he had seen. They finally made sense. Quickly he gripped Cliff's shoulder firmly. Cliff looked down at him with a concerned expression. "What is it?"
"Cliff!" Fayt cried struggling to get up.
"Whoa Fayt! Calm down!" Cliff cried holding onto the boy firmly. "Just calm down and tell me what's on your mind!"
Fayt stopped struggling and stared at Cliff soberly. "Cliff we half to go back to Ellicoor. Now."
I guess I was jealous of little birdie
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The clouds rolled on over Suferio causing a dense darkness around it. The man sat still on the bank staring up at the clouds with dead eyes. "Interesting weather. It must be doing this because I'm here." He muttered. "Don't you think?" He asked looking to his right. The Menodix known as Roger laid on his back his chest covered in blood. The man smirked and looked back to the clouds again. "Poor little creature…" He sneered glancing to Roger's motionless corpse again. Another voice was barely hearable over the raging wind. The man looked interested and listened closely.
"Roger! Roger!" The woman called,
"Roger! Roger!" The man mimicked poorly. "Looks like your mom is looking for you…too bad she isn't going to see you ever again." He muttered standing up bringing Roger with him by his tail. "Poor poor creature. Maybe you won't get sent directly to Hell." He smirked. Roger groaned loudly and opened his eyes. "Aw it lives." The man sneered again. Roger's eyes widened two times their normal size at the sight of the stranger. "But why? WHY F—" Roger cried.
"Shut up! I'm not who you think I am. I'm the one who stares back at you from a mirror fool! I thought that you would have figured it out by now… " The man snapped throwing Roger into the water. "Idiot…" He cursed under his breath. The man plopped back onto the grass resting his hand on a small being next to him. Slowly he looked over to a small bird that lie motionless in the grass. He picked it up in his hand gently staring at its blue and white feathers. Cupping his hand around the bird softly he stared at the water again. There was no sign of the Menodix at all.
Looking back to his hand he muttered "It's all for the greater good." Then he squeezed his hand with extreme force. The bird's blood dripped out from his hand sickeningly.
Because I'll never fly
Nyaha! How's that for another chapter. Everyone's eyes are probably all dried out by now forgive me…But now were getting somewhere. Anyway reviews are appreciated always and more updates coming soon. I fixed this btw now it's all it should be oh and thanks to Ani May Queen for posting this poem up on her artwork page
Peace!
Efra
