Here's chapter sixty. Thank you Twilight's Shad0w, the traveler90, The Sacred Rigel, explosivebagel, and caitlinkeitorin for reviewing last chapter!

Chapter Sixty: Identity

Mala's heart was hammering in her chest. It can't be…I know it can't! But those eyes couldn't belong to anyone else.

"Gillick?" she asked again, since he hadn't so much as flinched the first time she'd said his name. One of his eyes twitched slightly. She took a few hesitant steps forward. "This…this is a joke, right? I mean, it's not really you, is it?"

She took another step forward. Suddenly Gillick's entire armored body twitched, and an almost inhuman sound ripped free from his throat. Mala froze in place, eyes growing wide as she wondered what she should do now. He lifted a hand, a fireball flying from it. She yelped, jumping to the side to avoid it. Something was very wrong if he would attack her and Riun.

If it was really him, of course.

"You? You're this monster that caused all this?" Silver's raised voice snapped her out of her thoughts. Startled, Mala looked towards where the Silver Fang leader was standing. She expected to see loathing; what she saw instead was complete and utter shock. Then her face contorted into one of unrestrained fury. "You bastard! You said you wanted to protect them, and now you're trying to kill them? And what you've done here…" She looked around at the bodies of her warriors and the destroyed camp before turning her burning green gaze back to him. "You're even worse -"

She was cut off as a Blizzaga spell hit her head on. She grunted as the spell impacted, sending her flying backwards. She lifted herself onto her elbows, but Gillick was already lunging towards her. She tried to lift her twin swords to block the blow, but wasn't quick enough.

Allia, however, was. She lunged forward, kicking out at Gillick's feet. He stumbled, and the assassin dragged the Silver Fang leader out of harm's way. "Hard to believe the guy I was supposed to kill is the Knight," she commented, her voice dry and her gaze hard.

"What are you doing?" Mala cried in alarm, hurrying a few steps forward before stopping abruptly, wondering again if what she was seeing was real.

She felt something tugging on her pants. "Mala." She looked down towards Riun. He looked as scared and confused as she felt. "That's…that's not really Gillick, is it?"

"I don't know," she whispered. She looked back at Gillick, wearing the armor of the Knight, as he fought against Silver and Allia. "When he told us about his past, he said the Knight attacked him and Trevor. And more than that, we know Gillick. But…" Mala trailed off, shaking her head.

"It looks like him," Riun finished sadly.

Mala nodded, her shoulders sagging. Then she straightened. "No." The boy beside her looked at her in surprise, and she whispered, "It's not him. It can't be. I know he wouldn't do something like this."

"But who is it?" Riun whimpered. That was a question she couldn't answer.

While they'd been talking, the battle between Silver, Allia, and 'Gillick' had continued. Gillick still hadn't taken any damage, while Silver and Allia both had wounds littering their bodies. All three were breathing hard. So whoever it is, it's an actual person. An idea kindled in her mind, and she felt herself go rigid with fear at it. She shook, but she knew it'd be the best way to figure out who this Gillick really was. She took a shaky breath, her heart pounding in her ears. "Riun, run," she whispered, her voice shaking.

"Mala?" Riun asked in surprise.

She ignored him, lifting her bow and stringing an arrow. She'd intended to yell to get his attention, too, but found herself unable to do so, and instead simply released the projectile. It clanged off the Knight's armor, near the patch of skin showing on his upper arm. He turned to look at her, an odd sound coming from his throat.

Then he abandoned his weakened prey and lunged.

Mala watched him, terror filling her. She couldn't hear anything over her heart, which felt like it'd burst through her chest. She was shaking, sweat streaming down her face and her head beginning to spin. But she didn't move.

He reached her, knocking her down. She collided hard with the dirt, and looked up as he brought one clawed hand up to stab it through her. She searched for some sign - any sign - of who this person's true identity was. She could find nothing. As she watched the pointed tips of his hand fly towards her, she could do nothing but feel a sense of horror and despair wash over her.

Then the hand stopped, the tips of his fingers hovering just above her chest. Startled, she looked up at his face. It contorted momentarily, and a brief flash of recognition flared in his amber eyes. Then his face returned to its blank state, eyes dull. He made an odd, inhuman sound, then pulled away, shooting a Firaga spell from one of his hands into the midst of the Silver Fang camp.

He jumped away, leaving Mala panting where she was. "Mala!" Riun screeched, running towards her.

"Are you alright?" Silver asked, limping towards her.

"Y-yeah," she stammered, still breathing heavily, one hand clutching at her still - pounding heart.

"What the hell were you thinking?" Silver hissed as she skidded up by her.

Mala turned her wide blue eyes to her and whispered, "It's him. It's really Gillick."

"I'd gathered," Silver responded dryly.

"But…there's something wrong," she added. When Silver gave her an odd look, she continued, "His eyes were…dull. Like they weren't seeing me. But they cleared for a moment; that's when he pulled away. I don't think…he really knows what he's doing."

"Like sleepwalking?" Silver ventured. "You did say the Knight only comes out when it's dark."

"Something…like that," Mala replied. She still wasn't entirely sure what was going on. If Gillick was the Knight…then was what he told them about his past a lie? Or was there some other sort of magic at work here?

Silver narrowed her eyes as she watched Gillick rip through another member of the Silver Fang. Mala felt like she was going to be sick. "Well, trance or not," Silver commented, "I'm not going to let him kill any more people."

As she stood, Mala scrambled back to her feet. "What are you going to do?"

"I'm going to end him."

"What? No!"

Mala grabbed one of the woman's arms, but she jerked away quickly. She limped back towards Gillick, swords held at her sides in preparation to fight. The boy saw her coming, however, and quickly blocked her blow with his armored hands. An Aero spell flared up around him, sending the female warrior flying backwards.

Mala felt desperation seize her. "Gillick!" she cried. She raced forward. "Gillick, snap out of it!"

"Gillick!" Riun added his voice to hers.

He turned to look at them, eyes blank. The two of them skidded to a halt several paces away from him. "It's us," she breathed. "Don't you recognize us?"

His eye twitched slightly before he lifted a hand and fired a Thundaga spell towards them. "Look out!" Allia hissed, knocking the two down to save them from the strike. "Are you trying to get killed?" the assassin hissed.

Mala ignored her, struggling out from beneath the woman and looking into her friend's eyes. "I know you're still in there somewhere!" she called. "I don't know what's going on, but I know you can fight this!"

Riun appeared beside her, calling out, "Come on, Gillick!"

He stalked towards them, lashing out a clawed hand. The two ducked to the side, to avoid the strike. "I don't think he can hear you," Allia commented. She threw several knives at him, put they clattered uselessly off the armor that covered his chest. He kicked her hard, sending her flying.

Fear clutched Mala's heart. She didn't know what to do; this was Gillick, someone she trusted, but…he was also the Knight. The part of him that was Gillick, obviously, wasn't in control here; they weren't safe from him. She began to shudder uncontrollably. What can I do? She didn't know…she just didn't know…

"Fira!" Mala felt a start of surprise as Riun called out the spell and the fire ball burst against armor. She looked at the boy, who was close to tears. "You're a hero; don't do this."

There was a slight twisting of his face, then he spun around to strike at the young mage. "No!" Mala gasped, lunging forward and grabbing his arm, shock and fear at her actions pulsing through her a few moments later. He looked back to her, jerking his arm to try and dislodge her. By that time Riun had rushed forward, grabbing his other arm and holding on tightly. He struggled against them, face contorting from an emotionless stare to one of pain. He let out a cry - a human cry - and black wings spread out from his back. They beat the air twice, momentarily lifting all three off the ground, before they suddenly dropped. The collision caused the two to lose their grip and tumble to the ground.

For a few moments, Mala lay where she was, stunned. Then Gillick's voice reached her; slow, hoarse, and sounding like he was in pain, but his voice. "Ma…la? Riun?"

Mala pushed herself up and looked at him. He was on one knee, looking at the two of them with a confused and pained expression. She nodded, hoping that they were breaking through. "Yeah. It's us."

The glowing spot on his left arm dulled slightly. His expression, however, returned to its neutral state, and he lunged to his feet, body carrying him towards them. "Time to get out of there," Allia hissed at them.

Mala stood, watching as he lunged. "Gillick," she whispered. Her eyes were wide, and for a few moments, she was rigid with fear. Then she summoned her courage, and listened to what her heart was telling her to do. She didn't run; instead, she spread her arms out. When he reached her, she wrapped them around his body. She gritted her teeth as she felt the clawed tips of his fingers slice through her shoulder, but felt him come to an abrupt halt, body growing stiff. "I am not afraid of you."

Where…am I? Gillick blinked his eyes open slowly. All around him was a dark haze. He looked around him, confused. What is this place? he wondered, wading through the thick murk.

His head jerked up as he thought he heard someone calling his name. "Who's there?" he called.

He didn't expect the answer he got.

In front of him, the haze cleared slightly to reveal two figures. Mala! Riun! They looked scared, but there was a flicker of relief that flashed through both their eyes. What the hell is going on?

Then he felt a splitting pain rush through him, and the haze around him thickened, converging on him. He struggled for a few moments before his body relaxed. He could just give in to the haze…the comforting emptiness…it'd take his pain away…

Then he felt arms wrap around him, and heard a voice whisper, "I am not afraid of you."

For a few fleeting moments, the haze disappeared. He was aware of Mala, pressed tight against him. He was aware of the wound on her shoulder, and the blood on his hand; his clawed hand. He was aware of the armor that settled over him, of the black wings that stretched from his back. "What's going on?" he asked, confusion pulsing through him.

Mala looked at him with relieved blue eyes. "Gil-"

Whatever she'd been about to say was cut off. Pain pulsed through him again, the haze returning with a vengeance. He cried out against it, the haze coming up to grab hold of him. He pulled away from Mala, the feeling of her arms already fading from his senses. He clutched at his head, fighting against the pain for a few moments. Then the haze fell over him. The pain disappeared, and he fell into blissful unawareness.

He could feel nothing.

He could remember nothing.

He simply was.

Mala's relief turned to horror as Gillick pulled away from her. "What's wrong?" she asked, watching as he seemed to struggle against himself. A cry ripped from his throat and he clutched at his head, pain flashing through his eyes.

He suddenly became completely still. His hands lowered from his head, and his eyes returned to their blank state. He glanced towards her, an odd sound coming from his throat, before he spread the broken black wings that sprang from his back. Riun raced towards him, but a blaze of light stopped him. It started from the glowing patch on his left arm, then spread across his body. The armor seemed to be turned into light, and it pulled off his body, allowing him to fall, unconscious, to the ground. The light fell down beside him, forming into a familiar shape. "His sword," Mala whispered, wide - eyed. The runes on it glowed the same hue of blue as the patch on Gillick's arm had earlier before the light faded away.

There were a few moments of silence before Allia released a gusty sigh. "Well, that was…interesting."

"Define interesting," Silver responded angrily. Her fists clenched. "To think, I was beginning to change my opinion on him. When he wakes up-"

"I don't think you'll have to wait long," the assassin interrupted. Mala looked, and discovered she was right; Gillick was already beginning to stir.

When Gillick blinked his eyes open, he immediately felt confused. What the hell? he wondered, looking around him in confusion. Why am I in the Silver Fang's camp? Last he knew, he'd been in the forest, trying to fall asleep against a tree. He frowned as he pushed himself up. "What happened here?" he muttered, looking around at the destroyed camp. He saw his sword, and added silently, And what the hell happened to my sword? It was out of its sheath, with a piece on the side of it missing.

"What do you mean, what happened here?" a voice spluttered.

Gillick looked to his side and saw Silver, Allia, Mala, and Riun staring at him. He sneered at Silver. Great. Just who I wanted to deal with, he thought sarcastically. "What do you think I mean?" he snapped. "And what are those looks for? Better yet, why am I here?"

Allia snorted. "…You really don't remember anything, do you?" She looked back at Mala. "Well, I guess you were right."

"Remember what?" Gillick asked, feeling frustrated and confused. "Right about what?"

Mala hesitated as the warrior turned his full attention to her. "I'm not afraid of you." He flinched as he heard her voice resound through his head, along with an image of her looking up at him with relieved tears. He felt pain pierce his skull, and pushed the image aside. What the hell…was that? It felt like that other time, a couple of months ago, when he'd had trouble remembering what happened during one of the Knight's attacks…

While he'd been thinking, Mala had walked away and picked something up. As she drew closer to him, she slowly held out the item in her hands. "Gillick…" she trailed off, looking sad. He frowned at her and stood. He looked at the item she held in her hands, and his eyes widened in surprise. But that…looks like… She was holding something that came straight out of his nightmarish childhood memories, albeit it looked smaller than it did then.

She was holding the Knight's helmet.

He felt pain pounding in his skull and chest as he looked at it, and was about to look away when Mala forced it into his hands. "Gillick," she began again, "you're…the Knight."

That's the end of chapter sixty! So, yes, Gillick really is the Knight. How? You'll just have to wait and see.

Reviews would be great, please?