"Water Torture" Part 4
By Ruby
His chest burned.
He couldn't breathe.
And it was wet.
Why? Was he drowning?
Drip…
Cye didn't think he enjoyed the water so much anymore.
***
Four Warriors leaped through the forest surrounding the lake, trying to find some presence of an ambush. Kento swung on branches like a lemur, dodging leaves and the occasional bird as Ryo followed close behind on the ground. He streaked the area with eyes and ears, hearing only the usual natural clamor and seeing nothing but green.
Cye, where are you, buddy?
Ryo, not detecting anything either, shot him a quick glance. With a sharp nod the two traded places, now he was rushing past the stones and roots. They continued in silence.
Kento was worried. Not the normal worry of going into battle, which was more of a reckless abandon, but this was a new kind that made his senses more aware, even sharper. A premonition, a tingle on the base of the neck, or what ever you wanted to call it. Maybe it was because of the way their armors were somehow linked together, but he would always know if something was wrong with one of the others.
"You feel that?" he asked. Ryo nodded. "Think it's Cye?"
"If it is, we'd better find him soon."
***
A funeral.
His.
It wasn't the romanticized version that was in all the stories; he wasn't a spirit floating passively among friends and family as they talked heartily of how they would miss their late comrade. No, Cye thought as he stared up mutely from his casket mind yelling at the occasional faces that peered over. Not at all.
He wasn't dead; couldn't they see?
Rowen, Sage, Kento, and Ryo. Each came over to see him one last time. All were silent.
I'm alive, talk to me…
Mia looked him in the eyes hard, trying to be strong. She failed, sobbing, and her tears fell gently onto his face.
I'm alive!
She left. Others came to give their respects, ones he recognized and some not at all.
Don't leave…
Someone placed a lonely white rose between his stiff fingers. That was wrong--roses were for the living, and lilacs were for the dead.
But I am not dead…
Finally the coffin closed, and Cye felt it being lowered to the ground. A thump as he landed, then the soft ripple of dirt raining in.
Then an enclosing… empty… eternal silence. A cold end.
Please, oh God, help me.
***
Hardened eyes stared into the lake's hazy blue depths. Enough with the planning… time for more action.
A splash. Followed by three more. The world of open air and pulling gravity suddenly became one of water and near weightlessness.
Even though it was difficult to see where anyone was going they could feel a particular draw urging the Ronins deeper. A very weak pull, but it was still something. Kento, ahead of the others, glanced over the area while clenching and unclenching his jaw. Sage and Rowen tried to explore a few crevices on the lake floor. Ryo with his kitanas was behind, his armor least able in the water.
Other than some plants and occasional fish the four warriors met no resistance.
None at all.
And that scared them.
***
Drip…
The comforting darkness caressed Cye's fevered mind.
'Come,' It hissed.
Drip…
'Come to a better place…'
'So peaceful…'
Drip…
'Just stop…'
'Stop resisting.'
Drip…
'Listen.'
So he did…
…It drew him in…
…And the dripping stopped.
***
Not long after, the Ronins arrived at an underground cavern. The ceiling reached surprisingly high above their heads, and the light of Sage's sword revealed giant shards of stalactites reminiscent of teeth… A very large and very dangerous pair of teeth.
A hush fell over the group as they descended slowly into the dark depths of the cave. The only sound came from their footsteps occasionally finding a pool of water amidst the tense search. They looked to themselves and each other to follow the link that was slowly guiding them. Where was their friend? Was Cye even down there?
So quiet…
For an hour they walked, feeling the thread of hope wavering near what was almost the end of the underground valley. The immense roof that was over them had curved in significantly and was then barely brushing the sides of their armor. It was so far under the ground and so full of night…
Sage felt a shudder go through him, unable to keep in the sense of claustrophobia and darkness clutching at his soul. Just breathe easy and stay calm. Find your center...
And still the walls became closer, closing in, almost collapsing…
"Guys," he murmured, trying to keep himself from panicking. The light of his sword flickered for a moment, causing him to grip it with all his strength. "This place… it just feels *wrong*. I don't know how much more I can take."
"It's okay, Sage," Rowen said, trying to soothe his friend's nerves as they kept walking. "Try to relax and don't let it overwhelm you."
"We can try teleporting out later if we're strong enough," Ryo added. "But we need your light to find Cye. Just concentrate a little bit more for his sake."
The Ronins needed him to focus for the moment. Sage took a deep breath and let it out slowly, forcing his anxiety away. To his surprise, his hands, which had been trembling without his knowledge, stilled. "Okay. I'm all right." Yet even as he spoke those words he couldn't help but feel as if something was watching him intently from one of the shadowy cracks in the walls. Like a deer being stalked…
Shaking off the paranoia he bravely continued as the others followed.
The tunnel they were in looked like it would never end. It didn't seem possible that Cye could be down in such a hidden place, but the link stayed solid and was getting stronger by the minutes. More time passed. When it seemed that they could go no further, their light finally fell into a small cave with walls perfectly carved round as a bubble, and on to a head of brown hair.
"Cye!" Splashing over a small pool of water in the center of the floor, Kento leapt to the side of his unconscious companion and was relieved to see that he was still breathing. He gently lifted up the limp form. "Come on, buddy, we're outta here."
End of Part 4
By Ruby
His chest burned.
He couldn't breathe.
And it was wet.
Why? Was he drowning?
Drip…
Cye didn't think he enjoyed the water so much anymore.
***
Four Warriors leaped through the forest surrounding the lake, trying to find some presence of an ambush. Kento swung on branches like a lemur, dodging leaves and the occasional bird as Ryo followed close behind on the ground. He streaked the area with eyes and ears, hearing only the usual natural clamor and seeing nothing but green.
Cye, where are you, buddy?
Ryo, not detecting anything either, shot him a quick glance. With a sharp nod the two traded places, now he was rushing past the stones and roots. They continued in silence.
Kento was worried. Not the normal worry of going into battle, which was more of a reckless abandon, but this was a new kind that made his senses more aware, even sharper. A premonition, a tingle on the base of the neck, or what ever you wanted to call it. Maybe it was because of the way their armors were somehow linked together, but he would always know if something was wrong with one of the others.
"You feel that?" he asked. Ryo nodded. "Think it's Cye?"
"If it is, we'd better find him soon."
***
A funeral.
His.
It wasn't the romanticized version that was in all the stories; he wasn't a spirit floating passively among friends and family as they talked heartily of how they would miss their late comrade. No, Cye thought as he stared up mutely from his casket mind yelling at the occasional faces that peered over. Not at all.
He wasn't dead; couldn't they see?
Rowen, Sage, Kento, and Ryo. Each came over to see him one last time. All were silent.
I'm alive, talk to me…
Mia looked him in the eyes hard, trying to be strong. She failed, sobbing, and her tears fell gently onto his face.
I'm alive!
She left. Others came to give their respects, ones he recognized and some not at all.
Don't leave…
Someone placed a lonely white rose between his stiff fingers. That was wrong--roses were for the living, and lilacs were for the dead.
But I am not dead…
Finally the coffin closed, and Cye felt it being lowered to the ground. A thump as he landed, then the soft ripple of dirt raining in.
Then an enclosing… empty… eternal silence. A cold end.
Please, oh God, help me.
***
Hardened eyes stared into the lake's hazy blue depths. Enough with the planning… time for more action.
A splash. Followed by three more. The world of open air and pulling gravity suddenly became one of water and near weightlessness.
Even though it was difficult to see where anyone was going they could feel a particular draw urging the Ronins deeper. A very weak pull, but it was still something. Kento, ahead of the others, glanced over the area while clenching and unclenching his jaw. Sage and Rowen tried to explore a few crevices on the lake floor. Ryo with his kitanas was behind, his armor least able in the water.
Other than some plants and occasional fish the four warriors met no resistance.
None at all.
And that scared them.
***
Drip…
The comforting darkness caressed Cye's fevered mind.
'Come,' It hissed.
Drip…
'Come to a better place…'
'So peaceful…'
Drip…
'Just stop…'
'Stop resisting.'
Drip…
'Listen.'
So he did…
…It drew him in…
…And the dripping stopped.
***
Not long after, the Ronins arrived at an underground cavern. The ceiling reached surprisingly high above their heads, and the light of Sage's sword revealed giant shards of stalactites reminiscent of teeth… A very large and very dangerous pair of teeth.
A hush fell over the group as they descended slowly into the dark depths of the cave. The only sound came from their footsteps occasionally finding a pool of water amidst the tense search. They looked to themselves and each other to follow the link that was slowly guiding them. Where was their friend? Was Cye even down there?
So quiet…
For an hour they walked, feeling the thread of hope wavering near what was almost the end of the underground valley. The immense roof that was over them had curved in significantly and was then barely brushing the sides of their armor. It was so far under the ground and so full of night…
Sage felt a shudder go through him, unable to keep in the sense of claustrophobia and darkness clutching at his soul. Just breathe easy and stay calm. Find your center...
And still the walls became closer, closing in, almost collapsing…
"Guys," he murmured, trying to keep himself from panicking. The light of his sword flickered for a moment, causing him to grip it with all his strength. "This place… it just feels *wrong*. I don't know how much more I can take."
"It's okay, Sage," Rowen said, trying to soothe his friend's nerves as they kept walking. "Try to relax and don't let it overwhelm you."
"We can try teleporting out later if we're strong enough," Ryo added. "But we need your light to find Cye. Just concentrate a little bit more for his sake."
The Ronins needed him to focus for the moment. Sage took a deep breath and let it out slowly, forcing his anxiety away. To his surprise, his hands, which had been trembling without his knowledge, stilled. "Okay. I'm all right." Yet even as he spoke those words he couldn't help but feel as if something was watching him intently from one of the shadowy cracks in the walls. Like a deer being stalked…
Shaking off the paranoia he bravely continued as the others followed.
The tunnel they were in looked like it would never end. It didn't seem possible that Cye could be down in such a hidden place, but the link stayed solid and was getting stronger by the minutes. More time passed. When it seemed that they could go no further, their light finally fell into a small cave with walls perfectly carved round as a bubble, and on to a head of brown hair.
"Cye!" Splashing over a small pool of water in the center of the floor, Kento leapt to the side of his unconscious companion and was relieved to see that he was still breathing. He gently lifted up the limp form. "Come on, buddy, we're outta here."
End of Part 4