The Ties That Bind
By Siren CHAPTER 5
FAMILY TIES
A.N.- Once again, I'd like to thank Jenn for uploading these chapters for me. The next few chapters are going to be more dramatic than funny. Folken and Dilly are finally going to be introduced to the story. And as you can tell, I'm not an Allen fan. I think he looks and acts like I girl. sigh I kinda pity Chid, actually. I also don't like Millerna or Marlene. I think Marlene and Millerna are kinda skanky. shudder Anyway, more Van/Nikki moments ahead, so enjoy! ^_^ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I walk down the stone corridors of Allen's castle, searching for Van. I know he's hurting, suffering, and confused. I have the answers...but I know if I told him now, it'd destroy him. So I'll keep my knowledge to myself for the moment. I hear some grunting, and the sound of someone hitting stone. I step into a room that leads to a balcony. Sure enough, the young king is outside, leaning against the ledge. I feel my expression soften as I walk towards him. I see him tense at the sound of my footsteps, and he yells "Go away!" I flinch, but continue towards him. He reels toward me, his eyes filled with fury. "I said, GO AWAY!" he yells again. But I can't. I can't leave him alone like this. So, I do what my instincts tell me to. I reach out a tentive hand, and touch his arm. He flinches and starts to shrug me off, but I pull myself closer to him. "Van," I whisper his name softly. His eyes are hidden under his bangs, but I know he's close to tears. I lift up my free hand, and brush his bangs aside. I force him to look at me. "I'm so sorry," I say, feeling my own voice crack. Van looks torn between shoving me away, and just collapsing. So I pull him into a hug. I rest my chin on his shoulder, and whisper my condolances. "I'm so sorry," I repeat over and over. I don't know what else to say. I feel Van begin to tremble. "Zaibach destroyed my home," he says through clenched teeth. I close my eyes, and feel hot tears threatening to fall. "I'm their king, and I failed them." My eyes snap open, and I pull away to look at him. I shake my head. "No, you didn't. You saved them. If you had died, they'd be lost. And Fanalia would be gone forever. But since their king still lives, there's still hope. There's always hope," I tell him firmly. "I'm going to find Zaibach, and I'm going to destroy them," he says with so much affirmation, it frightens me. I frown. "You can't be serious. Van, there are innocent people at stake," I argue. Van doesn't seem to be listening. He needs time to grieve. He's only my age, and he's acting like the world is resting on his shoulders. It's too much for him. "Van, please look at me," I beg. Dawn is approaching, and a memory flashes in my mind. Dilandau...and Zaibach attacking this castle. Van doesn't need this right now. I remember something else, and smile. I know something that could brighten his day, er, night. "You'll see Merle again soon," I say. That gains Van's attention. "When?" he asks. I smile gently, and look out at the land surrounding the castle. "Tomorrow, er, today I mean. Soon," I tell him. "How do you know?" I shrug. "I just do." Van and I sit in silence, watching the sun rise, and the moon disappear. "Thank you," I hear Van say. I turn to him, and smile. "Don't worry about it." I close my eyes, breathing in the fresh air. It was amazing how fresh air could revitalize you. Back on earth...well, the air was heavier. Thicker. Here...it was pure. I hear Allen clear his throat, and I turn around. The knight seems strangely unnerved. "Allen?" My voice holds more worry than I mean it to. "Zaibach has been an allie of Asturia for several years. One of their main floating fortresses has arrived, seeking to re-stock on supplies," he announces. I feel Van tense at the mention of them, and I cringe. "I need Escaflowne," he says, his voice thick with hatred. I frown. "Why?" I mentally smack myself. "Revenge. Those bastards leveled Fanalia, and now, I'm going to find and destroy the one that made it all happen." My eyes widen for a moment. Van stands up, and brushes past Allen. I quickly follow. "Van, you can't do this," I argue. He whirls around, and I see the fury in his eyes. "And why shouldn't I?!" I open my mouth, almost letting the truth about his brother spill out. "Because---because if you kill them, you'll be exactly like them." Van rolls his eyes, and continues on his walk to find Escaflowne. "She's right, Van," Allen says. Van doesn't even acknowledge his prescence. He walks into the maintanance bay, where Escaflowne is being held. Placing his hand on the energist, Escaflowne opens, and he hops inside. I stand infront of the massive machine, hands on hips. "Van, get out of there," I tell him. "Move out of the way," he says. I shake my head. "Not a chance, now get your royal ass out of there." He slips his arms into the controls, ignoring me. Fine. I can be stubborn too. Suddenly, Escaflowne starts moving, catching me off guard. Van's serious about going. The ground shakes beneathe me, and I almost lose my balance. "Van, stop it!" Escaflowne's foot is now above me. Van is so overcome with rage and fury, that he's now completely out of control. I scream, waiting to be crushed, but feel strong arms lift me and pull me out of the way. Opening my eyes, I see Allen watching Van leave worriedly. I untangle myself from the knight's arms, and run after him. I leap up, and grab onto Escaflowne's leg. I vaguely hear Allen yelling after me, but ignore it. I pull myself up, and begin to climb. I'm soon on its shoulder, and hang on as tightly as I can. If Van wants to do this, than he won't fight alone. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Soon, we arrive at the floating fortress. Only three words can describe it: _it_is_huge_. Van lands on the Vionne, and gets out of Escaflowne. "Van!" I yell, hopping down. He looks at me in surprise. "What are you doing here?" he asks. I shrug. "Well, I was always a sucker for a little random violence. So, what are we looking for?" Van frowns. " 'We', aren't looking for anything. _I_ am going to find whoever ordered the attack on Fanalia." I nodd slowly. He turns and starts walking to the entrance, and I follow him. He grunts and turns around. "I thought I made it clear that you aren't coming with me," he says. I smile coyly. "And what? You're gonna leave me out there all alone and unprotected? That's mean, considering I'm such a weak and helpless young lady," I joke. I get him to smirk, and he sighs. I nudge his shoulder. "C'mon. You may have not known me very long, but you KNOW that there can't be a rumble without good 'ol Nikki. After all, who was able to piss off your royal helpers, steal from the cat burgerlur herself, AND turn down the oh-so charming Allen Schezar?" I giggle. Van puts his hand over my mouth, quieting me. "Sir, we've reached the castle. Shall I tell Dilandau-sama of our arrival?" Hmm...I know that voice...it's Chesta! One of Dilly's dragon- slayers. The voice that answers is deep and haunted, and sends a shiver down my spine. "Yes. Have him go meet Allen Schezar, and tell him of our demands. Don't forget to have him ask about the Dragon that escaped Fanalia." I swallow. It's Folken. Van's brother, and now his enemy. Van frowns. He knows that voice too, somehow. My heart breaks. Van removes his hand from my mouth. I'm torn between telling him of the second voice's identity. But before I get a chance to, Van has moved into the room. We stick to the shadows, searching for the second voice's owner. For Folken's. I see movement in the front of the room, and recognize the people immidietly. Folken and Dilandau. Dilandau, with his silver hair and red eyes, and Folken, with the tear of eternal sadness tattooed under his eye. Van studies Folken for a moment, still not realizing who it is. I suddenly feel the need to leave. "Van, we have to leave. Now," I whisper harshly. Van shakes his head. "Not yet," he says. Folken turns his head towards us, and my breath catches in my throat. "Van," I say, no longer whispering, "he knows we're here." Van grabs my arm, and begins to pull me back towards the Vionne. "C'mon!" He yells. I try to keep up with him, hearing the scurry of guards as they rush after us. We reach Escaflowne, and he opens the hatch. He pulls me onto Escaflowne's shoulder, and quickly tries to slip into the controls. But it's too late. Van is yanked out of the seat, and thrown to the ground. "Van!" I scream. They began to kick him, and beat him mercilessly. Tears sting my eyes as I call his name. I feel hands wrap around my arms as I'm being pulled down. I fight at them, kicking, and thrashing. "Stop it!" I yell. But they don't stop. "Leave him alone!" I scream. I yank one arm free, and punch the other guard holding me. I run towards Van, pushing them out of my way. I start to pull them away from him, but there are too many. Van looks at me, his face bloodied. I am being forced to the cold ground, feeling the guards trying to restrain me. I'm so scared and furious, that all I can do is scream. My boot connects with one of my captor's knees, and I hear him cry out. I am quickly punished with a barade of fists and boots. One of them hits my stomach, and I let out a blood-curdling scream. He's kicked me where I'm bleeding internally. My throat is raw, and I can scream no more. My strength has left me, and I collapse in a heap. Looking at Van as they drag him to his feet, I let my head loll back, and my eyes roll into the back of my head.
I give up. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(For this next section, it'll be in third person for a while, then it'll return to Nikki's POV.)
Van watched as she gave in to unconciousness, and collapsed. The guards layed her down on the ground for a moment, then lifted her to her feet, and dragged her away. She had been crying, sobbing, for him. Her arms, face, and abdomen were bloody. Without medical attention, she wouldn't survive long. "N-Nicole..." he mumbled hoarsly. They dragged him to a bed chamber, and locked the door. Van fell to his knees, and spit the blood from his mouth. Dragging himself to the bed, he collapsed onto it. He turned his head toward the door as it opened. Folken stepped inside, and Van sat up painfully. "Wh-who are you? What have you done to...to..." Van caughed painfully. Folken stared at him, expressionless. "The girl? Emperor Dornkirk has had his eye on her ever since she arrived. You see, Van, that girl is very special and important to our mission. She would be better off here, where she would be...protected." Van shook his head. "What mission? Who are you? Why is she so important?" Folken smirked. "I cannot reveal all of our secrets to you, Van. But that girl...she has abilities that we need. She knows things about Gaea and ourselves that we never even knew. And with those abilities, we can create a new world. One of our liking. As for my identity...I think you already know who I am. Or at least part of you does." Van frowned. Folken saw that he still did not understand, and removed his cloak, letting it slip to the groud. Closing his eyes, he unfurled his beautiful wings. Van gasped, eyes wide. "B-brother?" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mmm...I open my eyes, my body screaming in agony. I am strapped to a table, and cannot see beyond it. The lights are too bright. My hands and feet and bound to the table, and I'm cold. I'm alone. "Van?" I croak. My throat it dry, and raw from the day's events. I protest wealky at my restraints, but I have no energy to break them. My lips are dry, but I have no saliva to wet them with. I have never felt so alone. Another bright light flashes above me, and I stare at it numbly. My pupils dialate, making my eyes look more blue. I feel someone adjust the restraints, making them painfully tighter. "Who's there...?" No one answers, and I'm alone again. Suddenly, a red light shines onto my forehead, and it feels as though my mind is being spilt open. I scream, my body jerking in pain. I scream for help, but no one comes. I twist my body, trying to escape, but to no avail. The pain soon becomes unbearable, and I pass out. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Van stared at his brother in shock. "F-Folken...? But...how?" Folken was about to answer, when they heard a blood-curlding scream. Van's eyes darted to the door. He recognized that scream. "What are they doing to her?!" he yelled. Folken remained emotionless. "They are erasing her memories. It is a slow, and often painful process, but it is for the best." Van looked at him furiously. " How can that be for the best?!" Folken frowned deeply. "Van, she can never return home. The pain of losing a family...is unbearable. It would be easier on her heart, and soul, if she never had one at all." Van shook his head. "Is that what you believe? That you can just take away the memories, and it takes away the pain?! Brother, memories are all we have to hold onto! Memories are what keep us whole!" he screamed. Folken was silent. "Let me out of this room. Let me go," he told him. Folken looked at Van sullenly, and handed him the key. Van opened the door. "Van. You will see my point of view someday." Van tensed, then headed in the direction of Nicole's screams. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Van came to an empty lab. Many light were on, shined on a body outstretched on the table. He ran over to her, and gasped. Her blue eyes were open, unblinking. Her skin was pale, her lips dry. Tears stained her face as she mumbled something. "Nikki?" he called softly. She blinked, and looked up at him. Van removed one of his gloves, and gently brushed her tears away. "Do you remember me?" She blinked, and tears welled in her eyes as she looked at her restraints. Her wrists and ankles were bloody from struggling. She looked at Van, and her face crumpled as she began to sob. "I was so scared," she cried. Van sighed with relief. She remembered him. He quickly undid the restraints and helped her sit up. She looked at him through her tears. "It hurt so much," she said. She buried her face in his shoulder, trying to make the pain go away. Van tensed for a moment, then slowly wrapped his arms around her, holding her as she cried. Hearing the guards coming, Van put one arm under her back, and the other under her knees, as he lifted her into his arms. Mazking his way to the Vionne, he put Nicole inside of Escaflowne's hand, and got into the hatch. Slipping his arms into the controls, he cradled her gently as they left. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"How is she?"
Allen walked out of Nicole's room with the healer. He swallowed. "Physically, she's not doing well. The cuts and scrapes will heal farily quickly. We gave her medicine to slow down the internal bleeding, until we find a proper healer. But, psycologically, she may be destroyed. At the moment, she's catatonic. It's like being in a coma, only you're awake. Whatever happened, frightened her so much, that her mind doesn't know how to cope with it. She may come out of it tomorrow, or in a week, or...never. I'm sorry." Van walked over to her room slowly, and peered inside. She was huddled in a chair, her arms wrapped tightly around her knees, as she looked at the night sky. A breeze drifted through the window, and she flinched. Van walked into her room, and kneeled infront of her. "Nicole?" She looked at him, eyes wide. Her eyes were empty, except for the constant fear that was always there. But the sparkle that had always been there, that he admired in her, was gone.
_She_ was gone.
To Be Continued...
By Siren CHAPTER 5
FAMILY TIES
A.N.- Once again, I'd like to thank Jenn for uploading these chapters for me. The next few chapters are going to be more dramatic than funny. Folken and Dilly are finally going to be introduced to the story. And as you can tell, I'm not an Allen fan. I think he looks and acts like I girl. sigh I kinda pity Chid, actually. I also don't like Millerna or Marlene. I think Marlene and Millerna are kinda skanky. shudder Anyway, more Van/Nikki moments ahead, so enjoy! ^_^ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I walk down the stone corridors of Allen's castle, searching for Van. I know he's hurting, suffering, and confused. I have the answers...but I know if I told him now, it'd destroy him. So I'll keep my knowledge to myself for the moment. I hear some grunting, and the sound of someone hitting stone. I step into a room that leads to a balcony. Sure enough, the young king is outside, leaning against the ledge. I feel my expression soften as I walk towards him. I see him tense at the sound of my footsteps, and he yells "Go away!" I flinch, but continue towards him. He reels toward me, his eyes filled with fury. "I said, GO AWAY!" he yells again. But I can't. I can't leave him alone like this. So, I do what my instincts tell me to. I reach out a tentive hand, and touch his arm. He flinches and starts to shrug me off, but I pull myself closer to him. "Van," I whisper his name softly. His eyes are hidden under his bangs, but I know he's close to tears. I lift up my free hand, and brush his bangs aside. I force him to look at me. "I'm so sorry," I say, feeling my own voice crack. Van looks torn between shoving me away, and just collapsing. So I pull him into a hug. I rest my chin on his shoulder, and whisper my condolances. "I'm so sorry," I repeat over and over. I don't know what else to say. I feel Van begin to tremble. "Zaibach destroyed my home," he says through clenched teeth. I close my eyes, and feel hot tears threatening to fall. "I'm their king, and I failed them." My eyes snap open, and I pull away to look at him. I shake my head. "No, you didn't. You saved them. If you had died, they'd be lost. And Fanalia would be gone forever. But since their king still lives, there's still hope. There's always hope," I tell him firmly. "I'm going to find Zaibach, and I'm going to destroy them," he says with so much affirmation, it frightens me. I frown. "You can't be serious. Van, there are innocent people at stake," I argue. Van doesn't seem to be listening. He needs time to grieve. He's only my age, and he's acting like the world is resting on his shoulders. It's too much for him. "Van, please look at me," I beg. Dawn is approaching, and a memory flashes in my mind. Dilandau...and Zaibach attacking this castle. Van doesn't need this right now. I remember something else, and smile. I know something that could brighten his day, er, night. "You'll see Merle again soon," I say. That gains Van's attention. "When?" he asks. I smile gently, and look out at the land surrounding the castle. "Tomorrow, er, today I mean. Soon," I tell him. "How do you know?" I shrug. "I just do." Van and I sit in silence, watching the sun rise, and the moon disappear. "Thank you," I hear Van say. I turn to him, and smile. "Don't worry about it." I close my eyes, breathing in the fresh air. It was amazing how fresh air could revitalize you. Back on earth...well, the air was heavier. Thicker. Here...it was pure. I hear Allen clear his throat, and I turn around. The knight seems strangely unnerved. "Allen?" My voice holds more worry than I mean it to. "Zaibach has been an allie of Asturia for several years. One of their main floating fortresses has arrived, seeking to re-stock on supplies," he announces. I feel Van tense at the mention of them, and I cringe. "I need Escaflowne," he says, his voice thick with hatred. I frown. "Why?" I mentally smack myself. "Revenge. Those bastards leveled Fanalia, and now, I'm going to find and destroy the one that made it all happen." My eyes widen for a moment. Van stands up, and brushes past Allen. I quickly follow. "Van, you can't do this," I argue. He whirls around, and I see the fury in his eyes. "And why shouldn't I?!" I open my mouth, almost letting the truth about his brother spill out. "Because---because if you kill them, you'll be exactly like them." Van rolls his eyes, and continues on his walk to find Escaflowne. "She's right, Van," Allen says. Van doesn't even acknowledge his prescence. He walks into the maintanance bay, where Escaflowne is being held. Placing his hand on the energist, Escaflowne opens, and he hops inside. I stand infront of the massive machine, hands on hips. "Van, get out of there," I tell him. "Move out of the way," he says. I shake my head. "Not a chance, now get your royal ass out of there." He slips his arms into the controls, ignoring me. Fine. I can be stubborn too. Suddenly, Escaflowne starts moving, catching me off guard. Van's serious about going. The ground shakes beneathe me, and I almost lose my balance. "Van, stop it!" Escaflowne's foot is now above me. Van is so overcome with rage and fury, that he's now completely out of control. I scream, waiting to be crushed, but feel strong arms lift me and pull me out of the way. Opening my eyes, I see Allen watching Van leave worriedly. I untangle myself from the knight's arms, and run after him. I leap up, and grab onto Escaflowne's leg. I vaguely hear Allen yelling after me, but ignore it. I pull myself up, and begin to climb. I'm soon on its shoulder, and hang on as tightly as I can. If Van wants to do this, than he won't fight alone. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Soon, we arrive at the floating fortress. Only three words can describe it: _it_is_huge_. Van lands on the Vionne, and gets out of Escaflowne. "Van!" I yell, hopping down. He looks at me in surprise. "What are you doing here?" he asks. I shrug. "Well, I was always a sucker for a little random violence. So, what are we looking for?" Van frowns. " 'We', aren't looking for anything. _I_ am going to find whoever ordered the attack on Fanalia." I nodd slowly. He turns and starts walking to the entrance, and I follow him. He grunts and turns around. "I thought I made it clear that you aren't coming with me," he says. I smile coyly. "And what? You're gonna leave me out there all alone and unprotected? That's mean, considering I'm such a weak and helpless young lady," I joke. I get him to smirk, and he sighs. I nudge his shoulder. "C'mon. You may have not known me very long, but you KNOW that there can't be a rumble without good 'ol Nikki. After all, who was able to piss off your royal helpers, steal from the cat burgerlur herself, AND turn down the oh-so charming Allen Schezar?" I giggle. Van puts his hand over my mouth, quieting me. "Sir, we've reached the castle. Shall I tell Dilandau-sama of our arrival?" Hmm...I know that voice...it's Chesta! One of Dilly's dragon- slayers. The voice that answers is deep and haunted, and sends a shiver down my spine. "Yes. Have him go meet Allen Schezar, and tell him of our demands. Don't forget to have him ask about the Dragon that escaped Fanalia." I swallow. It's Folken. Van's brother, and now his enemy. Van frowns. He knows that voice too, somehow. My heart breaks. Van removes his hand from my mouth. I'm torn between telling him of the second voice's identity. But before I get a chance to, Van has moved into the room. We stick to the shadows, searching for the second voice's owner. For Folken's. I see movement in the front of the room, and recognize the people immidietly. Folken and Dilandau. Dilandau, with his silver hair and red eyes, and Folken, with the tear of eternal sadness tattooed under his eye. Van studies Folken for a moment, still not realizing who it is. I suddenly feel the need to leave. "Van, we have to leave. Now," I whisper harshly. Van shakes his head. "Not yet," he says. Folken turns his head towards us, and my breath catches in my throat. "Van," I say, no longer whispering, "he knows we're here." Van grabs my arm, and begins to pull me back towards the Vionne. "C'mon!" He yells. I try to keep up with him, hearing the scurry of guards as they rush after us. We reach Escaflowne, and he opens the hatch. He pulls me onto Escaflowne's shoulder, and quickly tries to slip into the controls. But it's too late. Van is yanked out of the seat, and thrown to the ground. "Van!" I scream. They began to kick him, and beat him mercilessly. Tears sting my eyes as I call his name. I feel hands wrap around my arms as I'm being pulled down. I fight at them, kicking, and thrashing. "Stop it!" I yell. But they don't stop. "Leave him alone!" I scream. I yank one arm free, and punch the other guard holding me. I run towards Van, pushing them out of my way. I start to pull them away from him, but there are too many. Van looks at me, his face bloodied. I am being forced to the cold ground, feeling the guards trying to restrain me. I'm so scared and furious, that all I can do is scream. My boot connects with one of my captor's knees, and I hear him cry out. I am quickly punished with a barade of fists and boots. One of them hits my stomach, and I let out a blood-curdling scream. He's kicked me where I'm bleeding internally. My throat is raw, and I can scream no more. My strength has left me, and I collapse in a heap. Looking at Van as they drag him to his feet, I let my head loll back, and my eyes roll into the back of my head.
I give up. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(For this next section, it'll be in third person for a while, then it'll return to Nikki's POV.)
Van watched as she gave in to unconciousness, and collapsed. The guards layed her down on the ground for a moment, then lifted her to her feet, and dragged her away. She had been crying, sobbing, for him. Her arms, face, and abdomen were bloody. Without medical attention, she wouldn't survive long. "N-Nicole..." he mumbled hoarsly. They dragged him to a bed chamber, and locked the door. Van fell to his knees, and spit the blood from his mouth. Dragging himself to the bed, he collapsed onto it. He turned his head toward the door as it opened. Folken stepped inside, and Van sat up painfully. "Wh-who are you? What have you done to...to..." Van caughed painfully. Folken stared at him, expressionless. "The girl? Emperor Dornkirk has had his eye on her ever since she arrived. You see, Van, that girl is very special and important to our mission. She would be better off here, where she would be...protected." Van shook his head. "What mission? Who are you? Why is she so important?" Folken smirked. "I cannot reveal all of our secrets to you, Van. But that girl...she has abilities that we need. She knows things about Gaea and ourselves that we never even knew. And with those abilities, we can create a new world. One of our liking. As for my identity...I think you already know who I am. Or at least part of you does." Van frowned. Folken saw that he still did not understand, and removed his cloak, letting it slip to the groud. Closing his eyes, he unfurled his beautiful wings. Van gasped, eyes wide. "B-brother?" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mmm...I open my eyes, my body screaming in agony. I am strapped to a table, and cannot see beyond it. The lights are too bright. My hands and feet and bound to the table, and I'm cold. I'm alone. "Van?" I croak. My throat it dry, and raw from the day's events. I protest wealky at my restraints, but I have no energy to break them. My lips are dry, but I have no saliva to wet them with. I have never felt so alone. Another bright light flashes above me, and I stare at it numbly. My pupils dialate, making my eyes look more blue. I feel someone adjust the restraints, making them painfully tighter. "Who's there...?" No one answers, and I'm alone again. Suddenly, a red light shines onto my forehead, and it feels as though my mind is being spilt open. I scream, my body jerking in pain. I scream for help, but no one comes. I twist my body, trying to escape, but to no avail. The pain soon becomes unbearable, and I pass out. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Van stared at his brother in shock. "F-Folken...? But...how?" Folken was about to answer, when they heard a blood-curlding scream. Van's eyes darted to the door. He recognized that scream. "What are they doing to her?!" he yelled. Folken remained emotionless. "They are erasing her memories. It is a slow, and often painful process, but it is for the best." Van looked at him furiously. " How can that be for the best?!" Folken frowned deeply. "Van, she can never return home. The pain of losing a family...is unbearable. It would be easier on her heart, and soul, if she never had one at all." Van shook his head. "Is that what you believe? That you can just take away the memories, and it takes away the pain?! Brother, memories are all we have to hold onto! Memories are what keep us whole!" he screamed. Folken was silent. "Let me out of this room. Let me go," he told him. Folken looked at Van sullenly, and handed him the key. Van opened the door. "Van. You will see my point of view someday." Van tensed, then headed in the direction of Nicole's screams. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Van came to an empty lab. Many light were on, shined on a body outstretched on the table. He ran over to her, and gasped. Her blue eyes were open, unblinking. Her skin was pale, her lips dry. Tears stained her face as she mumbled something. "Nikki?" he called softly. She blinked, and looked up at him. Van removed one of his gloves, and gently brushed her tears away. "Do you remember me?" She blinked, and tears welled in her eyes as she looked at her restraints. Her wrists and ankles were bloody from struggling. She looked at Van, and her face crumpled as she began to sob. "I was so scared," she cried. Van sighed with relief. She remembered him. He quickly undid the restraints and helped her sit up. She looked at him through her tears. "It hurt so much," she said. She buried her face in his shoulder, trying to make the pain go away. Van tensed for a moment, then slowly wrapped his arms around her, holding her as she cried. Hearing the guards coming, Van put one arm under her back, and the other under her knees, as he lifted her into his arms. Mazking his way to the Vionne, he put Nicole inside of Escaflowne's hand, and got into the hatch. Slipping his arms into the controls, he cradled her gently as they left. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"How is she?"
Allen walked out of Nicole's room with the healer. He swallowed. "Physically, she's not doing well. The cuts and scrapes will heal farily quickly. We gave her medicine to slow down the internal bleeding, until we find a proper healer. But, psycologically, she may be destroyed. At the moment, she's catatonic. It's like being in a coma, only you're awake. Whatever happened, frightened her so much, that her mind doesn't know how to cope with it. She may come out of it tomorrow, or in a week, or...never. I'm sorry." Van walked over to her room slowly, and peered inside. She was huddled in a chair, her arms wrapped tightly around her knees, as she looked at the night sky. A breeze drifted through the window, and she flinched. Van walked into her room, and kneeled infront of her. "Nicole?" She looked at him, eyes wide. Her eyes were empty, except for the constant fear that was always there. But the sparkle that had always been there, that he admired in her, was gone.
_She_ was gone.
To Be Continued...