Alright so it has been many, many, many months since I have updated. 1000 apologise, but thanks for still reviewing. So ive just finished work and will start uni soon…but soon isn't soon enough. So as a warning this has been written at 2 in the morning, and with the threat of a dying internet access I am posting it now, though there may still be….well mistakes in it (me no like spelling and grammar) but I thought u guys had waited long enough so here is it.

The Cave- forgive and forget

I never wanted to leave that bed, I felt like I could lay with Elie for an eternity, it felt like i had already, but slowly the real world managed to seep into the dream. How did we get back to the camp? Where was Musica? What was that creature? And how did I not notice all these cuts and bruises…though that is something I only noticed once I stood up…I really wanted to lay back down after all that effort.

The midday sun is high in the sky; its light is harsh against my eyes which are used to the soft cream light of the tent. Around me the camp looks perfect, the silver pots glimmer in the sun, our clothes are fluttering in the light breeze on a makeshift washing line, but at the same time its almost too perfect, I cant remember the last time all the pans were clean, let alone sparkling, and since when did we have time to wash our clothes properly… even the grass around me looks cut, its eerie. Where is everyone?

"MUSICA!"

"Master Haru!"

"Griff is that you?"

Before I knew it Griff bounded out of the trees, fire wood in his flimsily arms, a smile spread across his face

"You're awake! Sir Plue and I were beginning to fear you and Master Ellie would never rise."

I can't help grinning to that

"At this point im wishing id stayed in bed, my arm….actually everything is killing me at this point, but were is Musica?"

Giffs smile faltered

"Musical is at the Cave, he has been there for 2 days…he wont let us come close"

"Why, what's happened?"

"This whole experience has left musical rattled, I don't know what's wrong he won't even acknowledge plue and I any more."

The Cave…I would have been fine never setting foot there again.

I left Elie a note not to worry, which I managed to right after non to graciously falling over one of the wires of the tent, its really amazing what she can sleep through.

I wont bore you with my trek through the forest, im sure you have heard it enough; the trees, the bushes the undergrowth. At this point a faint path had already appeared through the forest it's been walked so many time, its like reliving the whole nightmare in reverse…but I said I wouldn't bore you.

I come to the remains of the cave near to evening, I have to admit I didn't race through the forest to reach it, the closer I got the more I wanted to turn back.

I found Musica sitting on one big boulder he was looking at a piece of slate stone, but his eyes were blank, im sure he didn't even realise he was holding anything.

I don't know why I didn't call out, a silence hung in the air, I couldn't bring myself to shatter it. As I got closer, Musicas head swung towards me. I can't explain the emotions that crossed his face, because im not sure if there were any: confusion, surprise, anger, joy…nothing showed on his blank slate of a face, he was the perfect tabula rasa.

I begin to climb the boulders around me, I can feel the dust and dirt covering them between my fingers, it clings to my clothes, but I just want to reach Musica, he doesn't look normal. The silence still hasn't been broken. He is starring at me, but I wonder if he sees me. I can't tell.

Musica POV

I don't know why I went to the Cave. Lord knows I should have moved Elie and Haru as far away from it as possible, but its mystery called me back. I needed answers, not only for Haru an Elie- if and when they woke up- but for me as well.

I was selfish, I wanted to take my mind off of the reality, and discover the story behind the cave.

It felt like I reached the cave in a second, I was at the camp and I blinked and suddenly I was there. At least that's what it felt like, the dirt on my face and clothes suggest otherwise. At first I just stood there. It wasn't threatening; it was just a pile of rubble… stones coated in a thin layer of grey dust.

The forest was silent. I remember the silence, even my breathing seemed to be eaten up by it. The sun moved across the sky while I stood there, it was night all too soon. I knew there was no point going back to the camp; I would have to walk all the way back the next day anyway, so I stayed. Griff appeared with a torch sometime during the night, or was it dawn, but I had no patience for him. At this point I don't think im capable of feeling any more guilt.

On the second day I began to look in earnest, I don't know what I was searching for; I just needed something…anything. Then I found it, im not sure if it is what I am looking for but it is something, a slate, slightly different in colour and texture to the rest of the stone, smooth to the touch, and inscribed. I can't read the language but it is defiantly writing. I climbed onto one of the many boulders around me and gazed at the slate. I don't know when it started…. when my mind began to wonder, but it did. I forgot about the slate in my hand, I just saw blood; it was on my hands, on my clothes, on Elie, and Haru.

Stupid fucking cave! Why did I let him go alone, why didn't I think things through ….sometimes the mind is a very interesting thing, it plays tricks on you. The letters on the slate swirl in my head, I understand them but at the same time they are a mystery; a warning, a curse…but nothing concrete enters my mind. Sitting in the midday sun is beginning to take its toll on me. I didn't take provisions…another mistake, im quite prone to those lately.

And then the cruellest mind trick on all, Haru in front of me. I see him standing there, looking at me, his eyes seem to burn into mine, I can't react, he is an illusion. Slowly he climbs towards me, he leaves a trail in the dust, maybe he is real…no Haru is unconscious at the camp being taken care of by Griff. He climbs onto my boulder, I hear his breathe in my ear, its rugged, I can smell him, he smells like Elie. The details of the world are suddenly becoming so clear, I can feel my eyes focus.

"Its actually quite beautiful here"

The silence is shattered around me, with those words the world seems to go off mute, I can hear the birds…everything. It's defining.

"Musica, why are you here?" he asks gently

I can't say anything, just look at this illusion, which is suddenly so real… but illusions usually look real.

"Musica…what's wrong?"

"I let you go alone. I let you leave."

I can see the confusion in your eyes

"Musica I left, you weren't supposed to follow, you didn't know what it would lead to."

You smile to yourself, but it is a sorrowful smile, one of pity, but for who?

"No one knew what would happen; if I hadn't left the reality we would have to deal with would be so much worse. Elie and I are fine."

"But there was so much blood"

"Blood washes away Musica." He puts a steady hand on my shoulder, he is so real.

"Im so sorry Haru"

I feel him draw me into a hug, the normal me would have just laughed this off, but I fell into him.

"These nothing to be sorry about."

We sit there abit longer, Haru and Elie are alive…its just sinking in.

Haru stands and offers me a hand. That's when I realise I am still holding the slate in my hand. Haru notices it too.

"What is it?"

"I don't know, but ive seen the writing somewhere before. It's something important."

"We can take it back to camp with us, Elie will be waiting for us, if she is finally up"

I smile.

"Haru have you been keeping her up all night ;)"

I get a light punch…I kinda deserved that.