Chapter 11: Living in the Dark

Shisuta had figured out a way of seeing.

Well, it wasn't her who was seeing. Karo was seeing, but she was seeing through him.

She was able to help them discover certain aspects of the maze they were in.

The light source was in the center of the maze, and the maze itself was an orb. They had been wandering in a giant, gravitationaly weird globe that was only escapable through the central light which was most likely a portal.

The problem was that the gravitational pull was away from the center.

This puzzled Shisuta, because this was usually the opposite of how gravity worked.

I wonder why it pushes away... Most gravitational forces pull toward the central point, not push away.

(You'd know more about it than I do. You weren't there then, but Kuhn tried to fly us up. We flew near the orb, then fell to the other side of it.)

That IS interesting.

HOLD ON!

Like a planet... Yes!

Like a reversed planet, or a planet inverted. I have to wonder if your world is closer to us than expected. I took some time with the well upon receiving it, and studied the earth and other planet structures.

A planet is a solid orb that pulls toward the center as a gravitational pull.

What you're in is a hollow sphere that pushes gravity to the walls. The exact opposite.

We are also in a mirror-verse of sorts, so my guess is that you'll find us when you escape.

He relayed the information to Kuhn.

"I guess that makes sense." He said.

"How will this help with our escaping though? We've already tried flying up there."

Karo sighed. "Well we have to escape, I don't know how, but we have to."

Kuhn gave him a flat look.

"Brilliant Karo, let's just wing it."

They were both exhausted, and frustrated from the near constant movement.

Shisuta was also frustrated, because without Karo, she was blind.

It was very frustrating having to learn how to walk and move around without eyes. Fighting was out off the question for a while too.

She felt completely useless on her own, especially without the well.

Especially because Kuhn had assumed she was finished planning.

Fuck really!? Does Kuhn want my help or not!? I swear, one more sarcastic remark and I will... Wait...

YOU will strangle him!

(ME!? Why me!?)

Because I cannot! Because I desperately want to, but I am only eyes here!

Choke him for me Karo, choke him with his own wings...

(That's pretty brutal Shisuta... I don't know...)

Fine then, but he had better watch his wings when I get a hold of him!

...I am sorry, I get a little... Well, insane sometimes.

(Don't worry, that's part of the draw love.)

She could feel him smiling.

She smiled softly.

How you can handle someone as high maintenance as me? I will never know...

(I really don't mind... How are your eyes feeling? Are they still hurting?)

Not really... It is not... Well not badly. Don't worry about me.

(Shisuta, I just checked. You're still in a lot of pain... You should rest. Please don't overdo it.)

It really is wonderful that you want to protect me... But Karo, you are my eyes.

This way I can spend time with you.

...God... The darkness... It is so... Maddening!

Please! No!

DON'T MAKE ME GO BACK!

Sorry... I am really sorry... I didn't mean for you to hear that.

(Shisuta... You don't have to go. What's happening to you and Haruka? Are you okay?)

Yes, but the sounds of the night are completely horrifying. Karo... Darkness is like a different world.

Well, we are in a different world, but that doesn't change my point.

When you can hear what you cannot see, it is absolutely petrifying...

That laughter... What are they?

(I don't know... I wish I were with you... I would hold you at night, and make sure you knew you were safe.)

I certainly hope you would do more than hold me karo... I've needed your... Attention.

(Attention...? I see how it is!... Your ears are more sensitive since you've lost your sight. I wonder if your skin is more sensitive...? If I could just make you feel what I was imagining...)

Mmmm... That sounds-

"No! No brain porn!" Haruka exclaimed.

"I've seen karo do it! So no! No brain porn."

Shisuta was back into her reality.

She scoffed.

"Just let me have my brain porn, and look away! It is not as if you can read my mind."

Another wave of pain shot through Shisuta's eyes.

She stifled a painful cry.

"Your eyes still bothering you?" She asked.

Shisuta nodded. "Yes... They are. It has become quite excruciating actually."

Haruka sighed. "I'm sorry... Do you want me to give you more of that medicine? You know, the one that you taught me to make? I'm just surprised you could do it blind, and off of my descriptions."

Shisuta grinned.

"Practice makes perfect. Perfection... It is alchemical science! One must have a mind to master it, and sharp eyes to... Oh..."

Shisuta's breath was shaking.

"I will never be able to make my own potions again... I cannot work an altar blind!"

She burst into tears.

Haruka sat next to her on the bed Shisuta was in.

She wrapped her in a hug.

"We'll figure it out. You may learn to feel and hear what you can't see."

Shisuta nodded slowly.

"Okay... Maybe you are right."

She smiled.

"When I get my sight back, I might just scavenge that maze Karo and Kuhn are in, if that's possible. I saw some exploding mushrooms in there, large enough to incinerate..."

She stopped.

"To incinerate an indestructible wall! That's it! The walls!"

"What!? What are you talking about!?" Haruka asked nervously.

"You know what happens when you decide to blow things up! It's always more than you expect!"

Shisuta gave a gleeful giggle.

"I know! Isn't it grand!?"

(Shisuta... I know that sound. That laughter... You're up to something.)

Yes, yes I am...

(Mind telling me what it is?)

KARO! THE MUSHROOMS! BLOW THEM UP!

(WHAT!? Why!? That's really crazy! You'll kill us all!)

Don't be ridiculous! Explosives aren't dangerous if you handle them correctly!

Just make sure not to drop these ones...

Or brush against the bristles...

And don't let the cap bump against the walls...

Oh! And also-

(That's not a good idea.)

Nonsense! it's fantastic!

Karo, if you blow a hole through the wall, there will be a powerful current that plunges you both into the central planet.

Yes! The inverse gravity calls for inverse space matter!

It won't be a vacuum, but a powerful wind current!

(Damn... You know that might actually work. Why does it have to be an explosion though...?)

Why!? It should most definitely be AN EXPLOSION! There is no other solution! Blow up the wall... Do it, not only because you need to escape...

Because it is an impenetrable wall, and I want to see it crumble.

Because it is a giant mushroom, and it must die.

It must die, in the name... OF ALCHEMICAL SCIENCE!

And because... BECAUSE YOU WILL DO IT! BECAUSE I SAID SO!

YES! MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAA!

DIE WALL... DIIIIIIEE!

(...Hmm... Um... ... ...No?)

Karo... Please?

(Shisuta...)

Pretty please, with 'I will withold sex if you don't' on top?

(Are you sure...? Can you really pull that off? Really?)

Um... Y-

\Karo... Karo please... Don't stop...\

Shhh! Quiet brain! He will hear you!

She could feel his amusement.

(Have fun with that... I kind of liked that fantasy though...)

Fine. You have got me there...

But it really is a big enough mushroom to destroy some of that wall...

And it really is looking like your only option.

(What, really? Ugghnn... Fine. I'll blow up the mushroom.)

Yay! Thank you...

(Yeah, yeah...)

He told Kuhn about the plan.

Kuhn grinned.

"Now that's one hell of an escape!"

He faltered.

"It's just that... Well, I don't want die. How will we survive such a huge explosion!?"

He will have to fly. With his skills, it is a fifty fifty chance of survival.

Good luck.

(What!? Oh shit...)

"Kuhn, you're going to have to fly."

He hung his head.

"We're doomed... We're all going to die."

Karo gave him a flat look.

"Huh... Now I know where Hiro get's it from."

Kuhn looked at him.

"Huh? What?"

"Um! I said, that's our only option." He said, covering his snide remake.

Kuhn sighed. "I guess so... Well? Get a mushroom then."

(Shisuta! How do I handle the mushroom!? I'd rather not blow us up!)

Just... Hold it at the base. Once you extract it, it will immediately become explosive. It's a different breed, with the explosive enzymes active in the cap. When the mushrooms are picked, they can go off at the slightest mistake.

...Karo, now I am getting scared.

Be careful, and whatever you do, don't touch the cap.

(You!? Scared about an explosion!? Oh god... This is going to be colossal!)

"It's going to be a big explosion, so we need to fly high and fast. We can't let the cap of one of those mushrooms touch anything once it's picked, or it'll go off."

Kuhn nodded. "I'll try my best."

...

Linn was looking after Haku and Chihiro.

Their conditions were more stable, but they weren't really conscious yet.

All Linn could manage, was to keep them warm and fed.

She had to feed them, and make sure all of the food and water went down right.

She held her stomach.

She sighed heavily.

"If it weren't for you two...? Where would I be..."

She teared up as she remembered her time at the bathhouse.

I always complained about the drama Haku caused.

I practically harassed him before I met Chihiro, talking about how he was no good.

A thief.

A henchman, content with doing Yubaba's dirty work.

I was wrong...

If it weren't for him finding Chihiro, and everything that happened after...

I would have never met Kuhn.

If it weren't for me meeting Kuhn? I would have died in the tainted raid, or be forever changed into a monster.

If it weren't for Haku now?

One of my children would be dead.

She sobbed.

"And all I ever did was moan dammit! Moan and complain!"

She began to cry softly.

"I'm sorry... Please... I hope you don't hate me."

Haku sighed softly.

"I never hated you..."

She jumped.

"You're awake!? Thank god! Damn... I was starting to get worried."

She looked over at Chihiro.

"I hope she wakes up soon..."

Haku tried to sit, but felt dizzy.

He lied back down.

He was lying on one of the blankets they had packed.

...

I looked at Linn.

She looked very worn, and extremely worried.

She probably hasn't rested much since we passed out.

"Linn? How long have we been here?" I asked.

"Just a day." She said.

"Not to long... That's good. I was afraid you might not wake up."

I turned my head and looked at Chihiro.

I sighed. "Chihiro... Is she okay...?"

Linn nodded. "I'm sure she'll be fine. I made sure you were both fed and given water, kept warm, and all of that. She'll be okay."

I nodded sleepily.

"Alright then..."

I felt myself doze off again... Finding peace in the warmth of this seemingly real sunlight.