Between
Part 3
By Mieren
"Between?" Duo repeated numbly, panting for breath. "What or where is Between?"
"Well," the boy said. "I could sugarcoat it and try to state it in a way that makes sense, but I'm too old for that."
"Too old?" Wufei whispered to Duo, confused. The child looked no more than eight.
Reyn continued as though he hadn't noticed. "Between life and death," he said reasonably. "Your bodies were at the brink of death and somehow managed to survive, but not before your souls departed. Your bodies are in a comatose state. Your minds are here and here is where you will remain until you find your physical forms again. The creatures that were chasing you are Fades, giant dog-demons that serve the Keeper. Little is known about him except that he collects souls and they are never seen again. For all we know, he could be Death. This particular place you are in now is a sanctuary called the Dark Lands. It is a step closer to death and while here, you can't reach your bodies and return to the land of the living. But as long as you are in here, you cannot be touched by the Keeper, either."
"Cute story, child," Zechs said irritably, interrupting him. "Now can we speak to an adult?"
Reyn's lips twitched upwards in an amused grin. "I'm eighty eight years old."
"What?" Duo exploded. "Ya look like you're eight!"
"I was eight," Reyn said, "eighty years ago when I first came here."
"Then why do you still look like a child?" Wufei asked reasonably.
"Because I do not know what I look like. When I was eight, I was hit by a car while riding my bike. I was thrown head first into a tree. Miraculously, I survived, but my body has been moved many times and I have given up searching for it. I know it's still out there because otherwise I would not be here. Whatever has happened or will happen to me notwithstanding, after the first decade, I decided to act as a guide for others so that they would not be trapped as I have been. On that note, I apologize for not coming to rescue you earlier, but it is hard to track souls, since there are so many due to the war. It's far easier to just track the Fades to see what they're chasing. I accepted it as part of my responsibility as a guide to protect others from the hounds."
"If you are a guide, then explain something to me," Wufei said, slowly straightening and taking his weight off of Duo. "Why am I translucent?"
"Because you are in critical condition," Reyn answered immediately. "You are almost dead and as thus, you nearly passed through to the world of the dead. If I am correct, you have begun to appear more solid as time passes, your body being stabilized wherever it now is."
"How do we get back?" Duo asked, glaring at Zechs when he attempted to protest. "I don't wanna be stuck here forever, ya know."
"Find your bodies and reenter them. I cannot tell you the specifics of that as I have never managed to do it myself," Reyn said, shrugging.
"That doesn't sound too hard," the American murmured.
"Naturally, there are complications," Reyn contradicted ruefully, shaking his head and sending russet locks flying.
"Of course," Zechs said skeptically. Reyn glared at him frostily before continuing.
"First, while here, you cannot read anything in the world of the living. Numbers and text will appear as a blur."
"Like in a dream," Wufei said thoughtfully.
"Yes. Second, no living vessel will be visible to you unless it possesses a soul."
"Meaning?" Duo asked.
"That your bodies will be invisible to you, as will the forms of any others in your state and animals as well. You have to be careful to locate the correct body before entering it."
"Joy," Duo muttered.
"The way you describe it, it's impossible," Zechs snapped.
"Why do you think it takes so long for some people to wake back up?" Reyn countered.
"What will happen if we choose the wrong body?" Wufei queried logically.
"Then it sucks to be you," Reyn chuckled.
"What happened to the 'guide' thing?" Duo asked.
"Very well, I'll guide you," Reyn said, emerald eyes glittering. He pointed to the barricade of pearly light. "That's the Wall. You pass through it to get back to Between, where you can then interact with the land of the living. Before passing through the Wall, simply envision where you want to go. You'll land within a few miles of there."
"Great," Wufei muttered. "Marquise, where is the hospital located at in the base?"
"Why should I assist you two? You're the ones that got us in this mess!" Zechs spat. Duo rolled his eyes and ignored them.
"Hey Reyn," the American called. "What's that thing ya did with the light to chase off the mutts?" At the mention of power, Zechs and Wufei broke off their impending argument to listen.
"It was a burst of spiritual power," Reyn said smugly. "It takes years to learn and it will wear you out greatly."
"So we're defenseless?" Wufei asked. Zechs groaned.
"Yes. I will try to look out for you as I do all Runners, but I cannot promise anything."
"Runners?" Zechs inquired, not entirely sure he wanted to know.
"The term I started using for those trying to get safely through Between. After all, they're usually running like mad."
"That's not encouraging, ya know," Duo muttered.
"Then this won't be either," Reyn said. "Don't let the Fades touch you. If they take a limb off here, it will be paralyzed when you return to the living."
"This just keeps getting better," Wufei groused, waving one arm for emphasis. He froze and stared at his appendage, ebony eyes wide when he found it to be completely opaque. Reyn noticed his look and smiled encouragingly at him.
"At least you've been stabilized," he offered.
"Is there anything else ya want to tell us?" Duo asked.
"Don't get caught?"
"Thanks a lot."
"Marquise," Wufei said stiffly. "Lead us to the base's medical unit."
"Very well," Zechs consented. "Lets get this over with."
The two irritable pilots walked over to join the American, who was already by the Wall, eyeing the whorls of glittering light with interest. Images of battlefields flickered beyond it, hazy and indistinct. Several flashes of a destitute colony appeared for an instant and Duo gasped as he caught glimpses of L2. Zechs pulled him away from the shimmering barrier and took a step closer, letting his fingers trail through the liquid light. A sterile white corridor appeared, shadowy figures in scrubs scurrying between rooms.
Glancing at the two younger men behind him, he stepped through, the Gundam pilots on his heels.
To Be Continued…
Next time, the body hunt. Can you see it coming? Can you? ^_^
R&R!