Little One, Little Danger
(The Revision)
Chapter 16:
"Lost Birdie"
I lay awake within the darkness that surrounds me. Nothing to see for miles just…emptiness.
"What's wrong?" a voice echoes which doesn't stumble me at all.
What do I rest upon? Is it the darkness that keeps me upright or is it something else?
"What's wrong?" the voice comes again through the darkness.
I remain silent as I lay still in this abyss. Nothing comes to mind…I feel not a thing.
"What is wrong?"
This time I answer the voice, "I do not understand…" Suddenly a rush of force comes over me. The darkness vanishes like a black hole right in front of my eyes. I had closed them for a few moments as this went on, now opening them…to see a white light.
"Rise princess." I hear the voice say.
Suddenly a glass window, about 10 feet in width and 5 and a half feet in height, appeared on the far upper right hand corner of what happened to be a room.
"Rise princess." it commands again.
I say nothing as I sit up, for I was not held by darkness anymore. Looking ahead of me and then at the window. Two dark figures stood on the other side but I couldn't make out whether they were male or female.
"You may speak." one of the figures informed.
I tried to open my mouth but it wouldn't budge. Suddenly my body became cold which caused me to grasp myself as I shivered.
"Do not be afraid princess."
"Where…where-?" I couldn't get my question out.
"Does it really matter where you are?" the second figure spoke.
Something didn't feel right as I continued to hold myself in that cold room. I nodded my head as an answer to what was supposed to be a question.
The second figure chuckled, "What use would it be to you?"
"I-I…don't know." voice shook.
"Who are you?" Figure1.
My eyes widen at the question almost instantly. I searched through my memories to get a hold of the answer. Couldn't find a single thing. I was…empty.
"Who are you?" the question was posed again.
"I'm…I'm…" Who was I?
"You are, who we say you are." Figure1.
Still nothing came to mind. Nothing was familiar…nothing I saw, I remembered.
"Stand princess and dress yourself." Figure1 continued to give orders. I didn't notice that I had been bare this entire time. Was this why I was so cold…no, it had to be something else.
"Stand!" I suppose their patience was running thin with me. I stood like I was told, upon whatever it was that I had been resting on. To the left was a set of white clothing, perhaps meant for me. "Must we repeat ourselves."
I stepped down slowly and approached the clothing, "Who…who am I?" My gaze lingered on the fabric of the attire.
"You are what we say you are." Figure1.
"Nothing else matters anymore." Figure2.
Something just didn't add up. My back was facing them and their glass as I tried to gather what little thoughts I had. I placed a hand on the folded clothes and something happened that I wasn't expecting. An image suddenly flashed in my mind and I quickly drew my hand back out of reflex.
"What's wrong?" Both asked simultaneously.
I shifted my gaze towards them before bringing it back down to the clothing. Cautiously, I reached my hand out and placed it back on the clothes. A sudden rush of colors, unfamiliar faces, and words clouded my head. The empty spaces begun to fill with things…memories that I could not recall. So many different feelings begun to overcome me when the image of someone…a man…smiling at me. I didn't realize that the corner of my eyes started to fill with tears.
"What's wrong?"
In an instant, everything went blank…my mind was empty again, but my hand still remained upon the clothes. I lifted it and waited a few moments before placing it back on top. Nothing happened.
"We gave you an order!" one of the figures yelled.
I removed my hand and then placed it back…nothing still. Repeating the action several times, over and over again, to gain that insight once more. "No…" I spoke to myself softly continuing to remove and place my hand on the clothes.
"Do you dare to disobey?"
I tried one more time…not a thing, my mind was still blank. Slowly I turned to face the glass window.
"Do as you're told, princess." Figure1.
"Who am I?" I asked once more.
"You are no one." Figure2.
I took a step forward, "What…what do you mean?"
"You belong to us princess. We brought you into this world, so you have no past." Figure1.
"That…that can't be true." I held myself.
"And why not?" Figure2.
"My…memories."
"You have none, princess." Figure1.
"Liar…"
"Excuse me?" Figure2.
"Liar!" I ran up to the window.
Figure2 chuckled, "Why would we lie?"
Even though I was so close to the window, I still couldn't make them out, "Who am I?"
"You're a creation princess. An experiment to be tested." Figure1.
I shook my head, "That's not true."
"Oh, but it is. You have no one but us. No one knows about you or cares to know." Figure2.
I rested my head on the window, along with both my hands, feeling its coolness on my skin as I shook my head in disbelief.
"Stop this foolishness princess and get dressed." Figure1.
Suddenly a small grouping of words flashed within my thoughts. I did not know what they meant or why I remembered them.
"Why must she be so stubborn." I overheard Figure2 say to Figure1.
I meditated on the first word that appeared as I closed my eyes, "Az-azra…" I tried to sound it out. I heard movement from the other side of the window.
"Where are you going?" one of the figures asked the other.
I then focused on the second word that resided in my mind, "Me-metr…"
"She's being disobedient." Of course, Figure2.
Third word came to mind, "Ze-zen…" Suddenly I heard a shutter of some sort, open from across the room. Silence filled the air for a while, until the footsteps echoed throughout the room.
"Don't be rash. She will obey, just give her some time." Figure1 behind the glass panicked.
I figured Figure2 entered punish me for my disobedience. I closed my eyes as I kept repeating those three words in my head over and over again.
Figure2 continued to walk towards me, "We gave you an order!"
"Not until you tell me who I am." I replied.
In a manner of moments, I could feel his…HIS…he was a man. His warm breath was on the back of my neck, "I do NOT like to repeat myself."
"Azrath…"
"Excuse me?" he said.
"…metrion…" He roughly placed his hand on my right shoulder, "…zenthos." His fingers sunk into my skin as I felt a rush of unknown power run through my veins. It was unnatural but it felt SO…right. I could feel this aura form around my body.
"What the hell is wrong with you?!"
My eyes quickly opened as I could feel my pupils disappear behind a black light of energy. I passed a sly grin across my face, for I felt like a totally different person. "What's WRONG with me?" I swiftly grabbed the wrist of his hand that was upon my shoulder.
"What are you-?"
He couldn't finish his statement because of the pressure I put on his hand. I squeezed it, which was not difficult for me, but caused him great pain.
"What's going on out there?!" Figure1 shouted.
I slowly turned my head to face the window behind me, "You have no idea." In an instant, I dislocated Figure2's arm as my right elbow connected with his face. No wail of pain came out of him…he had no time as I grabbed the back of his head and rammed it into the glass window ahead causing it to break.
"Let him go and stop this nonsense!" The panic in Figure1's voice was not subtle.
I tossed Figure2 into their little observance room from which they had been watching me. Figure1 slowly backed away as I hopped through the window and broken glass. "No more orders for me?"
"Princess, please."
"Why do you continue to call me that?"
"Listen, I'll tell you everything you want to know, just-"
A devilish grin formed slowly across my lips as a black aura formed around his neck, which I'm thinking was caused by me. Was this me? REALLY me? I lifted him several feet the air as he tried to gasp for air, "Too late." His neck snapped so easily.
I released him and his body dropped to the floor lifeless like a ragdoll. I was not fazed…I wasn't. What was happening to me? I shook the thought out as I entered back into the other room to retrieve the clothes I was told to put on. Soon after, I could feel that I was back to my normal self…but what was my normal self? Confusion begun to set in, but there was no time to dwell on such things if I was going to figure out where I was and if I could get out. I ran out of the room and down a hall that I had no idea where it led. My mind still void of the memories I had earlier and I wished they'd return so that I coul-
"SECURITY SCAN ALL PERIMETERS!"
An alarm. Red lights begun to flash from above which caused me to panic. I scanned my surroundings only to see a wall drop down and block my path from both in front and behind me. "Going somewhere?"
I turned around to find this…this green creature standing. His ears were pointed and he wore clothes, like a human. "W-Who are you?" I backed away from him.
"That doesn't matter. What matters is, that you're not getting out of here." He charged at me but I was able to dodge. I was easily on defense as he swung this way and that and I was having some difficulty keeping up.
"Please." I pleaded.
He didn't pay any attention to me for he was still attacking. I jumped to the left and then the right. When I landed on my last jump, he kicked my left knee and I fell.
"Thought you were quick huh." he mocked.
Before he could try to hit me again, I moved out the way and let the back of my hand hit across his face with much force, causing him to hit the wall. He fell to the ground and simply shook it off. "Azrath, metrion, zenthos!" The power came over me once again which I could tell made the green creature nervous.
"W-What's with that black light?"
I could feel my eyes illuminating with the power flowing through me. I charged his way and threw a punch directly in the middle of his face. "You brought this upon yourself, you lowlife." My fists kept flying, each attack hitting its mark as he became backed up against the descended wall blocking my path. The next one I threw, he dodged and just as my fist was about to come into contact with the wall, I fell through it. I briefly lost my balance and snapped out of the surged power state. What happened? Where did he go? I scanned my surroundings again.
"Well I guess that green pest couldn't apprehend you." I quickly turned around to find this android looking being standing in my path now. It grinned, "Surprised?"
"I…I didn't mean-"
It raised its hand, "Oh, I understand. Although, I hope you understand too." Its hand begun to shift which looked like gears changing and soon became a weapon of sorts that was pointed directly at me. "It's nothing personal, just doing my job."
A cannon…it was a cannon. The darkened innards begun to illuminate with a white bluish glow followed by a charging sound. "Oh no." A beam was soon released, heading my way which I was barely able to dodge, though ended up crouched on the ground.
"You're a quick one." The android started to repeatedly shoot at me and I couldn't do anything besides run in circles. Or that's what it felt like…this thing was blocking my path.
"I don't want any trouble."
"Is that right?" Its second hand became a cannon as well.
I tried to gather my thoughts on what to do, not realizing how exhausted I was. It had to be a reaction my body was having to the surge of power and it quickly leaving my being. There was no way I could use it again, "Please." The android had me backed into a corner.
It started to slowly walk towards me as both cannons were charging up again. I shifted my gaze to the one of the walls I was cornered within. The android stopped, "Stop resisting."
Something finally came to mind, an idea. These walls weren't normal. If I could dodge its blast at the right moment, leveling it, then it would probably reflect and bounce back. I didn't respond to the android's last statement as my gaze lingered back on its own. It simply sighed, "Very well."
It initiated its attack and right before the beam could come into contact, I ducked down, legs making a full split. Though it didn't last long as I threw myself forward onto the floor and watched the beams bounce off the corner of the walls. The android's eyes followed it before widening…it knew what was coming. The beams collided with the android's chest, causing it to be thrown across the way in the opposite direction. I remained laid out on the floor and watched its body finally fall. I kept my eyes on it…looking for any kind of life of movement…nothing. I sighed in relief before getting to my feet and making my way into the next area in my path.
"SECURITY SCAN ALL PERIMETERS!"
The alarm was still going off but I didn't stop running until I felt a sharp pain coming from my right shoulder. I stopped and noticed that I had a small blast wound, but I didn't remember getting hit by—
"If it isn't PRINCESS and she's trying to escape." A voice behind me…not again.
I turned around, "What do you want with me?"
"You don't know?"
A woman…a very beautiful woman. Though her appearance was a bit odd due to her complexion that seemed to back the color of a setting sun. But there was this aura about her that seemed…wicked. "Are you here to capture me too?"
"Capture you?" She grinned, "Not at all. I'm simply here to take your life."
Goosebumps immediately formed on my skin…I know the android didn't land a hit, but maybe she did. "How did you injure me?"
"Oh, were you not able to see it?"
I raised a brow confused, "See what?"
The woman gestured her head in a manner of saying to look behind me, in which I did. Within the wall across was a single dark hole in the wall, almost perfectly round with no scorching marks. Did she shoot at me with something? "Still confused?"
I didn't see a weapon on her, "You have no weapon so, how?"
The woman started to chuckle as she raised her right hand, "Stick around and you'll see."
I backed up a little and before I knew it, her hand had a flash of light from it! Soon after, her entire hand was engulfed within a glowing sphere. "Y-You have powers."
"Nice of you to state the obvious."
Sudden pain in my left shoulder caused me to let out a painful grunt. What…what just happened? It then dawned on me of what could be going on, "You're just like that android."
"Close, but not quite." She grinned, "That hunk of junk is lightyears away from what I'm capable of." I straightened myself and kept an eye on her hand. She must shoot something from it. Silence fell over us for a brief moment until she decided to attack again, however this time…I saw it. An energy ball of sorts that I was able to dodge and watch as it hit the wall. The woman lowered her hand, "Figured it out now."
"I think I'm catching on."
"Good, because now…I won't be holding back."
As if I couldn't be more taken by surprise, this woman begun to levitate within the air. "You're…you're flying…"
A sly grin formed upon her lips, "You're surprised. How adorable."
Flight…it's not possible, is it? Perhaps I should've pondered on this later because one of the woman's fists found the right side of my face catching me off guard. She was fast. I was thrown back and right before I could come into contact with the wall, I felt her boot dig into my lower back, changing my trajectory. Too fast. I finally collided with a wall adjacent to my exit. After the impact, I fell to the floor and coughed up what happened to be my blood.
"You got to be kidding me." She snickered, "You should be stronger than this."
I forced myself to stand and glare at her. She was still levitating, her arms crossed beneath her chest. "Compared to the other two…you're the worst."
The woman gradually broke out into a maniacal laugh, "Is that so? I'll take it as a compliment then." She shot at me again but I was too weak to dodge; my right leg was the target and it was painful. I simply winced but did not collapse. Next was my left leg and I reacted the same. "Don't tell me you're not going to fight back?" She taunted me.
How can she be this strong? Something was inhuman about this woman…otherworldly. I stood there hunched over, sweating because of the anxiety of the pain I was experiencing. I wanted to use that "power" again, but I was too weak. I clenched my hands into fists and gritted my teeth. "Looks like someone will crack soon."
I could feel my anger and desperation rising. Was this where my life would end? Without any memories of who or what I am? My anger continued on as I closed my eyes. I could feel an aura coming around me like an electrical wave. "Tell me what you know?"
"We're back on speaking terms." Suddenly I started to rise and I couldn't feel the floor beneath my feet anymore as my eyes remained shut. Was I…flying? Something was coming over me and it felt so familiar but…unreal. "That's more like it." She grinned before charging.
Though my eyes were closed I could sense her. I raised my left arm quickly in front of me and felt a powerful rush of energy pass over the both of us. My eyes opened to reveal her emerald eyes, staring directly into mine. To my surprise I blocked her punch as the pressure of energy and force from the impact rushed over us. I remained silent.
The woman smirked, "Nice."
As soon as she spoke, I threw my right fist into the pit of her stomach. It was amazing how fast her facial expression changed. My fist lodged itself in, unmoving as her flesh nearly engulfed it. "Nice?" I mocked.
I could tell by the look on her face that she hadn't experienced such pain before. A streak of liquid eased down the corner of her mouth, a shade of color I hadn't seen before. The woman's eyes glossed over and she gritted her teeth as she tried to grab ahold of my wrist. However, before either one of us could think, the force from the punch finally released and she was sent flying back and across the room. She went right through the metal door which I assumed was my exit.
I stood stunned and wide-eyed, "What…have I done?"
My flight experience came to an end as I fell out of the air and landed back on the floor beneath me with a thud. No time to dwell on it, I had to get out. I ran through the opening that the woman's impact made and I was in another area. Where was the exit? I continued on without letup, running through many rooms and other areas trying not to get lost. I finally came to a meeting room that had a large screen on one of the walls that was displaying different areas of what looked to be a facility of some kind. I skimmed through the display, following coordinates of what might actually be the true exit of this forsaken place.
"SECURITY SCAN ALL PERIMETERS!"
Ugh! I needed to move fast in case that alarm would bring another foe that could be more powerful than the others. I searched the room for a switch or some kind of deactivation button to stop the damned thing once and for all. Aha! Right beside a control panel, I spotted a lever that I didn't hesitate in pulling. Everything fell silent…after a few moments I sighed in relief. Final-
"SECURITY! INTRUDER IN AREA 561 OF FACILTY!"
Seriously?! I thought the lever shut the thing down but it only made matters worse! Again, I searched around the room spotting some pipes in the far left corner. I grabbed one and returned to the control panel to start destroying everything, starting with the alarm switch. One by one I took out control and screens, not even caring about the racket I was making. I didn't care, this alarm needed to go if I wasn't going to get detected again before I made my escape.
"SECURIT-"
The alarm was finally shutting down so I decided to stop and stare at my work. Sparks and smoke were visible but I got the job done; I tossed the pipe aside. The electricity throughout the facility begun to malfunction, flickering in and out. There's always some sort of consequence when using this method. I left the room, resting my back on the outside wall to catch my breath. The exit wasn't far off…just a few more doors and I'd be free.
"Looks like you worked up a sweat in there."
I jumped startled, "Who's there?" I turned in the direction of the unfamiliar voice.
"I'm the one who asks the questions here." A man appeared in front of me.
His eyes were shut, but that wasn't what concerned me. Was he normal or just like the other three that pursued me? Why couldn't I get a break in this place?! I couldn't help but be slightly erratic and on guard, "Don't come ne-!" He opened his eyes and I stopped…his eyes…they shined like two blue crystals.
"How about you calm down." He grinned…that smile…I've seen it before but…what was with this guy? His aura seemed different…it was almost like I was mesmerized by him. Something seemed so…familiar but I just couldn't understand what.
"Who…who are you?"
The man shook his head, "Didn't I say I'm the one who asks the questions."
Do I know him? No, I couldn't but…what is this feeling that's coming over me for him? And those…eyes. "Are you here to capture or kill me?"
"There you go with YOUR questions again." He sighed, "But I wouldn't say I'm here to either CAPTURE or KILL you…more so CORRECT." He retrieved something from behind his back.
"Correct?" I started to back away. The thing he took out turned into a long metal rod that he flipped around skillfully. He smirked before charging at me. "W-Wait!" I dodged his attacks.
What special power did this man have? I had to on careful guard and find out what it was that he could do before I counterattacked. His punches and kicks were so fast and I could dodge them easily at first, but I ended up catching a kick to the ribs and a hit with the rod to the chest. I slid across the floor, but quickly got to my feet and faced him struggling to catch my breath.
"I'm sorry, I thought you were ready." He smirked.
"Ready my ass!"
He chuckled, "Oh suck it up."
It was my turn but I charged at him without thinking. I threw my own punches and kicks as he easily dodged them. He swung his rod and, just in time, I caught another split landing on the ground, swinging my right leg under his feet causing him to lose balance and fall. "I'm guessing you don't have anything super about you."
He got himself up with his rod and flipped to where he landed right in front of me. My eyes widened as he hit me in my chest again with the weapon. "Super?"
I held my chest gasping for air, "Like the other three."
The man grinned, "You would be right about that. I don't have any special powers. But that doesn't mean I'm not stronger than the others."
"Huh?" There was a hint of shock in my voice. Stronger? I almost got killed by two of them and he's saying that he's stronger! He must have something up his sleeve if he believes he is much stronger than them.
"Are you ready?"
I turned to him and readied myself as he came at me. He attacked with his fists, his legs and his rod once again. I dodged some and I took some. I threw some punches and I threw some kicks, but he caught my foot with his rod after dodging one of my kicks. I gritted my teeth as he smirked, but before he could do anything, I let myself fall backwards. My hands hit the floor and I was able to flip myself away from him, twisting his rod and getting it out of his hands to kick it to the far end of the hall; I stood and faced him. "No more rod."
He smiled and flipped his long ebony hair, "It's actually a staff, but whether I have it or not doesn't really change the odds."
I raised a brow, "Wha—"
I felt his foot the bottom of my chin, causing me to be sent flying vertically before crashing down to land on my back. This time I struggled to get to my feet while rubbing my chin. He soon ran over to me, wrapping a hand around my neck to lift me up. "Do you know who you are?"
As an instant reflex, I grabbed the back of his head and rammed by knee into his face. He dropped me immediately to bring up his hands to his face. I slouched over to massage my neck as I tried to catch my breath, "Do…*pant*…do you know who I am?"
He didn't respond as he backed away still holding his face. Next, he shook the pain off and looked over at me with a sly grin, "Sorry, but I don't answer YOUR questions."
Frustration emerged within me. I charged at him with all my might and was about to give him the hardest punch he's probably ever felt. Though, right before my fist could make contact with his face again, he slyly dodged it and smirked. I saw his fist coming straight for me and I closed my eyes ready to feel the pain.
"Princess?" a voice echoed.
The pain never came. Slowly, I opened my eyes and saw the man staring into my eyes. His fist had opened up as he caressed the side of my face. His facial expression had changed completely! He held a soft smile and his eyes were so…beautiful. It left me breathless as I stood there silently and in slight shock and awe.
The man closed his eyes as his face got closer to mine which made me nervous as warmth filled my cheeks. Our foreheads touched delicately and his face was just inches away from my own. "That will do." His voice seemed comforting and reassuring.
Suddenly the lights went out and I was trapped in darkness again. Though it didn't last long and the area was lit up again, this time I was alone. Where did he go? How much more confusing could this get? Yet again, I shook the thought out because I had to continue on. Just a few more doors down and I'll be free of this place. I looked around me and ran ahead to where the exit was going to be. But I couldn't get the man out of my head. He just…let me go?
"Chamber 568" I read passing it by.
Two chambers were left and then I would make it. The aches, pains and wounds begun to take their toll and it became a bit difficult to run. I couldn't stop…I had to keep going.
"Chamber 569"
A smile formed on my face as I picked up the pace. I could see the next chamber right ahead. The creatures I went up against, how strong they were. But the man…he didn't…why didn't he…?
"Chamber 570"
All I had to do was get through this chamber and the exit should be on the other side, according to the coordination of the directional protection screen. I only had a few more feet left to go. I slowed down and started to catch my breath, walking the rest of the way. I was finally getting out of here. I got to the end of the chamber and stood in front of the door. I was finally out. The door opened and as soon as I took the first step out it immediately closed behind me. I turned my attention from the closed door smiling until…a figure stood about 10 feet in front of me…what was going on?! I made it out, didn't I?!
I readied myself to fight though I knew my chances were slim in victory, "Who are you?!" The figure stood in silence as the wind blew. Why were they being stubborn, "Answer me!"
"Who am I? The question is, who are YOU?" The figure was faced away from me.
I blinked a couple of times, "I'm…"
The figure turned around and looked at me, "You don't know?" Another woman. The wind blew her hood to the east along with the robe she wore that was attached to it. She didn't look like the others I fought against.
"If you're going to try to kill me, let's get it over with!"
The woman's facial expression didn't change nor did she move, "Why would I want to do that?"
I became shocked, though soon calmed down, "What do you want from me?"
"To help."
"Then tell me who am I?"
"You will know in due time." She removed her hood. W-What was this? I was speechless as I looked upon her…but…it was like looking into a mirror. My eyes widened; she looked just like me.
"Who…who are you?"
Her hair blew in the wind, not the same shade or texture as my own. "My identity doesn't matter."
I soon noticed the cliff behind her, "Hey, behind you…be careful."
"Do you know why you're here?"
"I-I can't remember anything…"
"Do you believe you exist?"
"What kind of question is that? I'm here am I not."
"But you aren't real."
My eyes widened, "Wha-?"
"You have no memories."
"And that's supposed to mean that I don't exist?!" I took a single step.
"Do you ever remember where you came from? Where you were born? Any emotions at all?"
"N-No…but I do feel!"
"Do you?"
"I'm feeling deceit and frustration with you right now." My words were cold.
"Have you ever experienced love?"
"W-What?" I was taken back a little.
"Love."
"Love?"
"Have you ever been loved? Have you ever loved anyone?"
I lowered my head, "Love?"
"The answer is no, you haven't."
Suddenly the memories started coming back to my mind. The colors, the words, the faces…those unfamiliar faces. "I…I can't remember." I held my head with both hands.
"You can't remember, because it never happened."
"That can't be true…"
"No one ever loved you."
The pictures kept coming and I couldn't take all that was going through my mind. My head started to hurt as everything went through it. "I'm…I'm sure…" I couldn't find the words or explanation.
"You have never loved."
"That's a lie…" I was trembling now as I fell to my knees.
"Is it? Or is it hard for you to accept the truth?"
"Stop it!" I felt that power surge coming over me and the memories suddenly stopped. I stared in awe because…they didn't vanish…this time they stayed and…I remembered.
I looked up at the woman who was smiling softly, "You remember now?"
"I-I think-" She fell backwards off of the cliff. "No!" I quickly got to my feet and rand to the edge of the cliff, jumping without a second thought. I could see her descending and I positioned myself so that I could fall faster to catch up with her. When I got a few feet away from her, I outstretched my hand, "Take my hand!"
"Who are you?" was all she said.
I finally caught up to her and grabbed her around the waist. We were now falling vertically in the air, "I think I can fly."
"Who are you?" I looked into her eyes…amethyst gems. She was so beautiful, but I wasn't flying. Who was she? "We're going to be okay…trust me?"
She had her arms around my neck as I looked at her. I knew I could understand and trust what she was saying. "I trust you."
"Now tell me, who are you?"
"I-I can't think clearly."
"Relax, close your eyes and look within yourself."
I did was she said and could feel that we were getting closer and closer to the bottom. But I had to concentrate, even if I were to die right here, right now…I wanted to know who I was. I felt the woman's forehead upon mine as we continued to fall.
"Who are you?" I could sense that she closed her eyes as well.
"I'm…" the ground was 20 feet away.
"You are?" 10 feet away.
"I'm…"
"You're…" 5 feet.
"Raiden Arella Grayson…" I heard her and myself say at the same time.
0 feet…
{ }
Raiden woke up in a cold sweat somewhat panicky as she looked around her.
"Raiden, Raiden calm down."
The girl let her eyes adjust to the dark only to see the smiling face of someone familiar, "D-Daddy?"
"It's nice to hear your voice." He gently brought her into a hug.
"W-What happened?" She felt a little dizzy.
"I'm so sorry. Raiden, I'm so sorry." He could feel tears forming in the creases of his eyes.
"Daddy?"
"Raiden, from now on I'm going to be there for you, no matter what."
"Was I in trouble?"
Robin released her and wiped the corners of his mask, "Yes, you were and I wasn't there. I don't know why I wasn't there."
Raiden looked at him, he was on his knees at her bedside. His head was down and she wiped the tears that had streamed down his cheeks. He looked up and saw her smiling face, "I love you, Daddy."
Robin returned her smile, got to his feet and grabbed her, lifting her up. He swung her around once and then pulled him close to her, "I love you too kiddo." Watching from the entrance of the guest room was Raven. She turned and rested her back against the wall on the side of the door.
"So is there anything to eat?" She heard the twelve year old ask the man who simply laughed at the question.
Raven held herself while trying to hold back tears and frustration with herself. She slowly let herself slide down the wall until she was seated upon the floor…Richard. She rested the back of her head against the wall and looked at the ceiling above…"I'm so sorry."