Chapter 5

Revelation

sorry i took so long! the spellchecker wasn't working, we had to go to a funeral, my fingers were hurting, and we ate a duck that tasted wierd and are currently scared we'll catch something. sorry!

oh, guess what! UNTIL THE END has 2009 hits! PEOPLE ARE STILL READING IT! but not reviewing...anywho, here it is, the chapter where...THE OC COMES IN! MWAH HA HA HA! oh yes!

Nel froze. In what she hoped was a calm voice, she spoke, unable to completely keep the anger out. "What is she doing here?"

Sophia glanced nervously at her. "Uhh…well…her name is Hikari. She says she's a friend of Albel's."

A lot more than a friend, the red head thought bitterly. "So?"

The woman stepped forwards. "Nel, I've heard Albel's been captured. I want to help. Please."

"How do you know my name?" Her voice was cold and hostile, and she had to admit to a perverse pleasure at seeing the girl flinch at her tone.

"L…lord Albel often spoke of you." she whispered. "Please. I just want to help."

Nel hated the thought of working alongside her, but her worry for Albel wouldn't let her simply dismiss it. Even so, it wasn't until Hikari next spoke that she truly considered it.

Frustrated at the emotions that raged within, she turned away, walking off back to Albel's room.

"I think I might know who took him. And, if I'm right, I may know a way to find him."

The redhead froze in mid step. Bowing her head, it was a long time before she finally spoke. "Sophia, get as much information off her as you can. Tell her anything she wants to know." She heard Hikari sigh with relief, and added, "but as soon as she becomes useless, she is to leave."

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Back in the safety of Albel's room, she picked up the journal once more, scanning it for anymore useful information, purposefully skipping past anything with hers or Hikari's name in it. As much as she wanted to know about what he thought of her, she refused to invade his privacy. She had to admit, though, it was extremely hard. A passage caught her eye. When she had finished, her worry doubled. She had never known…she knew that now, more than ever, they needed to hurry. Rushing out, she began to search for Hikari. The book lay on the desk, open, pages ruffled in the slight breeze caused by her stirring.

I have been having nightmares again. Of when I fell into that pit. Trapped, the walls closing in, crushing the breath from my lungs. I doubt I will ever truly be rid of those memories. Falling into the hole, my father waiting at the rendezvous point, completely oblivious to my dilemma. It was a week before they found me, living off rainwater and the few provisions at my disposal. But that was more than six years ago. I am fifteen, now, I should put it behind me. I must be strong for the ceremony…

…The nightmares are varying now. Sometimes I am in that pit, and others I am seeing my father die again. It is agonizing, watching him screaming, shouting, his hatred for me burning as fiercely as the fires that consume him. I…I am sorry, father. But what good is that? Apologies can't pay for what I have done to him. Apologies can't bring back the dead…

… I'm almost afraid to sleep, now. If I do, I fear I shall see him again. My only solace is Nina. Dear, sweet Nina. I don't know where I would be without you, my sister. You and Hikari…

…Mother grows more heartbroken each day. Her condition is worsening – I fear she may die soon. I cannot lose her! Not so soon. She can't leave me! Why is this happening? Is it a curse? That I am to remain alone, always, no matter what? Mother…don't die…please…

…She is dead. But not by any disease. Murder. Someone has murdered her, killed her in cold blood. How dare they! All that was left…all that they left…was her head. Lying on the bed in her and father's room. My heart has suffered a double blow. My sister had disappeared. She has abandoned me, and apparently run off with some man. But I don't believe it. She wouldn't leave me. Not now. Or would she? She has grown so distant lately…

…It seems the card we found, a black heart with white wings, belongs to a group called Dark Vengeance. They are responsible for her death. I believe they also caused my sister's disappearance. They must have kidnapped her. I fear every day that her head will appear. Maybe I am next?

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Nel stared up at the moon, perched on the windowsill in Albel's room. If what she read was true, then every moment she wasted here could bring Albel closer to death. Sleep would not come to her. How could it, with her thoughts filled with images of the swordsman trapped in some tiny cage, watching the walls shrinking, crushing him slowly whilst he screamed for help?

Staring up at the sky, she wondered if he was looking up at the same night sky, waiting for her while he rotted in his cell, knowing all the while that no one was coming to save him…

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Staring up at the same night sky

Hoping, waiting, crying

Seeing your face, broken within

How long must I wait

To see you again

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The door opened, and he looked up. It couldn't be…

She stepped towards him. "It's alright. I'm here."

He reached out towards her, whispering her name, harsh sobs escaping cracked lips. She moved towards him, kneeling, barely inches away from him. Delicate fingers touched a dirt streaked face. His eyes closed, sinking into the sweet feeling of safety.

He knew it was a mistake.

His eyes snapped open, watching as she slowly disappeared. "No! Don't go! Don't leave me…"

He reached out, trying to stop her, trying to grab her before she vanished altogether, but his desperate grasps caught nothing but air. "No…" And, as always, she was gone. The illusion shattered, he threw back his head and howled. Gone…

The skeleton grinned up at him, and he stopped suddenly, staring at it. Crouching low, he began to whisper in a hushed voice.

"She's coming. I know she is. She wouldn't leave me here. She'll save both of us, won't she. She always does, whenever we're drowning. She'll come. I know she will."

He carried on for quite some time, reassuring himself more than the corpse. The necklace was always in his hands, no matter what. He would never let it go. Distant memories began to seep into his mind, images from long ago. Of laughter, tears, training, understanding, hunting with Artemis…

Artemis! He stopped, thinking. Maybe…maybe she would be able to find him if he…

Scrabbling about, he tore off a strip of cloth. It took a while before he decided which would be best. The water disappeared, and the dirt only smudged, but if he was careful…if he was careful, his blood would work. Cutting open his palm with a talon, he began to write with the blood, the thick substance forming the words that could save them.

Once it was dry, he stood up, pulling out a whistle he always carried with him. Pointing it at the tiny hole to the surface, he blew it as loud and as hard as possible, and waited. He was afraid it wouldn't work, and with each second the fear grew. He almost gave up completely when something landed on the ground above him. A golden eye appeared in the hole, and he sighed in relief.

"Artemis. Take this…" Licking his lips to moisten them, he carried on, voice barely more than a weak rasp. "Take this home. Do what they tell you. Please."

Waiting for the squawk of understanding, he then gave the cloth to Artemis, watching as she clasped the precious item in her talons, careful not to pierce the fabric. Sticking his fingers through the hole, he reached up and stroked her soft feathers gently, repeating the command. Seeing her fly off, he wished he could do the same.

Night was quick to fall. But this time, the prisoner looked up not with fear or helplessness, but something stronger. A treasure of treasures. Hope.

Staring up at the sky, he wondered if she was looking up at the same night sky, trying to find him, searching for him. He could see the tenderness in her green eyes, an image he had pictured over and over again. Be it in his nightmares, his dreams, or in reality, he lived for those gentle green eyes. Maybe Artemis would find her. Maybe not. He would not find out, not yet. Until he did, he would wait here in this cell, rotting away, the hallucinations growing stronger every day.

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Staring up at the same night sky

Hoping, waiting, screaming

Rotting away, madness creeping in

Save me, hear my whispered pleas

But there's no one there to listen

i did a poem! really bad, but i still did it! two! review now, please. just cause you love me. (insertbiggrin). whaddya mean you don't! (grin turns to pout) meanies!

now you have to review, OR ELSE...I'LL...do...something...bad?