INEVITABLE DEMISE
WARNING: GRAPHIC VIOLENT IMAGERY AND DISTURBING CONTENT THROUGHOUT. MAY ADVERSELY AFFECT SENSITIVE READERS. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.
Link is not mute in this fic. Just giving advance warning.
CHAPTER TWO: A NIGHTMARE
A great crimson Loftwing descended from the clouds and landed on the stone floor next to two forlorn figures, one clad in a beautiful white robe and the other with a green hooded tunic covered with blood. The girl had her head hung low and she gently stroked the unconscious boy's head as he lay in her lap.
Link's Loftwing walked up to the two and nuzzled Link with its beak in an effort to rouse him, but he did not respond. Zelda finally took notice of Link's Loftwing as she looked up at it and smiled weakly, and it squawked in response. Her own Loftwing squawked at her as well.
Link grunted and slowly opened his eyes to see Zelda and both of the Loftwings staring at him. Zelda smiled as Link gazed into her cerulean eyes, "Hi, Link..."
Link raised his head out of Zelda's warm lap and gave an adamant smile. He wasn't strong enough to speak yet, but speech was not a prerequisite to express emotion. Zelda smiled back and then hugged him tightly.
After they had hugged for a few minutes, Zelda stood up and promptly mounted her Loftwing. Once she was on, she playfully asked, "Are you going to jump on yours or not?" He slowly nodded his head and climbed aboard his own Loftwing. Without a second's hesitation, both took off for the clouds.
Back to Skyloft. Back to our home. Back to a normal life.
Zelda knew that her life with Link would not, in fact, be normal. His impending doom was delayed, but not stopped. For the time he remained, she silently vowed to make the most of it. Upon the revelation of her true identity as the mortal incarnate of the goddess Hylia, Zelda had matured extremely quickly. She now possessed divine wisdom and foresight, as well as some magical and psychic abilities, though rudimentary for now. Unfortunately none of her newly acquired abilities would aid her in dispelling the fell demonic corruption that lurked within the body of her love.
Since Zelda was deep in thought during the entire trip back to Skyloft, she was surprised when the Loftwings began to make their approach towards Gaepora's residence. Not a word was shared between her and Link during the hour-long journey, and it was just as well since Link was slumped over on his Loftwing's back, fast asleep. Zelda smiled at him as she dismounted.
Zelda's father, Gaepora, appeared at the top of the wide steps and rushed down toward them with Groose and a group of people in tow. He embraced Zelda and spoke, not with the authoritative voice of a leader, but with the tender voice of a loving father, "I am glad that you have returned from your great quest on the Surface," He looked at Link's mangled and bloodstained green tunic, "Groose has told me of Link's condition. Please forgive me, for I did not believe him at first... but now that I behold it with my own eyes, it makes my heart heavy to see him like this."
Zelda hung her head in sorrow, but Gaepora cupped her chin and lifted her face, "Despair not, my child. You two have done a great deed that shall surpass all others."
Zelda spoke with her soft voice breaking with emotional pain, "How can I not despair when the one I love hangs upon the brink?"
A trickle of tears issued forth from Gaepora's eyes as his heart quaked from his daughter's miserable state, "You must try. If not for my sake, do it for the sake of him and yourself." He then smiled at her, "Forget, for a while, the griefs and suffering that you've endured and take rest and solace. You are home."
"I will try, Father."
As everyone got together to discuss their successful quest, Link began to stir and awaken. Groose was the first to notice this and announce it to everyone, "Look! He's waking up!"
Everyone rushed over to his side, but Zelda beat everyone to the punch. She threw her arms around Link and embraced him tightly for a full minute. Gaepora laid his hands on both of their shoulders, "A celebration is planned for tonight. Everyone on Skyloft is likely to attend," Both Link and Zelda looked up at him with weary expressions, "But first, you need rest." With that, Gaepora and Groose guided them into his residence.
As soon as Link and Zelda walked inside, they noticed that the common room was completely devoid of anyone other than the four, as Gaepora had ordered everyone to leave the house shortly before they arrived. Gaepora continued on to the bedrooms that were on the other side. Link's face betrayed his burning desire to sleep on an actual bed for the first time in what seemed to be forever. Zelda's face was impassive, but she also looked haggard and graven with anxiety and depression. Without uttering a word, both Link and Zelda entered their bedrooms and quickly plopped themselves onto the soft downy beds.
Even though Link had spent more time asleep than awake since his victorious duel, those periods of sleep were actually plagued by terrible nightmares. Indeed it was a fell slumber. Fortunately this time, Link would get a fitful session of real sleep.
Zelda was also asleep as soon as she hit the bed. However, little did she know that a dreadful nightmare would soon begin to take root...
Skyloft. Beautiful Skyloft, with its bright blue skies and fluffy white clouds. My Loftwing began its approach, and as I got closer I could smell the combined scent of flowers, trees, freshly baked breads and pastries... The sights and smells of the city filled my heart with joy and happiness.
As I was about to land, I could now see that this serene setting was, in fact, an illusion. The reality that now presented itself before my eyes was horrifying... so much so that I could feel bile rising in my throat at the utter shock and revulsion that I now felt.
All of the buildings had collapsed into ruin, appearing to be ravaged by time and neglect. A great dark cloud hung above Skyloft like some spectre out of legend. Lightning randomly struck the withering stone buildings and the icy cold wind blew like a gale. As I got ever closer, I could see that not a single soul was spared... at least to my own eyes. The fetid air reeked of death and decay, and my Loftwing began to fly erratically. Without warning, it dove straight down and crashed upon the stone ground with a great thud.
I was thrown off just before the crash and I landed on a thick, spine-filled bush, which cut my skin all over. The pain was intense and the spines looked wickedly sharp. I looked down at the robe I was wearing and noticed that it too was torn all over, so that my body was now wholly exposed to the ice cold air. My bright red blood began to issue forth from the multitude of cuts and trickle down my arms and legs, making soft dripping sounds on the cold stone ground.
My Loftwing squawked in pain once and became still. It died where it lay, and my heart skipped a beat at that devastating sight. My mind refused to accept that which my eyes had beheld. As I began to mourn its death, the Loftwing suddenly disappeared in a black cloud of darkness, leaving no trace behind.
Another illusion?
I was now alone in this dead city that reeked of decay. I slowly walked toward the square and noticed that all of the vendor carts were little more than rotting piles of wood and the shops that lined the streets were all overgrown with dead bushes which sported wicked red spines. Not a single soul was here, the only noise was the icy cold wind whipping around the ruined buildings. I could have sworn that I heard my name whispered just within earshot...
I walked along the ruined path for a few minutes, with not a single soul in sight. Eventually I got to my father's large house, which seemed to ooze a fell aura of darkness and death. The source of this evil must be coming from there, I thought. As soon as I set foot upon the wide steps, I heard a twisted voice whisper in my mind, "It is good to see you, Zelda..." I felt an icy chill crawl up my spine at that voice.
I asked aloud, not caring who heard, "Who are you, and what happened to Skyloft?"
"You are the one who brought this upon Skyloft... And as for who I am, you shall see soon enough."
"Where is my father? Where is Link?" I felt like a vulnerable little girl. I was terrified.
"You shall see for yourself. Come. Come inside and join me..."
My legs suddenly felt like jelly, and against my mental protests I slowly trudged up the steps. Whoever this is, he wants me there whether I like it or not. After what seemed an eternity, I finally made it to the top. The large entrance of the house was like a dark maw, beyond which was impenetrable darkness. This fell shadow seemed to set its malevolent will upon me, as my eyes could not pierce it. I cautiously stepped inside.
I now wish I hadn't...
The sight that greeted me was grotesquely macabre beyond all imagination. Blood covered the walls and the ceiling was obscured with the same impenetrable darkness. There were decaying corpses all over the place, often in piles that loomed over me. The smell of all this finally got the best of me, as I gagged and vomited up bile before my feet. My vision tunneled and I became unsteady on my feet, as the putrid stench pervaded all thought and overwhelmed my senses.
I willed myself to ignore the odor and continue on. I walked down the blood-soaked hallway towards one of the bedrooms. As soon as I approached one of the doors, a incessant droning noise invaded my mind like some relentless parasite taking hold. I noticed my right hand reaching forward to grab hold of the door handle, and even with all the willpower I can muster... the hand rested upon it. I sincerely wished I had some sword or knife so that I could amputate my hand and run away from this horrible place as quickly as I could... but I possessed no such weapon.
I felt my hand pull the handle and the door swung open slowly. I wanted to shut my eyes, but I could not... I was not in control of my own body!
When the door opened far enough, I looked inside and saw a lone figure seated upon a chair in the middle of the room. The smell that greeted me was akin to liquid stone from the earth. The room was covered in layers upon layers of hardened blood and draped with the entrails of some unfortunate animal... or person. The figure rose and stood still as I walked into the room. I tried to discern his features but they were obscured by shadow.
I heard his voice once more in my mind, "I am glad you made it, Zelda."
"What do you want from me?"
The figure was silent.
"Answer me. What do you want?"
The figure stepped forward into the faint light from the hallway. Once I saw his face, I nearly vomited from revulsion. His face was decayed and his eyes were red as blood. His mouth sported jagged fangs that were covered with blood and putrefied flesh, which also covered the figure's face. His nose had decayed to the bone and there was exposed bone along his jawline. When the dim light illuminated the figure's entire head, my heart stopped.
It was Link... or at least it used to be.
He answered my previous questions with his own hauntingly calm voice, "I want you, Zelda. You shall be with me forevermore."
With that, he raised a savage-looking serrated knife and slashed at my throat... I felt the cold steel sever the flesh in my neck and saw my own bright red blood began to pour out of the wound like a waterfall, adding to the dull dried blood that covered everything in the room...
Then all became blank.
Zelda woke up in a cold sweat and her heart was beating so fast that she felt lightheaded. It was just a dream.
Gaepora walked into the room and asked, "Are you alright? I heard screaming from this room a few minutes ago."
"Yes Father. I just had a nightmare."
A look of concern crossed Gaepora's face, "A nightmare? What was it about?"
"I... can't say. I don't remember it." Zelda lied. It was no regular dream, it was something else. Something sinister...
Gaepora looked at her with an expression of disbelief, but he remained silent. Zelda laid back down upon the bed and shut her eyes as her father left the room. Before he closed the door, he said, "The event will begin in four hours. Please take your time while getting ready, you must not rush yourself."
As his footsteps got softer as he walked down the hallway, Zelda lay in bed listening to the faint noise of the fountains outside and to her own heartbeat, which was still racing after her terrifying dream. As she lay there, she began to drift in and out of sleep as she was still extremely tired.
Zelllll...daaa...
Zelda suddenly sat bolt upright gasping for breath, and her body was chilled to the bone. Surely that wasn't real... It had to be my imagination. Or was it...?
I hope you've enjoyed this chapter. The fic will not be classified in the horror genre, as this will be the only chapter featuring significant horror elements.
Please review if you desire to.