Chapter 14 - Voices

The speed at which we get further and further from the source of the waking nightmare that seems to be my life... it's too slow, yet too fast. It's my past, but on the other hand, my past is a flamin' mess. Especially where He is concerned. Or rather, where I am concerned.

The temple of the Etiord is now but a distant form on the horizon, like a sore sticking from the flesh of the world. But here, where I now stand, peace seems to be just within reach. Trees reach towards the sky, beckoning the fallen giants to challenge their decree of safety, of peace, of solitude.

But we'll never have peace!

Though perhaps, we might.

Idiot. Hope is dead! Like your old homes!

No!

I wish I could shake the thought that it looks like my old homes: all of them. No doubt the same fate is in store for it, whether it be by flames, acid, or some other means. Darkness spreads, while light hides from the shadows. Without expansion, the light cannot hope to survive. And so, all my dreams are destined to come crashing back down once reality kicks in.

"We're here, Eniepe. Well, sort of. We just need to wait for the guards to admit us. So sit and wait for now, and tell me a bit about yourself. I like to know all of my hunters on a personal level, and you'll learn plenty of me once we meet up with the pack."

Should probably lay my Father down on a patch of moss, so I can rest. He looks fine now, except for the, well, bite mark. Now to rest my legs. Not much around here, except for a slightly rotten log. How fitting: a rotten log for a rotten mutt.

Wait, didn't the boss have a question? Yeah, yeah. What was it? Talking about my past! That's it!

"Well... I suppose that depends on what you would like to know? And where to start..."

"Well, I guess the reason you say flames so much isn't fair game-"

"It's not."

"-actually, you haven't said it recently. You feelin' better?"

I just want to finally bury my father.

He hates us!

He's still me hero!

Pathetic. Absolutely pathetic! Say something else!

No!

Weakling! No wonder they didn't want you!

Fine.

"One might say that, though I suppose better is merely an interpretation of the severity of one's troubles."

"You're glass seems ta be overflowin' kid."

Wait, what is she talking about!?

"Woah, hol' up. What do you mean by glass? Last thing I need are more shards."

I swear, if they make me walk on glass...

"Uhh... a cup? What else could I mea - hey, how many years were ya alone for after tha... uh..."

"Burning?"

"Yeah."

"All of them? Your point?"

"No one else?"

"I had my parents for a little while, but yeah; that's about right."

"We'll have to see how well we can integrate ya to the pack. I am curious, howevah, how ya didn't go insane."

"Insane, sane... what's the difference? Is there even one?"

She's gonna think we're nuts and have us locked up!

It was gonna happen sooner or later with our idiocy!

You're idiocy, you filthy mutt! We are not stupid, you are.

"Maybe we are..."

"What's that? I can't hear ya. Ya mumbled there."

Flames! She heard us! Like I said, your idiocy!

"Quiet! She heard me! Not you!"

Now she knows you're talking to me, you flaming idiot!

"I know that!"

"Calm down, kid!"

Now Granuail's responding to you, ya stupid mutt!

"Flames, did I just yell that? Sorry..."

Idiot!

"I said I was sorry!"

Doesn't stop you from being a flaming failure!

"I know! Now shut it you flaming j-"

"Calm down. There's no need ta talk to me like tha' kid. Just calm... down..."

"I wasn't talking to you."

Why did you tell here that, you flaming idiot! She didn't know!

"I didn't want the boss to be mad at us!"

Stop talking out loud! She'll find us out!

"Hehehe, why do we flaming care? No one knows, but it doesn't matter, right? We'll just bury the hero I failed who we're trying to carry on our back, and then proceed from there."

Do something right and get revenge!

"Vengeance?"

Hush, you flaming idiot, they'll know what we're up to!

"Kid, are ya' okay? What are ya' up to? And why are ya hunched ova' like that? And mutterin' to yourself?"

"Ha! We don't even know what we're up to!"

"Look, kid... we're gonna have ta' lock you up, just for now. You don't seem okay, and, well, we don't want ya hurting yourself."

She doesn't care! They just don't want you to hurt them.

"Ha! Like we'll believe that! You, you don't care! No one does! Not since the flaming day where I lost everything! Do you hear me?! I know it's a lie! Everything's a lie! Joy, happiness, hope, peace! They're all fake! Hahahaha I can't believe I didn't see it before! Comfort is fake, only pain can set me free. Pain can set me free... free... free..."

"K-kid! You need to calm down!"

"Calm down? Calm down?! I am calm!"

No, we're not! We don't need to be, though.

"But she's the boss..."

"Kid, what are ya' planning? I don't want ta' hurt ya' if I can help it."

"Oh please; everyone wants to! Even us! Ain't that right?"

Oh yes, yes indeed.

"See? They said yes!"

"Who?"

"The voice."

"What do they sound like?"

"Sorta like me. Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why does it... why do you pretend to care?"

"I'm not pretending. Just calm... down."

She lies, just like the Etiord!

"Well, we'll need to get going. The guards should give us the go-ahead soon."

They're gonna hit us when we least expect it! We can't run away!

"Wha-what? No, no! They... they wouldn't."

"Who wouldn't what?"

See! She's trying to throw you off the trail! Quick, get her before the other's arrive and finish you off! Run at them, never away!

"No... I don't want to! I won't!"

Don't forget... I control you. I'm the only one strong enough to make the decisions around here.

"Gah! Fine. Death to the traitors."

"Who's a traitor? What are ya' doing, kid?"

"What needs to be done, boss. The voice wills it."

"What does it will?"

"Your death, Granuail. Your death."