Chapter 5: E is for Ending
(by Jenx, added on 2006-03-25 16:56:54 AEST) [Discussion Topic]
Kuro hadn’t expected happily ever after, but he had expected more than this. Livestock died by execution; he was a fighter. There was no dignity in the white room, the spotless walls, the complete serenity of a bright Saturday morning.
“It’s almost noon,” Fai said, staring past Kurogane’s head at the tiny barred window.
“Mmm. That’s when they kill us?”
“Yeah.” Fai smiled again, an ironically genuine smile. “I guess it beats just waiting.”
“No last word?” Kurogane asked. “Dying confessions of your dark past?”
“Only if I get a dying confession of love,” Fai replied. He sat back against the wall and let the smile fade. “…No. We’ve always kept secrets. There’s no reason to change now.”
Silence settled over them. It was a sharp contrast to the usual chatter, but not entirely unpleasant. There was nothing to say. Nothing would change at this point.
Kurogane woke up to a soft hiss, which was disturbing because he didn’t remember going to sleep. His eyes were assaulted by the fluorescent lights, then adjusted. He frowned, eyes darting from side to side in search of the noise. Fai just smiled. It was an eerie smile, a tweak of the lips that meant nothing. He pointed up.
Kurogane followed his finger to the air duct in the ceiling, which was spewing a misty gas. Hmm. He watched it float downwards, half-obscuring Fai in a milky fog. He opened his mouth- this was it. Last words were now.
But they weren’t. Words had their time. Death had its. The serpent hiss filled the silence. A clammy hand attached itself to Kurogane’s wrist, then groped its way down, intertwining its freezing fingers with his own. Kurogane squeezed the hand once, and Fai squeezed back. The hiss was fading, along with the fluorescent lights, and all that was left was the white and the hand. The grip was tighter now, clenched against the heavy drowsiness of poison. Then it stopped. The hand, slick with sweat, slipped away. Kurogane closed his eyes and shut out the white.
The dark was warmer anyways.
Dude, where did THAT come from? Huh. |
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