"There's nothing you say and nothing you try can change time."

Avenged Sevenfold: To the end of the Rapture


Chapter 12

Norito Royama's (boys #6) spot vanished from the digital map. As Anri Souma was going along to her destination, she kept an eye on the boy's place for a while. There weren't anyone else near him - by the edge of zone C6 - as long as Anri watched via the GPS-chip: Norito remained in one place. And now the red spot had gone. How is it possible? Is Norito dead? Well, Inukai and Akera had no more spot on the map - they were both dead, too.

It would be a good thing to make sure of Norito's death. I don't think, that a boy with such good capabilities would kill himself. Or suffer death so easily.

Earlier, when Souma haven't watched the map yet, Norito Royama wasn't in C6; he was a bit southwards in zone E8. He had wandered on a dirty road all the way and now he was very hungry and thirsty; he felt like his powers would simply had gone. He thought, that he caught some cold and now he couldn't get rid of it. It started like a little sickness, but now, that they were sent out into the wild - left behind without food, water and other things - Norito felt quite drained. It seemed, the illnes was in charge for a while.

I could just get some goddamn medicine... I wouldn't be fooled by that she-wolf Souma then! Fuck her luck, I was weak... if I hadn't noticed her actions in time... dirty bitch, she will regret that!

He was walking with such bitterly thoughts in his mind. For a result, he got headache again. Such a shame! A girl was too sharp for him!

Cursed nighttime!

Yes, the incident happened at night, right after they managed to open the safe and get the weapons. Norito had the belief that the poor visibilities made his chances more difficult. He felt in his bones, how big mistake he made with letting Souma running away.

I like the quiet...

His mind was all abroad... The dark forest around him was covered in consistent mist - it seemed as frightening as impressive.

I just wanna go home... and sleep... in a warm, soft bed...

Bah, someone just give him a bed! Give anything, he can peacefully sleep in.

Damn, I want my body to feel normal again! No heavyness, no migraine!

He could also forget the constantly outstanding hunger and dry throat. As time went by, nothing happened. The only change was a small lake leftward, which shores was bordered by locust-trees - the glittering water could be hardly seen from them. Might not that clean water to drink but far better than desiccation. Norito had (like more of them in the class) also heard the soviet planes before, but he didn't know, why were they sent for; the boy haven't found any of the metal boxes - maybe they stuck in the crown of the trees or landed in an outer area. The lakeshore was surrounded by cliffs from every direction, which were very tall so nearing the lake seemed to be problematic.

But Norito didn't give up. He found a road soon (it seemed hours for him though), it led him to the lake. Knowing he can quench his thirst soon made the boy hasty - didn't think about anything else, just to drink finally. So he hurried to the lake, then sat on his heels. The shore had sand on the surface and was full with pebble-stones. Some footprints could be seen, probably from animals. But Norito simply didn't care, didn't care anything at all!

He leant forward over the water-plane, when a pale, peaky-faced guy looked back at him. This face used to be sun-tanned, energetic and always happy before. Better times... Who cares now!He rather started drinking - he was very thirsty by that time. That wasn't a problem, that the water looked awfully dirty - mainly from that close range.

It's water and tastes good!

Norito was not the picky type anyway, even if his family lived at rack and manger. Norito stopped drinking, just to catch breath. On the water plane he saw the heavy sky with grey clouds.

"It looks like rain."

Some raindrops curled on the lake surface and the wind started to blow.

"Congrats. It's time."

All of a sudden, something more threatening appeared behind Norito, than the "evil" clouds. He also saw a gun in the water reflection and the aim was unmistakably him. The boy stood up with the speed of lightning and... a loud gunshot... Norito avoided it in time.

Kinji Ryusaki missed the target (aka him) from top of the cliff standing. Norito was sure, that Kinji doesn't want to miss again. As an answer for his thoughts, the other fired the Beretta again and again. The prey ran into the deep forest like that, in the middle of a bullet-drift - now he felt better, because he could drink a few. Thanks to those wide trunks in the near he could escape in one piece. He stared hard ahead during the run and heard clearly - not only the sound of rumbling leaves and cracking branches - along his own breath, that he couldn't get rid of Kinji. The twin was persistent and determined to kill him. As Norito cursed in his mind, a wide trench came into the way.

Easy as a pie, the boy was good at broad jump. In the next second another difficulty came. The block was namely a big, spiny bush - when Norito started to jump over, he wasn't sure about the success (whether he can jump over it) - that caused his downfall. His ankle was shown, enough for Kinji to shot.

BAM!

Kinji just came up from behind a tree and acted immediately. He fired once or twice and the last bullet got Norito's ankle. Right under the bone. The boy lost balance but didn't give up so easily - that wouldn't be him.

Wait a sec! I have something so I can fight back!

He had a small bow with arrows on the back in a backpack... Or... They would be if he hadn't put them down to the ground before drinking. By Kinji's sudden attack he forgot to take away. Bad luck. At his first fight with Souma, they have lost their other weapon - a hedge-shears - Souma wanted to kill Norito with it…

The bitch will pay for it, I swear again!

…but Norito managed to knock it out from the girl's hands. Unfortunately it was lost somewhere in the bushes and the circumstances wished anything else than searching after that damn shears.

What a stupid stuff for a weapon anyway!

In his endless anger he called the memory back. The text message about the solo arrived... Souma started to act strangely... She asked a favor...

"I know it sounds stupid…"

Give her a hug for the sign of their togetherness…

"Fuck the solo, we're still a team, Nori!"

..ha-ha! You want to get your name-pen into my neck instead, right Dear? Norito should thank a bird, it sounded all unawares in their near. Souma got scared so her hand quivered. The killing action failed, the girl drew only a trail of ink on Norito. Almost... It was a close shave. The slut was still trying - quickly picked the shears from next to the bow and arrow pack up - that was the time Norito knocked the shears out of her hands.

Then she got away. Whore!

And Norito was here after an all-night walking. He saw some boring places but also important ones- like the villa in zone I6 - not bad for a hiding place, only the girls let the member of their former roommates from the hostel in. Minimum requirements: being a girl. At least they weren't turd and let him go in peace. Not like that bully Ryusaki, who is the best at every field of life and still just shows pokerface!

Now you need my blood, don't you? I'll fight for my life dammit!

A wonder he could run with the injured ankle so fast. Kinji had some difficulties, too with the high thick bushes around them - because of that they saw each other hardly - they presumed the other's presence only via the sound of running.

The region changed to flat, treeless plain, soon a dirt-road appeared. Norito remembered this hood before, although he couldn't tell in which zone were they at the moment. One thing for sure: they left zone E8 far behind. He also knew, that he had to keep out of an upcoming abyss or else he is going to fall into the deep. Unfortunately Norito was so busy with the hurting ankle that the information came to his mind too late.

In one second he was running and the next he felt like he was flying. Yes, the time of falling, then a dull twitch. The twitch happened because of a solid pile of rock - the luck worked against the boy obviously - instead of falling into the soft bed of leaf-carpet, why he had to land right on the rock?! Now, his ribs were aching not only the ankle. At least Kinji lost his track. It was worth a sigh of relief. By the way, Norito didn't understand why he was still fighting.

Truly. Mom is long dead, father is always arguing - there is always a reason - sis is a bitch. I don't even like my gf. We just: are. Yes, because every badass had a lover in the class.

My whole life is a mess...

Thinking deeply into all, Norito couldn't imagine why... How he help up the pretence of happiness so far in the other's eyes. Honestly...

I almost cry from pain, damn it! I'm sick of learning, it's make no sense! Rich people not always earned their wealth by hard work. Why do I have degree if I don't get any job?

He could but just remain a little child! Being in the elementary school-trio with Dan Nomura and Yamato Chiba. Ah, the good old days. Here in Zentsuji Junior High the trio members went into separate ways, they have new friends now.

Nothing will the same as it was back then. What is done, cannot be undone. No matter how hard is it, we should... We have to move along.

And now he didn't have to give up until his heart was still beating. He had to stop these two bastards: Souma and Ryusaki - for the sake of the others - no matter, if Norito won't survive. He tried to get up but failed. Those damn ribs hurt as hell, not to speak about the ankle.

He pelted Kinji with abuses which just came upon, the boy said out the last one loudly:

"Go to hell, Ryusaki!"

Hardly said out, suddenly, one of his hands turned into a red blood-river. Blood was everywhere. Norito had no time to comprehend, as the fast upcoming pain was coming from a small, trident-like thing - this must be the so called "sai". The sai nailed his hand to the rock.

"Aaaaah!" Norito shouted with pain and grabbed the hand with the other.

"Okumura was a good friend of yours if I am not mistaken. This is his "gift"." Kinji appeared with a fake-smile in the face. He walked into the injured boy with intent slowness.

"I think you mentioned something before. What did you say? I should go to hell?"

Tears bimmed his eyes because of the unbelievable torment, he could barely see the other's cool features. Norito thrilled by hearing the calm voice.

"Why don't you go to hell instead?"

They both knew what was going to happen next. Not good. Not-good.

"Fuck you!" cursed Norito desperately "fuck you, you idiot!"

He cursed continuously until he felt like somebody pulled his hair. Exactly the same followed, Kinji rose Norito up by the hair (he should let them cut for some time) and started to knock the head into the rock. Again and again.

"This is for an advance." answered Kinji calmly "you can chid my mother, I can't be bothered. Sorry to say but you're going to die. Such is this game. Clubs are trumps. I have much more important things to do at home, I can't waste my time like your loafer kind. You are totally depend on your family while you doing nothing all day. This game is perfect for everybody to learn, who to take care of ourselves. Who is incapable, will fall."

All of a sudden Kinji stopped speaking. He rose up Norito's face into the same height of his own face - although the classmate was still living, the full head was in a bath of blood.

"Please, excuse me for the execution. I got extra clips into my Beretta as a second weapon. Unfortunately not enough for killing all of you. I have to use it wisely."

The victim only heard his voice, because his eyes were so much injured that he didn't see anymore. Or maybe a little: he got sight of Kinji's uprising hand - there was something. Something blue and shiny. Which was Souma's lost hedge-shears.

"Not to worry, it will end quickly. I have big practice in killing."

Norito experienced the greatest agonies of all time after that, all the earlier pains of his life dwarfed by the actual. The death-cry echoed far in the woods, only he felt like time didn't want to go on. Norito couldn't say, how long he was tortured. Kinji seemed to enjoy it and it wasn't the first time doing this. Finally it ended and Kinji left the (still living) boy in great speed. Norito was obviously left behind to pass away in purpose.

As he laid at the border of zone C6 and C7 with full of scars, broken skull and ribs and as a target of arrows (the enemy had also found the backpack on the lake shore), in one of his hands with the sai - he felt like his body would have been totally empty. Not his anymore. It was, like his thoughts were gone slowly with all bits of his soul and flew away through the trees with the wind.

At last, Norito Royama's mind was lost in the everlasting darkness. His spot disappeared scarcely within ten seconds from the map and also from Anri Souma's watch.

[Number of the students: 26]

Norito Royama eliminated