Well, I didn't own Ico last time, still don't now, come to think of it. Enjoy anyways!
Visions
Part Two-Alone
Flickering torchlight spreads shadows unevenly around the stone room. A slim girl, ghostly white, crouches just outside of an iron cage. Beside her, a small boy is sprawled on the stone floor. Gently, the girl presses her hand to his forehead. He stirs, and her hand retreats.
"Are you okay?" she asks softly, staring curiously into his eyes. Slowly, she reaches out to brush her hands against the horns sprouting from the boy's head. He ducks and scrambles away, still on his back. Twelve years as the scapegoat of his village had left a deep wariness, bordering on fear, when dealing with others.
They stare at each other for a moment, studying. The boy blinks and nods his head. A smile slowly appears on the girl's face, mirrored tentatively by the boy.
Unobtrusively, a dark portal spreads in the shadows. A dark mass separates and straightens. It slips jerkily across the room. The girl is grabbed from behind. Her surprised gasp spurs the boy into motion.
He rises to his feet. The shadows return to the portal just ahead of him. The girl frees one slender hand and reaches out. The boy grabs for her, pulling as the shadow begins to sink once more into the portal. The girl slides free of the shadow; the boy quickly drops her shaking hand. He is thrown back by a second shadow even as a third hoists the girl up once more.
Again, her frightened voice calls the boy to action. Surging back to his feet, the boy rushes to free the girl again. This time, rather than let go he pulls the girl away from the portal. He guards the girl now, attacking with the pointed horns on his head to keep the shadows at bay. Still, they are soon cornered. The hem of the girl's dress brushes against carvings set into the wall.
Green light arches up and away from the wall. Stunned, the pair watches the green energy lance into the shadows. They dissipate into patches of oily smoke. A gentle breeze tugs around the legs of the boy and ruffles the hem of the girl's dress. They turn around.
The carvings have parted. Beyond them a soft green courtyard shimmers innocently in the sun. The boy walks forward, amazed. The girl hovers uncertainly in the opening.
The boy jogs out a bit, reveling in the feel of the sun on his skin. Birds startle at his movement and take flight. He studies the courtyard and relaxes. No shadows appear. The birds resettle in front of a stone bench. In the distance, perhaps just over the far wall, water rushes along, filling the air with a steady rumble. The air is crisp and fresh after being so long inside the gloomy castle.
He turns twice, looking around. The girl still hesitates on the side. He calls to her uncertainly. She steps obediently into the light, but stops. He calls again, stronger and waves her over. She crosses about half the distance between them, her white skin glowing in the sun. He extends his hand toward her and calls once more, smiling a little.
The girl smiles shyly and runs the remaining distance over. She takes the boy's outstretched hand. The birdsong lulls them and the welcome sun relaxes them. They sit down together on the stone bench; their hands loosely clasped in the space between them. Soft light spreads around them. Exhausted, they fall asleep immediately, hands still joined.
Ico slowly opened his eyes. Absently he stretched, straining against the cuffs that bound him. He had dreamed of that same girl seven times now. Seven…
Clumsily, Ico touched the horns that curved away from his skull. They had doubled in size earlier that day; at exactly the time he was born twelve years ago. Tomorrow he would be brought to that dream-castle, but to be locked in a tomb, bound hand and foot as he was today. Escaping that would be nothing short of a miracle. Ico stared solemnly at the distant stars. Cursed children like himself did not receive miracles. And that castle was empty.
Right?
End of Part Two
Phew. I got it up for you. Reviews are always welcome! Don't act like you didn't see that coming. Anyway, I have one more part in store for you, but that'll have to wait until I come back. Please do not abandon me, readers dear! Check back in a few days!