Night 66: M1-M10 Hallway

[lighthearted]

[M7]

Dinner went by too fast, and as the intercom announcement came on and the change to night officially started, Sora pushed himself to the edge of bed, caught in the tight hold of dread. He didn't want it to become night. He didn't want to change again. He'd gone to a lot of effort to make sure that he didn't end up repeating the events of last night, but something could always go wrong.

Landel cut to the chase pretty fast this time around, and no other clues were given out. Did that mean that the rebel group hadn't been able to get through, or had they just run out of clues to give them? Did that mean they were on their own? Sora let out a breath and tried to manage the panic that was bubbling up in his chest.

Link was still here. Sora had hoped that his roommate would make a move to leave the second that night came, but it didn't look like that was the case. Of course not. If Sora was honest with himself, he'd known from the start that someone like Link wasn't going to leave him alone here.

Sora forced out a shaky sigh. He didn't feel anything yet, but he knew that it wouldn't be long before the darkness started to take over.

"I know you're worried," he said to Link, "but it's fine. My other friend should be here soon, so..." He wanted as few people as possible around when the change went through. Hopefully Tsurugi would get here soon, and then Link could leave.

Comments

[lighthearted]

The creature's claw sliced through skin like it was made of paper, drawing blood. But he'd missed Kratos' eye, the most vulnerable place, which meant that it might not be good enough.

The Heartless didn't even have a chance to consider its next step, to figure out who to target and where, because Tsurugi raced toward him, enveloped in a sudden burst of power and energy. It was the power of his heart, cloaked around him like a suit of armor, and that all crashed right into Sora.

Thrown back, he hit the wall and then collapsed to the floor, body slumping with what registered in some part of his mind as pain. His head spun from it, but while that had taken a lot out of him, he was still in better shape than Tsurugi himself, who had fallen to the floor.

The Anti-Form picked itself back up slowly, trying to avoid the light even now. These two were weakening -- if he kept at it, then he could take them both down. Wouldn't that be a treat? Two hearts, and strong ones at that.

[knightspirit]

... This was bad. Kyousuke couldn't even begin to comprehend how he'd managed to drain himself so much by using so little, but he didn't have the luxury of being confused, because the fact was, he had next to no chance of defending himself right now. He had to recover quickly, before it was too late.

He wasn't out for the count quite yet, but the consequences of exhausting himself were far greater than normal. He only barely held onto consciousness, and the only thing he could really manage to do was stagger his way back onto his feet, but even that didn't last long. Once standing, he swayed awkwardly, every muscle in his body screaming at him protest. In the end, he didn't have the energy for it, and sank back down onto one knee.

Not yet... He couldn't afford to be done yet. He tried yet again to stand, but the attempt was even more pitiful than first, and he didn't even make it onto to his feet.

[lighthearted]

In the end, a Heartless was stronger than an average human, and so the Anti-Form settled itself on its feet before Tsurugi managed it. Its yellow eyes fixed on the boy, struggling to get his balance, so weak -- and yet that heart was pulsing in his chest, calling to it.

This was it. This was its chance.

In the blink of an eye, Sora raced forward and forced Tsurugi back to the ground. He still remembered the attack from the night before and his claws sought out those same spots, looking to open up the wounds he had already given Tsurugi.

But then one of his claws settled right above Tsurugi's chest and started to dig in, trying to push past flesh to the boy's ribcage. If it could wrench that open, then it would finally get its prize.

[knightspirit]

He tried, but in the end, there was no way for Kyousuke to resist. His arms had too many deep cuts to act as a shield, and he didn't have the strength to try and push or kick Sora away. The claws sank right through his shirt and the layers of bandage, slicing away his scabs and digging even deeper. In an instant, his chest was covered in blood, which began to pool out as his heart rapidly pumped more into the wound.

As the creature tried to pry past his ribs, he gave a strange, strangled-sounding inhale, and his breath became ragged and disjointed. He could barely even breathe anymore, and something metallic was beginning to build in the back his throat. In face of this, he still struggled, still tried to put of some kind of resistance. He fingers fumbled weakly and blindly, trying to find the flashlight he'd lost in the scuffle of being pushed down again. ... He didn't know why. He wasn't even sure what he was doing. The only thought in his mind was that he had to do something, because it couldn't end now, not here, not like this. But he couldn't even grab it, his fingers too slick and weak. The handle slipped away from him, pushing the light towards them so that he could see what was happening to him far too clearly.

[forsworn]

In the end, Kratos simply could not get there fast enough, and as he watched Sora slam Tsurugi into the ground, a familiar wave of panic overcame him--not because he was worried about Tsurugi, but because suddenly, time was rewinding. Breakfast earlier had caused him to recall that regrettable incident outside Altessa's house; the scene unfolding before his eyes now was doing much the same, except the memory this time was far more disturbing.

He knew well how that memory resolved, too, had even experienced her manner of death for himself, but in the moment, his flashback-induced panic became so world-shattering and frenzied that all he could think about was the possibility of Lloy--Tsurugi dying and the need, the absolute need to stop the monster - it was no longer "An"--"Sora" - at all costs. And those two combined proved potent enough to overcome the last of his self-imposed restraints, so that when Kratos finally collided with the two, it was not with the intent to simply subdue, but to destroy.

The approach was even simpler than his previous, carefully avoided two-step attack: a powerful thrust aimed to pierce through the upper back, fueled by the singular desire to save Tsurugi at any cost.

[lighthearted]

The boy beneath him was nothing more than prey now, laid out and bleeding, his heart throbbing underneath his ribs, as if it was trying to push its way out. Maybe it realized that its home had been disrupted, that it could no longer remain in that body. Maybe it would come to him.

The Heartless was ready for it, even lifted its claw high above its head so that it could give the killing blow, plow its claws deep beneath Tsurugi's skin and literally pry his heart from his chest--

But then, two things happened. The flashlight rolled in just the right way to shine on him, which served as the first distraction, and then Kratos came in with his sword, piercing it through him from behind.

The blade, which might have had a harder time cleaving through the Anti-Form's dark skin otherwise, made its way cleanly through thanks to the light. The tip of the blade forced its way out on the other side of the Heartless' body, through its chest, and black smoke spilled out of him like blood.

When the blade was removed, Sora collapsed to the ground, half on top of Tsurugi.

[knightspirit]

... There was nothing else he could do. Kyousuke swallowed thickly, trying to dispel the contents that risen to his throat, and squeezed his eyes shut, prepared for the inevitable. All that was left was to be ripped apart, and while he was resigned to it, he didn't accept it; even knowing what was to come didn't stop the waves of panic and dread and the voice in the back of his mind screaming at him to move. ... But it was over. He was already lost.

Yet that final blow, the source of all his dread, never came, and wondering why, he risked opening his eyes. The black creature remained over him, claws still poised over its head, but he was less focused on that than the steel tip now protruding from its chest. He could only stare it at as black rose out from where it had penetrated, stare more as the blade was removed. He watched helplessly as the body fell at his side, looked up the man standing over him, and back to the dark mass that had fallen on him, in a state of pure shock.

...What...? What just happened...? The pieces were all right there, but they didn't add up, no matter how much he looked at them, he couldn't begin to comprehend them. He just... He didn't understand. Even the pain and heavy bleeding from injuries was forgotten, as he lay frozen in bewilderment.

[forsworn]

For a few seconds, his mind remained blissfully blank, but as soon as the monster's body hit the ground, Kratos realized exactly what he'd just done.

He feebly reminded himself that Sora had asked him to do whatever it took to stop him, that he would have wanted him to protect Tsurugi first and foremost, but that argument hadn't meant much the first time something like this had happened, so it certainly didn't hold any water now. In fact, nothing else seemed to be taking hold other than four words, cold and damning, that repeated themselves over and over in his head: 'What have I done?'

Thus, all he could do for several, long seconds was stare back at Tsurugi in utter shock, heart pounding loudly enough in his ears to drown out the world around him, even the sensation of blood dripping slowly down the side of his face. Finally, though, Kratos tore his eyes away, and in doing so, seemed to return to his senses.

He wiped his face again on his sleeve, struggling to keep his arm from shaking, and dared to look at Tsurugi again, this time seeing the dark stain on the boy's chest, although the recognition came slowly, as if he were wading through a dense, mental fog. He had to...he had to take care of that...couldn't let him bleed to death...

Kratos reached out with a hand and directed what little focus he still had on Tsurugi's injuries as the spell ring blazed out from beneath his feet. "First Aid." The mana obeyed sluggishly, finally leaping out and surrounding Tsurugi's chest with a faint green aura before the spell began taking effect.

[knightspirit]

Kyousuke heard words being spoken, but in his current state they didn't register, nor did he try to process them. Soon a gentle, refreshing light fell on him, sinking into his chest and helping repair the wound. It didn't completely heal it, but it took care of the worst of it, patching together the parts that had been cut the deepest, so while his chest remained sliced open, the bleeding slowed considerably. He began to cough up some of the blood he hadn't managed to swallow, but there wasn't enough to be worrying; just the last remnants from a particularly severe penetration that was now (mostly) sealed.

He attempted to sit up, or at least his body did; mentally, he had completely shut down, and seemed to be moving on autopilot rather than consciously. The attempt failed, however, and he ended up laying back down immediately. He was still physically exhausted, and he'd lost a lot of blood, so even trying to lift his head was dizzying to the point of nausea. Even if he made it to his feet again, he'd only end up blacking out.

So in the end, he simply stared up at the ceiling, unnaturally quiet, even for him. Somewhere in the back of his mind was a voice telling him to be upset and angry, but he didn't have the energy even for that. He couldn't even think to try to move the body still half on top of him. He couldn't think or feel anything at all, still too stunned to process anything.

... For the most part. For reasons that had nothing to do with his injuries, it was somehow hard to breathe, and he found himself tensing up, still unable to move.

Just going to sneak one last post in here...

[lighthearted]

It likely didn't have any to do with the healing spell that Kratos that had just performed, but slowly the darkness started to peel away from Sora's skin, flaking off and disappearing into thin air as he slowly reverted back to his own form.

His claws became fingers again. His eyes, while closed, were no longer yellow. His clothing was splashed with color once more, until he finally looked like a boy again.

But what had also stayed was the wound in his chest and his back, and the blood that now stained his body. His chest didn't move. His fingers didn't twitch. He was completely still, draped partly over Tsurugi. There was no way for the two to ignore what had happened, even if it had been necessary. And if he looked slightly peaceful even in lifelessness, maybe that was for the best.