Swords of Revolution
Disclaimer. You know the drill - I only own what you do not recognize from the anime.
A/N: A period of huge writer's block for this particular story and a spattering of other stuff. Geez... Anywys, this is the next chapter
Nine - the aftermath
Ria
'Hey, guys!'
We all start, as Alex bursts into what we termed as the common room. His black hair are wild, and so are his eyes.
'This is where you all are hiding,' he gasps. 'It's Amy... She's badly burned... in the infirmary...'
'What!'
Michael, Telian and Daniel jump to their feet, and Miki goes pale. I know I look none better myself, and there's something at the edge of my mind that nags at me, but I ignore the feeling. It's driven out by my concern for Amy.
'How?' Miki demands, once everyone gets over their initial shock and Alex calms down.
'I... I have no idea,' Alex begins to stammer. 'I... she was found on the grounds, early in the morning, and Nemuro Hall in embers. She's burned almost beyond recognition - if not for that wave of hair...'
Daniel swallows hardly.
'Damn, is she going to be all right?'
Alex shrugs.
'Who knows?'
Alexand
I never thought that life in Ohtori will become so... intense straight away. I thought I'd have a few days to adjust to my new home, but it seems the world has a different plan for me. Only this early morning was full of surprises...
I still am reeling with shock, just like most of my friends. The most innocent one of us, burned?
I can remember a clearer story than I managed to tell Miki and the others. Perhaps, after the shock had worn off I can retell it more coherently.
I was walking near the Hall... Then, a strange figure emerged from the shades. The only thing I noticed about her was that she wore a gown, pretty much like a ball gown... And she seemed to have curly, red hair... she also carried a lit torch with her. Amy was with her back to that someone, facing another... was that Ria?
The woman I could not see dropped the torch on the ground, and the fire immediately blazed. Th girl in the gown disappeared, and Amy was staring at the empty space. I wanted to shout, anything to warn her, but could not. Then Amy collapsed, and the girl pushed her into the fire.
That was when I found my voice, finally. I jumped and cried out in alarm, only to pass straight through the burning flames.
A dream. It was all a bloody dream...
I wiped my eyes and found them wet with tears. The was when I heard shouting, coming from down the hall. Opening the dopor, I dashed outside.
'What happened?' I asked one of the students. The girl turned to me with wide eyes.
'Didn't you hear! But then, you SC don't usually stick around for a long time, do you? One of yours got badly burned. The Nemuro Hall is in ashes.'
She was about to dash off whenm I managed to shake off my stupor.
'W...wait! One of mine? Who!'
''I don't know her,' the girl replied off-handedly. 'Probably that newbie...'
My heart went cold at that. I'm a newbie myself, but I knew that just recently, a girl joined the Council, Amy Anderson. I knew it was her.
'Where is she now?' I demanded, none too gently.
'Hospital wing, of course' the girl tossed her blonde locks. 'You better go check on her before she thinks you've all abanoned her or something...'
That had been where I went first. Hospital wing. Let me tell you, I'm not unfamiliar with the atmosphere that's inside. I visited many a hospital myself.
From early age, I had constant illness, that intensified in winter in the climate of my country. It seemed that nothing helped. Then, there was an operation I don't remember.
/They injected something into my arm, and I looked at my aunt with puzlement. Was something supposed to happen now? If yes, then clearly I forgot what it was... Or maybe I was just reased?
Hmmm... You really tired aren't you, Alex? Auntie asked me. Why don'r you sleep for a bit?
Sleep... It sounded like a good idea at the time. So I closed my eyes and dropped off...
Next time I resurfaced, I was lying in a hospital bed, in a room with three other beds, all occupied, but their occupants missing. They were either sttomg enough to lleave or had some sort of procedures.. Mom was sitting not too far off, and she smiled when she realised I was trying to focus my vision.
Up already, Alex? You're so strong.../
I shook my head as I stepped inside Amy's room. Being in a hosital room brought back too many memories. I did not want them to resurface. Let's just say... I'm apprehensive about hospitals of any kind lately.
She was in a coma. I realised my breath was coming in sharp gasps, and tried to control it - I was running all the way from the East Hall. I shook my head sadly, as I stared at Amy's slightly pale face. Then, I looked at the clock. It was nine in the morning already, and my thoughts went out to the rest of the Student Council members. They did not kmow where we were, and I had to tell them about Amy.
Telian
I do not know if my gift is a curse or a blessing. I never had lot of friends. People are not accustomed to you telling them the truth in their faces, but still I ould do nothing about it.
(Don't lie, Amanda. I saw you hide that girl's binder in there.)
(Prove it.)
I walked over to the trash bin. Really, sometimes girls can hurt their fellow student just as bad as ...
Oh, well, she asked for proof.
My classmate, Lisa, was not accepted into a regular society in my first school. She loved to read, and was very shy and uneasy around people. I could relate to that. She was not liked by the popular crowd. Amanda, on the other hand, belonged with it - rich, beautiful, popular.. You know, the usual.
I calmly reached inside the bin, riffling through the trash. Really, people can be nasty when they know someone isd different from them. And there it was, Lisa's binder with a pentagram symbol on it. Of course, I bluffed that I saw her do it, but they caught on too quickly for my liking.
(Reine, you were in the hallway when we did it, how'd you know?) Susannah asked suspiciously. (I knew you were weird and was watching you the whole time. You were too engossed with the conversation you were enjoying to see what was happening in class.) Then, her eyes narrowed. (Or are you some kind of a devil or something?)
I nearly burst out laughing at that. They were ridiculous, all of them. If I was what they suggested I was then it would have been much easier for me to take them all by their throats and squeeze until they begged for mercy...
Ahem. I tend to be overdramatic.
(Come on,) I told Lisa. (The class is going to start soon.)
It is a double-edged sword, I thought, as the two of us walked to iur next period. On one hand, the culprit is so surprised at being caught that he or she will spill the whole truth and will add some extras. On the other hand, you will be under suspicion. People are not used to facing the truth heds on, as it hits them. When they do, it's too late to lie to save themelves. Even if they meant good.
Truth is always hard to face. I sigh, as I lean back on the chair, drifting up from my memory. We are sitting in the hospital wing with Amy, Miki and I. Miki looks deep in thought, as he leans slightly forward, elbows on his knees. Even I cannot always read people's expressions, and Miki posed a challenge.
'We have to find out what exactly happened to Amy and Nemuro Hall,' he says quietly. 'When I was in the place last time, I saw black roses. But now it's exterminated?'
'Your guess is as good as mine,' I tell him. 'We have to wait until Amy wakes up, perhaps she can tell us more.'
'You want to tell 'if' she wakes up?' Miki's voice is intense, and I glance around to look at him. It seems he caught me again.
'We can only hope that she does,' I confirm and we drift off in silence once again.
/later that evening, Nemuro Memorial Hall ruins/
Did anyone see you?
No.
Good. A shadow turned towards the window, as he watched the students milling about. Lavender eyes flashed in the dark. We don't need them to know that one of their own burned the Hall, do we?
A pause of silence. Then,
Does Alexand suspect anything?
No. The figure in the gown crossed the ground, slightly leaning towards the other. Neither does Michael. It was a close call, though. We have to be sharp around the Truth-teller.
The other glanced at her.
We have to be careful around all of them. Kaoru is getting suspicious.
A laugh escaped the woman, and she tossed her red curly hair. Did you notice how they divided themselves?
Yes. We cannot get to their weak links. They know whom we could attack, and are watching them like hawks.
A pause of silence, a comfortable one.
We get rid of the Truth-teller after this one. With her, they lose their link.
It will be tough. The woman fingered a black rose in her hand. Even with the formal Duel. Especially in the formal Duel. Miki had trained them all and you know what that means.
If I remember correctly, Kaoru lost to Tenjou quite a few times. The man smirked. And the victory against Anderson was pure luck.
Pure skill, the woman snapped. He grew up during these five years. I don't know him as well as I used to. I tested him myself, and you know that hardly anyone can stand against me.
Don't worry. The man paused, before going to one of the still figures in the room and placing the black rose in a pocket of one of them. I have just the right challenge for our Truth-teller.
The woman paused, looking at the figure aghast.
Her?
Yes. They won't be expecting her. The man smirked, pushing the long, blue locks out of the still figure's eyes. She left for the real world with the rest of THEM, so they won't know it's only an illusion.
Hm. The woman studied the still figure. Don't you think they'll recognize her tactics?
Don't worry. The figure's eyes snapped open, empty of life. It will be too late when they will.
End of Part One
A/N: Something I should have done a long time ago. I actually planned to end it after introducing the characters, but well... you know... Anyways.
The flashbacks for Alex and Telian are slightly twisted events in my own life - I did have an operation when I was around seven, so I do not remember it clearly; and I observed a few situations in classrooms where people stole others' stuff and placed it in the most ridiculous places, with the garbage bin being #1 on the list, only there was nobody to confront them about it.
As for the last dialogue, itwas spoken in whispers, hence the format.
As usual, thanks for reading, and till next time.
Antilles