Story Three: Remnants of Reality
Chapter Ten
By Heartfire
~*~
He forced himself not to lose consciousness as he fell down onto his hands and knees… He strained to keep his eyes open, and then slowly, he looked up just in time to see Morley, with condemning eyes, walk inside the room. Two guards grabbed Quatre's arms callously, bringing him to a stand.
"Take him to the dungeons. He had wanted to see them since his first day on Arche… Now he will have the pleasure."
Before he could reply, Quatre felt another inexplicable pain at the back of his head and… this time… he passed out.
He woke up breathing in dust and damp, musty air. The whole room was so cold and he shivered. His hair felt sticky and it was throbbing so painfully… He wants to hold it but when he moved his hands-
'Chained… I should have known…' A moan escaped his cottony mouth instead and he closed his eyes once again as he let his body go limp and hang by its shackles. How long had he been out?
"Good… You're finally awake. I didn't know that you were such a heavy sleeper, Mr. Winner."
Quatre slowly looked up and saw Morley's face through the bars. He quickly straightened his back, to show that he was not afraid. "What is the meaning of this?"
Morley didn't answer as he motioned for the guards to open the iron bars, and then walked inside with another soldier. The soldier looked at Morley and started to talk after the dictator gave a nod.
"Quatre Raberba Winner, you are hereby charged with treason against the Supreme Ruler and the government of Arche. You have stolen information and you are hereby charged and found guilty. Your punishment is the line of fire at sunset 0600 hours, two days hence."
Quatre frowned. "What are you talking about?" They couldn't have known that he was able to take secret information after he accessed their databank! He'd been careful… He knew he had been! "There hadn't been a hearing yet! Why was I charged?!"
He watched as Morley motioned for his men to move outside the cell while he sauntered to Quatre. He smiled, a menacing smile, and in a low whisper, only for Quatre to hear, he answered the question. "She was mine… always will be mine…"
Now he understood. Hate for the man erupted in Quatre and he wanted to just… just… punch the man to unconsciousness.
"She will be mine even if I have to force her… mine to relish… mine to touch…" His eyes glittered dangerously, cruelly. "… and mine to make love to. Do you understand that, Winner?"
"Morley! You lay one hand on her…!" He couldn't move, his chained hands and feet were stopping him but he still struggled to get free.
Morley only laughed at his prisoner's demise. "You can't do anything about it, Quatre… All is fair in love… and war… I'll kiss her for you…" His eyes slanted malevolently before he turned away from the pathetic gundam pilot.
"Your are going down, Morley! You are going down even if I have to come back and haunt you until you die!!!" The mere picture of Morley kissing Yvan… Damn the man! He watched as Morley walked to the open iron doors. "You come back here! Come back here and fight!"
The answer he received was a smile that sent a chill down his spine and then laughter… The group of men walked away with their lamps, and Quatre could only watch the fading light.
"Morley!! You asshole!! Coward!!!"
He heard the sounds of a heavy door creak open and then shut close. Darkness covered his vision once again and he slumped against the wall.
"Yvan… Yvan hide… Don't come back… Just hide…" Quatre whispered as he knocked his aching head against the wall. "Don't come back… please…"
He didn't know what time or day it was when he heard iron clink against iron once again… Wearily, he looked up and saw two guards, opening his cell. His wrists were sore and rubbed raw from the countless of times he tried to struggle free. If he doesn't die of tetanus from the rust on the chain, well… it'll be the line of fire…
"Hey you! Food! Wake up!"
Quatre glared at the two. "Let me go." His voice was also different, hoarse from continuous shouts.
"And get our heads shot? No thanks." The skinny man answered while the slightly better built soldier walked up to Quatre.
"Here. Eat."
Quatre opened his mouth to tell them off but before he could speak, a cold, hard bread was suddenly pushed into his mouth, nearly choking him.
"Heh… there's a lot of mice down here, eh Boggo?"
"Yah, Miko. And rats…" The skinny one replied while he kicked a large rat away.
Quatre's eyes turned to slits. He'd known that fact since he came here… Rats had been moving around his feet, one even climbed up his leg- it's a wonder they hadn't bitten him and made food of him!
"Reminds me of an old English song…" Miko said as he started humming.
"What song?"
Quatre was finally able to push the whole bread that was stuffed into his mouth. He could hear the rats and mice rejoice from the cold floor, probably tearing the bread to pieces, but he didn't care about that. Hoarse or not, he was about to shout like hell about what he thought of the two when Miko started singing.
"Hickory dickory duck. The mouse went up the clock… The clock struck six… the mouse went down. Hickory, dickory duck… I think that's how it goes…"
Quatre frowned as he stared at the guards in disbelief.
"Eh? That din't sound right. Ah well. It's an old song."
"Yah… Let's leave this man with the four legged critters."
Quatre couldn't stop the incredulous look he gave the soldiers before the only shaft of light faded once again… Laughter started to bubble in his throat while squeaking rodents feasted on the floor… The sound that left his lips… so eerily akin to a man on the verge of madness… of insanity…
…
Yvan frowned as she instantly noticed extreme security around the palace. Her taxi driver was also showing a state of nerves, mirroring her own. 'I wonder why…' She stepped outside the cab as soon as it stopped and a guard was instantly beside her.
"Ms. Matfei! I… We… We thought you'd be back next week!"
'I couldn't stay away for long…' She nodded instead, wondering about the guilty expression upon the young soldier's face. "My mother recovered quite quickly…"
The soldier turned away from her and faced another one standing on guard by the door. "Corporal! Report to General Morley!"
"Yes sir!"
Her heart stopped when she heard his name. "James is back?"
"Yes ma'am… Two days ago."
Yvan swallowed while her whole body grew cold… She turned and her quick eyes saw- "Why is there a platoon in formal dressage?"
The guard gulped and sweated. "Er…"
…
"Sir! General Morley!" The guard ran into the room without knocking. "Ms. Matfei is back!"
James stood up from his seat in surprise. "What? She isn't supposed to be back until next week…" His words died as an idea formed in his head. No… Maybe this is better… it will show her not to play around with him… He quickly walked out of his office, toward the front door where he saw Yvan questioning his guard, and smiled his greeting. "Yvan! My darling… how is your mother?"
Yvan turned to face James with wide eyes and nearly cringed when he hugged her. "I… My mother is fine… James… What is happening?"
"Let me show you…" James offered his arm to Yvan and against her will, she placed her hand on his. "Lieutenant, what time is it?"
"Fifteen till, sir!"
Yvan saw a satisfied smile on James face, one that looked very much like when a cat caught its mouse… A smile that made her want to run. Escape.
"Just enough time… It's so good that you came here just on the right time, my dear." He turned away and gave a command- "Bring out the parade!"
"Parade?" Yvan asked as she was herded east of the castle. Today was not a holiday… what is special about today that would warrant a parade?
"Yes… we planned it specially for you… and we're going to the best seat."
Her hands had grown cold and clammy, even though it was in her mitts. The way Morley was practically dragging her... 'Something's… not right… There's something wrong…' The words kept on repeating over and over her head.
"You know, my dear… no one can escape the eyes of God… Every sin is reported and with that, punishment is sent."
Yvan's eyes whipped back to the man beside her. What was he trying to tell her?
They stopped by a settee with a table and two glasses of wine.
"Wine, Vanyah?"
Yvan shook her head. "You know that I do not drink wine, James."
"Oh yes… of course… You are missing a joy in life by doing so, my dear… Especially not drinking red wine…" He poured some more into his glass and motioned for his servant to get water for Yvan.
"Look at this…" James brought the glass in front of Yvan. "It almost looks like blood…"
Yvan cringed and almost couldn't stop the grimace on her face when James drank the wine even after his comment.
James snapped his finger. "What time is it?"
"Ten till, sir!"
The softly growing sounds of drums reached their ears and James smiled widely. "Ah… here comes the parade…"
Yvan turned to the sound and watched as six men with drums heralded a tone that made her think of death… She heard that melody before… in the theatre… It was what soldiers play when someone was about to be executed during the olden days…! She turned to face Morley with questioning eyes but James only motioned for her to look back at the show.
Slowly, she turned to face it… There was a slight gap between the six drummers, a line of four soldiers walked just behind and then they turned to their left-
Yvan's eyes widened as her gaze fell on a proudly walking man in once immaculate clothes, now tattered and filthy… She hastily stood from her seat, nearly knocking it down. "Quatre!"
Her gasp brought a smile to Morley's face. He could tell that the damnable man meant a lot to Yvan. All he wanted now was revenge… The small pleasure he had of watching some of his men beat the senses from this man was not enough… He wants blood. "Yes… Quatre…"
She understood everything now… He learned about them, somehow…! She turned to face him, wanting to stop this. "You… you can't! He's... he's known worldwide! He came here as an ambassador for the World Alliance!!! You're prompting the people of the world to bring you down! To hate you!"
Lazily, he looked over his glass. He couldn't care less of that damnable government. They will be groveling at his feet soon enough, but there was only one other person he wants to kneel upon his feet… the woman in front of him. His obsession. "And you, Yvan… Do you hate me?"
Yvan stared at the man who languidly sat under the shade of the wide umbrella. There was not a single care in his bleak, black eyes… She knew then that he would not back down. A shudder went through her when his eyes brightened while his lips turned up. She saw… she saw how much the bastard was enjoying her fear.
A servant had set down a glass of water by her side.
The oppressor… the killer… Titles and curses ran through her mind while her hand reached for her glass. She didn't care any more now and promptly splashed her drink to his face. "I hate you from the depths of my soul, you murderer." She quickly turned away from his despicable face and started to run to the two lines, walking in perfect coordination, while one name left her lips. "Quatre!!!"
"Stop her!" James commanded while he wiped the water from his face and two of his guards instantly grabbed Yvan before she could take more than ten steps away from the settee. They twisted her arms heartlessly, and then pushed her down to kneel on the ground.
Quatre heard her shout and turned. He saw the look of pain flit on her face as the guards twisted her arms- "Yvan!" He turned to run to her. Being chained didn't matter, but a gun instantly struck him on his shoulder and he fell on the ground. Pain shot through his back and he willed himself not to collapse. He was weak from hunger, not having food since that last bread that was forced to him, and his body ached from mind numbing, brutal beatings that he endured during that one long night. Yet the physical pain was not as terrible as the ones that played with his mind, as he imagined what Morley would do to her… No. He will not let it happen.
Yvan saw him stagger and fall down from the blow, then pulled so carelessly by his hair- "Let me go!! Let me go!!!" She couldn't fight even if she wanted to. Her hands were held in iron grips and she couldn't stand up… every squirm only brought her more pain as the soldiers pushed her arms in near bone breaking angles.
"You shouldn't have done that."
Morley appeared by her side but she didn't care, her eyes were only trained on Quatre as he was herded near the forest edge by the last line of guards and then they left him with one guard. She watched as the guard offered him a blindfold but Quatre shook his head and jutted out his chin proudly, standing straight and tall. He sent a look to Yvan and she received it…
"No…" Yvan shook her head as the last guard left Quatre's side. "No… James… James, stop this…"
She turned to face him but he wasn't looking at her anymore… He had that expectant look in his eyes… a wild glint as he stared at what was unfolding in front of them.
"James! Dammit James! Stop this!"
"READY!!!
Tears flooded her eyes and fell down her cheeks while she looked at the ground then shut her eyes. Her hair was suddenly viciously pulled and pain seared through her.
"Open your eyes, my love… see what happens when you betray me…"
"AIM!!!"
"No… Please… stop them… don't do this…"
"Open them!"
His voice was harsh and commanding… but it wasn't what made her open her eyes. She wanted to see him before he dies… Slowly, her eyes met his courageous stance and saw what she knew she would see… He was proudly meeting his death…
"FIRE!!!"
"QUATRE!!!" The heart-wrenching scream left her throat while gunshots erupted and echoed around them. Blood appeared on Quatre's clothes as his body jerked…
Yet, as if a last utterance of rebellion against James, he turned his bloody body from the guards and gave homage to the forest instead…