AN: Ok this is gonna get tricky for a while. I'm gonna try to make it longer but, if I can't I'm sorry. The heat is driving me up the wall. It's so humid here it's not funny. The breeze is even hot! Neways, hope u enjoy this chapter.
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The sun had not yet begun to rise and Van had threatened Hitomi over five times that if she didn't relax he was going to drag her outside and throw her into the fountain to cool her down.
In the end, she ended up sleeping on his lap while he played with Faith's fingertips. Gently moving his fingers over her tiny knuckles like he had done so many times before.
"I've got it!"
Van jumped back as Hitomi pushed herself up from his lap and ran out the door. He sat there quite confused as he tried to get his heart to stop racing while watching the door. Millerna and Merle just looked at each other than laughed.
"I know what to do!" Hitomi exclaimed as she came back into the room. She looked at the two laughing women then down at Van. She darted across the room and slid on her knees in front of him, smiling.
"Ah, Hitomi?" He asked slightly confused. She held up an oval shaped pink pendant and swung it before his eyes.
"Wha..."
"Are you coming with me?" She asked.
"What are you talking about?"
"Remember the reason I came back to Fanelia in the first place?" She asked.
"I do! You came to save lord Van!" Merle said.
"Right and how did I do that?" Hitomi asked still swinging the pendant.
"Through...are you serious Hitomi? I mean, we don't even know if that's why Faith is sick. It could just be nothing at all." Millerna said.
"Only one way to find out. Besides, Faith said she was hearing voices right? Maybe if I entered her mind, I could find out what she's hearing. It's obviously some sort of vision for her. They tell her things that she doesn't know. Maybe deep inside she knows what's going to happen. I know this sounds kinda crazy but..."
"Let's do it."
All three women turned to look at Van who had finally had the time to snap out of his daze and had taken Hitomi's hand to stop the swinging pendant.
"If there's a chance we can find something then we should do it. We're wasting time here so let's go." He said. Hitomi smiled and hugged him. He barely had time to stop himself from hitting the floor.
"Thank you." She said. He smiled back and they sat to decide their plan of action.
Hitomi had it all figure out and they sat on each side of Faith's bed. Their hands joined and each holding one of Faith's they closed their eyes to concentrate.
"Ok, I'm not sure how this will work but, we have to stick together. If something's there that isn't supposed to be, we're stronger that way." She explained.
"Right. Let's do this." Van said.
"Be careful." Merle said. Both nodded and began concentrating. Within moments they were surrounded by light and had entered Faith's mind.
Hitomi sat up and rubbed her head. Somehow her perfect plan had backfired and she was alone in a black void.
~Oh great, where's Van? Did he make it? Yes, I can feel his presence somewhere around this mess. Van!! Answer me Van!~ She called as she walked through the darkness.
Van woke in a totally different area than Hitomi and had been walking around looking for her as well. Little did either of them know that they were both being watched.
~It's time to play! You've picked the wrong time to come here.~
From their different positions, Van and Hitomi looked to find the voice that boomed from all directions. Nothing but darkness could be seen.
~Who are you?~ Hitomi asked as she looked around. She could here a child laughing.
~Faith? Faith where are you?~ Hitomi asked as she ran toward the laughter. The darkness cleared and Faith came to stand in front of Hitomi. She looked sad and angry at the same time.
~Why Mommy? Why did you let the voice find me?~ Faith asked.
~Faith, I...~
~He came and took me away! It's your fault! Why didn't you come sooner? Why?~ Faith questioned her.
~No Faith you're safe you...~
~No! I called for you to help me Mommy. I called and you never came.~ Faith cried as she slowly disappeared.
~Faith! Faith come back! I love you Faith don't leave!~ Hitomi yelled as she fell to her knees, crying. She heard the laughter again but, this time it was louder almost taunting.
~Stop! Stop it now! Please stop! Faith!~ She pleaded.
Van wasn't having much luck either but, it wasn't as bad as what Hitomi was going through.
~Hitomi!~
Evil laughter surrounded him and he stopped to find the source.
~You lost Fanel. They belong to me now!~
~Who are you and what do you want with Faith?~
~She's mine now and so is she.~
~Who?~
The evil laughter came again and Van turned to see Hitomi walking toward him.
~Hitomi!~
She stopped and looked at him with confusion. Faith appeared by her side. She smiled and narrowed her eyes at him. This action confused him and he stepped closer to her.
~Hitomi?~
~Don't look at me like that. I told you not to leave my side and he found me because of you..~
~What are you talking about Hitomi?~ He asked. A figure appeared behind them and Van's eyes grew. He had long gray hair and the emptiest black eyes just as Hitomi had foreseen. He placed one arm around Hitomi and the other on Faith's shoulder. Van frowned deeply and closed his eyes.
~I don't believe you! You're lying! I believe in Hitomi and that's not her! It's not!~
~Damn you!~
The figures disappeared and Van saw the real Hitomi sitting on her knees, crying.
~Hitomi!~
She didn't look up in fear that he was just another messed up illusion.
~He's trying to trick us Hitomi, you were right. We've got to stick together. Hitomi look at me please.~
She looked up to see his worried eyes looking back at her and immediately knew it was him.
~It was horrible Van! Faith she...she wouldn't...~
~It's not real Hitomi, he's messing with our heads! Follow your heart.~ He told her. She stopped crying then and stood up as she heard the taunting laughter of her daughter again.
~You're right Van. That's not Faith's laugh. Stop it! If you think I'm going to let you take my baby away from me you've got another thing coming! Leave this place now, you don't belong here!~
A light surrounded both her and Van and they were standing in a room. Giggling was heard and they both turned to find Faith running toward them.
~Mommy, Daddy! You found me! The voice told he wanted to play a game with you and that I had to hide. I'm glad you found me 'cause I was getting kinda scared here all by myself.~
~Faith! I was so worried about you!~
~Where did the voice go Faith?~ Van asked.
~I don't know. He doesn't tell me where he is really. He just talks to me. He was at the big party though. I knew it was him and he scared me. He was following me. Mommy let me go play when he came. He was at the fire too.~ Faith explained.
~What does he want Faith?~ Hitomi asked, hugging her daughter tightly.
~He wants to take me away. He says that soon he will come to take me away from you. I'm scared.~ Faith cried.
~You're too late!~
Evil laughter boom through the void again and things began to shake.
~What's going on?~ Van asked Hitomi.
~I...I don't know!~ She replied.
~Mommy!~ Faith screamed as she began to fade away again.
~Faith, no!~ Hitomi cried, reaching for her child.
~Coward! Show yourself now!~ Van yelled. Anger evident in his voice.
~Now is not the time Fanel. Soon though, very soon.~
"Wake up! Van! Hitomi, please wake up this is urgent!"
Van groaned as he was shaken from what seemed like just plain sleep to the person that hadn't known what was going on. He slowly opened his eyes to see Chid's worried blue ones looking back at him.
"Wha...what happened?" He asked.
"I was hoping you could tell me. I came in here and found you and Hitomi laying here at Faith's bed and Merle and Millerna on the floor against the wall." Chid said, motioning to Merle and Millerna who were rubbing their necks.
"Did he...did he get her?" Merle whispered. Van looked to see Hitomi still asleep and then looked to Faith. His breath caught in his throat as he saw that Faith was no long asleep in her bed.
"F-faith. Wh-where is she? Merle tell me she's safe!" He practically begged the cat woman.
"I...I'm sorry lord Van. He came out of nowhere and took Faith. There was nothing we could do! He was using magic! I tried to get to her but, he threw us against the wall with this invisible force. I don't even know how he got out. I'm so sorry!" Merle cried.
Van stared wide eyed at the bed then looked at Hitomi who had just groaned herself.
"We'll find her Van. I promise you we'll find her." Chid said.
This was too much from him and he knew that it was going to be too much for Hitomi. How was she going to react to Faith's disappearance?
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TBC.
AN: I'm sorry! I'm leavin' yeah hanging again. If I write anymore I'm going 2 fall asleep and leave this on my screen. Lgn..ndz n/b with my forehead. I've been doing this off and on all day. I'm going swimming tomorrow. It's supposed 2 b from 80 to 90 tomorrow. I hope I made this a little longer for yeah. R&R please. Til tomorrow!
