Chapter 3

Into the Fire

Noin gasped as the tendrils of putrid smoke enveloped her and threatened to choke her past comprehension. Her mind was cleared for an instant though by realization of a strong force dragging her over the ancient dirt road and toward fresher, cleaner air. She cried out sharply when she tripped and felt the gravel tear through the skin on her leg. She was back up and running crouched over in seconds though. She tried to forget the feeling of the blood streaming down her leg and focused on the strong back of Zechs plowing a path through the never ending smoke and fire.

Behind them came the sounds of hysterical screaming and cursing. Zechs turned briefly to look and saw the men that had entered the town that morning. He could only assume that was them because they were so covered in black ashes. Suddenly one fell and screamed as he looked over his shoulder. In another second he was gone; consumed by the fast approaching flames of that deadly fire. Zechs lost no more time then and resumed running with Noin trailing behind. Their flight this time was much more disorganized. It was more of the crazed frantic flight of an animal trying to outrun an enemy that its instincts told it was faster and craftier than it.

They continued on through the town with only the thought of escape in their minds.

Presently Noin realized that she could breath easier and the thick choking smoke had cleared. Zechs slowed to a walk and coughed several times to try to clear his lungs so that they could work properly again. The exhausted pair went a little farther before collapsing on side of the path that had led them out of town. They looked back to see the town disappear in flames. Noin reached a hand up to her cheek and brushed away the tears that she found there. Zechs looked over and then held her close to him. Feeling like a small child in the comfort of a grown up, Noin moved closer to Zechs and leaned up against his strong shoulder. Her tears fell onto the fabric of his shirt.

What seemed like minutes later, Noin awoke to Zechs calling her name. She felt stiff and sore, but on the inside she felt empty and drained.

"The fire flared back up a bit," he informed her, "so we need to keep moving. The fire has already caught onto the grass in the fields. There's no telling how long it will be until it reaches us." Noin nodded and wearily rose to her feet. Zechs took her hand in his and together they left the burnt out frame that had once been a town.

Zechs felt an empty ache throughout his entire body. He was very tired, and not just physically. It had seemed that at last they could rest for a while in safety and comfort. The darkness though had taken it away. The darkness had taken away everything from them. Zechs ground his teeth together in frustration. He looked behind him to see a soot streaked and almost unconscious Noin following behind. Realizing that they needed to rest, he pulled her off the trail and laid her down under the branches of an oak tree. She seemed to fall have fallen asleep instantly, so he was glad they had stopped. He looked around at the place they had been led to by the path. They were out on an empty grassland that was dotted here and there by groupings of trees such as the one they were in now. The tall grass swayed gently in the breeze. The solitude and loneliness of the area disturbed Zechs until he knew he could no longer simply stare at it. He got up and began to walk around always keeping one eye on Noin.

After several minutes Zechs found himself next to a tiny creek. He stooped over and brought a handful of water up to his parched lips. It was rancid water and he spit it out quickly. He sat down, dispirited, and let out a heavy sigh. Looking past the creek he saw patches of burnt land where the storms had killed all life. As he looked around him, Zechs realized that this world was without color anymore. The storms had ruined so much that any color left had been turned into the dreary colors of gray, white and black. Zechs buried his head in his hands and longed for a world as it had been.

Noin came to a while after they had stopped to rest. She looked over at Zechs who was staring bleakly into space. She stood up awkwardly and gasped as she put pressure on her scraped leg. Zechs turned his head and seeing that Noin was hurt came to her side.

"Are you all right?" he asked, his eyes showing true concern.

Noin looked back at him and smiled warmly. A strange look then passed over her face and she sat down quickly on the ground. Zechs knelt down and started to tear off some material from his jacket to bind the deep scratches, but Noin stayed his hand. Noin then did something that she had not done for a long time. She reached down and pulled up the tattered remnants of her pants. She then looked at the wound and brushed off the dirt that had accumulated there. Then she placed her hand gently on the wound and concentrated on a power she knew lay within her. She felt a sharp stab of pain up her arm that reached her back and traveled down her spine. A minute later though it was gone. She removed her hand and looked down to see the skin totally healed. Zechs was looking at her with an expression of disbelief and disgust.

"Zechs," she called gently. "That old woman was right."

"About what?" he asked gruffly.

"About our gifts. We shouldn't hide them. They make up who we are, and to hide them forever would be like hiding some of our emotions. Not only would it be difficult, but also painful to ourselves. Don't you see? We are already outcasts because of our gifts, so why do we need to hide them?"

Zechs looked at her briefly, but turned away from her questioning stare, "I...I don't know how to use my gift," he said hesitantly. "I know that your gift can help people because you can take their pain, but what can mine do? How can it help?"

Noin looked at him and in knew the truth in his words. "I don't know what you can do Zechs, but you will find out soon. I can feel it. We were all given these gifts for a reason. All I know is that now is not the time to hide them. Now is the time to show people that even though we are different, we do not hate normal people and that we want to help them."

Zechs's face was immobile but he met her gaze and held it. He sighed heavily and then smiled at her. "I hadn't wanted to admit this, not even to myself, but I always felt that a part of me was missing. A part of my life. Maybe you're right. Maybe we shouldn't be afraid anymore. After all, it is who we are, right?"

Noin smiled and grabbed Zechs's outstretched hand. He pulled her to her feet and she fell against his warm body. He pulled her close to him and kissed her soundly. She didn't push him away, but lingered in his grasp. They both realized then that what they had been saying was the absolute truth. Both made a solemn vow that they would stay true to their word and would hide no longer.