Alone

Chapter Eight: A Peaceful Slumber

She eased back into her chair, realizing the guards had halted behind her. Still, she remained uneasy, feeling their stares on her and their looming presence. Master Tadashi had stopped the guards, to instill more fear into Ayame. She heard Raiden’s voice before she knew what was happening. “No, you can't take her!” Seconds later, she found the meaning of his words. She felt hands wrap around her arms, tearing her from the seat. She looked toward Master Tadashi, to see his gaze heartbroken as he turned his head away from her puzzled face to stare at the fire blazing in front of him.

“My dear, I am sorry, but this must be done. I cannot make an exception for you.” His face was stern, no longer smiling as he was before. “You will receive your punishment, today at dusk.” He waved his hand at the guards, motioning them toward the doors. "But I will give you one last gift. You will not die in the garden, but instead in the four walls of the cellar," he said as she was taken from the room.

“Master, is this really all necessary?” Raiden's voice was no longer calm and collected as he had always tried to be, but now more frantic than when Akira had tried to kill her. She turned her gaze to see his face matching the sound of his voice, as well as four men holding him back. His eyes seemed to scream out. There were droplets of sweat making their way down his forehead, as he thrashed around with his arms trying to break free from his captors. But they held strong against him. As she watched, she felt her own tears starting down her cheeks.

“Raiden! Raiden!” Her screams slowly turned into sobs as she disappeared behind a door. The darkness caved in all around her as they forced her forward. With every step she took, and every breath she breathed, her heart ached and her stomach tossed. The true power of fear crushed her heart, a fear greater than the one she felt four and a half years ago. She passed hallways and staircases but never did they turn into them. Finally, after a long and petrifying walk, they entered through a large ominous doorway. The room had only two small windows, located high on the stone wall. The darkness seeped into the room like a beast in the stories her mother used to tell her. Shadows danced across the floor as familiars guide the lost.

She turned to see the door slam shut. Her legs buckled under her, forcing her to the cold, damp ground. As she knelt there, a gust of wind hallowed through the room, bringing water droplets from the outside, brushing against her pale skin. She let her tired head fall to the ground on top of her hands. There she lay until the sun rose to touch the ground, the light waking her from dreams of her mother, father and sister during the time of peace with the promise of safety when the word fear didn’t exist to her.

Suddenly, the door opened. Two armed samurai marched into the room, sliding over to reveal two more holding whips. The two empty-handed samurai took hold of her, moving her to the back of the room. They chained her arms to the wall and her feet to the floor, with her back facing them. The cold stone and fear woke her completely. They stepped aside and the two with the whips came forward. They readied themselves to start. She held her breath waiting for the first strike across her back. Minutes passed and then the whip cracked down, the cold metal tearing at her flesh.

Only one at a time came, giving her not a single moment to process the pain. She kept her mouth shut allowing only tears to flow down her cheeks. Again and again, the whips came down, the metal cutting deeper and deeper into her back, the pain becoming unbearable. She wanted to be strong, not to cry out, but she feared she couldn’t hold out much longer. She lost count of how many times they had whipped her. As they continued, she could feel blood dripping down her back and the searing pain burning like fire. All of a sudden, they stopped and the silence became deafening. She waited and listened, hoping with every bone in her shaking body they were finished. She knew her pain was only just the beginning. Nearly ten minutes passed before another sound was made.

The door squeaked open, revealing Raiden standing there. She felt her arms fall to her side, the chains around her legs clattered to the ground, and a sword was thrown just before her heels. She slipped to the ground, pain halting all her thoughts. Her hands gripped the stone wall, while a small pool of blood lay beneath her. Wearily, she placed her hands on the ground, forcing her aching body to turn to face the doorway. Looking up slowly, she saw Raiden standing there and at her knees, there was a glint of metal.

“Pick it up!” A booming voice echoed through the small stone room. “It's time to fight, for your life.” A man stepped from the shadows, holding a long sword.

“I won't!” she spoke back slowly, faltering. Her voice seemed to be failing her.

“If you won’t pick it up, then you will die!” He spoke with excitement. “I would prefer a prolonged death, however, if you prefer a quick death that can be arranged.”

“Unfortunately, I will not be the one to kill you.” His voice was saddened a bit. Still, he had a smile that crossed his lips. He lifted his hand, using his index finger to point toward Raiden. “He will be your opponent.” Raiden dragged himself toward the other man to take the sword from the man's hand.

He turned to face Ayame. Slowly he lifted the sword with his right hand, pointing it toward her. “Pick up your sword, Ayame!” She shook her head. “Ayame!” Again she shook her head. “Ayame!” She continued to shake her head, tears streaking down her cheeks while her limbs were shaking uncontrollably.

“I won’t do it... I won’t fight you.” Her voice came as a whisper, with tears lingering down her cheeks. “I can’t!” She continued to shake her head, trying to will the situation away.

He groaned, rubbing his face with his free hand. “You can and you will!” Anger rose in his voice.

“What has happened to him?” The thought swirled around in her mind. “No!” A torturous scream came from her frail body. “I won’t fight..... I won’t..... I won’t.” She mouthed the sentence over and over again.

She couldn't stop the tears that flowed like a stream down her cheeks. This wasn't fair. “How can I lift even a hand to try and harm him, let alone a sword?” Looking at the other man, willing him to retract his statement. Willing him to beckon Raiden back. Willing him to do something, anything. The reply he gave her was a wicked smile that would make the gods feel fear, a devilish smile that would make even the demons of the underworld run for the safety of Hell.

Not much could be said about this man. But she remembered hearing of a man named Ryuunosuke, meaning dragon, from the soldiers who stood outside her door. She concluded this was the man they spoke of in the dead of night. The rumours they had told each other made him seem human, but now seeing him like this, he appeared like a Nopperabo, a phantom in human form. The guards had said the name he was called was given to him by Master Tadashi, but in Ayame's eyes, the name did not even begin to describe him. To her, he was a monster far worse than any demon that could ever exist on this earth. Words could not even begin to help with the explanation, but fear of him was inevitable.

“Please, anything else but this. I will do anything else…” Her voice trailed off.

“Really, anything?” His grin somehow widened. Ayame stared up at him, waiting for whatever punishment he would conclude to substitute this one. “Let me ponder this offer with endless options.” He raised one hand to his chin, stroking it as he thought.

Some time passed before he spoke again. “I have thought it over and, truly, this is the only punishment I want to see. The sight of two people who might even have feelings for one another being forced to destroy the other, what a delicious thought indeed.” He smirked as his mind appeared to imagine the impending event.

“How can you be so twisted?” she said with disgust as she glanced past him toward Raiden who stood silently next to him. His gaze was hard, making it impossible to read. She wanted him to say something, anything, but not even his gaze changed when he met her own.

“My mother says I got it from my father’s side.” He chuckled, joyfully. “Now enough with your stalling, it’s time for the games to begin.” He lowered his bloodthirsty gaze, looking her up and down. The bloodthirst in his gaze changed gradually to l**t. “Or maybe I should...” he paused mid-sentence, “No, no, I can't disobey the master. You are the cautionary tale.” He said as he placed his hand on Raiden's pack, giving him a slight nudge forward.

In the blink of an eye, Raiden disappeared from the man's side to inches in front of her. “I'm sorry,” he whispered in her ear, breaking her from tormenting thoughts. With a cold metal blade that pierced through the side of her stomach, she felt the shiver of death swallow her fragile body and her spirit felt as though it had made its escape. At this moment, she welcomed death. Life was too hard and far too disappointing. She had never hurt anyone. Instead, she had fought for even the most wicked to have a chance at living, but who had fought for her? She had been far too naive for this life.

She couldn't move. Even exhausted, she couldn't slide further onto the ground for at least some form of comfort before death. The held sword held her in her seated position, her arms hanging at her side unable to move them. Now, she wanted to rest. She wanted peace.