III. Beneath the Surface
"Don't."
It was the only word Rena could muster. She could barely breathe. The ornate crest upon the ajar door; the void within the pitch-black room that lay beyond - they had stolen the air from her lungs. She was uncertain whether she had said anything at all.
Shugo had heard her, though. His ears had caught the terrified whisper. He knew she wanted to run.
But he also knew where they were upon the ship. He understood that a hall of this length had to reach one of its ends, and he had kept track of the staircases leading to other floors. They had passed the closest one just after leaving the cabin. All of the potential exits were already behind them.
Whatever was inside the room was cornered, and he wasn't about to give it a chance to stab them in the back.
"Stay right here," he whispered, looking over his shoulder, letting go of Rena's wrist. "I'll check it out."
As he turned his attention back to the door, he felt her hand clamp down upon his forearm. Glancing back, he found a look of horror aimed his way. Rena shook her head furiously, appalled by the thought of being left alone.
"Then get ready," he murmured. Once his arm was free, he moved his hand to the hilt of his blade, drawing the weapon in silence as he crept towards the door. Rena followed his lead, but her hands were shaking so violently that she could barely hold her sword. Just as Shugo reached the entrance, she nearly dropped the large blade, taking a panicked step forward while her hands scrambled to find the hilt. Her boot landed with a hard thump.
Shugo wasted no time waiting for an attack to come. Slamming his elbow against the door, he swung it fully open, thrusting the lantern into the darkness.
The light revealed a large cabin. It seemed to be the captain's quarters; it was greater in size than any they had seen, and lavish furniture lined its walls. A wide vermillion curtain covered the line of windows at the back, draping down upon the porcelain counter that stretched along the wall. Carved from maple, a small, circular table sat to the right, complimented by four chairs upholstered with embroidered silk. Against the left wall was an oak commode, marble knobs marking its several drawers. A small rectangular mirror hung just above it, its gilded frame reflecting the warm light. And, in the room's center, a walnut armchair sat behind a large desk littered with items, a painstakingly detailed design carved into its backboard.
But, most importantly, no-one seemed to be inside the room.
Still cautious, Shugo took a step into the cabin, his eyes scanning the room for any signs of movement. He turned his head to the right, shining the lantern into an empty corner. Then, he swiveled and looked to the left.
The stone face of a wispy-haired man stared back at him.
Shugo yelled out in surprise, stumbling backwards and pointing his dagger at the ambusher. That prompted a scream from Rena, who charged into the room holding her sword like a battering ram. She thrust the blade towards the face, impaling the man straight through the chest.
Well, a chest. The crash that came with the attack certainly didn't fit a living creature. As they soon realized, the figure standing before them was a life-size bust, sculpted from marble and sitting upon the remnants of a wooden clothes chest. Rena had only given their attacker a severe case of splinters.
Dumbfounded, the two stared at the statue in silence. However, it didn't last long; Shugo soon burst into hysterical laughter, much to Rena's chagrin. Blushing red, she left her jammed sword in its place and stomped over to him, snatching his ear and pulling him towards the door.
"Ow, ow! Okay, I'm sorry!" he cried, sighing in relief when the offending hand traded his ear for the lantern. Rubbing the sore spot, he watched Rena hold the light out into the hallway. She looked over the dark corridor one last time before closing the door with a careful silence.
"Would you be quiet?" she whispered angrily, spinning towards him and glaring at his confused expression. "The whole map can hear you!"
"Why are you so worried? There's nobody here."
"Doors don't open themselves, Shugo."
"... Maybe it's some kind of trap door?" said Shugo with a shrug, causing Rena to give him a blank look of ridicule. Annoyed, his own temper flared. "Well what else could it be? Ghosts?"
Rena froze, her lower lip quivering as she looked around the room. Letting out a sigh, Shugo sheathed his blade and walked over to the desk at the room's center. He placed his palms upon its varnished surface, leaning forward.
Great. Now I'm just making things worse, he thought, looking over the small items neatly arranged upon its top. His eyes stopped upon a tiny, rectangular box next to a jar filled with quill pens. After staring at it for several seconds, he gave in to his curiosity, flicking the lid up with his index finger.
Inside was a beautiful hairpin, a rose in bloom upon its end, the golden petals glittering under the distant light of the lantern.
"Shugo."
Shugo spun around, placing himself between Rena and the discovery, staring her way with a nervous smile. She paid no mind to his expression; she was more concerned with setting ground rules, and her steely gaze left no question that they would remain intact.
"Straight to the bottom, and back up again. If we find Lantus and he wants to look around, we're leaving him. No more treasure hunting. Got it?"
Shugo nodded, swallowing with a gulp. Rena was starting to become a bit more terrifying than the ship itself. Thankfully, her expression softened, and she walked over to him calmly, holding out the lantern, offering it up.
"Here. You can still fight with one hand."
As he took the lantern with his left hand, Shugo moved his right behind his back, watching Rena carefully as she walked over to the sword that still jutted from the clothes chest. His fingers crept over the wooden surface of the desk, frantically searching for the open box. After a few agonizing moments, they bumped against its surface, sending a flash through his eyes. Just as Rena freed her weapon, he snatched up the hairpin and slipped it into his pants pocket, finishing the action no more than a second before her eyes were back upon him.
"Okay," said Rena, turning to the door and looking over her shoulder. "Let's go. You lead."
And so, the twins resumed their voyage through the ship's bowels, walking down empty passages, descending flights of stairs, passing by an abandoned capstan and eating tables that had long since served their last meal. After descending through two more floors, they found that the staircases had been replaced by wooden ladders - a tall, flimsy one in particular, poking out from a square hole in the floor, leading to the abyss of the ship's hold.
Shugo was forced to descend first, of course.
As he made his way carefully down the ladder, his nostrils were assaulted by the acrid smell of moss. It permeated the moist air throughout the lowest level, floating amidst the void along with touches of rotting wood. As his boots left the ladder's bottom rung, he used his free hand to cover his nose, holding out the lantern and squinting into the shadowy chasm. The hold was vast, seeming to stretch on for the entire length of the ship, its ceiling nearly three times the height of the other floors. From Shugo's position, it also seemed relatively empty; only a few crates were visible, barely touched by the outer edge of the lantern's halo.
"Shugo?" came a soft call from above. Holding the lantern upwards, Shugo looked to the ceiling, spying Rena's face peering down from above.
"It's okay. I don't see anything," said Shugo. Nodding, Rena rose to her feet, placing a boot upon one of the ladder's top rungs. As her lavender stockings came into view, Shugo's eyes darted back to the shadows surrounding him. Though there was really nothing to draw his attention, he continued to stare off into space, his gaze only breaking focus once Rena had hopped down next to him.
"Shugo... I don't think he's down here," murmured Rena, her eyes wandering nervously, ears attentive of any strange sounds hidden by the ship's creaks.
"Why not?"
"We should be able to see a light," she pointed out, motioning to the lantern. Looking over her shoulder, she peered back at the wall of darkness behind her, confirming that it was the same as what lie in front. "No-one would come to a place like this without one."
"Maybe he's in another room," said Shugo, shrugging. "There's usually a treasure room at the bottom, right?"
Rena nodded, albeit reluctantly. Their shared desire to find Lantus had taken them this far, but taking one more step into this black gorge of nihility didn't seem worth it to her. Something deep within herself was urging her to forget her sentiments - to simply abandon the search, climb back up the ladder, and forget everything remotely associated with this place.
But she couldn't ignore Shugo. He seemed dead set on getting to the bottom of the mystery, and the lantern's orange light was advancing along with him. Leaving wasn't an option.
So, she followed him, scurrying after the light, fearful of leaving its protection. As they stepped over beams of the hold's framework and passed by stacks of crates, she stayed right by his side, never straying more than two feet away. They delved deep into the darkness together - and, eventually, they did come upon the door to another room.
It was unlike anything they had ever seen before.
A giant pair of arched metal doors towered over them, standing nearly as tall as the ceiling itself, emblazoned onto the sheer wooden wall of the hold's far end. The sealed gate didn't look to be part of the wall itself; the textures aligned perfectly, but, for some reason, the wood surrounding the metal almost seemed to be emanating from it. Even stranger, though, were the lines of ancient runes engraved into the dull plating of the doors. They gave the doors the resemblance of two halves of a tablet, displaying a message that surrounded the design of a central, giant eye.
"What... is this?" murmured Shugo, holding up the lantern and looking towards the top of the gate in awe. The rays of light were barely strong enough to reach the very top of the doors, allowing the first line of runes to be scarcely visible. "Those weird marks look kinda familiar."
"They're from The World's language," said Rena, looking over the lines as she took in the massive gate. "The words don't make sense, though. It's like some kind of riddle."
"A riddle?" echoed Shugo, shifting his glance back to the door. In a flash, his mind was able to see through the darkness, and the wonder upon his face turned to excitement. "I get it! That's why there aren't any monsters! This is a puzzle dungeon!"
"Those are just rumors. I don't think The World really has something like that," said Rena, looking skeptical.
"Well, Lantus said this place was new, right?" He turned to her with an eager grin. "So what's it say?"
"Aren't you forgetting something?"
Shugo stared at her with a blank expression, completely oblivious. Furrowing her brow, she shut her eyes in frustration, exasperated by his skittish priorities.
"No treasure hunting. Lantus isn't here, so we don't need to be, either." She turned, taking a step away from the door. "Let's go. I don't want to spend another minute in this place."
"But we're right here!" protested Shugo, motioning towards the door. "All we need to do is figure it out!"
Rena looked over her shoulder. "And how do you know that this is even a treasure room?"
"We're at the bottom. What else could it be?"
For a few moments, Rena stared off into the darkness lying in front of her, seemingly resolute in her decision. But, eventually, she sighed, turning around and walking back to Shugo's side, ignoring the smile aimed her way as she read the etchings aloud.
"It says... 'Those who bear false witness, walk along the crest of death. Vengeance crashes beneath their feet, their wrists bound by fate. Desires betraying intent, the... cabal spins unchecked. Never shall they return, for...'" Rena paused, giving the runes a strange look. "And something about being born. I can't make out the last part."
"... That's a weird riddle..." said Shugo, looking up at the gate in confusion. "Doesn't it say what we're supposed to figure out?"
"Who 'they' are, I guess."
A grueling minute dragged by before Shugo turned to Rena and broke the silence.
"... Any ideas?"
"One," she replied, still staring at the doors thoughtfully. Shugo's face lit up - only to revert to disappointment when she turned to him with an annoyed look. "We should leave."
"Since when do you give up on puzzles?" said Shugo, hoping to prod her into staying.
"I give up on the ones that make you sit in dark, smelly dungeons while you think." Rena turned away from the door. "Come on."
"Hold on. Give it one more minute." Shugo looked back to the gate with optimism. "Maybe we're missing something..."
"I'm not going to give it another second. Come on."
Shugo didn't budge. Instead, he raised the lantern up slightly, gazing up at the first line of runes. He stared at them intently, seeming to believe that, somehow, a magical power would reveal the answer and cause Rena to stay.
Of course, that didn't happen. The riddle's solution stayed as elusive as ever, and Rena only became more irritated at the thought of being ignored. She aimed her narrowed eyes at the back of his head, her temper flaring as the seconds ticked by. Finally, she snapped, and all restraint was thrown overboard; with a swift, violent motion, she latched onto Shugo's arm, grappling with him as she tried to wrestle the lantern away.
"Rena! What are you doing? Ow! Stop!" he shouted, struggling against her grip.
"Give me the stupid thing! We're leaving!"
"OW! That's my foot! Would you st-"
Shugo went silent with awe - though not due to Rena's actions. The white leather boot upon his foot wasn't to blame. Her eyes weren't the cause, either; they were fixated upon his raised arm, but the arm itself wasn't their target. The lantern was long forgotten as well; it still hung safely within Shugo's grasp, but its importance had faded from their minds. It was a second light that had caught their attention, emanating from an object just above the solid grip of Rena's hand.
The golden bracelet around Shugo's wrist was shining brightly, its glow pulsating like a heartbeat.
"What's going on?" said Rena, looking at him in wonder. Her hands left his arm, allowing him to take a closer look at the accessory.
"I... don't know," murmured Shugo. Raising his gaze from the bracelet, he stared at the gate, eyes widening with alarm. There had been no changes to the metal doors - but, for some reason, in an inexplicable feeling deep within his core, he believed that the eye upon the gate was staring at him - that it had moved, and that its gaze was aimed towards the beacon upon his wrist.
Only a moment passed before his thoughts were answered. A deafening grind erupted from the metal plates - a noise so horrendous that the twins were forced to cover their ears. It was a cacophony of screeches, crackles, and groans, ripping the air's tranquility to shreds, so grating and torturous that it sounded as if the gate was being torn apart by the strings of discord itself. In their agony, Shugo and Rena were unable to see what was actually happening; they had fallen to their knees, hands clamped over ears and eyes clenched shut - those were the priorities. It was only after the noise had stopped that they were able to bring themselves to look at the result.
The doors had swung open outwards, leaving a clear view to what lay beyond. And it truly was clear, for the entire room glowed with a pure white light, rendering both the lantern and the bracelet trivial against the darkness. The walls, the ceiling, the floor - they all shared the strange luminescence, seemingly comprised of the very energy that they gave off. At first, nothing inside the room seemed to be tangible. But, as their eyes adjusted to the light, the twins spotted two exceptions.
In the center of the room lay a small, knee-high marble platform, and atop that sat a black treasure chest, free of any designs.
And with that sight came an overwhelming sense of dread within Rena.
Run, she told herself, her inability to understand why only serving to terrify her further. Just run. Grab him and leave. It's not too late.
"Shugo... I don't think we should open that."
"You should listen to the girl, lad. After all, she is quite clever."
Startled from their daze, the twins spun around. Standing amidst the distant shadows was Lantus, staring their way with a nefarious grin, his hand grasping the hilt of the axe upon his shoulder.
"... Though not clever enough to know a trap when she sees one."
"Lantus..." whispered Shugo, confused by the sudden appearance of their missing party member. His eyes narrowed once the words had registered. "What do you mean?"
"Coincidence," said Lantus, "it is a very useful tool. It lends an explanation to many things that would otherwise be considered suspicious. For example..." He took a step forward, extending his free hand towards the twins as if to introduce them. "Who could have predicted that the winners of a simple character contest would receive the original .hacker characters as a reward?"
Rena and Shugo's eyes widened.
"And to be fortunate enough to encounter these two players..." Lantus's eyes shifted to Rena, and a sly smile crawled onto his face. "I must say, that group of monsters attacked at quite the opportune time. Wouldn't you agree, young lady?"
"... You're the one who..." murmured Rena, staring at him in disbelief.
"Correct. As I said, coincidence is merely a tool. Nothing more."
Shugo glanced over at Rena. Her clenched fists were trembling at her sides, and the anger held within carried into his own voice. "What's going on? What's he talking about?"
"He planned this whole thing. He's been using us since the beginning," said Rena, looking daggers at Lantus. "And now that this is open, we're in your way. Right?"
"Not quite."
Rena blinked in surprise, breaking her glare. Lantus, on the other hand, simply ran a gauntlet through his sparse hair and closed his eyes, unfazed.
"It is true that an item hidden beyond such a gate must be a unique treasure... However..." His eyes flashed open, the glint within them aimed at Shugo's wrist. Smiling, he pointed to his golden target. "An item that opens such gates seems far more valuable to me."
"Like I'd ever give the bracelet to someone like you!" shouted Shugo, his hands flying to the hilts of his blades.
"But you already have, lad."
Shugo's hands froze in the midst of his draw. In and of itself, Lantus's voice was far from foreboding - but the absolute confidence held within gave him pause.
"You still haven't realized it, have you?"
"Realized what?" snapped Shugo. Grinning, Lantus raised his glove a bit higher, pointing behind him.
"That is not the only gate that you have broken through."
Bewildered, Shugo gave Lantus an incredulous look. Again, the behemoth stood unfazed.
"Consider where we are. Do you truly believe that such a dated area would remain untouched?"
"So you lied about that, too..." said Rena, lowering her glare to the floor.
"Lied? You paint me as some sort of miscreant, miss. I did no such thing." Lantus placed his free hand upon his hip, staring down his nose at her as if taking offense. "I merely mentioned that this was a new discovery - and, thanks to this young man, I'm finally able to set foot in such a place."
Shugo's mouth dropped open. It couldn't be true. Yes, at Lantus's urging, he had been the one to call out the field name - but there had been no signs that the area was protected. No warnings had popped up at the Chaos Gate. The bracelet hadn't reacted at all. There was no way this place was like Naval Monte.
But the victorious smile upon Lantus's face said otherwise.
"So you understand. It is impossible for other players to enter this area. None of your allies will be coming to help you. That bracelet belongs to me."
Lantus's axe fell into both hands with a clang, its blade gleaming in the white light like a guillotine.
"Now... Will you hand it over quietly, or must I take your arm and pry it off later?"
Shugo ripped his blades from their sheaths and charged at Lantus, letting out a frenzied battle cry. His boots pounded over the wood planks, closing in - but, suddenly, he leapt into the air, swinging his arm back as he hovered over the massive warrior. "Flame Dance!" he shouted, his daggers sparking ablaze. With a trail of embers in his wake, he slashed downwards - only to see the face of the axe head speeding towards him. Relying on his massive strength, Lantus used the giant weapon to swat Shugo like a fly. The blow sent Shugo hurtling backwards, careening through the air, speeding past a shocked Rena and the open gateway. He crashed down upon his back, the momentum rolling him a few feet inside the white room, his body lying still once it came to rest.
"Shugo!" cried Rena, spinning around, looking at his crumpled frame in horror.
"Choosing to attack someone twice your level... Very admirable," said Lantus, resting his axe back upon his shoulder. "But also quite foolish."
Trembling, Rena turned back to Lantus, head lowered, bangs covering her eyes. Her shaking hands reached for the hilt of her sword, gripping the bronze handle tight. As she drew it from her back, Lantus looked on in amusement, his gaze centering upon the blade's wavering tip.
"What a pity. It seems the young lady is too frightened to hold her weapon." Stepping forward, he gave a dismissive wave of his hand. "Don't worry, miss. I have no intention of fighting someone who cannot defend herself. Our business is already done. Now, if you'll step aside-"
Rena's blade smashed into the floor, crashing down with enough force to splinter the wooden planks. Raising an eyebrow, Lantus stopped in his tracks. Rena stood there silently, hunched over with the weight of her sword, breathing heavily, still looking down. Slowly, she raised her head, meeting his startled gaze.
The fires of Hell blazed within her eyes.
"NOBODY HURTS MY BROTHER!" she screamed, charging towards Lantus with her blade at her side. She swung the massive weapon up over her shoulder, preparing to cleave downwards. Smiling confidently, Lantus secured his feet, blocking the attack with the handle of his axe - only to have the immense force of the blow stagger him, forcing him to step back in surprise. Unrelenting, Rena continued her assault, swinging wildly. The sparks that flashed between their weapons were trivial to her fiery glare. Still, each slash was blocked, and each swing became slower and weaker as her body tired. After the sixth hit, Rena looked up to find the axe's blade drawn back - and aimed at her neck. Her eyes widened in horror.
"Data..." came Shugo's voice from behind.
Instinct taking over, Rena dropped down to the floor and rolled to the side, leaving Lantus staring dumbly at Shugo - back on his feet in the gateway, one hand upon his forearm, his other in a fist aimed straight at the heavy axeman.
"Drain!"
The bracelet flashed to life. A golden beam of light shot forth from the accessory, speeding towards Lantus like a streak of lightning. Unable to dodge, Lantus blocked the beam with the face of his axe's head, standing firm against the spell. As the ray dissipated, he sneered at Shugo, his surprise vanishing along with the light.
"So... Still hiding some tricks, are you?" said Lantus, chuckling. "What a shame, lad. You missed your..."
His voice trailed off as he noticed a change in his weapon.
His once fearsome axe had been transformed into a wooden sign post - its arrow-shaped head reading 'Weapon Shop'.
"What were you saying about missing something?" said Shugo, grinning. Dumbfounded, Lantus blinked at his new armament before breaking into a rage.
"You think you can make a fool out of me, you little worm?" he roared, raising the post over his shoulder, holding it like a javelin. With the strength of a bear, he flung it straight at Shugo's forehead. Wide-eyed, Shugo crouched just in time, ducking under the spear as it sailed overhead. The wooden missile smashed into the treasure chest behind him, bursting into splinters. The force of the impact was enough to tip the chest backwards, and it landed upon its side with a thump.
But that was nothing compared to the noise that followed.
A loud rumble emanated from all around them, shaking their surroundings, knocking all three players off balance. Streams of dust fell from the rafters, vanishing into thin air against the light of the treasure room. The groans of tortured wood echoed throughout the hold, the planks beneath them seeming to shudder at the sound. From his newly acquired seat, Shugo looked down, noticing that the glow around his wrist had returned. Startled, he sprang to his feet, dashing over to Rena's side. She was still on her knees, staring past him in fear, more concerned with the treasure chest than their dazed attacker.
"Shugo... If this place is like..." Another rumble echoed through the ship, and she looked up at him with wide eyes. "What happens if we-"
"We're not sticking around to find out. Come on!" He grabbed her arm, tugging her to her feet. With Shugo leading the way, the two dashed off into the darkness, the bracelet's light cutting through the shadows.
Finally regaining his footing, Lantus moved a gauntlet from his pounding forehead, a surprised look rolling onto his face. The bracelet had become a distant beacon, retreating from his grasp. His curses were drowned out by yet another rumble, and he looked around wildly as the entire ship trembled. His eyes quickly settled on the white room - on the toppled treasure chest, its contents just waiting to be plucked. Breaking into a clumsy sprint, he thundered past the gateway, his heavy boots clanking over the platform's marble steps. Dropping to his knees, he snatched the chest up in his arms, tipping it right-side up - and as he did, the lid popped open.
A bloodcurdling scream echoed from behind the twins as they reached the ladder. Before they could look back, an explosion rocked the boat, the sounds of shattering wood booming from a fair distance away. Spinning around, Shugo found that the white light of the treasure room had vanished. All that was left was the sound of rushing water hurtling towards them through the darkness.
"GO!" he shouted, turning and pushing Rena up the ladder. She broke out of her horrified trance, ripping her feet from the first step, scrambling up the rungs with Shugo following just behind her. In seconds, she was at the top, her hands clawing against the floorboards as she stumbled onto the upper level. Spinning on her knees, she looked to the hatch, spying Shugo just as his waist cleared the boundary.
And just at that moment, a wall of water crashed beneath his feet, snapping the ladder in two.
A look of disbelief slipped onto Shugo's face as he began to fall - but suddenly, Rena's hands latched onto his forearms, bolting down like clamps. Jolted into action, he leapt from the falling piece of timber, grabbing onto Rena's arms, his stomach slamming into the side of the hatchway.
"DON'T LET GO!" screamed Rena, pulling upwards with all her might, her muscles blazing with pain. Her knees scraped against the coarse wood, the fabric upon them tearing against the grain. Flailing his legs, Shugo hauled himself up through the hatch, his waist clearing the hole. Rena dragged him the rest of the way, saving him from certain death. No more than two seconds later, a fountain of water spouted up from the hatchway, spraying both of them with a curtain of droplets.
They scrambled to their feet - but Rena's legs gave out on her, and she collapsed from exhaustion. Before she could realize what was happening, her arm was around Shugo's shoulders, and he had lifted her to her feet. And with that, she was running forward - dashing through the pitch-black halls, swaying with the floor, stumbling over random objects, trampling up flights of stairs, always pushed forward by the arm behind her. The groans of the ship seemed to follow them everywhere, its pained calls accompanied by the sound of cracking wood. Still, they pressed on, their desperation guided only by the light from Shugo's wrist - and after countless staircases, the moon came into view, shining down on them from atop a set of steps.
Clambering up onto the deck, they burst forth into the night air, assaulted by violent gusts ripping at the ship's sails. As Rena huddled down against him, Shugo raised his forearm to his brow, opening a single eye to the stinging salty winds, gritting his teeth. Squinting, he skimmed over the rolling pails and tattered cloth swirling across the deck, desperately looking for a route of escape. A violent lurch of the ship cut his efforts short; the deck tilted to the side, knocking their feet out from under them. Screaming in terror, the twins slid down the slick planks, clutching onto each other as they landed against the side rail. Before the ship pitched back, they caught a glimpse of what lay beyond the balusters.
The tranquil water of the bay had turned into a maelstrom, churning against the ship's hull, grinding at the vessel like a wood chipper.
"Try to log out!" shouted Shugo, his voice muffled by the screaming gales. Nodding quickly, Rena paused for a moment - but the fear upon her face soon returned, and she shook her head frantically.
"We're still in the dungeon! It won't let me!"
Shugo turned his head upwards, glaring at the black sky. His arm shot upwards, holding the glowing bracelet into the air. Yet, it was to no avail; when he attempted to log out, nothing happened. His gate hacking abilities refused to work. Stunned, he glanced back to Rena, the look on his face sending her into a panic.
"What do we do?" she cried, gripping onto his arm. Frantic, Shugo's eyes darted around the deck - but suddenly, they froze upon an object, flashing with hope. He was on his feet in an instant, pulling Rena along with him, scrambling over to the ship's mainmast. Just as they reached their target, the vessel swayed to the other side, slamming them into the structure. Cringing from the blow, Rena opened her eyes to find Shugo stepping onto the wooden pegs that trailed up the structure. Her jaw dropped in horror, and she yanked upon his sleeve.
"Just don't look down!" he shouted, lifting himself off the deck. He forced his body to keep moving, keeping his eyes locked upon the crow's nest as he scaled the dizzying heights. Still, he couldn't stop himself from breaking his own advice; halfway through the climb, he glanced down to check on Rena, and the terrifying drop caught his eye. Thankfully, she was right below him - and sane enough to avoid making the same mistake. The winds fiercened as they neared the top, turning the gashed sails around them into billowing white curtains. Finally, Shugo's feet scraped onto the firm platform, and he spun around to extend an arm down to Rena. The ship pitched as he pulled her onto the perch, sending her toppling into his arms, nearly flinging them both into the air.
With his back against the rail, Shugo tried to log out - but the option was still disabled. Glaring, he tried the bracelet. Again, nothing happened.
His plan had failed. They were still too close to the ship. Even the crow's nest was part of the dungeon.
"Shugo..." came Rena's voice, barely audible against the crying winds. He looked down into misty carmine. Her chin was against his chest, and her hands had clutched onto his vest, squeezing wrinkled bundles from the fabric. She already knew what was coming. She knew it was hopeless.
We're gonna make it. Don't give up. We'll get through this. His eyes said these things, but even he had a hard time believing them. There was just no way out. There was nowhere to go. There was no opening to escape.
And then he saw it.
It hung in front of his eyes like a mirage. In a gap between the waving sails was the outline of a cliff, its top edge slightly lower than their height, lying several meters away. The circling waters had rotated the ship, pushing the port side closer to the bay's rocky walls. Still, getting to the ledge was impossible, and in a flash, it was gone, cloaked by the white shrouds.
A pained moan echoed up from below, accompanied by a slow tilt in the cliff's direction. This time, the ship didn't lurch back.
It was about to capsize.
Shugo grabbed onto Rena's shoulders. Her head shot upwards, eyes meeting the alarm in his own.
"We have to jump!" he shouted.
Rena looked at him as if he had gone crazy. Before she could respond, he had pulled her to her feet, dragging her over to the other side of the nest. As they rounded the mast, he spun her around, forcing her to stay behind him. And then, as she looked his way, she too spotted the cliffs approaching.
"Shugo!" she cried - but he was too busy kicking at the rail to look back. One strike turned to two, and two turned to four, and the fifth finally snapped the shoddy banister, sending fragments of wood hurtling down into the abyss. It was only luck that prevented him from slipping and sliding off the edge after them. He turned to dart back to Rena's side, but his feet had to stamp up an incline to reach the mast. She was holding onto it for dear life, and soon he was as well, one arm upon the wood and the other around her waist.
"On three!" he yelled, adjusting his soles to the tilting floor. He gave a quick look to Rena, searching her eyes for agreement. All she could offer was a breathless nod. His eyes flew back to the cliffs - closer than ever.
No more bad memories. Never again.
"One!"
His eyes. What a strange thing to think about on the edge of death. That look in his eyes. She had never seen it before. Or maybe she had never looked for it. Maybe she had pretended that it wasn't there.
"Two!"
... Shugo...
"THREE!"
And they were running forward, their boots pounding down the slope, their yells cutting through the ship's death wails. And then they were in the air, floating above the chaos, sailing towards the cliff's edge. And throughout it all were the grasps of fear - those warm, solid clutches that gave one last ripple of comfort before the end.
And then they hit the ground.
The crashes erupted from all around them - sounds of shattering wood and deafening slams. They didn't see them. They couldn't look. They just held onto each other as tightly as they could, clenching their eyes shut, praying to survive.
A few moments later, it was quiet.
Slowly, Rena opened her eyes. The earth was black. The sky was white. And across from her were irises of teal, gazing at her with a mix of relief and concern.
"Are you okay?" whispered Shugo.
"... I-I think so," she said, her heart still beating fervently in her chest. Her eyes drifted around their strange surroundings before returning to his face. "We're okay?"
Shugo smiled.
"Yeah. We're okay."
Oddly, her heart sped up.
Shugo's hand left the small of her back, moving to the sheathes behind him. He tilted his body away from Rena, eyes rolling upwards as his fingers searched for a hilt. Grasping it, he drew the weapon, pointing its blade at the blanket covering them. With a stab and a slash, a gap was ripped through the sail, revealing the night sky above.
The turbulence that had nearly consumed them had vanished without a trace. The field seemed oblivious to the entire ordeal. The moon peered down through the black canvas. The grasses drifted amidst a calm breeze. The water of the bay was tranquil. The waves lapped gently onto the shores below.
And the ship was simply gone.
All that remained were two survivors, standing next to a broken mast atop a cliff, the tattered fabric of a dream curling around their feet.
The looks aimed their way were a bit stranger than usual.
Of course, they were used to it by now. Their avatars always drew attention. It had gone on for so long that, nowadays, they rarely took notice of the eyes focused upon them. After all, one couldn't exactly walk into town with a legendary character and remain unnoticed.
This time, though, things were a bit different. Legendary was far from the right word to describe them.
Mud stains blotched their clothing. Specks of dirt and grass covered their knees and elbows. Disheveled locks of hair lay matted across their scalps. Rena's tights were torn open at the knees, and Shugo's baggy outfit had its fair share of rips and tears. All in all, the twins looked as if they had walked straight out of a war zone.
But, at the moment, they didn't care much about the gawking passersby - or even about their own appearance. Inside The World, hours had a habit of flying by, and their latest adventure had done a great job of draining them completely. They were exhausted. Even speaking to each other required too much effort.
And so, they dragged their weary bodies down the main road of Mac Anu in silence, following the trail of lit streetlights to the town's main bridge. When the sun set upon Japan, the virtual city also transitioned into night, its Venetian-styled buildings taking on a deep navy hue. It almost seemed like a different place under moonlight - the bustling crowds gave way to a few wandering travelers; the noise of hectic commotion vanished into serene quiet; the alleys strewn with lanterns mimicked the stars dotting the sky. It was a beautiful sight - like the vision of a storybook come to life. In truth, this was their favorite place in all of The World, and they had spent many nights simply sitting here, admiring the view, talking well into the wee hours of the morning.
That wasn't the case tonight, though. Sleep would be taking precedence. A bevy of questions still floated in their minds, but they could figure out everything later.
When they reached the crest of the bridge, Rena turned to Shugo, giving him a small smile, shoulders dipping.
"I should get going, I guess. Mom'll have a fit if she catches me on here this late again."
"Oh. Yeah," said Shugo, a hint of disappointment within his voice. "You'll be on tomorrow though?"
"Same time," she said with a nod. Her lips curved upwards slightly. "You can pick the next place. Just... no water fields."
"I think I'll look for a sponge dungeon."
Rena giggled, and he smiled. That was a relief. She had been acting a bit strange on their way back - avoiding his eyes; staring at her own feet; peering at him with sidelong glances when she thought he was unaware. It reminded him of those days - the week after she had awoken from her coma. She had acted the same way during the hospital visits. Just like then, he had been worried that the experience might have had a lasting effect upon her; but, thankfully, everything seemed to be okay. She was still herself.
An awkward silence passed between the two. They shifted in place, not yet willing to leave, but not quite sure what to say. Shugo couldn't shake the notion that this was like the end of a date - possibly the worst one in history, but still, it felt like one. The strangeness of the idea made him shove his hands into his pants pockets - but, before he could give a quick goodbye, an object bumped against his fingers, catching his attention.
"Oh, hey! I almost forgot about this!" he exclaimed, pulling the small item from his pocket. Blinking in surprise, Rena watched in curiosity as he scanned his cupped hands, her eyes widening when he finally held them out. Amazingly, the hairpin was undamaged; it still shone with all of its pristine beauty, giving off vivid sparkles in the moonlight.
"Where did you get that...?" she murmured, her eyes twinkling with wonder.
"Treasure hunting." He grinned at the sight of Rena's raised eyebrow. "It'll look better on you than me, so..."
Into Rena's mind popped the image of her brother as a flower child - complete with the hairpin, beads, and a tasseled version of his outfit. The thought made her laugh out loud, and Shugo sent her a strange look. Taking her hand from her lips, she gave a dismissive wave, smiling.
"It's nothing. I, uh... don't know if I want a souvenir from that."
"Huh? But it'll look nice." He took a step forward, raising the pin above her ear. "Here. Just stand still."
Before she could protest, Shugo's fingers were gently running through strands of lilac, straightening out her messy locks. Cupping her hands in front of her, Rena dipped her head in embarrassment, cheeks burning deep red.
Big Brother... You're not supposed to be doing things like this. Don't you know how it feels?
His fingers brushed against her ear, sending a chill down her spine. She huddled her shoulders inward.
... Don't you know what you're doing to me?
"There," said Shugo, taking a step back and smiling. "See? I told you. It even matches your outfit."
Lifting her chin, Rena raised a hand up above her ear, her fingertips touching the accessory's golden petals. The blush that had been fading quickly returned. Her eyes wandered down to her feet, and a simper appeared on her face.
"Sure, it's a nice touch against the dirt and mud," she joked weakly. Shugo just kept smiling.
"All that and still pretty. I don't know how you do it, Rena."
Rena's head snapped upwards, her eyes wide with awe. He didn't notice, though. He had already turned to the side, resting his arms upon the bridge's rail, his eyes drifting up to the starlit sky spread out before them. It was what came naturally, just as they had always done - but this time, as Shugo stared at the moon, Rena was staring at Shugo.
"I guess the rabbit was looking out for us today, huh?" Chuckling to himself, he turned to Rena. "Hey, do you remem-"
Rena's lips cut him off.
It was a light, ephemeral kiss. It couldn't have lasted more than three seconds. There was no fervor in the action - none of the pent-up frustration she had held inside for years. Her urges didn't overcome her. Her lips barely brushed against his. It was just a quick little kiss.
But there was passion behind it. Hiding that was impossible. It was in her lips as they parted from Shugo, in her eyes as she gazed into his, in the breath that warmed his cheek, in every nuance of the body standing next to him.
The kiss was anything but innocent, and Shugo knew it.
"... R-Rena... What..." he murmured, eyes still wide with shock. The hope in her eyes turned to horror.
"I-I have to go!" she cried, spinning away from him.
"Wh-Wait a minute! Rena!" he called - but she was already dashing down the bridge, boots pounding over the wooden planks, another world collapsing around her. She didn't look back. She couldn't let him see the tears in her eyes. Running was the only option - just to run while she scrambled to find the logout option. As she turned a corner, The World vanished, replaced by a familiar field of red flowers.
Rena stared at the icons lining her desktop image. After a while, her hands left the keyboard. She lifted the gaming visor from her head, setting it upon her desk gently. Her palms found the desk's edge, and she rose from her chair, her nails scraping against the wood. She switched off her desk lamp before sliding into bed.
Then she cried herself to sleep.