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The Eighth Plain

Chapter 11, Sunken Pride

"I'm here to protect you, Ryoka."

"I'm your third boundary Ryoka; your little brother!"

I began coughing heavily under the layer of water and ragged blanket thrown over my shivering figure. I opened my eyes slowly, carefully. I could tell I had been out for a few hours, too much light at once would only hurt me. My thoughts thoughts swirled as if thrown in a blender, and sounds collided with each other in the masses, creating muffled babbles from all around. For a second I had believe that I was captured by the Corrupt; I believed that I'd find that girl, standing over me with a sinister smile.

"Here, eat this."

A pungent smell stole away into my nostrils. I pulled back and opened my eyes, allowing whatever light there was to enter. A figure, darkened by my adjusting vision, stood over me. He was just as wet as I was, only twice my size. He walked away quickly enough, but the food he offered sat behind.

"Hey," I called, but I was answered only with the slamming and locking of a gate. I knew then where I was, and immediately memories began flooding back.

"Hey, wait! Ayato! Where's Ayato!?"

I was too busy casting across the jail cell and beating my fists on the bars to notice my vision had returned. I peered up and down the halls, staring into the blackness at either end. The halls were empty, devoid of life or care. I only yelled louder.

It was then a silence fell harsher than before. I stopped and took a breath, a sweat running down my face. I looked around again. Physically the halls hadn't changed, but I knew something was there--a force that drove this new silence. This was no ordinary silence. Something was breathing--something alive.

I held my breath quickly and threw myself back to the wall. The rag I was drenched under was laying on the bench, maybe that would protect me from whatever was out there? No, of course not--my thoughts hadn't returned to normal afterall. I began looking around, absolutely sure not to make a sound. It was as if the silence didn't want to be disturbed, and believe me, I wouldn't be the one to disturb it.

The policemen had taken my weapons, the girl had taken my bow. I was defenseless, and yet, I could feel the presence of something near. I wanted to yell for help, but there was no help with humans; not anymore.

Maybe Ayato would come?

It was then an even great blanket of despair fell over me. That hope had been diminished as well--Ayato was... gone, and now it seemed as if whatever light there was in the halls were vanishing before my eyes. No, it was true! I could hear them, one by one the lights on the ceiling were losing power. Slowly, whatever it was that wanted me was getting its wish--fulfilling its desire.

It began growing louder; the silence I mean. I began to shiver, itching to run as anyone else would. Where was there to run though? Where was there to go? The police hadn't realized it, but they had trapped me with an unspeakable horror.

The last of the lights flickered before my cell. The halls beyond that spot were had been swallowed into a sea of black. And now, that sea began washing onto my only salvation of light. I knew it had me, I knew it could see me, watch me, and even feel me. There was only one choice left--before my last light went out.

I yelled for help.
---

"Temporary insanity?"

"I suppose. He's been pretty piled up with school work lately--It's no surprise something like this would happen. It was only a matter of time."

"So what do we do?"

I awoke in a loud 'yelp' and threw myself out of the comfort of a sleeping mattress to fall and slide on a tiled floor. It was a dream? Of course it was. The winding hallways, the jail cell, the blackening lights... I began to gasp like a dried out fish. The Corrupt, they were still plaguing my mind.

I began frantically looking around, unable to put together a proper sentence in my own head. Quickly, my eyes fell on two figures sitting around the bed, staring down at me.

One of them was my Dad.

I huffed for a few moments, and stared at the familiar face for what seemed like five minutes.

"Father...?" I asked in my smallest voice. The other man was a police officer, staring down as if slightly on edge--slightly ready to constrict me if something went wrong. I picked myself up steadily, and adjusted the white dry clothes I had been twisted into.

"...Where am I?"

It was a dumb question. I already knew where I was; I was in the infirmary--the clothes wouldn't have been given to me otherwise.

"You're in the hospital."

"Are you okay...?" The officer quickly added.

"The nurse said you'd be out for awhile. We expected to pay you a few more visits than this."

I looked at the two for a second, and turned to look at the door. Was I contemplating a means of escape? I gave a low grunt and rubbed my eyes before turning back to the two. My nerves were shot, and I felt as if I were ready to throw up at any given moment.

Even still, I had one question on my mind.

"Where's Ayato."

The officer took a small glance at my father. My father gave his goofy 'I don't know?' look back. The officer rose and held his arms out to imply that I should lay back down, but I shook my head. I stood there, staring cautiously, tempted to ask again.

"Ryoka, are you okay? You had a bit of a shock back there..."

The officer was trying to comfort me. I detested his soothing words. Still, I began to grow frantic for answers. I couldn't control my voice, it shook, and came out louder than desired.

"What happened!? Why'd you arrest me! I almost had her!"

The officer gave me a funny look. I huffed. I knew there was no way he knew who I spoke of.

"There was no girl, Ryoka."

"Of course there wasn't." I said sarcastically. I wanted to turn for the door then and there. Was I going out of my mind?

"...You were arrested for breaking and entering. You stole away on to school grounds, and entered an otherwise locked school door. Then you fought with four police officers! We could put you away for that."

There was a long silence. I resisted the urge to give the angriest stare I knew was coming. Finally the officer sighed, turning to peer out the window.

"You passed out about a minute after we apprehended you. You were putting up some sort of fight..."

More silence. I could tell there was something on my father's mind. I gave a curious glare--a glare that he returned with twice the fire. Finally I didn't care. Nothing else mattered anymore. The question had waited too long.

"Then--where is Ayato?!"

"Ryoka, I have some news for you." My father finally uttered.

He huffed and got up, displaying a posture and aura I had never felt from him before. I could feel my teeth jittering. I wanted to lash out then and there--I wanted to hurt them for what had happened to Ayato. I wanted them dead.

Slowly, I sat down on the bed. Was I crazy? These thoughts would only get me locked up forever. I'd never do something so foolish.

"Ryoka."

I turned my glance away. I didn't want to hear this... but in a way, I needed to. I could feel my tears and fought to keep them back.

"Ryoka, It's Kaori."

My eyes quickly met with my fathers'.

"Ryoka... Due to your bad example, and your neglegence..."

I could tell he was holding back a temper. My father hated me.

"Kaori... Kaori has run away."

"What?!" I responded on instinct. My heart lept and my expression grew both scared and angry at the same time. What was this, a joke? Was this some kind of excuse to get me to repent for what I've done? Did they think I was foolish?! I rose from the bed and gave a snarl before heading toward the door. I don't know what I was thinking, but I couldn't stay there.

"Ryoka! I'm serious! He disappeared the same time you did when you went to that school. He probably followed you Ryoka! He's gone!"

My hand stopped on the knob. I shuddered in the mere thought that there was truth in their words. They wouldn't lie about something so serious would they? No, logically not.

I turned--tears running from my eyes.

"--but what about Ayato?!"

"There is no Ayato!" My father finally yelled.

I froze.

Time seemed to stand still, as I began questioning my own mind. Was he right? Was he telling the truth? No, he was wrong--my own perception dictated that as such.

"Of course. Fool..." I muttered.

"Ryoka!" My Dad yelled, I yelled louder.

"Dad! Of course you can't see him! Nobody but me can see him! Just like the Corrupt!" My voice boomed to an extent where my own ears had tuned me out. I had slammed my fist on the wall and tears were rolling now like a waterfall. I stared at my father--we both knew my reasoning was illogical. I questioned my own words--regretably so.

Silence greeted us. Silence with knowing that I was wrong.

"I knew you were sick Ryoka. I knew you had too much work, too many studies to maintain a decent sanity. I only pretended to see 'Ayato', Ryoka, why do you think I had the name wrong before you told it to me?"

"I never told you his name..." I replied breathlessly.

"You did. It was always you. Ayato never existed."

My back hit the door. Too much of this began to make sense. I was wondering, the entire while, if I were going insane. Wouldn't it make much more sense, to assume that I was? Would it then be logical to assume that I had even imagined the extra policemen? Imagined the police chasing Ayato? Imagined the fight at the school?! I slid down slowly, staring at the floor.

"Nevermind that now. I shouldn't have encouraged you. It's made you neglect Kaori--it's made you influence your 'real' little brother into following you into your world of disillusion. Your 'corrupt' aren't real, your 'Ayato' is not real, and now your little brother is missing."

The officer stared out the window. It was still raining, and the window seemed as if it were crying along with me. How bad it felt, to find out that Ayato hadn't died, but instead he was never real.

I held myself tightly. What about Kaori? Did I even care about him anymore? Why did he go and follow me? Why did he have to go and get lost?!

It was then it clicked. My tears came to an immediate halt.

The bow. The bow was real! My little brother had touched it, along with the sword. Did that mean the corrupt were real? All those times on my roof--was I fighting with myself?

At that time, it was less logical to go with my own intuition. At that time, it was safer to assume that I was crazy. But--I had always had an over estimation of myself. I had always believed my own observations, and my own conclusions. Why would I stop now?

"Let me guess then." I finally said, all sobbing aside.

"You've searched for him already? Every where? You couldn't find him, right?"

My Dad had calmed, at least if only a little. "Of course."

"Then" I began, "I know where to find him."

Even if Ayato weren't real--even if I had imagined a monster fighting little brother, that didn't mean what I saw the day I found the bows wasn't real. That didn't mean that everything was a lie. That didn't mean that corrupt didn't exist. My heart began to race.

"Take me to the school."

"No can do on that." The officer murmured from his previous silence. I scowled.

"You gotta stay here. It's either here or jail--you ain't gettin' off that easy. We got people searchin' that school already. If he's there, they'll find him."

I looked to my Dad. My tears weren't necessarily dried yet, so the sad look I gave him must've had more affect than usual.

"I'll take him home." My father finally said. But I already knew the silent agreement we both had. He'd take me to the school, and I'd find Kaori. My Dad may have been a failure at cooking, but he was no failure as a father.
---

"This way!" I tugged, carrying my father from hallway to hallway. The halls were lit up brightly, and classroom doors were open by the numbers. We even saw the school principal outside standing in her night robe. Luckily, the officers let us by--for the most part. A lot of times we had to sneak past, but that was no big deal.

My father began yelling Kaori's name when I told him we were close. I hadn't the heart to explain that I didn't think Kaori was actually here. Instead, I was here for something else. Some 'proof' to show that I wasn't crazy. I hadn't imagined everything--there's no way I did.

The door to my classroom was already open. The lights were tossed on, and the room had already been searched. When I pulled my father in the classroom, I could feel he felt disheartened. I began examining the board--while my father stood back... his anxiety growing.

I could tell he was beginning not to trust me.

"Ryoka. What exactly are we doing here again?"

I ignored his growing suspicion.

Slowly I examined the chalkboard. The remnants of when the corrupt attacked and controlled me had been wiped away by the teacher, but I could still vaguely see its remains. I studied it closely.

"S-sorry father... I'm just, looking for clues that could tell me where Kaori's been."

My Dad had doubt.

I began taking a stalk of chalk and going over the lines that looked like they belonged to me. Slowly it began to spell the same thing it had the other day. The twisted and unsymmetric combination of letters that spelled 'broken'. Ayato had described the word before, but now I had my doubts. If Ayato weren't real, then this could mean anything.

"Broken..." My father spelled out.

I looked at it closely. My father had read the same thing; broken. Finally it clicked.

"Father! You're the worst detective there is!"

"...W-watch it!"

"No I mean... If 'you' think this means broken... then--" I turned back to the writing. I looked at it upside down, side to side, I wrote it on a piece of paper, exactly as it was written on the board.

"It doesn't mean broken father. You're wrong again." I nearly chuckled, still struggling against the distant thought of an inexistent Ayato. Though I held my tears.

"...Broken, is consistent with the numbers 2, 18, 15, 11, 5, and 14. These numbers are combined to equal the grand total of 065. There's a room, in the basement, called 065 that not many people are aware of. I bet you, if we look--we'll..."

"We'll find Kaori." My father broke in.

I turned around cautiously. I stared up at him, to meet eyes that were now cold stone. I shuddered under his presence, I could tell he had come to a conclusion. They all did; him, and the two officers that now stood in the doorway.

Slowly, I asked what I already knew; what I had already deducted.

"W-what's going on...?"

"Ryoka... Did you kidnap your little brother?"
---
---Next Time

Description
The Eighth Plain

Chapter 11, Sunken Pride

"I'm here to protect you, Ryoka."

"I'm your third boundary Ryoka; your little brother!"

I began coughing heavily under the layer of water and ragged blanket thrown over my shivering figure. I opened my eyes slowly, carefully. I could tell I had been out for a few hours, too much light at once would only hurt me. My thoughts thoughts swirled as if thrown in a blender, and sounds collided with each other in the masses, creating muffled babbles from all around. For a second I had believe that I was captured by the Corrupt; I believed that I'd find that girl, standing over me with a sinister smile.

"Here, eat this."

A pungent smell stole away into my nostrils. I pulled back and opened my eyes, allowing whatever light there was to enter. A figure, darkened by my adjusting vision, stood over me. He was just as wet as I was, only twice my size. He walked away quickly enough, but the food he offered sat behind.

"Hey," I called, but I was answered only with the slamming and locking of a gate. I knew then where I was, and immediately memories began flooding back.

"Hey, wait! Ayato! Where's Ayato!?"

I was too busy casting across the jail cell and beating my fists on the bars to notice my vision had returned. I peered up and down the halls, staring into the blackness at either end. The halls were empty, devoid of life or care. I only yelled louder.

It was then a silence fell harsher than before. I stopped and took a breath, a sweat running down my face. I looked around again. Physically the halls hadn't changed, but I knew something was there--a force that drove this new silence. This was no ordinary silence. Something was breathing--something alive.

I held my breath quickly and threw myself back to the wall. The rag I was drenched under was laying on the bench, maybe that would protect me from whatever was out there? No, of course not--my thoughts hadn't returned to normal afterall. I began looking around, absolutely sure not to make a sound. It was as if the silence didn't want to be disturbed, and believe me, I wouldn't be the one to disturb it.

The policemen had taken my weapons, the girl had taken my bow. I was defenseless, and yet, I could feel the presence of something near. I wanted to yell for help, but there was no help with humans; not anymore.

Maybe Ayato would come?

It was then an even great blanket of despair fell over me. That hope had been diminished as well--Ayato was... gone, and now it seemed as if whatever light there was in the halls were vanishing before my eyes. No, it was true! I could hear them, one by one the lights on the ceiling were losing power. Slowly, whatever it was that wanted me was getting its wish--fulfilling its desire.

It began growing louder; the silence I mean. I began to shiver, itching to run as anyone else would. Where was there to run though? Where was there to go? The police hadn't realized it, but they had trapped me with an unspeakable horror.

The last of the lights flickered before my cell. The halls beyond that spot were had been swallowed into a sea of black. And now, that sea began washing onto my only salvation of light. I knew it had me, I knew it could see me, watch me, and even feel me. There was only one choice left--before my last light went out.

I yelled for help.
---

"Temporary insanity?"

"I suppose. He's been pretty piled up with school work lately--It's no surprise something like this would happen. It was only a matter of time."

"So what do we do?"

I awoke in a loud 'yelp' and threw myself out of the comfort of a sleeping mattress to fall and slide on a tiled floor. It was a dream? Of course it was. The winding hallways, the jail cell, the blackening lights... I began to gasp like a dried out fish. The Corrupt, they were still plaguing my mind.

I began frantically looking around, unable to put together a proper sentence in my own head. Quickly, my eyes fell on two figures sitting around the bed, staring down at me.

One of them was my Dad.

I huffed for a few moments, and stared at the familiar face for what seemed like five minutes.

"Father...?" I asked in my smallest voice. The other man was a police officer, staring down as if slightly on edge--slightly ready to constrict me if something went wrong. I picked myself up steadily, and adjusted the white dry clothes I had been twisted into.

"...Where am I?"

It was a dumb question. I already knew where I was; I was in the infirmary--the clothes wouldn't have been given to me otherwise.

"You're in the hospital."

"Are you okay...?" The officer quickly added.

"The nurse said you'd be out for awhile. We expected to pay you a few more visits than this."

I looked at the two for a second, and turned to look at the door. Was I contemplating a means of escape? I gave a low grunt and rubbed my eyes before turning back to the two. My nerves were shot, and I felt as if I were ready to throw up at any given moment.

Even still, I had one question on my mind.

"Where's Ayato."

The officer took a small glance at my father. My father gave his goofy 'I don't know?' look back. The officer rose and held his arms out to imply that I should lay back down, but I shook my head. I stood there, staring cautiously, tempted to ask again.

"Ryoka, are you okay? You had a bit of a shock back there..."

The officer was trying to comfort me. I detested his soothing words. Still, I began to grow frantic for answers. I couldn't control my voice, it shook, and came out louder than desired.

"What happened!? Why'd you arrest me! I almost had her!"

The officer gave me a funny look. I huffed. I knew there was no way he knew who I spoke of.

"There was no girl, Ryoka."

"Of course there wasn't." I said sarcastically. I wanted to turn for the door then and there. Was I going out of my mind?

"...You were arrested for breaking and entering. You stole away on to school grounds, and entered an otherwise locked school door. Then you fought with four police officers! We could put you away for that."

There was a long silence. I resisted the urge to give the angriest stare I knew was coming. Finally the officer sighed, turning to peer out the window.

"You passed out about a minute after we apprehended you. You were putting up some sort of fight..."

More silence. I could tell there was something on my father's mind. I gave a curious glare--a glare that he returned with twice the fire. Finally I didn't care. Nothing else mattered anymore. The question had waited too long.

"Then--where is Ayato?!"

"Ryoka, I have some news for you." My father finally uttered.

He huffed and got up, displaying a posture and aura I had never felt from him before. I could feel my teeth jittering. I wanted to lash out then and there--I wanted to hurt them for what had happened to Ayato. I wanted them dead.

Slowly, I sat down on the bed. Was I crazy? These thoughts would only get me locked up forever. I'd never do something so foolish.

"Ryoka."

I turned my glance away. I didn't want to hear this... but in a way, I needed to. I could feel my tears and fought to keep them back.

"Ryoka, It's Kaori."

My eyes quickly met with my fathers'.

"Ryoka... Due to your bad example, and your neglegence..."

I could tell he was holding back a temper. My father hated me.

"Kaori... Kaori has run away."

"What?!" I responded on instinct. My heart lept and my expression grew both scared and angry at the same time. What was this, a joke? Was this some kind of excuse to get me to repent for what I've done? Did they think I was foolish?! I rose from the bed and gave a snarl before heading toward the door. I don't know what I was thinking, but I couldn't stay there.

"Ryoka! I'm serious! He disappeared the same time you did when you went to that school. He probably followed you Ryoka! He's gone!"

My hand stopped on the knob. I shuddered in the mere thought that there was truth in their words. They wouldn't lie about something so serious would they? No, logically not.

I turned--tears running from my eyes.

"--but what about Ayato?!"

"There is no Ayato!" My father finally yelled.

I froze.

Time seemed to stand still, as I began questioning my own mind. Was he right? Was he telling the truth? No, he was wrong--my own perception dictated that as such.

"Of course. Fool..." I muttered.

"Ryoka!" My Dad yelled, I yelled louder.

"Dad! Of course you can't see him! Nobody but me can see him! Just like the Corrupt!" My voice boomed to an extent where my own ears had tuned me out. I had slammed my fist on the wall and tears were rolling now like a waterfall. I stared at my father--we both knew my reasoning was illogical. I questioned my own words--regretably so.

Silence greeted us. Silence with knowing that I was wrong.

"I knew you were sick Ryoka. I knew you had too much work, too many studies to maintain a decent sanity. I only pretended to see 'Ayato', Ryoka, why do you think I had the name wrong before you told it to me?"

"I never told you his name..." I replied breathlessly.

"You did. It was always you. Ayato never existed."

My back hit the door. Too much of this began to make sense. I was wondering, the entire while, if I were going insane. Wouldn't it make much more sense, to assume that I was? Would it then be logical to assume that I had even imagined the extra policemen? Imagined the police chasing Ayato? Imagined the fight at the school?! I slid down slowly, staring at the floor.

"Nevermind that now. I shouldn't have encouraged you. It's made you neglect Kaori--it's made you influence your 'real' little brother into following you into your world of disillusion. Your 'corrupt' aren't real, your 'Ayato' is not real, and now your little brother is missing."

The officer stared out the window. It was still raining, and the window seemed as if it were crying along with me. How bad it felt, to find out that Ayato hadn't died, but instead he was never real.

I held myself tightly. What about Kaori? Did I even care about him anymore? Why did he go and follow me? Why did he have to go and get lost?!

It was then it clicked. My tears came to an immediate halt.

The bow. The bow was real! My little brother had touched it, along with the sword. Did that mean the corrupt were real? All those times on my roof--was I fighting with myself?

At that time, it was less logical to go with my own intuition. At that time, it was safer to assume that I was crazy. But--I had always had an over estimation of myself. I had always believed my own observations, and my own conclusions. Why would I stop now?

"Let me guess then." I finally said, all sobbing aside.

"You've searched for him already? Every where? You couldn't find him, right?"

My Dad had calmed, at least if only a little. "Of course."

"Then" I began, "I know where to find him."

Even if Ayato weren't real--even if I had imagined a monster fighting little brother, that didn't mean what I saw the day I found the bows wasn't real. That didn't mean that everything was a lie. That didn't mean that corrupt didn't exist. My heart began to race.

"Take me to the school."

"No can do on that." The officer murmured from his previous silence. I scowled.

"You gotta stay here. It's either here or jail--you ain't gettin' off that easy. We got people searchin' that school already. If he's there, they'll find him."

I looked to my Dad. My tears weren't necessarily dried yet, so the sad look I gave him must've had more affect than usual.

"I'll take him home." My father finally said. But I already knew the silent agreement we both had. He'd take me to the school, and I'd find Kaori. My Dad may have been a failure at cooking, but he was no failure as a father.
---

"This way!" I tugged, carrying my father from hallway to hallway. The halls were lit up brightly, and classroom doors were open by the numbers. We even saw the school principal outside standing in her night robe. Luckily, the officers let us by--for the most part. A lot of times we had to sneak past, but that was no big deal.

My father began yelling Kaori's name when I told him we were close. I hadn't the heart to explain that I didn't think Kaori was actually here. Instead, I was here for something else. Some 'proof' to show that I wasn't crazy. I hadn't imagined everything--there's no way I did.

The door to my classroom was already open. The lights were tossed on, and the room had already been searched. When I pulled my father in the classroom, I could feel he felt disheartened. I began examining the board--while my father stood back... his anxiety growing.

I could tell he was beginning not to trust me.

"Ryoka. What exactly are we doing here again?"

I ignored his growing suspicion.

Slowly I examined the chalkboard. The remnants of when the corrupt attacked and controlled me had been wiped away by the teacher, but I could still vaguely see its remains. I studied it closely.

"S-sorry father... I'm just, looking for clues that could tell me where Kaori's been."

My Dad had doubt.

I began taking a stalk of chalk and going over the lines that looked like they belonged to me. Slowly it began to spell the same thing it had the other day. The twisted and unsymmetric combination of letters that spelled 'broken'. Ayato had described the word before, but now I had my doubts. If Ayato weren't real, then this could mean anything.

"Broken..." My father spelled out.

I looked at it closely. My father had read the same thing; broken. Finally it clicked.

"Father! You're the worst detective there is!"

"...W-watch it!"

"No I mean... If 'you' think this means broken... then--" I turned back to the writing. I looked at it upside down, side to side, I wrote it on a piece of paper, exactly as it was written on the board.

"It doesn't mean broken father. You're wrong again." I nearly chuckled, still struggling against the distant thought of an inexistent Ayato. Though I held my tears.

"...Broken, is consistent with the numbers 2, 18, 15, 11, 5, and 14. These numbers are combined to equal the grand total of 065. There's a room, in the basement, called 065 that not many people are aware of. I bet you, if we look--we'll..."

"We'll find Kaori." My father broke in.

I turned around cautiously. I stared up at him, to meet eyes that were now cold stone. I shuddered under his presence, I could tell he had come to a conclusion. They all did; him, and the two officers that now stood in the doorway.

Slowly, I asked what I already knew; what I had already deducted.

"W-what's going on...?"

"Ryoka... Did you kidnap your little brother?"
---
---Next Time