-5- Release the Prisoners
The door swung shut with a loud bang. It all happened very quickly, so quickly that Amu wasn't really sure whether everything happened as it did. However, instead of being dead as she intended, she was now outside the room with Yoru. In that split moment that Amu was going to get hit, Ikuto got in-between her and Cindy's blast. Strongly, Ikuto had pushed both her and Yoru out of the room and before the door closed shut, Amu witnessed horror itself. The very sight of a body ripping in half, blood colouring the transparent air a deep red and Cindy's chilling laughter ringed nonstop through her ears and Ikuto, he took the blast for her. The very last scene that flashed kept flashing before her eyes; it was that of Ikuto's body dropping to the floor into a heap of dead flesh.
"AHHHHH," Amu screamed, having witnessed the death of a person for the first time. She fell to the floor on her knees, her body quivering in fear, in sheer disbelief. No, this can't be happening, Amu thought, tears rapidly falling from her eyes. Shakily she crawled up to the door and weakly banged on it. "Hey…. Yoru's brother… you….you… why… Ikuto….Ikuto…" You can't be dead right? Amu whimpered her thoughts no longer coherent. What is this world? What is this place? Scary…I'm scared…Dia…
Before Amu, Dia's face suddenly came to view and she remembered what happened just a year ago, her first time leaving Melas Village. That day it was raining as they set off.
"Amu, you need to remember to be extremely careful," Dia warned, walking slowly behind Amu.
Amu who was bouncing ahead didn't bother turning around to answer Dia.
A worried Dia simply continued, "Amu, the world outside Melas Village is very complex and sometimes quite scary."
"There's no need to worry," Amu said without much thought, "Dia, you're here to protect me and look after me. I'm more excited to see what life is like outside Melas. I mean in Melas, it is all witches and magic. I want to meet commoners; I want to meet the Pirates I always hear about. I want to see for myself whether they really are scary and talk loud and everything else I've heard in your stories."
"The world is a sad place, it is better not to meet any than…" Dia paused, "in Melas, at least there is a law; there is magic to protect everyone. There will be no deaths or unnecessary sadness. There aren't any cruel people either. Melas is like a heaven to us witches. I honestly don't understand why you'd want to leave Melas."
Amu turned around to look at Dia who sounded very serious and sad at the same time. Perhaps it was the rain on her face but the droplets that landed near her eyes made Amu think, whether those were Dia's tears.
I understand now…Amu thought, reality coming back to her as she stared at the closed door in front of her. Those really were Dia's tears that day… she was sad because I was going to enter such a scary world. All I cared about was leaving the witch village and having fun…I never ever once thought deeply about what I could come across… like now…Ikuto…
A pair of hands grabbed hold of Amu from behind pulling her away from the door. She looked up to see Yoru.
"Silly Witch, why are you crying here?" Yoru shouted, "WE NEED TO HURRY AND RUN!"
Amu grabbed hold of Yoru and cried, "I'm sorry Yoru… I-I… because of me your brother…he's dead-"
"Yeah, yeah," Yoru said still tugging at Amu, "I know, brother is dead so let's go."
Yoru smiled right after saying that and it confused Amu so much she became speechless. He saw didn't he, how Ikuto was killed by that witch. How could he still smile like that or…Amu thought more carefully, perhaps… perhaps in that confusion Yoru didn't see it.
"Hurry Amu," Yoru urged, "we need to make a move before the guards regain consciousness."
Amu stared around her to see all the guards of the Tower lying still; the work of Cindy Ashmy no doubt. Amu gave way to Yoru, standing up and allowing him to start dragging her up the stairs. They were heading up; no wait, why Yoru is acting this way. She needed to tell him, she needed to tell him that his brother had died. "Yoru," she said, pulling him backwards, "listen, I saw it." She began to shake again, "there was blood everywhere, his body…it…your brother Ikuto was hit by that-"
"Brother Ikuto will be fine," Yoru stated with confidence, "I saw what happened." He smiled again, "Ikuto is the strongest person I've met. Bet on it Amu, he's strong."
"Why?" Amu simply gasped, "why and how can you be so…"
Yoru got serious now. Using his sleeves he quickly rubbed away Amu's tears, "anyhow, it was me who asked Ikuto to save you too so the least I can do is listen to him. You understand silly Amu."
Amu shook her head. She simply just stared at Yoru.
"Anyhow," Yoru continued, holding onto Amu's hand now. He started to make his way up the stairs again. "Ikuto ordered me this. No matter what happens, make sure you head back up the Tower. Remember to keep going up until you reach the top, and then just wait for me there. Don't go anywhere else but the top." Yoru clenched Amu's hand a little tighter now, "so Amu, we need to wait for him there."
Amu bit her lips and remained silent. She didn't know how to respond to Yoru an simply allowed him to drag her up the stairs. They had already run up a few stairs by the time amu had calmed down slightly from all this madness. The sounds of prisoners shouting at them as they passed echoed everywhere, but to Amu, they couldn't be more hushed.
Yoru trusted his brother so much; he believed so strongly that he could ignore reality and believe Ikuto can still meet him. No way, this was crazy… Yoru had gone crazy. Somehow Amu felt responsible for all this. Ikuto had sacrificed his life to protect her and Yoru, so this time around; she needed to snap out of it, stay strong and survive. To repay Ikuto, the least she could do was to bring Yoru to safety, to leave this Tower. Amu stopped, holding Yoru back. She grabbed hold of her umbrella from Yoru and started to drag him back down.
"What are you doing stupid Amu?" Yoru complained.
"There's no way we can escape going back up this Tower," Amu said desperately, "Yoru, face reality. Ikuto is dead. We need to seriously escape from here and the best way is to go back down." Using all her strength, Amu dragged the struggling Yoru down a few steps, "that witch, she's probably searching for us now. I can't protect you, we need to go back into the auction room or at least be surrounded by commoners. She can't use magic there and that's the safest. Yoru please, hurry back down before it's too late."
Yoru flung Amu's hand away from him, "trust me Amu. Trust my brother. We need to go up not down. I won't stray from what I'm supposed to do."
"You will die," Amu shouted, "she'll kill us if we go that way."
"Then let it be," Yoru shouted back, "I absolutely will not doubt Ikuto. Do as you please." Yoru had a pained expression on his face as he turned from Amu and ran up as fast as he could.
Amu clenched onto her umbrella and headed the opposite way. "There's no use, Yoru's gone insane." Amu whispered, "I'll have to try and fend off Cindy Ashmy the best I could. Yoru please get away." Amu kept running down but there was no sign of Cindy. This is really odd. Ikuto's dead so there shouldn't be anyone stopping her from chasing after us. Why hasn't she caught up yet?
CLANK. CLANK. CLANK.
"What is this noise?" Amu panted, stopping on one of the prisoner cell floors.
CLANK. CLANK. CLANK.
"It's loud; this clattering sound is resonating everywhere…" Amu whispered, "It's coming from…the entire Tower…"
Amu clasped her hand over her mouth, supressing her gasp from shock. The sounds were coming from the breaking of chains and the turning of locks. The prison cell's surrounding her, they were all being opened and the chains holding the prisoners back, they were snapping. Slowly the bewildered prisoners stepped out of their prisons.
"IS THIS REAL?" a prisoner shouted, "WE'RE FREE!"
"Impossible," Amu gulped, watching as the prisoners stood there, also bewildered by the strange turn of events. There was a loud cheer and then the prisoners wasted no time. They all rushed towards the stairs leading below to the ground floor, to where that massive big entrance was. They wanted to escape. This was their chance.
Amu fell to the floor, being pushed over by the mad prisoners whose only concern was to go down the Tower and escape. Amu slowly got up but was pushed again, this time by new prisoners running down from the stairs from the floor above. "No way, how am I supposed to get down there," Amu breathed, backing away. Some prisoners were already beginning to fight each other, all trying to get through that narrow staircase. It was an ugly scene, the prisoners all scrambling in the same direction, some stepping on the bodies of those being knocked over. "This is mad," Amu breathed heavily again. "At this rate, it's going to be impossible to escape heading downwards… but to release all the prisoners in the Tower at the same time…did that witch do this?" Amu moved over to the walls, making sure she wouldn't be pushed down by the rushing crowd again. "Yoru," she exclaimed, "I need to get Yoru. It's dangerous with all these prisoners heading down. I need to go back up…" Amu began to make her way up the stairs, trying with all her might to push past the prisoners who all headed in the opposite direction. It took some effort but she was certainly making her way up. She paused in her thoughts and the new revelation that washed passed her simply left her speechless once again. Ikuto told Yoru to go up the Tower, Amu recalled, he knew this would happen…no he couldn't have but…
The further up she got, the less people there were and in the middle of one less crowded level, she saw the shaking body of a kid, huddled on the floor. Without hesitation, Amu reached out for him and hugged him tightly, moving him away and continuing their run upwards.
"Amu," a shaking Yoru said through clenched teeth, "you stupid witch. You're late coming back. I was waiting."
This time, Amu held Yoru's hand tightly, leading him up the Tower. "I apologise Yoru," Amu apologised seriously, "I didn't listen to you. I should've placed more faith in you…" She turned with a soft smile on her face, "I understand now. Ikuto, he's incredible, I can really trust him."
"That's what I told you before," Yoru replied with a smile. He followed Amu or rather allowed Amu to take the lead. It was so strange; at first all he wanted to do was to use Amu to help him enter the Tower, nothing else. But somewhere within this chaotic night, he seems to have developed a liking towards her. Will brother be mad at me later? Yoru wondered, Ikuto has a strong view on witches.
Yoru bumped into Amu's back as they abruptly came to a stop. "Why did you stop?"
Amu covered Yoru's eyes tightly with her hands. Despite Yoru's struggle and shouts, Amu didn't let go. She couldn't, she couldn't let him see such a sight. She couldn't quite believe it herself either who she was staring at, but it was Cindy Ashmy.
"What happened to you?" Amu asked in a weak voice.
Standing before her surely wasn't the same person who attacked them before. This Cindy was like a corpse, a zombie. Her clothes ripped and dripping of blood, with many obvious wounds on her body and the most shocking, one of her eye was missing. There was blackness in her right eye, the flesh and skin around mashed together and blood flowing out of where the eye should be. Amu felt a strong chill through her body; a churning in her stomach made everything worse, she was about to puke from the sight of Cindy and she forced her eyes closed, unable to look at her anymore.
"Listen…" Cindy said in a croaky voice. "I can't just let that man do as he pleases with me…even if I can't harm him…I'll…I'll at least make you two pay for getting me involved with that monster."
"Monster," Amu repeated, maybe she met the same guy that attacked me earlier on.
Cindy raised one of her hands up, "this will be your curse, low level witch. Be stuck in a useless body forever."
A dark inflamed circle with the shape of a phoenix inside started to materialise in the air and the entire room was a deep shade of red.
"I'm sorry Yoru," Amu said as she hit Yoru on the head, knocking him out. Then she pushed Yoru as far away as possible and as soon as she did, she felt a terrible pain. Fire engulfed her entire body and Amu screamed from the excruciating pain. She screamed and could only stare as Cindy Ashmy vanished into thin air. "No…help…please…" Amu cried as her body burned and her skin felt as though it was ripping apart. She dropped to the floor, the pain winning over her consciousness. She looked horrifyingly at her hands, "I'm… this can't be happening…" The size of Amu's hand seemed to shrink, they were becoming smaller and smaller. Is she going to shrink into nothing? Amu began to breathe hardly, unable to take in much air, she was suffocating. How long had she been in pain for, Amu didn't know but she seemed to have been screaming for a long time now and her voice would no longer sound. Lying hopelessly on the floor, she stared at the last thing she would ever see and yet it was something unreal. Walking slowly towards her and Yoru, wearing a guards' suit was a man. That navy blue hair, those sapphire blue eyes, his poker expression…it was, "Ikuto…" Amu whispered before losing all consciousness.
It felt rather cold around but a part of his face was warm. Yoru stirred and slowly opened his eyes. A smile automatically spread on his face as he looked up at his brother. He hugged onto him tightly, "Ikuto, I knew it. You made it here."
Ikuto patted Yoru gently on the head, "You didn't manage to get properly to the top now did you? There are still a few floors to go. We best start moving again. The prisoners and the guards are currently fighting below."
"Well, you see, its Amu's fault," Yoru began to explain, not wanting Ikuto to think he was useless. Yoru stopped though and looked around the place. "Amu, where is she?"
Yoru looked desperately around the room but there was no sign of Amu anywhere. Amu's red umbrella was nowhere to be seen either. Instead, lying on the floor away from him was a girl, a very young girl, who was naked. She was even younger than him. Yoru slowly approached the little girl, though weary that she wasn't wearing anything and like a gentlemen he made sure he was just staring at her face. "Who is she?"
"You don't know," Ikuto questioned, "she was already in the room with you when I got here. I thought it was probably someone else you decided to befriend tonight."
Yoru stared hard at the little girl. She had the same pink coloured hair as Amu did but that really didn't matter. "I don't know her. Anyway, where did Amu go?"
"Perhaps she left on her own," Ikuto suggested. He was slightly irritated though that Amu was missing. No doubt around her neck was Clover's locket. It didn't matter though; he was already tired of this place and wanted to leave as quickly as possible. He had other issues to settle outside this Tower. He'll just have to chase after another clue. Ikuto's thought was cut off by Yoru's sudden panic.
"No, I can't believe, she'd leave me here. She was working hard to protect me," Yoru began, "I think I remember now. My eyes were covered so I didn't see but I swear I did hear the other witches voice before I passed out. Do you think Amu got into trouble?"
"Yoru," Ikuto softly said, hugging his little brother close. "Don't worry. If I managed to escape from that witch then Amu must've managed to escape as well. It's very likely she had to run away from that witch and is already out of this Tower."
"You think so," Yoru said, still worried.
"I'm certain," Ikuto said, standing up, "let's go Yoru."
"Wait," Yoru said, going over to the little girl. He gently shook her body. "Hey, wake up."
The little girl slowly opened her eyes.
"Are you ok?" Yoru asked concerned.
The little girl blinked at Yoru, sitting up and rubbing her eyes.
"Little girl, why are you here?" Ikuto asked, slightly curious as well as to why she was there beside Yoru.
The little girl blinked at both of them. As soon as the little girl saw Ikuto she smiled. Standing up she ran over to him and hugged onto his leg, "prince."
Surprised, Ikuto knelt down, gently holding the little girl who seemed to be the age of 7. He took off the jacket he stole from a guard and wrapped it around her small body. "Who are you? What is your name?"
"My name?" she repeated with a confused expression. "I don't know."
"It's possible she's lost her memories," Ikuto said turning to look at Yoru who had a pained expression on his face. He's still worried about that witch called Amu, Ikuto thought. He continued, "She might be from one of the rich families that attended the auction. Yoru?"
"I-I just," Yoru slowly said.
Ikuto took hold of Yoru's hand, "shall we take her with us? This little girl."
Yoru stared at Ikuto, "we are."
"Hey," Ikuto said to the little girl, "you don't have a name do you?"
"I think I do but I don't remember…"
"Then, shall I give you a name?" Ikuto asked.
The little girl nodded. She seemed to be very attached to Ikuto.
"Amu," Ikuto said, "you are called Amu from now on."
The little girl smiled, her cheeks flushing pink. "I…that name is very comfortable….it feels just right."
Ikuto laughed a little, "so Yoru."
"Why?" Yoru said with tears in his eyes. He was happy. For some reason it was as if Ikuto had read his heart and thoughts.
"This girl looks a little like that witch Amu right?" Ikuto said, "Until you meet her again, having this little replacement will make you feel better."
"Thank you Ikuto," Yoru said.
"Yoru, you are my only family, so I would be nice to you, remember that," Ikuto said, lifting Amu up. The three of them made their way up the Tower again.
"Amu, call me Ikuto from now on ok?" Ikuto said, "From today onwards, I'll claim you."
Amu nodded. "Ikuto," she said.
"That's right; I'm your master so you must be obedient."
Yoru took a few glances behind him, hoping Amu would show up like she always would. Where did you go Amu? Yoru silently thought, you were my first friend outside the crew. We will meet again won't we?
The three of them arrived at the very top floor of the Tower. The place was empty just like any other floors. Even so, the loud riots that came from below the Tower could still be felt. The fighting, the screaming, the clashing of swords reminded them that this place was in chaos. Ikuto lifted Amu and Yoru up the small hole to the attic, the place where Yoru and the witch Amu had used to first enter the Tower. Just as Ikuto was about to climb up he stopped, noticing that this floor wasn't empty. Inside one of the prison cells, Ikuto thought, taking hold of a torch from the wall and walking into that prison cell. He waved the torch into the room and there silently sitting was an old man who wasn't fazed by anything that happened in the Tower. He smiled at Ikuto.
"Hmm, a clever young man you are?" the old man said.
Ikuto clenched onto the torch, unable to believe his luck, this was the man he came to search for. "Clover, you are Clover aren't you?"
The old man seemed to be alert now; he stood up, taking a close look at Ikuto, "impossible…"
"You should know what I've come for," Ikuto said, taking a step closer to the man.
The man closed his eyes and opened them again. "I see. You are not him but a part of him." He sat back down, "you are that man's son aren't you?"
Ikuto set the torch onto the wall and pulled out his sword, pointing it at the old man, "You know my father? Then tell me everything."
The man smiled, "I'll give you a choice. Think carefully before choosing. I'll either tell you about your father and his whereabouts or I'll tell you about the seventh treasure. It's your choice, Aruto's son."