Alone

Chapter Six: Stopping the Pain

She opened her eyes and blinked. Looking around the room, she tried to find Raiden, but she was out of luck. Ayame struggled to her feet. All of a sudden, she heard footsteps and voices coming from down the hallway. Their voices filtered into her room where two words stood out, 'Akira' and 'Death'. Fear rose from inside her. She didn’t want Akira to die. Even though they had their disagreement, she didn’t want anyone else to die around her, no matter their crime against her. No more death.

She placed her hand around her neck, feeling the bandages, but the pain had subsided. Was it possible to heal this quickly? She didn't know how long she had been asleep, but it couldn't have been more than a week’s time. Slowly she lifted herself from the bed and went to the door. She marvelled at how she felt no pain anywhere. She slid the door across and poked her head out into the hallway. She found the men were about to turn the corner.

“Wait, please!” she attempted to yell after them, but her voice faltered. As they turned they saw Ayame clinging to the doorframe to stay on her feet. She started to walk toward them, but her legs gave way and she collapsed. She felt her neck jolt and a slight tearing. She raised her hand to her neck to feel some moisture seeping through the bandages. Looking at her hand she saw warm blood glistening on her fingertips. “Guess I’m not completely healed yet,” she whispered to herself. The men raced to her. One lifted her up while the other held open the door leading back to her small room. He was about to place her back onto her bed when she spoke up, “No! Wait! Where's Akira?!” She felt panicked, but her voice was barely above a whisper. She couldn't force herself to speak louder, it hurt too much now.

“Miss, she's been sentenced to death.” The guard informed him with a curious look in his gaze.

“For what reasons?” Ayame asked, feeling instantly ridiculous for even uttering the question.

“For assaulting you not only once, but twice, nearly killing you and then disobeying a direct order from Master Raiden.” The other guard responded, furring his brows as he looked from her to the other man, an expression of concern taking over his face.

“Please, can you take me to her?” She desperately grabbed ahold of his shirt.

“Miss, my apologies, but the leader has made it clear that no one is to see her.” He put his hand over hers, forcing her to release her grasp on his sleeve.

“Is she already dead?” Ayame held her breath as she waited for his reply.

He shook his head, “No, miss she's not.”

“When is the execution planned?” she pushed. She needed to know. She couldn't bare another death, not even Akira's.

“It has been planned for two days from now.” The man responded cautiously.

"Did she give reason for her actions?" Ayame whispered, wondering if there was more to Akira than her fierce attraction for Raiden.

"I believe she mentioned something along the lines that it was your fault. But monsters have a way of covering up the truth." The man responded, beginning to appear nervous the longer he and the other man remained in Ayame's presence.

“Monsters? What do you mean?" Ayame looked at both men, trying to read their expressions.

They both glanced at the other, appearing to have an understanding in their gaze alone before one responded, “I'm sorry, but I am not allowed to speak further on this topic."

"I see." She took a deep breath before speaking again. “I’m ready to go to sleep now.” The two men nodded their heads and left the room. She listened intently as they went down the hallway, their footsteps fading into the distance. The man's words ran through her mind. Her mind focused on the thought that somehow she had to save Akira. Finally, she made up her mind to find Akira. The following day, at the stroke of midnight, she would save her. For now, she was going to rest and attempt to regain some strength.

The next day seemed to drag on in Ayama's mind, but finally, nightfall came. She lay awake while the household closed their eyes. She began to grow more restless for midnight to make its appearance. The time finally came when the clock struck midnight. She was on her feet only moments after the chimes finished echoing into the night. Carefully she slid the door open, and peeked her head out into the hallway, hoping to see no signs of movement. She listened intently, and with the hallway being silent, she took her chance and crept slowly down the long wooden corridor. At every corner, she waited a moment, straining her ears to hear any form of movement ahead. Never did she hear a sound. Every once in a while she had to hide from the view of the guards standing watch at all hours of the night.

Finally, she managed her way past the guards, and with luck, on her side, she came within hearing distance of two guards speaking about Akira. Their words were crisp in the night air as they spoke of her whereabouts among other things. But she didn't stay to listen in on their entire mindless conversation. As she proceeded she continued to, rack her brain for the location of the cellar. There she would find Akira, or so the guards had said. Unfortunately, she never did receive the promised tour of the grounds. Still, she searched, hoping she would somehow stumble across the door along her way.

She turned the corner, bumped into someone and knocked herself to the ground. She raised her head to find Raiden standing over her with a confused expression on his face. “What are you doing up this late and wandering around in your condition?” She felt his gaze on her neck. She raised her hand to cover the bandages.

She thought for a moment, trying to figure out a good excuse for wandering the halls late at night far from her room. “Ummm… I was looking for the washroom.” Although the explanation wasn’t well thought out, she hoped it would be enough to get him to be on his way.

“Ayame, there is one located in your room,” he replied quickly.

"Oh, is that what that door went to?” She put on a small smile trying to ease the tension she was feeling, while still sitting on the ground not knowing what she could say to get him to leave her there without too much of a hassle.

He let out a sigh, exhaustion flashing across his expression, "You should be resting. Your injury has not fully healed."

"I feel fine,” she responded, feeling self-conscious of her neck all of a sudden.

"Let me see." He moved her hand away and started to unwrap the bandages. To his surprise, her neck was almost completely healed, starting to leave a scar to remind them of what had happened. "It has only been a week or so since this happened. How can it be healing this quickly?" He asked, mostly to himself.

"I don't know, but I have always healed quickly from most injuries." She looked past him trying to plot her escape but to no avail.

Without further discussion on the topic, he continued to speak. “Ayame,” only by saying her name he drew her eyes up to meet his with ease, “what are you really doing this late at night?” He held out his hand to her. But when Ayame didn’t reach for it, he bent down and took hold of her arm, pulling her up to her feet gracefully.

Now standing on her feet, she looked more directly into his eyes. “I was just going for a walk to clear my mind.” She spoke, trying to hold back the anxiety in her voice.

“Then you wouldn’t mind if I walked you back to your room, would you?” He smiled slyly.

“No!” Her voice cracked from the sudden strain, “I mean, no thank you. I was just going to go outside for some fresh air and time to think.” She hoped he would at least take that answer and leave, however, it seemed she was out of luck.

“Then I’ll go with you.” He concluded, his stern expression displaying he wasn't going to be swayed otherwise.

“It’s nothing against your company, but I just want to be alone right now, if that’s alright with you.” She looked at the wall, trying to avert her eyes from his.

“Yes, of course. I understand.” As she looked back at him, his eyes appeared sad for a split second as he gazed at her. She held her breath and looked around, trying to keep her composure. She watched as his hair rustled around him and his rose-coloured samurai uniform seemed to do the same around his well-built frame. The moonlight bounced off the walls, shadowing half of his figure.

Suddenly, a cloud covered the moon, leaving only the silhouette of his body. She blinked as a flash from her past came rushing back, causing tears. She didn’t understand why she was crying, or why she thought of her family’s murderer at a time like this. “Ayame, are you alright?” She looked back up to his face, but by then the cloud had passed and all that remained was Raiden’s true figure.

“Yes, I’m fine. I was just frightened for a moment, that’s all.” She wiped away her tears as she turned to leave, but then she felt his hand on her shoulder halting her from continuing. “What is it?” she asked, hoping it was something small.

“I’m sorry,” he said to her.

“For what?” She turned to look at him again.

“For letting someone hurt you.” As he spoke he seemed torn up that he had let Akira do something so horrible.

“It’s not your fault. In a way, I brought it on myself.” She knew it was not her fault, but it was easier to put the blame on herself than on someone else. Blame is the pathway to hatred, and she would rather come to hate herself than another person.

“If that’s truly how you feel.” He took a deep breath and then continued. “There’s a garden down this hall.” He pointed in the direction she had just come from. “Just go to the end and you'll find the garden just beyond the doors.” He took his hand from her shoulder, allowing her to make move freely.

“Thank you.” Ayame smiled as she walked away, leaving Raiden in the moon’s shadow.

Continually she turned to see if Raiden had followed behind her, but every time only the dark hallway greeted her view. She had followed his directions and gone toward the garden hoping he would not follow, but soon she came to the realization the hallway would not take her to a shimmering moonlit garden. There were fewer windows with every passing moment. The lit torches became fewer until she was shrouded in darkness. Soon she had to feel her way down the hall until she came to a door. Moving her hands to find the doorknob, she turned it.

Inside there was a faint light and a shadowy figure in the far corner of the room. As she continued to look, the shape became clearer and clearer. There in the shadows, sitting on the floor, was Akira. Finally, Ayame had found her. She peered around the room trying to see if there was any other way out, trying to plan what her next step would be. As she stood there, her eyes came to rest on a door in the far wall. “Akira, are you alright? You're not hurt are you?” As she spoke she felt her own legs shaking. After a few moments, she had to lean against the wall to keep herself upright.

“Who's there?” Came a response to Ayame's question. However, it was not the voice she knew to be Akira's. It sounded broken.

“It's Ayame. Are you able to walk?” She told her, hoping she would accept her help and they could get out of this dark place.

“Why are you here?” she hissed at her. There was the voice Ayame knew.

“I'm here to get you out.” She started toward Akira, lingering along the wall for support.

“Why would you do that… for me?” her voice wavering with whatever t*****e she had been put through.

“I don't want you to die,” Ayame answered truthfully as she continued to make her way to Akira.

Akira was silent for a moment, seeming to process Ayame's response. “That doesn't make sense.” She finally concluded.

“I know it doesn't.” She now stood before Akira, who sat huddled on the ground, her clothing ripped and blood-stained. “Are you able to walk on your own?” she asked as she tried to steady herself and keep her breathing even.

“I think so. Why?” She raised her eyes to finally meet Ayame's gaze. “I guess I should say sorry for what I've done, but I just can't. You stole from me something that is irreplaceable.” Akira muttered more to herself than to Ayame.

Ayame groaned. She was here to save Akira when she didn't deserve it. Yet, here Akira was grumbling and being petty. This was certainly not the time for that. “I’m not sure what I did, but I'm still going to get you out of here.” She lowered her hand for Akira to take hold. She stood up, but it seemed her legs would not hold her there for long. “Follow me!” She led Akira to an old wooden door, placed her hand on the rusted knob and forced it open. It took all the strength she had left in her already weakened condition.

There, the night sky was dark and the wind moaned as it rustled through the woods. But soon the moon shone bright, showing her the safest path to the woods. Leaves rustled along the ground and stars in the night sky twinkled, saying it was time to leave. Akira stepped past Ayame and into the light of the moon. Its glow glistened off her like she was one of the stars that shone in the heavens. After a moment of standing there, Akira took to the woods. She stopped for only a moment at the edge to look back at Ayame, mouthing thank you. Ayame peered out at the shaking girl, who seemed to shine as she gained her freedom. Then something happened, her figure began to shift, and before Ayame knew it, Akira appeared to be a beast standing on all fours. Blinking, she rubbed her eyes, but by the time she had opened them again, Akira had disappeared into the shadows.