.Chapter 5.

Decadence

This was insane, yes? He was getting completely worked up just because he'd been licking a dead chicken's blood from his fingers only moments ago. But Link still couldn't let it go as just an oddity or perhaps a mistake, no. His mind was fighting with him to see reason and urging him to realize just what this could possibly mean. However, Link's other half wanted nothing to do with such an idea of being corrupted. He'd had enough of that the passed month. He didn't want to face anything right now except a nice, warm bed.

Link was nearing the opening that permitted entrance to where his house stood, soon leaving the major part of the forest behind before passing onto official Ordon village soil. But his dark thoughts would only turn blacker as he saw the massive scorch in the earth where his house had once stood. Nothing was left but the burnt foliage that was struggling to heal near where the house itself had once been. So they had burned it after all. This was not too much of a shock, seeing as Rusl had previously stated he'd make sure things were safe, but it did not change the fact it had been his home. Was this part of the reason why Rusl had been so keen on Link coming over for the night?

Huffing, he'd simply slump against a nearby tree and set his sights on the ugly earth where, once upon a time, his house had stood. For a moment he allowed himself to be whisked away to times before when things were a bit more peaceful. When Fado would come and holler from about this spot to help herd the goats. When the kids would eagerly come knocking at his door to discuss the latest cool item in the shop or beg him to show them how to use a practice sword. Back to when…his shadow hadn't been his own. He'd frown, a little surprised that he'd think of Midna now of all times, but she had seen his house briefly during their quest together. Inwardly he wished she could have stayed longer to see it properly. But now it would be impossible on more than one front. More than just the mirror was destroyed now…

"It wasn't us."

Ilia's voice fell softly in the evening air and caught Link entirely off-guard. He'd look her way as she stood near the opposite gates, her head bowed and her eyes sadly locked on the same black scar. He really didn't know what to say right now and, even if it had been them, somehow he didn't think he could blame them. Seeming to know that Link wasn't going to respond verbally, she'd press on. "It was Ril. He did it right after you left. The night after you had gone he showed up and burned it down. I'm sorry Link…we did try to save what we could of yours…"

At this, he'd turn to face her fully, having sensed more than just regret for what had happened in her voice. For a minute or two they stood mute with nothing but the cricket song to break the silence. Then, Link would move closer to her, eyeing her carefully as he did so. "You didn't think I was coming back…did you?"

Ilia would look up with hurt eyes, shame burning deep within those emerald pools. Wordlessly, she just nodded; suddenly refusing to meet his gaze and she'd look to the starry sky instead. Her surge of emotion would make a prickle of annoyance rise in him and, for a moment, he doubted she lifted a finger to save his house. The anger had been as sudden as it had been powerful and, unsettled, Link would silently shake his head to try and clear his thoughts. Ilia was a very important person to him, a dear friend and someone he was close to on many levels. Why would he think that of her?

"Since your house is gone…maybe we should find you a place to sleep tonight…"

"Rusl's already offered." Link said flatly, once again feeling her presence more of a bother than it was soothing right now. In the names of the Goddesses…where was this anger coming from? She'd say nothing at his less than polite retort but there was a definite flicker of both anger and sadness in her expression. She looked a lot like the Ilia he remembered; she was a strong woman and had no issues telling people what she thought. It was possible that he was just overly stressed and needed to relax; that things just needed a moment to calm down.

Sighing and trying to better the situation he'd offer his hand towards her in apology while mustering a slight smile as he did so. "I'm sorry for being so blunt; I didn't mean it. Do you want to walk back with me to Rusl's?"

Ilia would look first at his hand and then towards him, her eyes losing a lot of their fierceness and she'd even muster a small grin herself. "Sounds like a good idea. I wouldn't want to turn down the Hero of Hyrule."

Her teasing should have made his mood lighter but, as she took his hand and they began walking back down the pat, he felt tense. It had to be stress related. But experience told him otherwise and a little niggle kept insisting in the back of his mind that there was something he hadn't taken into consideration yet. However, they'd only just made it halfway up the hill towards Rusl's when Ilia staggered with a small yelp. She ended up nearly pulling Link with her but, with a quick reflex, he was able to keep himself from falling or Ilia hit the ground too hard.

"Are you okay?"

Helping her back into a stand he'd glance her over before looking towards her face, which was wearing a sheepish smile as she waved her free hand as if to dismiss the issue. "Yeah, yeah…I just tripped. I think I scraped my wrist a little but I'm fine."

"Let me see."

Link would gently take a hold of her other arm and inspect the abrasion there, a rather gruff looking scrape that ran along the heel of her palm to the underside of her wrist. A small trickle of blood oozed from it, but otherwise it didn't look bad at all.. However, the sight of the blood made that strange fascination ripple through Link again, his mind aimlessly wandering as he stood motionless. Blood was the essence of life...without it there would be only death.

"Ow, Link…stop it. You're hurting my arm."

Blinking at the sound of Ilia's voice, Link suddenly realized that he'd begun to squeeze her arm tight where he held it, but strangely he found that he didn't care. So what if it hurt her? He didn't let go and, meeting her gaze as if in challenge, he tightened his grip even more. She seemed to know something was wrong and to struggle, fear beginning to build in her chest as she yelled at him again. "Link! Let me go!"

Why? Why should he? Her fear was disgusting and he wanted to make her shut up. When he twisted her arm and forced her to the ground she screamed in as much pain as she did terror. And Link loved it. Maybe he could make her scream louder if he broke her arm. Maybe he should see what her blood tasted like. A manic grin fit itself to his lips, all rational thought gone, and he'd start to twist her arm a little more. That's it, just a bit more…almost there…

There was the distinct sound of something metal hitting bone hard, bringing with it a horrible pain that made a white light flash in front of his eyes and his stomach to reel. That light pitched into darkness and, feeling himself fall, the last thing Link heard before darkness took him was the sobbing of Ilia under him.

That thick fog of darkness wouldn't hold him for long and, with a groan, he tried to gather his bearings. His head was pounding and he could feel something wet on the back of his neck. Blood? He'd shiver a little and try to roll over, struggling to recall what had happened and where he was. He'd taken that chicken for Rusl and disposed of it, he'd stopped and looked at the remains of his home…what else?

"What's happening…?"

Placing a hand to his face, Link would grunt softly before he came to realize just what position he was in as he rolled onto his side. There, towering above him, was Rusl. The man's face was stark in the moonlight and there was a sense of grief in his eyes. But the most noticeable item to this situation was the sword in Rusl's hand. Aimed right at him.

Link's stomach would lurch a little as he looked away briefly to their surroundings and he'd notice quite quickly that it wasn't just Rusl out here. Uli and Colin stood far back along with Bo and Fado who were trying to calm down the crying Ilia. A few others were slowly emerging from their homes to see what was going on and, much to his discomfort, all eyes were on him.

No words were spoken but, right now, they didn't have to be. Link's stomach sank even lower as he began to recall more. He had been walking with Ilia…that's right! She'd shown up to his house's remains and they'd talked a bit. She'd agreed to come back with him to Rusl's. And then his mood; the sudden anger. She'd tripped and there had been blood; he was sure of it. He'd been holding her. But then…

He'd glance to his fingers and, with a sickening jolt, realized that his skin was that dark ashen color that Urik's had been. So the virus had claimed him after all. So why was he thinking so normally right now?

"What's going on?"

Again he asked but still none answered his question. Not to mention there was a sense of fear and confusion rising within everyone's eyes. Strangely it was that fear that seemed to make his blood begin to boil and, gritting his teeth, Link scooted further away from Rusl and his sword. Once he was farther away he'd risk standing, not wanting to alarm anyone and just wanting some answers. However when he stood upright and faced everyone again nearly all of them would recoil; as if beholding something grotesque and foul.

"Stop staring and answer me!" He'd suddenly snarl, his body tensing as if he were about to attack, which made everyone visibly flinch and Rusl prepare his blade again in a battle ready position. But Link already knew what was going on as that clouded memory slowly seeping back to him. He'd attacked Ilia. He'd purposefully wanted to make her bleed; to suffer. To die. Taking a step back it was Link's turn to stare with horror towards the group before him. They all stared back, ever silent, and Link couldn't take it anymore.

Suddenly he turned on his heel to face away from them all and, with one last glance back, he managed to choke out what he was sure to be an insignificant apology. "Forgive me….please. I beg all of you….Ilia…" Before anyone else could move Link would launch himself into a sprint and run as he never had before. He didn't really know where he was going or if Rusl was giving chase but he did know one thing. He had to get away from here.

Onwards he ran to soon enough leave the pathways to head deep into the wilderness of the forest, his throat starting to tighten the more he dwelled on what had just happened. He could have killed her. He could have. He nearly did. If Rusl hadn't been prepared and stopped him he was damn sure he would have awakened to a far more gruesome scene.

Finally, Link could run no more and collapsed in the safety of a hidden away cave a good ways off from the village itself. He lay there trembling and he tried to control himself as he once more replayed the image of everyone staring at him with such horror. He was a monster…he'd nearly killed Ilia…he'd nearly…

Finally his emotions became his master and he'd bury his face in his arms to stifle any sounds. In the darkness of the cave, he wept, and in the very same darkness sleep soon claimed him.