Fall in the Fires, Rise from the Ashes.

Chapter 11: Free Phoenix?

"Kai...why did you do it? How could you betray us like that? I trusted you...Kai...KAI DO YOU HEAR ME...I TRUSTED YOU..."

The voice faded as he woke up in cold sweat, panting hard. With a shaking hand, he touched a tear stained cheek, his lips trembling.

"T-Ta...Tala...I'm...sorry..."

He couldn't stop himself as crystalline drops trailed on his cheeks once more. A salt drop slipped across a scratch on his cheek and stung but he didn't feel it. He was going numb. The turmoil inside of him...the pain in his heart was greater than any other and worse than he had ever suffered.

He sobbed again as his breath hitched, "Why me? What did I do to deserve all this?"

Even though his question was directed to no one in particular, he still wanted someone to answer him...to hug him once more and tell him it would be okay...that he'll be fine...that it was alright to cry...but no soothing words appeared to comfort him. It was just the silence which was occasionally interrupted by his broken sobs as he pulled his knees up to his chest, burying his face and crying.

In his state of mind, he didn't realize as a presence appeared out of now where beside him. He jerked as a hand touched his shoulder and slapped the hand away.

"Enjoying your time?" The extra-ordinarily calm voice seemed like the music of apocalypse.

"Why wont you leave me alone?" His rhetorical question was followed by a sob, "I don't need you."

"But I think you do need me, Kai..." The voice showed amusement.

"I DON'T NEED YOU! WHY CAN'T YOU LEAVE ME ALONE? I'M TIRED OF ALL THIS...JUST...LEAVE ME!" Kai couldn't keep himself from screaming at the new presence.

He began to breath heavily and sobbed as the presence caressed his cheek, "I don't want to leave you, Kai...accept it already and we can be together. Just...let me in your mind and..."

"SHUT UP!"

"And we can do..."

"JUST SHUT UP!"

"We can take over the whole world if..."

"I SAID SHUT UP!"

"My twin was weak. She deserved..."

"DAMN YOU TO HELL!"

The presence tsked, "Now now young Kai...it's not nice to use such language with someone like me who is simply the definition of word 'power'. You need to respect me."

"I'm forced to respect you." Kai corrected bitterly.

"It would not have come to this, had you allowed me to take over in the first place." The figure kept talking calmly, as if they were having a friendly chat.

"I'll never let you corrupt me. Just leave me alone." Kai slammed a fist on the unforgivably cold, hard floor. As a result, he was forced to clench his teeth at the cruel pain that ripped through his hand and wrist. He bent over his hand in agony.

"Poor poor Kai...look where his anger led him. That's why emotions should be blocked. They make you weak...they make you feel pain." The dark figure taunted again.

"GET OUT OF HERE! LET ME LIVE MY OWN LIFE, DAMNIT! SHUT THE HELL UP!" Kai lost control once more and screamed at the top of his lungs.

"Awe...I think you've damaged your throat dear Kai. I can't hear your voice clearly." The figure laughed.

Wind blew outside shrilly and through the small window, moonlight shone in the cell. The light made the features of two forms visible. One was shaking on the ground, blue hair scattered and skin pale, crimson eyes shut tight in turmoil. The other was someone who could not be called human because of his sharp features and a mysterious aura of darkness radiating from him.

He was a boy. But not a young one or teenager. It was hard to tell his age. He had spiked black hair and was dressed in black. Black full sleeved shirt with a red, silver and purple flame printed in the middle, black jeans with silver linings, black sneakers, black fingerless gloves, a black cloak which had dark purple border. He had olive skin complexion and crimson eyes, just like Kai's but even more redder and seemed to pierce one's soul and shatter the spirit. He wore a silver stud in one ear and the hood of his cloak was present on his head.

In fact, he was very handsome but the darkness he gave was enough for anyone standing close to him for backing out and scooting as far away as possible.

Kai pounded his head on the floor several times. And screwing his eyes shut, he could hear voices...and see memories.

The day he met members of group seven...when they became brothers...when they helped him get up whenever he fell...when they supported him if he was breaking down...when they laughed together...when a certain red head hugged him...when they shared their moments of joys and hopes...

Kai raised his head slowly off the ground, a strange glint in his eyes.

"What is it? Are you ready to surrender?" The dark figure asked in mock hope.

"I would die rather than betraying my friends." Determination flicked in Kai's eyes as he stood and looked at the figure, "Black Dranzer...you are nothing compared to my will power. It ends here."

With a growl, he pounced on the bitbeast who fought back, shocked at the sudden change. Not giving him a chance, Kai trapped him in a choke hold and in a few moments, the dark creature was forced to retreat back in his bitchip in order to save itself.

Kai threw the metallic bitchip at the wall with full force. It wasn't damaged since it was a special type of metal but it did created a good deep dent in the cement wall.

Taking a deep breath, Kai stood. He had to get out of here. He needed to escape.

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"Sir, there were some strange voices from his room."

"What?!" Boris stood up from where he sat across Voltaire Hiwatari, discussing the abbey's progress and other plans.

"We believe he was just..." The guard hesitated, "taking out his anger. My partner has gone to give him food since it's been a week of his sta-"

Boris cut the guard off, who nearly gave the fact that Kai was starved for a week on purpose. He couldn't let it come in Voltaire's notice.

Voltaire raised an eyebrow, "Week of his what?"

"N-nothing sire. Forgive this fool. Young Kai is just reacting to the changes." Boris quickly covered up.

"I don't think that boy had a tendency to do that." Voltaire pursed his lips, "Boris?"

Boris stuttered, "Y-yes, my Lord. I...I'll check it out myself...excuse me for a moment."

With this, he was about to leave the room when an alarm set off somewhere and sounds of heavy footsteps occurred in the hall.

"What is that?" Voltaire stood too.

"I don't know. What is this?" Boris barked at a new person who appeared in the doorway.

"Sir...the...boy...he...es...caped...he...ran...ou t...side..." the guard panted, "when...I was...bringing...him...food."

"WHAT?! YOU IDIOT! NONSENSE! HE CAN'T FOOL OUR SECURITY! HE CAN'T FOOL US!" Boris pushed the guard aside and ran out of the room. He couldn't let Kai run away...he could not be allowed to leave the proximity of the abbey walls. He'd be forced to stay in his limits.

Going outside, he barked orders at the security guards as he went past them. Not having time to be fully armed, they took their guns and followed behind the director who seemed like a mad man, running through the snow as if there was a predator chasing him...or more like as if the 'Angel of Death' was behind him.

In far away distance, he could see a figure, which was running as fast as possible, sprinting through the woods as they entered the forest not much further from the building.

"Forget who he is! Just shoot him down if you have to! However, make sure he doesn't die because Lord Voltaire would want his grandson alive!" The purple haired man kept commanding as he slowed down to catch his breath. His guards would take care of that traitorous boy.

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The moment Kai heard heavy footsteps, he increased his speed, willing himself to move faster. He wont let anyone take him in again. He was a free phoenix...who cherished it's freedom. He will not let anyone capture him in a cage...he will not be prisoned.

Kai could feel chilled winds of Russia stinging his face. He could feel his body temperature dropping but he couldn't care less. All he wanted was to be free...to be invisible or something and just...by himself...not having to worry about anything.

What would his friends think? Probably that he has betrayed them...again. That he's nothing but a damned traitor. He smiled bitterly despite the intense situation.

Woods were easier to hide in but at the same time, hard to keep running at high speed as there were many obstacles on his way...mossy logs...rocks...small puddles of water...branches and twigs...he had to jump off these things every now and then.

Once, his foot got stuck in some thick tree roots, scattered on the ground. Trying to pull it out, he desperately gave it a hard jerk...causing sharp pains to engulf his ankle as he realized he had sprained it. Not caring, he continued running. He slipped in a water puddle and accidentally twisted his wrist as it came under his weight.

Biting his lip to keep away from yelling in pain, he desperately ran...ran to live a somewhat normal life.

All of a sudden, he heard a gunfire. His breathe was caught in his throat as another 'boom' sounded, making the birds leave their nests and fly out of the trees, protesting about the sudden disturbance in their peaceful atmosphere.

Kai took a sharp turn and cursed as he bumped in a tree...hard while trying to look back at his chasers. The people pursuing him were getting close. He tried to get up but hissed in pain as his ankle refused to bear any weight.

Kai stumbled to get up hurriedly as he heard crunching leaves under heavy footsteps. As he ran...more like limped once more, a sudden hot, white pain engulfed his leg, threatening to knock his out as his almost...almost screamed in agony. Looking down at the rapidly flowing blood down on his leg, between his knee and ankle, he knew the dreaded that fact...there was a bullet in his leg.

Swallowing, he willed himself to run, but his body decided not to co-operate with his racing mind. And he staggered forward, gripping a nearby tree's rough branch to steady himself and regain balance.

The voices were even more nearer, his blood stains on the ground would give him away. Kai panicked at the thought.

He was about to be taken back to the hell prison he just escaped.

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"Hey Rei, do you hear that?" A boy with navy hair stopped abruptly and looked at his companion.

The other boy with black hair and amber eyes stopped too and listen, "What's going on Tyson? It sounded like a..."

"A gunfire." Tyson completed for him, "Should we check it out?"

"I don't know Ty. It's risky." Rei was a bit unsure.

A pain-filled scream echoed in the air, followed by a 'thump' somewhere near them.

"What was that?! We've got to help whoever it is, Rei." Tyson pulled his friend's hand, "Come on."

"Right." Rei nodded and the two ran towards the general direction of the scream.

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Kai could feel his sight blurring as his surroundings became hazy. He was feeling light-headed and felt like he was under water, listening to distant sounds when in fact, they were very close to him.

His leg was literally on fire. His wrist hurt, his ankle made him limp and stumble. But he still ran, he continued his race. However, soon...very soon, darkness swarmed his mind. He forced his body, not to shut down on him but he couldn't think straight. He misjudged the distance since things doubled up in front of his eyes. Stars appeared...bright spots danced across his vision and even when he tried his best, he tripped over a rock and collapsed, panting hard. This was it. It was all over now. His life ended here. He was sure to die now.

Kai allowed his body to succumb to the darkness. Maybe then...maybe then, he wont feel much pain if he died. Maybe he'd die peacefully.

TBC!

YAWN!

Rose out!

Until next time!