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The Eighth Plane

Chapter 14, Betrayal

It was approaching.

I backed away as my father gave a grin of insanity. The officers pounded on the door in growing impatience. I could tell that Dad would no longer comply to our agreement. He looked as if he'd lost his mind! I turned around quickly and I could swear I heard him cackle. I ran for the back exit. Why was the house so dark? It was as if they surrounded me!

Who you ask? The Corrupt.

I stopped cold as the being seemed to surround me. The only light to aid me cast from the distant night sky-and filtered into tiny holes along the doorway floor. I took a small breath. My father wasn't following me-I hoped. Naturally I kept checking behind myself. Was this another one of my crazy hallucinations? Was I going mad again?

I didn't have time to wonder. I heard the officers slam through the front door and hurry through the house. My father's cackle still echoed through my head. It seemed as if he were there with me; in the dark. I stared several feet before me at the door to the outside. It was dark…

I silently wondered what would happen if I entered the black. Would I be pulled into an endless void? Should I leave the house or stay inside? I was too afraid! I could only picture those giant white eyes staring me down… I could only picture it smothering me!

And then came the roar, "Check the back! He's around here somewhere!"

I nearly jumped. I had no choice! It was now or never. I ran for the door just as fast as I could. I could already feel the brush of cold wind running me through. I could already taste the night air. My hand darted for the doorknob!

I awaited the swift breeze of cool air; but it never came. Instead only fear came to grip me as I froze in the doorway. Slowly, I realized my abrupt fear. Slowly, I began turning around. Slowly, I turned to answer the sudden questions of my quaking mind.

Was there someone behind me?

The Corrupt creature stood with arms hanging like rope. It reached a mere five feet above the ground and stared at me with its tilted head. It was the same creature from my class; the same creature from the schoolyard; the same creature from my rooftop! It stood standing there with eyes of wonder-as my fear weighed over me like a plague.

Before I knew it, I had darted out the door when the beast had lunged at me. I ran across the fields one by one. I ran through the empty streets, I veered past parked and empty cars, I sprinted through neighborhood yards; I had to get away!

I could hear sirens behind me. The officers; they knew where I was! I spotted the school and took my usual shortcut. I squeezed through a broken fence and splashed through a puddle of mud. The side of the school slowly came into view. Was the corrupt still following me?

I came to an exhausted stop at the side of a building. I hurried to catch my breath. The school was just a road away-the search squad had gone home. I slowly neared the side of the street. My objective was clear. Kaori was there!

Suddenly I found myself kneeling beneath a sickening screech! I hastily covered my ears and squeezed my eyes shut as the squeal only grew louder and more menacing. What was making this noise? Could anyone else hear it? It scratched through my body and almost seemed to isolate itself around me. I attempted to open my eyes. It encircled me-taunted me! I couldn't take it! This screech wasn't an outside source.

It was in my mind!

I shook my head at the questions of my sanity. I began to wonder if I really was insane. Had I really made this entire thing up? Was I hearing things that weren't real?! I fell and pulled myself into a ball under the pain. I wondered if it would never end. I wondered if my mind was tearing itself apart!

And then-as if it never existed, it was gone.

I huffed loudly and attempted to open my eyes. My ears rang as if beaten by a frying pan. My vision blurred in and out in a daze. I lifted myself from the street. The wind cooed as if nothing was wrong. Time went forward without a care in the world. Slowly, I looked back at the school. If the corrupt really weren't real, then maybe they were the darkness trapped within my mind.

Maybe I really did know where Kaori was. Maybe I just wanted to keep myself from it. At that moment-I had acknowledged my true battle. The entire world seemed to spin around me as I realized my alter egos. There was Ayato-the kid who I wished I was. There was the corrupt-the darkness that filled any human's mind.

…And then there was Ayime. The sister I had always wanted…

They were all a part of me; nothing more than fabrications of my breaking mind. The idea wasn't so crazy… But I had to cling to one reality. I had to address one true fact. Kaori was real-and I needed to save him; from myself.

I had never noticed how eerily the schoolyard looked with no one around.

The trees reached for me as if to steal away the little bit of life I had left. The wind called to me as if to taunt me into insanity once again. Leaves flew from the sky like droplets of lost hope in a sea of darkness…

No; I couldn't let my mind fall prey now! I couldn't let the darkness take over. I had a job to do.

I could hear the broken school gate in the far back; squeaking and moaning, as if calling me over as I wandered through the yard. I took cautious steps. There was no telling what would come after me-and I couldn't help but remember my encounter in the school a few hours before.

It felt as if countless spirits awaited me in its countless halls. I crept to the two doors that covered the main entry. Of course, the school was locked. I sighed in a weak breath and began to look around. There had to be something to break the lock with; maybe a rock, or a stick.

What would Ayato do if he were here? I laughed to myself as I pictured his reaction. He'd probably chew the lock off knowing him! If only Ayato were here, I thought. If only he could do those wacky things that I made him do.

It was then that I noticed the open window to the basement.

I quickly climbed through and landed awkwardly against the wall. The floor was a bit higher, and I struggled to get to my feet. Finally rising, I began to look around. The halls echoed in the last floor's chilling air. Ominous paintings from the doors and walls seemed to reach out at me in longing. They wailed for me-they wanted some of my life.

"Sorry walls," I apologized, running past. "I have a job to do."

The halls extended further and further and I ran through in navigation for several minutes. I had a sense of where I was going-but had no means of knowing for sure. It was dark, and I had never even seen the basement before much less traversed it. I had begun to doubt that Kaori was down there…

"Kaori," I called. My voice was low-as if expecting to wake something else up. I quickened my pace as I made my way for door 065. Kaori had to be in there. Where else would I put him? Why else would I write that code on my teacher's board?

As I called my brother's name, the walls around me grew more ominous. They began to call my name. They began to whisper to me, and mimic me as I searched frantically. They were mocking me! They were mocking my resolve. I couldn't help it, my anger only grew; my anger and my fear.

Crazy or not, I wanted to be out of there. There was no one around-yet everything called to me. The chairs outside of the rooms, the papers posted on the walls, the walls themselves!

Quickly I stopped.

The picture soon became clear. My resolve had reasoned its way out. There was only one way I'd find my way through this maze. There was only one way I wouldn't be scared-the only way I'd know where Kaori was.

I'd have to give in to the darkness. I'd have to become the corrupt.

My heart rate only increased. My breathing grew hasty in short gasps.

I had subjected myself to the very thing that I feared. I had given myself willing to the corrupt.

And so I faced the far end of the hall. I faced the darkness that covered large corners, and seemed to creep slowly toward me as the moon began disappeared behind the many rooftops outside. I stared at it carefully. I studied it, and determined that it was only my mind. It was only me. I had created this creature; it was in my head!

And so I waited for it. I sat with my legs crossed and my arms rested. Sweat fell like the aftermath of a storm from my face. I had chosen to face my insanity. It was the only way to find my brother. I had to become insane again; to delve into its mind.

I held my breath now. I looked into the darkness as if a monster would creep out of it at any moment. I knew it would-I knew the corrupt was coming for me. It wanted me-I could sense its lust for insanity. The halls screeched and squealed beside me. The reached out now as far as ever. I ignored them. They couldn't have me-not until Kaori was safe.

It approached slowly, along with it, rose my fear. I began to hear the same whispers as before. They were louder now-and they sounded different-but I knew what it was. I knew who was coming. I was beginning to fear my own body; to fear my own mind. What would I do to myself in insanity? Where would I go?

If I did find Kaori, what would I do to him?! I jumped up quickly and my fear shot up with it. The halls screamed at my reaction and darkness seemed to lunge out at me. I yelled in terror and ran the opposite direction. The chase had begun! The corrupt was after me! After my soul!

I threw myself around countless corners. I could hear it behind me; it screeched like mad! I didn't want to look back-I knew I wouldn't see that small creature I had always seen before. I'd see something more; something terrifying! I yelled louder-I called for help. I didn't want to be there! I wanted to go home!

A wall! I ran toward a wall-the end of my trails! I was blocked and cornered-I couldn't run any further. I had to confront the darkness-I had to be taken by insanity. I yelled louder as I turned around and shielded myself from the darkness that ran with the weight of a bull! I gave one last yelp!

And then silence…

I waited for the impact as if expecting to be hit by a car. I shivered and covered myself-without looking at what would be right there. I had covered my eyes, I didn't want to see. I didn't want to live… I wanted it to end-the fear was too much!

Slowly, I opened my eyes. The halls looked just as empty as before. The darkness had not moved, and the walls had stayed in place. The corrupt weren't here. They weren't watching.

"They don't exist!" I told myself.

I began searching door after door, trekking hall after hall. I yelled Kaori's name now, convinced of my insanity. Would he really respond to me? I was the one who did this to him-why would he trust me now?

My voice caught in my throat as I called. I couldn't just give up-I had to try all the same.

I yelled again, "Kaori!"

No answer. I had already checked room 065. I was only greeted with my own image-the Janitor's closet with a mirror in the back. My deduction was wrong, but I searched the basement anyway. Anywhere else and the officers would have found him.

…But finally I had decided to check the floor above the basement. There was no way he could be down there-I checked every place I had access to. I would've heard his screaming otherwise. I would have heard him cry.

I stopped…

Was I hearing him? Did I hear his call?

I waited and opened my ears. I could hear a faint whine-the sound you'd hear when a child awoke scared. Of course… he was asleep! I called his name again quickly-I had to find his voice!

It came again. It was a loud-yet weak whine that sounded from one of the rooms! I rushed from my spot In that hall and checked all of the rooms again. I put my ear against the doors that were locked. He was definitely in there. I began slamming my body into the door. I began heaving myself. It was no use. How could I get in? How could I save Kaori!? He was in there all alone!

…My pocket?

Before I realized it, I had pulled out a small set of keys. I stared at them curiously. I had never seen them before. They were obviously mine-and I knew what they were to.

Click!

The door opened and I crashed through in relief! I called his name loudly again. I couldn't help but smile as I realized that he was here. He was safe!

Yet, what I saw was far from worth smiling over. I stared in horror at my brother on the floor. Cuts lined his face carefully, and his clothes were torn in various spots. He barely looked like himself-he had been beaten to near death… He had been beaten by me.

Suddenly he screamed. He scrambled himself from puddle of his own blood and backed into the corner of the darkness whilst pointing at me. He repeated something that I couldn't understand. I shook my head and tried calming him with my words.

"It's okay-I'm here! You're safe!"

He muffled something under the shock of his own fear. His body trembled against the wall as he slipped over the wet floor. I couldn't make out what he was saying. I couldn't make out his words.

Yet-slowly-I began to catch their meaning. My eyes narrowed as he began to plead for his life. He was afraid of me-and his words made that clear.

"…S-stay away from me!"

…I held the knife curiously and wondered what I would do. I knew the answer to this final equation. I knew what had to be done. One thing out of this was for sure, however. I had burned it into my mind as I approached my brother with stern strides…

…I was insane.

Description
The Eighth Plane

Chapter 14, Betrayal

It was approaching.

I backed away as my father gave a grin of insanity. The officers pounded on the door in growing impatience. I could tell that Dad would no longer comply to our agreement. He looked as if he'd lost his mind! I turned around quickly and I could swear I heard him cackle. I ran for the back exit. Why was the house so dark? It was as if they surrounded me!

Who you ask? The Corrupt.

I stopped cold as the being seemed to surround me. The only light to aid me cast from the distant night sky-and filtered into tiny holes along the doorway floor. I took a small breath. My father wasn't following me-I hoped. Naturally I kept checking behind myself. Was this another one of my crazy hallucinations? Was I going mad again?

I didn't have time to wonder. I heard the officers slam through the front door and hurry through the house. My father's cackle still echoed through my head. It seemed as if he were there with me; in the dark. I stared several feet before me at the door to the outside. It was dark…

I silently wondered what would happen if I entered the black. Would I be pulled into an endless void? Should I leave the house or stay inside? I was too afraid! I could only picture those giant white eyes staring me down… I could only picture it smothering me!

And then came the roar, "Check the back! He's around here somewhere!"

I nearly jumped. I had no choice! It was now or never. I ran for the door just as fast as I could. I could already feel the brush of cold wind running me through. I could already taste the night air. My hand darted for the doorknob!

I awaited the swift breeze of cool air; but it never came. Instead only fear came to grip me as I froze in the doorway. Slowly, I realized my abrupt fear. Slowly, I began turning around. Slowly, I turned to answer the sudden questions of my quaking mind.

Was there someone behind me?

The Corrupt creature stood with arms hanging like rope. It reached a mere five feet above the ground and stared at me with its tilted head. It was the same creature from my class; the same creature from the schoolyard; the same creature from my rooftop! It stood standing there with eyes of wonder-as my fear weighed over me like a plague.

Before I knew it, I had darted out the door when the beast had lunged at me. I ran across the fields one by one. I ran through the empty streets, I veered past parked and empty cars, I sprinted through neighborhood yards; I had to get away!

I could hear sirens behind me. The officers; they knew where I was! I spotted the school and took my usual shortcut. I squeezed through a broken fence and splashed through a puddle of mud. The side of the school slowly came into view. Was the corrupt still following me?

I came to an exhausted stop at the side of a building. I hurried to catch my breath. The school was just a road away-the search squad had gone home. I slowly neared the side of the street. My objective was clear. Kaori was there!

Suddenly I found myself kneeling beneath a sickening screech! I hastily covered my ears and squeezed my eyes shut as the squeal only grew louder and more menacing. What was making this noise? Could anyone else hear it? It scratched through my body and almost seemed to isolate itself around me. I attempted to open my eyes. It encircled me-taunted me! I couldn't take it! This screech wasn't an outside source.

It was in my mind!

I shook my head at the questions of my sanity. I began to wonder if I really was insane. Had I really made this entire thing up? Was I hearing things that weren't real?! I fell and pulled myself into a ball under the pain. I wondered if it would never end. I wondered if my mind was tearing itself apart!

And then-as if it never existed, it was gone.

I huffed loudly and attempted to open my eyes. My ears rang as if beaten by a frying pan. My vision blurred in and out in a daze. I lifted myself from the street. The wind cooed as if nothing was wrong. Time went forward without a care in the world. Slowly, I looked back at the school. If the corrupt really weren't real, then maybe they were the darkness trapped within my mind.

Maybe I really did know where Kaori was. Maybe I just wanted to keep myself from it. At that moment-I had acknowledged my true battle. The entire world seemed to spin around me as I realized my alter egos. There was Ayato-the kid who I wished I was. There was the corrupt-the darkness that filled any human's mind.

…And then there was Ayime. The sister I had always wanted…

They were all a part of me; nothing more than fabrications of my breaking mind. The idea wasn't so crazy… But I had to cling to one reality. I had to address one true fact. Kaori was real-and I needed to save him; from myself.

I had never noticed how eerily the schoolyard looked with no one around.

The trees reached for me as if to steal away the little bit of life I had left. The wind called to me as if to taunt me into insanity once again. Leaves flew from the sky like droplets of lost hope in a sea of darkness…

No; I couldn't let my mind fall prey now! I couldn't let the darkness take over. I had a job to do.

I could hear the broken school gate in the far back; squeaking and moaning, as if calling me over as I wandered through the yard. I took cautious steps. There was no telling what would come after me-and I couldn't help but remember my encounter in the school a few hours before.

It felt as if countless spirits awaited me in its countless halls. I crept to the two doors that covered the main entry. Of course, the school was locked. I sighed in a weak breath and began to look around. There had to be something to break the lock with; maybe a rock, or a stick.

What would Ayato do if he were here? I laughed to myself as I pictured his reaction. He'd probably chew the lock off knowing him! If only Ayato were here, I thought. If only he could do those wacky things that I made him do.

It was then that I noticed the open window to the basement.

I quickly climbed through and landed awkwardly against the wall. The floor was a bit higher, and I struggled to get to my feet. Finally rising, I began to look around. The halls echoed in the last floor's chilling air. Ominous paintings from the doors and walls seemed to reach out at me in longing. They wailed for me-they wanted some of my life.

"Sorry walls," I apologized, running past. "I have a job to do."

The halls extended further and further and I ran through in navigation for several minutes. I had a sense of where I was going-but had no means of knowing for sure. It was dark, and I had never even seen the basement before much less traversed it. I had begun to doubt that Kaori was down there…

"Kaori," I called. My voice was low-as if expecting to wake something else up. I quickened my pace as I made my way for door 065. Kaori had to be in there. Where else would I put him? Why else would I write that code on my teacher's board?

As I called my brother's name, the walls around me grew more ominous. They began to call my name. They began to whisper to me, and mimic me as I searched frantically. They were mocking me! They were mocking my resolve. I couldn't help it, my anger only grew; my anger and my fear.

Crazy or not, I wanted to be out of there. There was no one around-yet everything called to me. The chairs outside of the rooms, the papers posted on the walls, the walls themselves!

Quickly I stopped.

The picture soon became clear. My resolve had reasoned its way out. There was only one way I'd find my way through this maze. There was only one way I wouldn't be scared-the only way I'd know where Kaori was.

I'd have to give in to the darkness. I'd have to become the corrupt.

My heart rate only increased. My breathing grew hasty in short gasps.

I had subjected myself to the very thing that I feared. I had given myself willing to the corrupt.

And so I faced the far end of the hall. I faced the darkness that covered large corners, and seemed to creep slowly toward me as the moon began disappeared behind the many rooftops outside. I stared at it carefully. I studied it, and determined that it was only my mind. It was only me. I had created this creature; it was in my head!

And so I waited for it. I sat with my legs crossed and my arms rested. Sweat fell like the aftermath of a storm from my face. I had chosen to face my insanity. It was the only way to find my brother. I had to become insane again; to delve into its mind.

I held my breath now. I looked into the darkness as if a monster would creep out of it at any moment. I knew it would-I knew the corrupt was coming for me. It wanted me-I could sense its lust for insanity. The halls screeched and squealed beside me. The reached out now as far as ever. I ignored them. They couldn't have me-not until Kaori was safe.

It approached slowly, along with it, rose my fear. I began to hear the same whispers as before. They were louder now-and they sounded different-but I knew what it was. I knew who was coming. I was beginning to fear my own body; to fear my own mind. What would I do to myself in insanity? Where would I go?

If I did find Kaori, what would I do to him?! I jumped up quickly and my fear shot up with it. The halls screamed at my reaction and darkness seemed to lunge out at me. I yelled in terror and ran the opposite direction. The chase had begun! The corrupt was after me! After my soul!

I threw myself around countless corners. I could hear it behind me; it screeched like mad! I didn't want to look back-I knew I wouldn't see that small creature I had always seen before. I'd see something more; something terrifying! I yelled louder-I called for help. I didn't want to be there! I wanted to go home!

A wall! I ran toward a wall-the end of my trails! I was blocked and cornered-I couldn't run any further. I had to confront the darkness-I had to be taken by insanity. I yelled louder as I turned around and shielded myself from the darkness that ran with the weight of a bull! I gave one last yelp!

And then silence…

I waited for the impact as if expecting to be hit by a car. I shivered and covered myself-without looking at what would be right there. I had covered my eyes, I didn't want to see. I didn't want to live… I wanted it to end-the fear was too much!

Slowly, I opened my eyes. The halls looked just as empty as before. The darkness had not moved, and the walls had stayed in place. The corrupt weren't here. They weren't watching.

"They don't exist!" I told myself.

I began searching door after door, trekking hall after hall. I yelled Kaori's name now, convinced of my insanity. Would he really respond to me? I was the one who did this to him-why would he trust me now?

My voice caught in my throat as I called. I couldn't just give up-I had to try all the same.

I yelled again, "Kaori!"

No answer. I had already checked room 065. I was only greeted with my own image-the Janitor's closet with a mirror in the back. My deduction was wrong, but I searched the basement anyway. Anywhere else and the officers would have found him.

…But finally I had decided to check the floor above the basement. There was no way he could be down there-I checked every place I had access to. I would've heard his screaming otherwise. I would have heard him cry.

I stopped…

Was I hearing him? Did I hear his call?

I waited and opened my ears. I could hear a faint whine-the sound you'd hear when a child awoke scared. Of course… he was asleep! I called his name again quickly-I had to find his voice!

It came again. It was a loud-yet weak whine that sounded from one of the rooms! I rushed from my spot In that hall and checked all of the rooms again. I put my ear against the doors that were locked. He was definitely in there. I began slamming my body into the door. I began heaving myself. It was no use. How could I get in? How could I save Kaori!? He was in there all alone!

…My pocket?

Before I realized it, I had pulled out a small set of keys. I stared at them curiously. I had never seen them before. They were obviously mine-and I knew what they were to.

Click!

The door opened and I crashed through in relief! I called his name loudly again. I couldn't help but smile as I realized that he was here. He was safe!

Yet, what I saw was far from worth smiling over. I stared in horror at my brother on the floor. Cuts lined his face carefully, and his clothes were torn in various spots. He barely looked like himself-he had been beaten to near death… He had been beaten by me.

Suddenly he screamed. He scrambled himself from puddle of his own blood and backed into the corner of the darkness whilst pointing at me. He repeated something that I couldn't understand. I shook my head and tried calming him with my words.

"It's okay-I'm here! You're safe!"

He muffled something under the shock of his own fear. His body trembled against the wall as he slipped over the wet floor. I couldn't make out what he was saying. I couldn't make out his words.

Yet-slowly-I began to catch their meaning. My eyes narrowed as he began to plead for his life. He was afraid of me-and his words made that clear.

"…S-stay away from me!"

…I held the knife curiously and wondered what I would do. I knew the answer to this final equation. I knew what had to be done. One thing out of this was for sure, however. I had burned it into my mind as I approached my brother with stern strides…

…I was insane.