Whoadie: What is the meaning of life? Birth, Schooling, then work. The meaning of life sucks. XD
"...." Will be talking
'....' thinking
Torn Apart
Chapter 9-Can't hide
He fell to his knees with a groan. Spitting out the blood that ran from his swollen lip at the man's feet. "Go to hell, I'll never talk." This only earned him another black eye. He fell onto his back, taking in the air sharply. He was in a hell of a lot of pain, but he'd never scream out.
"He's not going to say anything, Sir."
A voice from the corner answered the Slayer, "Leave us then."
The Slayer bowed then exited the dungeon chamber. Allen remained still on the ground, waiting for the right time to spring up and attack the man out of surprise. But first, he needed to find out what plans Zaibach had that needed Hitomi so badly. "You might as well kill me because I'll never say a word."
A chuckle came, "Then why are you speaking? Your mind promises to say nothing but your mouth says otherwise. So by all means, don't say a word."
Allen growled, still laying on his back. He became suddenly very still. 'Manipulation is impossible in this situation, silence is my best defense right now.'
El Rem stayed off to the side of the knight, taking his strides on Allen's left side. "Do you actually think you'll be able to escape?"
Silence.
"Do you even plan on escaping?" He turned his steps so that he was out of arms reach. Crouching down to one knee, he pulled a vial from behind his back. He swished the bottle so the contents inside splashed around in the empty spaces. "Hear that? That's the sound of your new voice." A wicked smile played over his lips, it almost seemed feral.
"What do you mean?"
"Hm...Well let's find out." With that he pulled the cork with a pop and shoved the open bottle into the knight's mouth. At first, Allen fought by spitting the stuff out, the liquid dribbled down the sides of his cheeks as he tried to force the liquid out. "Now now, do you do this when your mother tries to give you an elixir for your cold?" Not even a muffled response. "Hn. Fine then, if you won't take it easily I'll have to use another way."
Allen's eyes grew wide as Rem took the bottle away from his mouth. Sharp, lightning pain shot down his leg. His eyes traveled down to see Rem's hand clutching a shot, now empty. "You...bastard...." This only caused the soldier to grin widely. He held a "V" out for victory, "So glad you noticed! I did try to make that point across..." Mocking a frown of hurt masked his face.
A snarl played on Allen's lips as the liquid burned his body, most of all, his throat. Gurgling as he threw his head back, his body went into convulsions. More sweat trickled down, past his wide blue eyes. "Hm..." The Dragon Slayer blinked at the knight. 'I didn't think it would hurt.' An innocent smile replaced the confused look. "Oh well! Not my problem!" Another grin.
"I...I..." Rem dipped his head down to Allen's mouth. "What was that?" He cupped his ear. 'Looks like it was a complete success and Lord Dilandua will be have information up to his neck by this moron.' "Out with it already." The growing excitement was almost unbearable from his curiosity.
"HE WHAT?!" Dilandua slammed his fist down his arm rest. His throne room seemed to quiver under his tantrum. All four Slayers ducked their heads down in shame. The reporter stepped back in line, his head lower than the rest.
Hatred seethed and seemed to rise off his body with growing intensity. 'That prick committed suicide! Bit his own damn tongue and drowned in his blood.' He had risen from his throne in his thoughts, now taking his anger out on various pieces of furniture in the room by kicking them repeatedly. Muffled curses and dangerous growls vibrated the room. Four Slayers gulped silently, hoping their General didn't replace the furniture with them.
Whirling with his sword in hand, he screamed at the Slayers. "LEAVE!" They scrammed for the door all at once, ignoring military etiquette. Dallet jabbed in the code quickly and climbed over the Slayers shoulders and heads to tumble out into the hall. As a result, they all were sent forward into a mass pile as the door shut behind them. Dallet looked down at the three on the floor with blinking eyes. "Geez...You guys are such klutzes, don't you have more grace?"
A groan was his reply. Gatti raised a crutch from his fallen place. Shaking it as if it were his fist at Dallet. "Curse you and your bloody legs! Don't mock the crippled, ya bastard!" Miguel was on top of the pile, looking quite snug. Gatti was beneath him, not as comfortable. "Hey...where's Rem?" They all looked around them, then heard a muffled yell. Gatti's eyes went wide, "OH MY GOD! SOMETHING IS TOUCHING MY LEG! GET IT OFF! GET IT OFF! GET IT OFF!" His arms were flailing, he probably would have been running in a circle if he were up. Miguel winced, "Stop thrashing about! You're going to hurt all of us, including yourself."
Dallet laughed, "For someone who is war crazed, Gatti, you sure are a wimp sometimes. And that 'something' is Rem, who you are kicking in the face." He pulled Miguel up. The two just kicked Gatti aside for now to get at the very squished and bruised Rem. "Poor guy, fell unconscious. You got him good, Gatti. He'll have a nice dragon egg between his eyes." Dallet let Rem lean on his right side as he made his way to the hospital wing.
Miguel watched and turned ready to go back to the Mess Hall. "HEY! WHAT ABOUT ME!" He turned back. "Oh yeah..." Gatti grumbled under his breath. 'Useless...' "So, what'd ya get out of that Viena girl?" His friend blinked at him as if trying to digest what he had said, remembering he smiled. "Ooooh! Well I entered the cell...um...I looked around and found it empty...um...I panicked...um...then I barely managed to block a head shot from the woman...then...we fought for awhile, when I was just about to take the upper hand in the duel she freaking kicks me one in the love below!"
Gatti stared at him then broke into hysterical laughter. He tried to stop and gather himself together but started to shake again as held back laughter slowly seeped out. "To INTERROGATE, means you have to actually TAKE CONTROL of the PRISONER and gain INFORMATION from THEM, not get your ass kicked." More laughter. Fuming silently, Miguel's face turned a nice shade of roan. "Silence you." Gatti blinked, then more laughter. The door behind them opened, Dilandua stalked out heading towards the Sword training area. They watched him go. "The princess is about to get her treatment." He shuddered. Gatti kept watching Dilandua's back. 'I don't know, but this doesn't seem normal. He's usually somewhat, more controlled when he delivers a punishment. He's nearly crazed at the moment, not good.'
Hitomi trembled slightly from the silence of the room, he hadn't come for a while now. She expected him to be here as soon as she opened the door, but her death wouldn't be a real death without a little fear. He was succeeding in that if he meant to torment her by the wait. 'Why should I care? I'll take it like it was a mercy killing, I don't want to be here anymore. These faces haunt my sight, I don't want to see them anymore.' Her footsteps were light but made a loud click as she walked to the center of the room. The quietness of the area was starting to suffocate her. "This is crazy, he should hurry up already. I'll die from the silence before his blade if this keeps up."
She kept her thoughts blank, not wanting to linger back into her morbid state. 'Maybe, if I live through this. I'll get flowers for Chesta. Perhaps, I might even give him that new poem I was thinking of the other day.' She patted the pocket of her uniform where the poem lay. This brought a smile to her face, a new found hope appeared in her eyes. She had a reason to live, not the greatest reason, but it was a reason none the less. She clutched to it desperately, willing the wanton of death away. The door slid back, she didn't bother to turn her head towards the sound. She knew who would be there.
The air seemed to chill, making her skin prickle with goosebumps. 'Those eyes...I've only seen those eyes only a few times before but they were only during...' She gasped silently as she watched Dilandua remove his shirt. The sword gleaming in his hands was tossed back and forth between them. When he finally looked at her, a crazed demon stared into her. "I'm dead." Her voice was low and alien to her ears. 'He's going to destroy every part of me...'
Dilandua circled her, his grin wasn't human in the least. "Slayer, after I'm done with you, you'll remember to stay out of my way." He lunged, not caring that she wasn't armed. He struck down, aiming at her bare neck. Hitomi barely had time to react, she yelped as the blade slide across her collarbone as she dodged out of the way. The cut burned in her skin, warm liquid slid down her chest. She remembered the sword she had set against the wall earlier when she first entered the room. Quickly, she dashed towards it. Thrusting herself forward she made a mad grab for the hilt. Rolling back up so that she faced him, her sword met his.
An inhuman growl escaped him as he pushed down at her. She wasn't a match for his strength so she pushed their swords to the right, so the weight wouldn't be so overbearing. They flung away from each other from the release of power they both had put into the battle of strength. She wouldn't let him gain the upper hand, she attacked first. The scratching noise of metal rubbing against each other, echoed in the room.
They both said nothing, letting their swords converse in clashes. Hitomi's technique of matching her sword strokes with the movements of her body, made it almost appear that she was just a shadow of the swords strikes. She had created her own style, instead of building up a good offense she built up an impenetrable defense. Her flexible body allowed her to bend and dodge from any angle, her movements were fluid that's why she referred to it as water strikes. Dilandua had an old sword style, that consists of just using rapid attacks but using your body weight as strength instead of just swinging as hard as you can. His footwork was perfect, from years of harsh training on different land surfaces. He was quick and silent, his skill matched those of any predator.
Panting, they circled each other. Dilandua seemed more tired than hurt, her annoying blocks were zapping the strength from him. Hitomi wasn't any better off, her arms started to shake now after every blow he sent her way. 'I can't keep this up much longer, then he'll...' She shook her head, she wouldn't allow that to happen. With a cry of frustration, Dilandua sent them both back into a flurry of blades. Hitomi winced when she felt things tear in her legs and arms, but she didn't stop. She didn't expect the blow to the body. The kick sent her flying back, a satisfying crunch hung in the air. Some of her ribs had broken. Biting her lip, she kept herself from crying out as she picked herself up. Her lip bled.
'Just last a bit longer.' She cursed herself as her body twitched in various areas, sign of fatigue. 'I haven't eaten since that huge battle.' Smirking, Dilandua approached thinking she was ready to cave in. She was his. He knocked the sword from her shaking hands then smacked her in the stomach with the flat side of the blade. Blood surged up her throat, landing in a nice puddle at his feet. It hurt to breath and her chest felt heavy. Her legs betrayed her and she collapsed to the ground. He blinked down at her, his blinding anger was gone. His eyes ran over her bruised body as if noticing for the first time. 'Looks like my work...' He wouldn't allow himself to feel ashamed at thrashing his Slayer this badly, his pride wouldn't allow it.
"Looks like I let myself get carried away..." It was odd to feel pity for the girl, but he wouldn't let himself feel guilt. She had a thrashing coming, but was it better for him to have dealt with her? Perhaps he should have had someone else do it... He shook his head, of course he had the right too! She took away his victory, after coming so freaking close! Looking at her crumpled body before him made his eyes soften a bit. 'But still...I don't think I've damaged one of my Slayers this badly.' He picked up the torn girl and headed towards the door.
Blue eyes slowly revealed themselves to the world. A tired groan made his throat dry. He turned his head to the side so that his eyes wouldn't get further burned by the bright light above him. Doctors were busy at work over a new patient. "Quick! The rib punctured the lung! There's also fragments of bones stuck in them!" "You over there! GET MORE BANDAGES!" "Her heart beat just slowed down, COME ON PEOPLE! MOVE MOVE!" Chesta turned his head to the other side, they were going to lose another Slayer. Had there been another battle while he was out? All the yelling was making his ear drums throb.
Holding his head, he moved himself to a sitting position. He spotted the door, carefully he slipped out of bed. Not that he had too, the doctors attention wouldn't have been averted from what they were doing. Limping and struggling to keep from falling over, he reached the door. It slid away before he could reach the pad, more doctors rushed in holding towels and new bandages. 'Must be really bad. Too bad, it was probably a newbie too.' He sighed as he walked out the door and into the hallway.
Walking down the hall wasn't too hard, there were walls to lean on. He smiled as he heard the loud ruckus of the Mess Hall. He could hear Gatti's shout of complaints from what sounded like someone beating him repeatedly against the table. A hushed silence came over the room as he entered. Miguel stood, already at Chesta's side. "Hey sunshine, how ya feeling?" Chesta winced from the nickname, Dallet snickered. "I'm just....peachy." "Well pull up a seat man! We haven't seen ya in days!" Chesta nodded, taking a seat next to a bruised Gatti. "What happened to you?" Gatti turned towards Rem, who had a bandage in the middle of his forehead in the shape of a cross, his finger pointed accusingly at him. "HE'S what happened to me. Jerk...OW!" Rem made sure to step on his broken foot. Chuckles fell from Chesta's lips, it felt good to find out little had changed after that incident.
"Hey..." He looked around the table noticing there was one missing face. "Where's Hitomi?" The group's expression died into a twist of agony, many eyes told him they weren't sure of themselves. 'They don't want to tell me...' His fist came down onto the table. "Well? Don't give me those looks, tell me!" Dallet and Gatti avoided his eyes by staring at the cracks in the table. Miguel ran his finger down the length of his sword, which was on the table. Rem spoke up, "You didn't see her?" Chesta blinked at him. "Of course not! I was in the hospital wing, I only woke up this evening..." Rem sighed, "She was taken there only a few minutes ago. I heard doctors are still trying to stop the bleeding."
His memory searched for her face in the room. 'Doctors...' Blue eyes widened at the discovery, the bench screeched as he stood up abruptly. "That couldn't have been her!" 'The doctors were saying how it didn't look like the Slayer would make it through the rest of the night.' The nods of his friends told him otherwise. "No...how'd she get that way?!" Dallet looked up, his face was full of guilt. "Gatti and I had to escort her to the STA, where Dilandua was supposed to...give her a lesson." Gatti added in, "But after we left her there, we were called to his room. Where...Rem delivered some pretty bad news, it didn't set him in a sane mood." Chesta sat down, letting all of the information he had just learned sink in. Confusion plagued his face, sure he was angry but it's not like he could walk into his General's room and slaughter him. 'Why of all people did it have to be him...' A feeling of helplessness washed over him.
"Yeah...we feel for ya buddy." Gatti patted Chesta's back. "We'll just have to see how things turn out." Miguel had been studying Chesta quietly, "Don't do anything stupid. You're wounds aren't fully recuperated and even if you were healthy again you wouldn't stand a chance against Lord Dilandua. He just lost control over his emotions, whether Dilandua wants to admit it or not, I'm sure he feels some regret. I don't think he's ever injured a Slayer that badly." Chesta nodded. Dallet's stomach grumbled, breaking the silence. He looked up to see them staring at him oddly. Gatti cleared his throat as he leaned in, "Um..didn't you like just eat?"
"Maybe..." His eyes shifted. Miguel elbowed him, "Oh come on, we all watched you , genius." Dallet stuck out his bottom lip. "Well, I'm a growing child." Miguel patted his stomach, "Which way?" The table laughed, breaking the silence that had fell upon them earlier. Gatti watched them, holding his crutches out, he pulled himself up. "Hey, where you going?" Gatti turned to Dallet. "I'm going to see how the princess is doing. I don't know why we're all here moping around and feeling anxious. I want to see her for myself and...' He let out a sharp breath he had been holding. 'if things turn out for the worst...I want her to be with somebody so she doesn't go alone.'" The others stared at him, expecting that to come out Chesta's mouth or someone other than him. He did start out hating Hitomi after all.
Chesta ran a hand through his hair as he too stood up. "He's right, we should go." Rem looked at them with a tired look. "I doubt the doctors will let us in. They seem to be pretty busy with her from what I heard. Don't you think we'll only get in the way?" Everyone was aghast as they digested that. Miguel was the first to speak. "What exactly is it you're trying to say? You'd let a few doctors tell you whether you have a right to see your dying friend or not? Or...' His eyes narrowed at him. 'is it that you don't wish to see her. Which makes everything different.'" The others waited to hear his thoughts to that comment.
Rem stood slowly, his eyes becoming level with Miguel. Miguel's face blinked out of surprise, his eyes shaded into a darker blue as he narrowed them. His figure shouted predator, he half expected the guy to pounce onto him and try to rip the flesh at his throat. "Do you actually think that way of me? I was merely being matter-of-fact with everyone, if you don't like it see for yourself. See just how pointless your efforts really are." With that he stuck up his nose and left the Mess Hall with a 'Hmph!'
"Hey...He has his reasons. He's probably more worried about Hitomi than all of us and doesn't really know how to express it. He's a guy after all, right?" The Slayers nodded with understanding. Gatti pointed one of his crutches towards the door, "With that said, let's go!"
"Her heart stopped!" "Go right into CPR! Where's that respiration machine!" "Come on! We're losing her!" "Heart status?" "Still no beat, Sir." "Damnit! Breathe girl!" He was numb to it all, the world seemed to move by him slowly as he watched from his corner of gloom. His red eyes were narrowed in the shadows that engulfed him, he was lost to everyone in the room. 'Why am I still here? I can't seem to...leave.' The window's shadow moved slowly as time ran out, the sun was setting. Then the darkness would come, the symbol of where all living things slept and the predators hunted. This night would smell of death and blood, and as usual it would be because of him. Only this time, he wasn't reveling in it. His form twitched a little from a bottled emotion. Anger. 'She should have been stronger, why the hell did she have to get in my way? None of this would have happened if it weren't for her, it's all her fault!'
A sweet voice cooed into his mind, followed by a familiar joyous laugh. He groaned as he held his head. Her image floated there before him in the abyss of his mind. 'Why do you still haunt me? You should be the one suffering!' He tried to swipe at her smiling face. 'Dilandua...have you forgotten how to weep?' "She's breathing!" "Crap, she's going into shock!" He glared at her as he held his head. 'Just leave me.' She walked towards him, her figure lost in an ever flowing white robe. 'I can't...this is my punishment. I can't be forgiven till you've forgiven me. You've forgotten how to love, so that'll never happen. Your heart has become more colder than ice now a days, so I'm just settling myself back into your mind ready to welcome eternity.' He bared his teeth at her. 'May you suffer in your cage.'
She frowned at him then a sincere grin came upon her lips. 'I got it! I'll help you remember how to love and live. And...that girl is going to re-teach you the steps to the dance you've lost so long ago.' He raised an eyebrow. 'What does she have to do with anything?' She smiled, 'You'll see! As you well know, I'm full of surprises. Bleh, what dark humor I have these days.' She ran away from him, fading into the darkness. "Sir! We have a heart beat!" He looked up, seeing the rush of doctors stop. "It's a miracle! She's stabilized!" He narrowed his eyes as he watched a silky white silhouette exit out of Hitomi's mouth. Celena winked at him once before disappearing once again.
He turned hearing the door open. Gloomy looking Slayers with haunted eyes peered in. They didn't notice him at first because he didn't wish to be seen just yet. "Whom are you here to see, boys?" The Slayers turned to the doctor, who was removing his bloody gloves. Dallet spoke up, "We're here to see the Slayer Hitomi." The doctor removed his other glove with a slap, looking them over once then looked back to what seemed to be the 'Head doctor'. The Head doctor gave his acknowledgment with a nod of his head to the one standing before the Slayers. The doctor moved aside so that they may approach. "You've got 10 minutes max. We just got her stabilized, we don't want her to go into shock again. She's on constant watch now, so make it quick. She must be tired." The Head doctor ghosted by them, his face ashen from working.
Dallet rolled his eyes. "Obviously she's tired. She's not even awake." He was elbowed by Miguel. "He let us in, didn't he? Be grateful for that, he could have just as easily said 'No.'" Dallet chose to reply to this with a raspberry. "You're such a child," replied Gatti, who did a mock imitation of a snobbish girl. "And this is coming from one who still sleeps with, oh what was his name again?" Miguel peered over Dallet's shoulder as he walked towards the table. "Commander Bun Bun." Dallet laughed at the horror stricken expression on Gatti, "Back off! You have nothing on me rabbit. Commander Bun Bun can so kick your ass." With that, Gatti followed Miguel with his nose stuck up in the air, ending the conversation with a 'pfft!'
Chesta was still in the doorway, his hands shook at his side. He was surged forward from a heave from behind, he looked back to see Lord Dilandua standing over him. "Why do you wait behind? It's not like you haven't seen death before. " Chesta's face reddened but he knew better to swallow his retort. 'She's not dead.' "Yes, M'lord." Dilandua shrugged as he turned to go sit in a chair.
The Slayer approached the surgery table slowly, his footsteps were quiet, as if he were afraid to wake the girl from a wonderful dream. He touched her cold hand, she had lost so much blood. Her cheeks were rosy but the rest of her skin, he had never seen anything more whiter than a cloud. 'See Dilandua? That should be you over there. You should be the one who she sees first when she wakes.' Dilandua gave a low growl in his throat at the annoying voice in the back of his head. 'Go away, Celena.' A mock hurt sound was the response. 'Even if she were to see me first, she'd most likely scream. I...did that to her. I'm the reason for her pain.' 'All the more better for you to be there first when she rises. You have apologizing to do.' Dilandua shook his head, thinking she might fall out. 'Never...I'd never fall to such a low rank as that. My pride is already hurt enough just by staying here. Can't that just be enough?'
There was silence at the other end for a moment.
'Perhaps digging around in your emotions will help me figure you out.' Dilandua's eyes widened, he wanted to scream and tear her head off. No way was he allowing her to dig around in his only sanctuary of solitude, it was his own private place that he could call his own. She had no right. 'GET THE HELL OUT!' A giggle replied. 'Or what? You'll kill me? You can't kill a dead person.' 'There are other ways. I can fill your after life with eternal suffering.' Too late, she had broken his barriers. A sharp gasp then blackness.
'Hmmm, let's see.' He blinked, looking down at his hands. Flexing them once he realized the feeling in them wasn't the same. 'Where am I, Celena? What the hell did you break?!' Her annoyance lashed out at him, 'Oh shut up. You can be such a baby sometimes. I didn't break anything. The after shock of me penetrating your defenses must have just knocked you unconscious. Your form now is the form you take in dreams. I thought it was pretty blatant.' He gave her a 'hn' not really liking her answer. 'Ah! What do we have here? Why Dilandua...you...' She appeared in front of him, her robes waved lightly around her form. 'Looks like I don't have to do much, some of your old feelings have already been reactivated.'
'That's your prognosis? I've been knocked out so you could tell me THAT?!' He fumed while she rolled her eyes. 'You're angered to easily. It's not like you're being here was intentional. Oh well, what's done is done.' She turned on her heel, ready to leave him behind in his own delusion. 'What did you mean...old feelings reactivated?' She turned her head slightly towards him but kept walking. 'You'll see. Stay here and think about it in the short minutes you have left. You're going to wake up any second now, your brain waves are changing back to being active.'
'Old...feelings? She couldn't mean...' He shook his head lightly, making some silver hair fly. 'Never. I'm incapable of such a feeling now, it's a weakness. No, it's not true.' Nodding to himself helped him convince himself that he wasn't falling again.
"Hitomi, can you hear us?" Her eyes didn't even flutter, her breath remained it's slow and steady pace. It was as if she wasn't breathing at all. The paleness of her skin revealed a bluish color from all her veins and bruises. Chesta's hand curled around her hand. "Hey Hitomi, I'm awake now. Only I was half expecting you to be by my side when I opened my eyes, but it seems we switched roles." Dallet patted Chesta's back when his form shook lightly. Gatti tilted his head at the still figure on the bed, his eye had caught a glimpse of white. He reached out towards Hitomi's pocket.
Dallet's eyes widened, he smacked the hand that reached towards the girl. "What exactly are you doing?" Miguel watched the both of them. 'Geez, Gatti would even go for a half dead girl.' "What do you mean, what am I doing?" He looked at their expressions, were they glaring at him? Glaring back he came to their conclusion, "Guys...you're sick. I was only getting something from her pocket...geez..." He reached his hand in, pulling free the loose paper.
He read aloud it's smudged contents:
Her silent sendings
Raindrops smear the car window (Falling)
The skies are trying to scry again (Dreaming)
Attempting to speak the word of damnation
I watch her in her flurry of white tresses (Whisper)
Dancing and weaving the threads of suffering
Singing while chasing after me through the forest
She stops extending her arm to me on a mound
Calling me back again with a shower of droplets
I'll conjure her up once more as my eyes close
"Hold on there's a little more at the bottom."
No one stops to listen to the rain
That's where legacies are made
She dreams of reality
And reality dreams of her
She's a tries to blend in to be lost
Only to find dreams cannot be hidden
"What do you think it means?" He looked up at the solemn faced Slayers. Dallet shrugged and Chesta repeated his motion. They turned to Miguel. "She has been known to be the Seer, do you think she's dreamed up something without realizing it? The key and power of Atlantis still reside in her." Chesta took the paper from Gatti, reading it over again. "Could it just be she's being metaphorical and speaking about her past sorrow? It is a poem after all." The Slayers shook their heads. "She's said something about this before. Once before dinner, she told me of a woman she keeps seeing. A glimpse of a woman in a white dress but with silver hair. She's familiar but in the same way so foreign to her. The woman keeps...um...I think it was offering her something. Like golden fire or something like that."
The others blinked at him in confusion. "Don't ask me, I'm trying to remember here. But that's what she's been seeing. I think it's either a vision, a hallucination, or she's seeing a ghost." Chesta looked down at Hitomi. "It could be all or none of them. I can't really say." Gatti stroked his chin thoughtfully. "What if...she's seeing a ghost/vision? Like...she's seeing someone dead but predicting their visits, ya know? Like, she's going to be meeting this person soon." Miguel's eyes widened. "It couldn't be her." The Slayers turned to him. "Eh?" Miguel paced in his spot. "What...could she want with Hitomi?"
The door opened, revealing a very tired looking Rem. He fell to the floor, gasping for breath. Dallet was the first to reach him. "Hey man, you ok?" Rem looked up, glaring at him for such a stupid question. "Yes, I'm just dandy. Chasing a loose and hostile prisoner around the Vione is my thrill in life. NO DAMNIT! I NEED YOUR HELP! GABRIELLA VIENA HAS ESCAPED!" Miguel froze. "Wait...how is that possible?" Rem glared at him from the floor. "Apparently, her last visitor supplied her with certain tools that allowed her easy access to pulling the hinges off of the cell door. Miguel...did you leave the cell door open by chance or leave anything behind so that she might be able to pick the lock?" Miguel shook his head. "Nope, I double checked too that the door was secure. And I entered the cell with nothing." Gatti's tackled him from behind. "YOU WENT NAKED? WHOA!! GO YOU!" Miguel muffled into the ground. "You...idiot..." Rem shook his head, his red hair stroked the side of his face. "Hmmm, then she escaped by other means. There's a traitor here on the Vione. So...she wasn't working alone before we captured her."
"The new shipment of newbs, we'll have to watch over them when they train today. No, we'll have them train now. You guys pretty much know the signs of things out of the normal, search for them." The Slayers nodded as they left to finish the crisis at hand.
All moved except Chesta.
Rem stood in the doorway, his blue eyes were icy cold. "You're still a Slayer and with that comes obligations. Responsibility to your fellow Slayers and your home. Both are at risk here. What's the point in just watching Hitomi breathe as the ship collapses around you? Is that a chance you're willing to take?" Gatti nudged Rem in the ribs hard as he leaned in to whisper. "Hey, cool it. His feelings have been really mixed up lately, I don't think we want to push his sanity anymore. Let him decide, besides there are plenty of Slayers here to take down two runaways." Rem sighed, shrugging in defeat. "There could be more traitors and we don't know it though...Alright let's go then."
Chesta heard their footsteps die out when the door closed behind them. He walked towards the door. 'If I look back I'll end up staying. Hitomi, don't die while I'm away.' Fists formed at his side, a hand rose to punch in the code. Then he was gone.
Whoadie: All those who have asked to be put in the story, you're characters are slowly being revealed as you can tell. XD So far I have two down. The next person, Loki, will be in the next chappie I hope. Lokie, btw, o.o what would you like your name to be? And your description? If you dunno, I'll think of something.
"...." Will be talking
'....' thinking
Torn Apart
Chapter 9-Can't hide
He fell to his knees with a groan. Spitting out the blood that ran from his swollen lip at the man's feet. "Go to hell, I'll never talk." This only earned him another black eye. He fell onto his back, taking in the air sharply. He was in a hell of a lot of pain, but he'd never scream out.
"He's not going to say anything, Sir."
A voice from the corner answered the Slayer, "Leave us then."
The Slayer bowed then exited the dungeon chamber. Allen remained still on the ground, waiting for the right time to spring up and attack the man out of surprise. But first, he needed to find out what plans Zaibach had that needed Hitomi so badly. "You might as well kill me because I'll never say a word."
A chuckle came, "Then why are you speaking? Your mind promises to say nothing but your mouth says otherwise. So by all means, don't say a word."
Allen growled, still laying on his back. He became suddenly very still. 'Manipulation is impossible in this situation, silence is my best defense right now.'
El Rem stayed off to the side of the knight, taking his strides on Allen's left side. "Do you actually think you'll be able to escape?"
Silence.
"Do you even plan on escaping?" He turned his steps so that he was out of arms reach. Crouching down to one knee, he pulled a vial from behind his back. He swished the bottle so the contents inside splashed around in the empty spaces. "Hear that? That's the sound of your new voice." A wicked smile played over his lips, it almost seemed feral.
"What do you mean?"
"Hm...Well let's find out." With that he pulled the cork with a pop and shoved the open bottle into the knight's mouth. At first, Allen fought by spitting the stuff out, the liquid dribbled down the sides of his cheeks as he tried to force the liquid out. "Now now, do you do this when your mother tries to give you an elixir for your cold?" Not even a muffled response. "Hn. Fine then, if you won't take it easily I'll have to use another way."
Allen's eyes grew wide as Rem took the bottle away from his mouth. Sharp, lightning pain shot down his leg. His eyes traveled down to see Rem's hand clutching a shot, now empty. "You...bastard...." This only caused the soldier to grin widely. He held a "V" out for victory, "So glad you noticed! I did try to make that point across..." Mocking a frown of hurt masked his face.
A snarl played on Allen's lips as the liquid burned his body, most of all, his throat. Gurgling as he threw his head back, his body went into convulsions. More sweat trickled down, past his wide blue eyes. "Hm..." The Dragon Slayer blinked at the knight. 'I didn't think it would hurt.' An innocent smile replaced the confused look. "Oh well! Not my problem!" Another grin.
"I...I..." Rem dipped his head down to Allen's mouth. "What was that?" He cupped his ear. 'Looks like it was a complete success and Lord Dilandua will be have information up to his neck by this moron.' "Out with it already." The growing excitement was almost unbearable from his curiosity.
"HE WHAT?!" Dilandua slammed his fist down his arm rest. His throne room seemed to quiver under his tantrum. All four Slayers ducked their heads down in shame. The reporter stepped back in line, his head lower than the rest.
Hatred seethed and seemed to rise off his body with growing intensity. 'That prick committed suicide! Bit his own damn tongue and drowned in his blood.' He had risen from his throne in his thoughts, now taking his anger out on various pieces of furniture in the room by kicking them repeatedly. Muffled curses and dangerous growls vibrated the room. Four Slayers gulped silently, hoping their General didn't replace the furniture with them.
Whirling with his sword in hand, he screamed at the Slayers. "LEAVE!" They scrammed for the door all at once, ignoring military etiquette. Dallet jabbed in the code quickly and climbed over the Slayers shoulders and heads to tumble out into the hall. As a result, they all were sent forward into a mass pile as the door shut behind them. Dallet looked down at the three on the floor with blinking eyes. "Geez...You guys are such klutzes, don't you have more grace?"
A groan was his reply. Gatti raised a crutch from his fallen place. Shaking it as if it were his fist at Dallet. "Curse you and your bloody legs! Don't mock the crippled, ya bastard!" Miguel was on top of the pile, looking quite snug. Gatti was beneath him, not as comfortable. "Hey...where's Rem?" They all looked around them, then heard a muffled yell. Gatti's eyes went wide, "OH MY GOD! SOMETHING IS TOUCHING MY LEG! GET IT OFF! GET IT OFF! GET IT OFF!" His arms were flailing, he probably would have been running in a circle if he were up. Miguel winced, "Stop thrashing about! You're going to hurt all of us, including yourself."
Dallet laughed, "For someone who is war crazed, Gatti, you sure are a wimp sometimes. And that 'something' is Rem, who you are kicking in the face." He pulled Miguel up. The two just kicked Gatti aside for now to get at the very squished and bruised Rem. "Poor guy, fell unconscious. You got him good, Gatti. He'll have a nice dragon egg between his eyes." Dallet let Rem lean on his right side as he made his way to the hospital wing.
Miguel watched and turned ready to go back to the Mess Hall. "HEY! WHAT ABOUT ME!" He turned back. "Oh yeah..." Gatti grumbled under his breath. 'Useless...' "So, what'd ya get out of that Viena girl?" His friend blinked at him as if trying to digest what he had said, remembering he smiled. "Ooooh! Well I entered the cell...um...I looked around and found it empty...um...I panicked...um...then I barely managed to block a head shot from the woman...then...we fought for awhile, when I was just about to take the upper hand in the duel she freaking kicks me one in the love below!"
Gatti stared at him then broke into hysterical laughter. He tried to stop and gather himself together but started to shake again as held back laughter slowly seeped out. "To INTERROGATE, means you have to actually TAKE CONTROL of the PRISONER and gain INFORMATION from THEM, not get your ass kicked." More laughter. Fuming silently, Miguel's face turned a nice shade of roan. "Silence you." Gatti blinked, then more laughter. The door behind them opened, Dilandua stalked out heading towards the Sword training area. They watched him go. "The princess is about to get her treatment." He shuddered. Gatti kept watching Dilandua's back. 'I don't know, but this doesn't seem normal. He's usually somewhat, more controlled when he delivers a punishment. He's nearly crazed at the moment, not good.'
Hitomi trembled slightly from the silence of the room, he hadn't come for a while now. She expected him to be here as soon as she opened the door, but her death wouldn't be a real death without a little fear. He was succeeding in that if he meant to torment her by the wait. 'Why should I care? I'll take it like it was a mercy killing, I don't want to be here anymore. These faces haunt my sight, I don't want to see them anymore.' Her footsteps were light but made a loud click as she walked to the center of the room. The quietness of the area was starting to suffocate her. "This is crazy, he should hurry up already. I'll die from the silence before his blade if this keeps up."
She kept her thoughts blank, not wanting to linger back into her morbid state. 'Maybe, if I live through this. I'll get flowers for Chesta. Perhaps, I might even give him that new poem I was thinking of the other day.' She patted the pocket of her uniform where the poem lay. This brought a smile to her face, a new found hope appeared in her eyes. She had a reason to live, not the greatest reason, but it was a reason none the less. She clutched to it desperately, willing the wanton of death away. The door slid back, she didn't bother to turn her head towards the sound. She knew who would be there.
The air seemed to chill, making her skin prickle with goosebumps. 'Those eyes...I've only seen those eyes only a few times before but they were only during...' She gasped silently as she watched Dilandua remove his shirt. The sword gleaming in his hands was tossed back and forth between them. When he finally looked at her, a crazed demon stared into her. "I'm dead." Her voice was low and alien to her ears. 'He's going to destroy every part of me...'
Dilandua circled her, his grin wasn't human in the least. "Slayer, after I'm done with you, you'll remember to stay out of my way." He lunged, not caring that she wasn't armed. He struck down, aiming at her bare neck. Hitomi barely had time to react, she yelped as the blade slide across her collarbone as she dodged out of the way. The cut burned in her skin, warm liquid slid down her chest. She remembered the sword she had set against the wall earlier when she first entered the room. Quickly, she dashed towards it. Thrusting herself forward she made a mad grab for the hilt. Rolling back up so that she faced him, her sword met his.
An inhuman growl escaped him as he pushed down at her. She wasn't a match for his strength so she pushed their swords to the right, so the weight wouldn't be so overbearing. They flung away from each other from the release of power they both had put into the battle of strength. She wouldn't let him gain the upper hand, she attacked first. The scratching noise of metal rubbing against each other, echoed in the room.
They both said nothing, letting their swords converse in clashes. Hitomi's technique of matching her sword strokes with the movements of her body, made it almost appear that she was just a shadow of the swords strikes. She had created her own style, instead of building up a good offense she built up an impenetrable defense. Her flexible body allowed her to bend and dodge from any angle, her movements were fluid that's why she referred to it as water strikes. Dilandua had an old sword style, that consists of just using rapid attacks but using your body weight as strength instead of just swinging as hard as you can. His footwork was perfect, from years of harsh training on different land surfaces. He was quick and silent, his skill matched those of any predator.
Panting, they circled each other. Dilandua seemed more tired than hurt, her annoying blocks were zapping the strength from him. Hitomi wasn't any better off, her arms started to shake now after every blow he sent her way. 'I can't keep this up much longer, then he'll...' She shook her head, she wouldn't allow that to happen. With a cry of frustration, Dilandua sent them both back into a flurry of blades. Hitomi winced when she felt things tear in her legs and arms, but she didn't stop. She didn't expect the blow to the body. The kick sent her flying back, a satisfying crunch hung in the air. Some of her ribs had broken. Biting her lip, she kept herself from crying out as she picked herself up. Her lip bled.
'Just last a bit longer.' She cursed herself as her body twitched in various areas, sign of fatigue. 'I haven't eaten since that huge battle.' Smirking, Dilandua approached thinking she was ready to cave in. She was his. He knocked the sword from her shaking hands then smacked her in the stomach with the flat side of the blade. Blood surged up her throat, landing in a nice puddle at his feet. It hurt to breath and her chest felt heavy. Her legs betrayed her and she collapsed to the ground. He blinked down at her, his blinding anger was gone. His eyes ran over her bruised body as if noticing for the first time. 'Looks like my work...' He wouldn't allow himself to feel ashamed at thrashing his Slayer this badly, his pride wouldn't allow it.
"Looks like I let myself get carried away..." It was odd to feel pity for the girl, but he wouldn't let himself feel guilt. She had a thrashing coming, but was it better for him to have dealt with her? Perhaps he should have had someone else do it... He shook his head, of course he had the right too! She took away his victory, after coming so freaking close! Looking at her crumpled body before him made his eyes soften a bit. 'But still...I don't think I've damaged one of my Slayers this badly.' He picked up the torn girl and headed towards the door.
Blue eyes slowly revealed themselves to the world. A tired groan made his throat dry. He turned his head to the side so that his eyes wouldn't get further burned by the bright light above him. Doctors were busy at work over a new patient. "Quick! The rib punctured the lung! There's also fragments of bones stuck in them!" "You over there! GET MORE BANDAGES!" "Her heart beat just slowed down, COME ON PEOPLE! MOVE MOVE!" Chesta turned his head to the other side, they were going to lose another Slayer. Had there been another battle while he was out? All the yelling was making his ear drums throb.
Holding his head, he moved himself to a sitting position. He spotted the door, carefully he slipped out of bed. Not that he had too, the doctors attention wouldn't have been averted from what they were doing. Limping and struggling to keep from falling over, he reached the door. It slid away before he could reach the pad, more doctors rushed in holding towels and new bandages. 'Must be really bad. Too bad, it was probably a newbie too.' He sighed as he walked out the door and into the hallway.
Walking down the hall wasn't too hard, there were walls to lean on. He smiled as he heard the loud ruckus of the Mess Hall. He could hear Gatti's shout of complaints from what sounded like someone beating him repeatedly against the table. A hushed silence came over the room as he entered. Miguel stood, already at Chesta's side. "Hey sunshine, how ya feeling?" Chesta winced from the nickname, Dallet snickered. "I'm just....peachy." "Well pull up a seat man! We haven't seen ya in days!" Chesta nodded, taking a seat next to a bruised Gatti. "What happened to you?" Gatti turned towards Rem, who had a bandage in the middle of his forehead in the shape of a cross, his finger pointed accusingly at him. "HE'S what happened to me. Jerk...OW!" Rem made sure to step on his broken foot. Chuckles fell from Chesta's lips, it felt good to find out little had changed after that incident.
"Hey..." He looked around the table noticing there was one missing face. "Where's Hitomi?" The group's expression died into a twist of agony, many eyes told him they weren't sure of themselves. 'They don't want to tell me...' His fist came down onto the table. "Well? Don't give me those looks, tell me!" Dallet and Gatti avoided his eyes by staring at the cracks in the table. Miguel ran his finger down the length of his sword, which was on the table. Rem spoke up, "You didn't see her?" Chesta blinked at him. "Of course not! I was in the hospital wing, I only woke up this evening..." Rem sighed, "She was taken there only a few minutes ago. I heard doctors are still trying to stop the bleeding."
His memory searched for her face in the room. 'Doctors...' Blue eyes widened at the discovery, the bench screeched as he stood up abruptly. "That couldn't have been her!" 'The doctors were saying how it didn't look like the Slayer would make it through the rest of the night.' The nods of his friends told him otherwise. "No...how'd she get that way?!" Dallet looked up, his face was full of guilt. "Gatti and I had to escort her to the STA, where Dilandua was supposed to...give her a lesson." Gatti added in, "But after we left her there, we were called to his room. Where...Rem delivered some pretty bad news, it didn't set him in a sane mood." Chesta sat down, letting all of the information he had just learned sink in. Confusion plagued his face, sure he was angry but it's not like he could walk into his General's room and slaughter him. 'Why of all people did it have to be him...' A feeling of helplessness washed over him.
"Yeah...we feel for ya buddy." Gatti patted Chesta's back. "We'll just have to see how things turn out." Miguel had been studying Chesta quietly, "Don't do anything stupid. You're wounds aren't fully recuperated and even if you were healthy again you wouldn't stand a chance against Lord Dilandua. He just lost control over his emotions, whether Dilandua wants to admit it or not, I'm sure he feels some regret. I don't think he's ever injured a Slayer that badly." Chesta nodded. Dallet's stomach grumbled, breaking the silence. He looked up to see them staring at him oddly. Gatti cleared his throat as he leaned in, "Um..didn't you like just eat?"
"Maybe..." His eyes shifted. Miguel elbowed him, "Oh come on, we all watched you , genius." Dallet stuck out his bottom lip. "Well, I'm a growing child." Miguel patted his stomach, "Which way?" The table laughed, breaking the silence that had fell upon them earlier. Gatti watched them, holding his crutches out, he pulled himself up. "Hey, where you going?" Gatti turned to Dallet. "I'm going to see how the princess is doing. I don't know why we're all here moping around and feeling anxious. I want to see her for myself and...' He let out a sharp breath he had been holding. 'if things turn out for the worst...I want her to be with somebody so she doesn't go alone.'" The others stared at him, expecting that to come out Chesta's mouth or someone other than him. He did start out hating Hitomi after all.
Chesta ran a hand through his hair as he too stood up. "He's right, we should go." Rem looked at them with a tired look. "I doubt the doctors will let us in. They seem to be pretty busy with her from what I heard. Don't you think we'll only get in the way?" Everyone was aghast as they digested that. Miguel was the first to speak. "What exactly is it you're trying to say? You'd let a few doctors tell you whether you have a right to see your dying friend or not? Or...' His eyes narrowed at him. 'is it that you don't wish to see her. Which makes everything different.'" The others waited to hear his thoughts to that comment.
Rem stood slowly, his eyes becoming level with Miguel. Miguel's face blinked out of surprise, his eyes shaded into a darker blue as he narrowed them. His figure shouted predator, he half expected the guy to pounce onto him and try to rip the flesh at his throat. "Do you actually think that way of me? I was merely being matter-of-fact with everyone, if you don't like it see for yourself. See just how pointless your efforts really are." With that he stuck up his nose and left the Mess Hall with a 'Hmph!'
"Hey...He has his reasons. He's probably more worried about Hitomi than all of us and doesn't really know how to express it. He's a guy after all, right?" The Slayers nodded with understanding. Gatti pointed one of his crutches towards the door, "With that said, let's go!"
"Her heart stopped!" "Go right into CPR! Where's that respiration machine!" "Come on! We're losing her!" "Heart status?" "Still no beat, Sir." "Damnit! Breathe girl!" He was numb to it all, the world seemed to move by him slowly as he watched from his corner of gloom. His red eyes were narrowed in the shadows that engulfed him, he was lost to everyone in the room. 'Why am I still here? I can't seem to...leave.' The window's shadow moved slowly as time ran out, the sun was setting. Then the darkness would come, the symbol of where all living things slept and the predators hunted. This night would smell of death and blood, and as usual it would be because of him. Only this time, he wasn't reveling in it. His form twitched a little from a bottled emotion. Anger. 'She should have been stronger, why the hell did she have to get in my way? None of this would have happened if it weren't for her, it's all her fault!'
A sweet voice cooed into his mind, followed by a familiar joyous laugh. He groaned as he held his head. Her image floated there before him in the abyss of his mind. 'Why do you still haunt me? You should be the one suffering!' He tried to swipe at her smiling face. 'Dilandua...have you forgotten how to weep?' "She's breathing!" "Crap, she's going into shock!" He glared at her as he held his head. 'Just leave me.' She walked towards him, her figure lost in an ever flowing white robe. 'I can't...this is my punishment. I can't be forgiven till you've forgiven me. You've forgotten how to love, so that'll never happen. Your heart has become more colder than ice now a days, so I'm just settling myself back into your mind ready to welcome eternity.' He bared his teeth at her. 'May you suffer in your cage.'
She frowned at him then a sincere grin came upon her lips. 'I got it! I'll help you remember how to love and live. And...that girl is going to re-teach you the steps to the dance you've lost so long ago.' He raised an eyebrow. 'What does she have to do with anything?' She smiled, 'You'll see! As you well know, I'm full of surprises. Bleh, what dark humor I have these days.' She ran away from him, fading into the darkness. "Sir! We have a heart beat!" He looked up, seeing the rush of doctors stop. "It's a miracle! She's stabilized!" He narrowed his eyes as he watched a silky white silhouette exit out of Hitomi's mouth. Celena winked at him once before disappearing once again.
He turned hearing the door open. Gloomy looking Slayers with haunted eyes peered in. They didn't notice him at first because he didn't wish to be seen just yet. "Whom are you here to see, boys?" The Slayers turned to the doctor, who was removing his bloody gloves. Dallet spoke up, "We're here to see the Slayer Hitomi." The doctor removed his other glove with a slap, looking them over once then looked back to what seemed to be the 'Head doctor'. The Head doctor gave his acknowledgment with a nod of his head to the one standing before the Slayers. The doctor moved aside so that they may approach. "You've got 10 minutes max. We just got her stabilized, we don't want her to go into shock again. She's on constant watch now, so make it quick. She must be tired." The Head doctor ghosted by them, his face ashen from working.
Dallet rolled his eyes. "Obviously she's tired. She's not even awake." He was elbowed by Miguel. "He let us in, didn't he? Be grateful for that, he could have just as easily said 'No.'" Dallet chose to reply to this with a raspberry. "You're such a child," replied Gatti, who did a mock imitation of a snobbish girl. "And this is coming from one who still sleeps with, oh what was his name again?" Miguel peered over Dallet's shoulder as he walked towards the table. "Commander Bun Bun." Dallet laughed at the horror stricken expression on Gatti, "Back off! You have nothing on me rabbit. Commander Bun Bun can so kick your ass." With that, Gatti followed Miguel with his nose stuck up in the air, ending the conversation with a 'pfft!'
Chesta was still in the doorway, his hands shook at his side. He was surged forward from a heave from behind, he looked back to see Lord Dilandua standing over him. "Why do you wait behind? It's not like you haven't seen death before. " Chesta's face reddened but he knew better to swallow his retort. 'She's not dead.' "Yes, M'lord." Dilandua shrugged as he turned to go sit in a chair.
The Slayer approached the surgery table slowly, his footsteps were quiet, as if he were afraid to wake the girl from a wonderful dream. He touched her cold hand, she had lost so much blood. Her cheeks were rosy but the rest of her skin, he had never seen anything more whiter than a cloud. 'See Dilandua? That should be you over there. You should be the one who she sees first when she wakes.' Dilandua gave a low growl in his throat at the annoying voice in the back of his head. 'Go away, Celena.' A mock hurt sound was the response. 'Even if she were to see me first, she'd most likely scream. I...did that to her. I'm the reason for her pain.' 'All the more better for you to be there first when she rises. You have apologizing to do.' Dilandua shook his head, thinking she might fall out. 'Never...I'd never fall to such a low rank as that. My pride is already hurt enough just by staying here. Can't that just be enough?'
There was silence at the other end for a moment.
'Perhaps digging around in your emotions will help me figure you out.' Dilandua's eyes widened, he wanted to scream and tear her head off. No way was he allowing her to dig around in his only sanctuary of solitude, it was his own private place that he could call his own. She had no right. 'GET THE HELL OUT!' A giggle replied. 'Or what? You'll kill me? You can't kill a dead person.' 'There are other ways. I can fill your after life with eternal suffering.' Too late, she had broken his barriers. A sharp gasp then blackness.
'Hmmm, let's see.' He blinked, looking down at his hands. Flexing them once he realized the feeling in them wasn't the same. 'Where am I, Celena? What the hell did you break?!' Her annoyance lashed out at him, 'Oh shut up. You can be such a baby sometimes. I didn't break anything. The after shock of me penetrating your defenses must have just knocked you unconscious. Your form now is the form you take in dreams. I thought it was pretty blatant.' He gave her a 'hn' not really liking her answer. 'Ah! What do we have here? Why Dilandua...you...' She appeared in front of him, her robes waved lightly around her form. 'Looks like I don't have to do much, some of your old feelings have already been reactivated.'
'That's your prognosis? I've been knocked out so you could tell me THAT?!' He fumed while she rolled her eyes. 'You're angered to easily. It's not like you're being here was intentional. Oh well, what's done is done.' She turned on her heel, ready to leave him behind in his own delusion. 'What did you mean...old feelings reactivated?' She turned her head slightly towards him but kept walking. 'You'll see. Stay here and think about it in the short minutes you have left. You're going to wake up any second now, your brain waves are changing back to being active.'
'Old...feelings? She couldn't mean...' He shook his head lightly, making some silver hair fly. 'Never. I'm incapable of such a feeling now, it's a weakness. No, it's not true.' Nodding to himself helped him convince himself that he wasn't falling again.
"Hitomi, can you hear us?" Her eyes didn't even flutter, her breath remained it's slow and steady pace. It was as if she wasn't breathing at all. The paleness of her skin revealed a bluish color from all her veins and bruises. Chesta's hand curled around her hand. "Hey Hitomi, I'm awake now. Only I was half expecting you to be by my side when I opened my eyes, but it seems we switched roles." Dallet patted Chesta's back when his form shook lightly. Gatti tilted his head at the still figure on the bed, his eye had caught a glimpse of white. He reached out towards Hitomi's pocket.
Dallet's eyes widened, he smacked the hand that reached towards the girl. "What exactly are you doing?" Miguel watched the both of them. 'Geez, Gatti would even go for a half dead girl.' "What do you mean, what am I doing?" He looked at their expressions, were they glaring at him? Glaring back he came to their conclusion, "Guys...you're sick. I was only getting something from her pocket...geez..." He reached his hand in, pulling free the loose paper.
He read aloud it's smudged contents:
Her silent sendings
Raindrops smear the car window (Falling)
The skies are trying to scry again (Dreaming)
Attempting to speak the word of damnation
I watch her in her flurry of white tresses (Whisper)
Dancing and weaving the threads of suffering
Singing while chasing after me through the forest
She stops extending her arm to me on a mound
Calling me back again with a shower of droplets
I'll conjure her up once more as my eyes close
"Hold on there's a little more at the bottom."
No one stops to listen to the rain
That's where legacies are made
She dreams of reality
And reality dreams of her
She's a tries to blend in to be lost
Only to find dreams cannot be hidden
"What do you think it means?" He looked up at the solemn faced Slayers. Dallet shrugged and Chesta repeated his motion. They turned to Miguel. "She has been known to be the Seer, do you think she's dreamed up something without realizing it? The key and power of Atlantis still reside in her." Chesta took the paper from Gatti, reading it over again. "Could it just be she's being metaphorical and speaking about her past sorrow? It is a poem after all." The Slayers shook their heads. "She's said something about this before. Once before dinner, she told me of a woman she keeps seeing. A glimpse of a woman in a white dress but with silver hair. She's familiar but in the same way so foreign to her. The woman keeps...um...I think it was offering her something. Like golden fire or something like that."
The others blinked at him in confusion. "Don't ask me, I'm trying to remember here. But that's what she's been seeing. I think it's either a vision, a hallucination, or she's seeing a ghost." Chesta looked down at Hitomi. "It could be all or none of them. I can't really say." Gatti stroked his chin thoughtfully. "What if...she's seeing a ghost/vision? Like...she's seeing someone dead but predicting their visits, ya know? Like, she's going to be meeting this person soon." Miguel's eyes widened. "It couldn't be her." The Slayers turned to him. "Eh?" Miguel paced in his spot. "What...could she want with Hitomi?"
The door opened, revealing a very tired looking Rem. He fell to the floor, gasping for breath. Dallet was the first to reach him. "Hey man, you ok?" Rem looked up, glaring at him for such a stupid question. "Yes, I'm just dandy. Chasing a loose and hostile prisoner around the Vione is my thrill in life. NO DAMNIT! I NEED YOUR HELP! GABRIELLA VIENA HAS ESCAPED!" Miguel froze. "Wait...how is that possible?" Rem glared at him from the floor. "Apparently, her last visitor supplied her with certain tools that allowed her easy access to pulling the hinges off of the cell door. Miguel...did you leave the cell door open by chance or leave anything behind so that she might be able to pick the lock?" Miguel shook his head. "Nope, I double checked too that the door was secure. And I entered the cell with nothing." Gatti's tackled him from behind. "YOU WENT NAKED? WHOA!! GO YOU!" Miguel muffled into the ground. "You...idiot..." Rem shook his head, his red hair stroked the side of his face. "Hmmm, then she escaped by other means. There's a traitor here on the Vione. So...she wasn't working alone before we captured her."
"The new shipment of newbs, we'll have to watch over them when they train today. No, we'll have them train now. You guys pretty much know the signs of things out of the normal, search for them." The Slayers nodded as they left to finish the crisis at hand.
All moved except Chesta.
Rem stood in the doorway, his blue eyes were icy cold. "You're still a Slayer and with that comes obligations. Responsibility to your fellow Slayers and your home. Both are at risk here. What's the point in just watching Hitomi breathe as the ship collapses around you? Is that a chance you're willing to take?" Gatti nudged Rem in the ribs hard as he leaned in to whisper. "Hey, cool it. His feelings have been really mixed up lately, I don't think we want to push his sanity anymore. Let him decide, besides there are plenty of Slayers here to take down two runaways." Rem sighed, shrugging in defeat. "There could be more traitors and we don't know it though...Alright let's go then."
Chesta heard their footsteps die out when the door closed behind them. He walked towards the door. 'If I look back I'll end up staying. Hitomi, don't die while I'm away.' Fists formed at his side, a hand rose to punch in the code. Then he was gone.
Whoadie: All those who have asked to be put in the story, you're characters are slowly being revealed as you can tell. XD So far I have two down. The next person, Loki, will be in the next chappie I hope. Lokie, btw, o.o what would you like your name to be? And your description? If you dunno, I'll think of something.