gloom

"Are you Migel of Zaibach?" The boy's head twisted sharply around showing a bloody gash on his forehead. He nodded slowly, his grey eyes piercing into hers sharply.


Hitomi was horrified by his wound, but leaned forward again and grabbed his shoulders. "Please tell me where Van is!"

"I...Don't...Know..." Migel said slowly, his eyes turning back forward. The gash began bleeding, the blood falling in Hitomi's hands.

Suddenly, the boat docked, and Migel rose slowly, and began walking towards the gate. Hitomi followed, looking around.

The gates creaked open and slowly, Migel walked in. Hitomi wasn't sure if she wanted to go on. Suddenly, up ahead, she saw a boy with a bright red shirt, and raven hair. He seemed to be of a distance, but Hitomi reconized that back anywhere.

It was Van.

"Van!" Hitomi screamed sprinting forward, but was held back by a cold hand.

It was Migel. he stared right into her eyes, not budging. "You aren't of the dead are you?"

Hitomi's chin trembled as she shook her head no. The stench of rotton soil drifted into her nose.
She tried to wrench her hand out of his grasp, but he was too strong.

"If... you are... not. then leave... us in ...peace. You have.. tormented... Lord Dilandau... enough."

Migel shoved Hitomi backward onto the ground, and he walked off into the gates.

Hitomi was shaken. Suddenly, she saw the gates closing. And once those gates closed, she would never get the chance to save Van.

She jumped up and sprinted with all her might towards those gates. It was too late. The gates closed inches from her hands with a clang. Through the gates, she saw hundreds of souls being chained together, then they began marching, like an army forward, with maddening slowness.

"Van! Don't go!" Hitomi cried screaming through the barriers before her.

The boy with the red shirt marched forward, but turned his head slowly to look at her. He had a sad look on his face. He turned back and began walking again.

Hitomi shook the bars. "Van! Please!" tears formed in her eyes and fell to the ground. Suddenly, a flash of light appeared, and the gloom disappeared. She saw before her, a tall man, his face in shadow.
he had a silvery grey hair, and a mechanical arm. He lifted his face and Hitomi gasped.

"Folken?" She ran foward and lept in his arms. "Folken! Please! Help me save Van! He can't die!"

Folken patted Hitomi's shoulder with affection. "Hitomi, he's already dead."

"Folken-"

"Hitomi, you have two choices." Just then, Hitomi noticed that behind Folken, there were two paths. And on each path, was a sign pointing down the path.

"That one." Folken pointed down the one to his right.
"Is back to life. Hitomi... I don't want you to die. you must leave this place now!"
"That one.." Folken pointed to the other one. "Is to the shadow lands. is the path where the dead march to their judgement."

Folken almost looked concerned. "Hitomi. Please don't go down there. I don't know what's there, because I've never been there myself. I'm sure Van wouldn't like you to put yourself through all the risk." Folken blinked. "You might not come back."

Hitomi looked on in horror.
Suddenly, a flash of Van's sad face game through her mind.
"No folken. I must save Van." With that, Hitomi sprinted down the road to Folken's left. "Hitomi!" Folken called, but it was too late. Hitomi already disappeared down the road.

end of chpt 3

a/n: sorry.. kinda short. I haven't decided what she'll see yet.