Final Destinations Chapter 4: Fade, a cyberchase fanfic

FINAL DESTINATIONS

By Final Fantasy GX

Disclaimer: I do not own Cyberchase.

Genre: Action/Adventure/Romance/Suspense/Angst… A bit of everything, really.

Summary: Will the returned Crimson Blade, altered but still as evil as ever, achieve his ultimate goal? Who will become tangled in his dark designs? And, most of all, who will survive his vicious onslaught? New allies, new threats, and old enemies combine to make the Cybersquad's desperate fight against Crimson harder than ever…

Rating: PG-13 (minimal gore, death, violence)

Author's Note/s: Er…the song lyrics…well, all I know is that the title is 'Fade to Grey'. I found them on this random website and I have no idea who they're by. But anyways, I don't own them, and I don't seek to make any profit whatsoever.

I really hope this goes all right…Hmm… :-/

Re-edit Notes: Meep. :-) See what I meant by the minor plot change? It influences what happens at the end of the chapter, but, as I said, it doesn't upset the story whatsoever.

Chapter 4: Fade To Grey

Crimson Blade began to laugh elatedly, softly at first, then louder, as Matt went limp, his limbs still twitching slightly. His eyes were dimming… blank, lifeless…

It's not hard to know what you're thinking
When you look down on me now

The world was spinning slowly…

Meanwhile, Dr Marbles, Inez and Jackie were standing, transfixed in horror, as they watched one of their best friends being throttled to death. (Dr Marbles and Jackie had both joined Inez shortly after Crimson had kicked down the door.)

Each one was wildly racking their brains, searching for something that might drive Crimson away. But there was, indeed, no point. Once Crimson was finished with Matt, it was likely he would also murder the rest of them to destroy any evidence of him being there.

And the terrifying creature was too strong for any of them, despite his seemingly tattered appearance.

Hope began to fade in their hearts, and though they all loved Matt, there was nothing they could do. The fear and evil that Crimson Blade emanated was too much to bear from a distance, let alone fight.

Yet, Matt had resisted, with a new kind of courage they had not witnessed before. However, one glance at where that courage had taken him, and the Cybersquad, minus Digit, averted their faces, soul shriveling in fear.

Your trance of love is seeking
To turn this world around
But in my state of blind confusion
No God can pull me out

As Matt finally shuddered and stopped moving entirely, eyes staring into empty space, Crimson hissed in victory and released his hold on the boy's throat, positively grinning with his success. It looked as though his face would almost split in two.

Just as the last of his vision was disappearing, and the dizziness became too much, Matt glimpsed Jackie and Inez's expressions. Jackie's was practically white with terror; tears were rolling down Inez's cheeks. The pain was overwhelming, threatened to throw him into that black void of darkness; his heart laboured, trying to keep going, despite the lack of fuel. Even now, without Blade's grip preventing the flow of oxygen to his heart, it was too late. Both his heart and brain had gone too long without the vital air. Seeing one of Inez's tears fall to the floor, wanting to comfort his friends somehow, let them know that soon there would be no more pain, Matt struggled to perform one last thing before – before he –

The world went endlessly, infinitely black.

I see your love is willing
To turn me inside out

And then I see you there
The lonely tears I cry
I wish they'd release me

Crimson, satisfied his detested enemy was gone at last, spun to face the rest of them. He was confident once more, made that way by the final and total defeat of the one thing he loathed above all others.

"I'm in a killing mood tonight…" he whispered, then threw back his head and laughed, long and loud. As he ceased this expression of victory, he stepped towards Inez, who was staring at Matt's motionless form, tear-streaked face blank with shock.

"Wait…" he hissed, suddenly remembering something. "Wasn't there another of you? A bird?" Blade glared from one face to another, racking his brain. Before any of them could make up an excuse, or respond at all, the creature answered himself.

"No… that must have been a different life…" he said softly, crimson eyes flickering. Folding his arms, he stared at the remnants of the Cybersquad, pondering what to do with them. "I think you deserve a nice, slow death. Something you'll remember even when you're dead. I know the feeling." He shrugged. "At least you'll be with your precious Matthew."

It's in despair that I find faith
Summon the night to bow down to day

If looks could kill, Crimson would definitely be dead and gone by now; Dr Marbles, Inez and Jackie all gave him extremely poisonous looks – which was the only thing they could do at that moment.

Sighing deeply, the twisted creature half-turned, pointed into the workshop. "In there. Go to that metal door. You - " he pointed at Dr Marbles, eyes flaring, " - open it."

They all did as he commanded, leaving Matt behind on the floor, and with cold, trembling hands, Dr Marbles slid the latch back and pulled the heavy thing open. Crimson shoved him in the back, causing the Doc to stumble forwards. "Get inside."

"But - " Dr Marbles spluttered. "That's the freezer - "

The insane glow increased in Blade's bright red eyes. "I know, you fool."

When ignorance is bliss
Save me from myself

Shivering both from the cold and from terror, Dr Marbles stepped slowly inside, followed by Jackie and Inez, after being prompted by Crimson Blade. "Please," Jackie suddenly spoke up, as she turned to face the creature. "Don't do this…" She bit her lip, tears now threatening to spill down her cheeks.

"I can. And I will."

The statement was delivered coldly, and it revealed the pure heartlessness of Crimson Blade. At this, Jackie let the tears flow, and folded her arms, trying to keep warm in the icy cold of the freezer.

"Don't cry," Dr Marbles admonished, and Jackie looked up at him, surprised. "They'll freeze on your cheeks," he explained gently. She nodded and wiped them off slowly.

"And now," Crimson Blade interrupted, "My task is finished. I bid you all adieu." He inclined his head slightly, mockingly. "Have a nice time. Or should I say, have a nice death."

And with that final sentence, he slammed the door shut easily and rammed the latch home.

Immediately, Inez ran to the little circular window and peered out, trying to see what was he was doing outside. She saw Crimson smirk at the closed door, step outside, and then he was gone from sight.

And then I see you there
With your arms open wide and you try to embrace me

She turned around and saw Jackie huddled in the corner with Dr Marbles, trying to keep warm.

"Isn't there any other way out?" Inez asked desperately. "Or are we just going to sit here and freeze?"

Dr Marbles shook his head, eyes sad behind the red-rimmed glasses. "I know this from inside out. There is no way of escape other than out that door."

"Come on!" the girl responded. "We're the Cybersquad! We can figure this out." She looked from Jackie to Dr Marbles, silently pleading with them not to give up.

"We aren't the Cybersquad without Matt," said Jackie quietly. Another tear rolled down her cheek unbidden, and she furiously dashed it off with the back of her hand.

These lonely tears I cry

"Yes, we are! Even though Matt is d - is gone, the three of us are still here." Inez's fists clenched spasmodically.

"Inez," Dr Marbles replied gently, "The best thing to do right now is try to keep warm."

"I don't see why we can't figure a way out." She folded her arms suddenly.

"Look, Inez, either way we're going to freeze. Just come over here." Jackie was becoming irritated.

The brown-haired girl sighed deeply, shook her head, and continued to stare out the window.

Grinning, Crimson Blade kicked Matt's still body with disgust. "You deserved it, Matt," he whispered. "You deserved every bit of it." He crouched down to study the boy's white pallor with almost grotesque interest. "If only I could witness your death a thousand times over. But, never mind. At least, this time, I achieved my ultimate goal."

Rising once more, he lifted his face to the roof and crossed his arms in a symbol of death, his image dissolving rapidly until he had disappeared entirely.

They keep me in chains and I wish they'd release me

Suddenly, Inez yanked her Squak Pad out of her pocket and stared at it hopefully. "Of course…" she whispered.

"Inez, what the heck are you doing?" Jackie asked, startled by the sudden movement. "Why - "

"I know how we can get out of here," her companion replied, eyes gleaming at this new proposal. "I have no idea why we didn't think of it before…" She shook her head. "But it doesn't matter." She raised a finger, punched in a couple of buttons, looked at the blank screen hopefully.

Dr Marbles immediately cottoned on. "Inez, you're quite right," he said, shaking his head. "I really don't see how we didn't come up with that."

Jackie immediately lost her temper; it had already been shortened by the temperature and of the past events. "Would someone PLEASE enlighten me of what this simple thing is?" she yelled.

Both Inez and Dr Marbles looked at her in surprise; Jackie almost never spoke like that. "Sorry," she mumbled apologetically. "I just want to know so we can get out of here."

"I'm calling Digit, so he can come get us out of here." The bespectacled girl got straight to the point. "Ah, here we go…"

"Yeah?" The familiar face of Digit flickered on-screen. "Inez! What's up? Where's Crimson Blade?"

"Hi, Didge," Inez responded quickly. "Look, Crimson is gone – I think – but he locked Dr Marbles, Jackie and I in the freezer!"

"What?" the cybird made to hang up. "I'll come get you, just wait a - " He paused, suddenly thinking. "What about Matt?"

The Hispanic girl shook her head, eyes unhappy. "You'll see for yourself."

Colder is the night but
Colder still is the heart made of stone, turned from clay

A few minutes later, Digit let them out of the freezer. "Go Didge!" Jackie said gratefully, and promptly hugged the subdued robot.

"You saw him?" Inez asked softly, seeing the expression of sadness on Digit's face.

"Yeah," the cybird mumbled, almost soundlessly, and led them slowly out to where the boy was lying.

"Matt!" Inez dropped to her knees beside him; Jackie stood at his other side with Dr Marbles and Digit. He was still limp, still immobile, still cold as death.

Reaching out an ice-cold hand, Inez closed the faded eyes and bowed her head, clasping Matt's equally cold hand in her own. Jackie and Dr Marbles sighed and also lowered their heads in sadness, while Digit stared at Matt's strangely peaceful face, unable to look away.