Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ Sacrifice ❯ Ohanna, the Dark Bride ( Chapter 5 )

XxXx

Sacrifice

By: Melissa Norvell

Chapter 5: Ohanna, the Dark Bride

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The mysterious woman's gaze fell upon Azmy. Ko, who was laying on her side at the bottom of the stairs propped herself up on her forearms and looked up to the other girl, noticing how close she and the bride were standing. They were nearly face to face and Azmy could see her features clearly.

"Azmy!" She shouted to the girl.

"Ko!" Azmy shouted back and looked over the bride's shoulder to see her friend below. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," Ko replied. "What's going on?"

"The woman from the painting…"

"What?"

Azmy ran down the stairs as fast as she could to her fallen friend, passing through the apparition. As she ran through the body of the bride, she felt an unsettling cold presence that caused her skin to feel like ice. "That's who I saw," she finally said when she reached Ko at the bottom of the stairs. Her body was like ice from her contact with the bride.

"It has to be something. I saw her plain as day," the singer replied. She knew that was no illusion of the eyes. That dark-haired woman was there, and she wanted to know why.

Azmy glanced back to the top of the stairs which was now void of any form of life normal or paranormal. She thought about what she'd seen and tried to come up with as many cynical excuses as possible but no matter how she tried to answer it logically, she knew that she wasn't going insane and there was, in fact a ghost.

"She's gone."

"What took you so long?" A calm and eerie male voice intoned as both girls shrieked in fright. The last thing they needed was another ghost bearing down on them. It was true that they knew others had died there as well, but the two of them had all if the shock they could take for one day.

"Mind not showing up out of nowhere like that?" Ko fumed, noticing that it was only Kabuto. "It's kind of creepy!" How the hell did he get there without the two of them hearing him approaching? The floors were all marble. They should have heard footsteps.

"You two were the only ones not at dinner. I was worried," Kabuto had noticed their absence and went off to search for them. It was odd that they didn't show up. He had figured that something must have happened on their end, or they were off sticking their noses where they didn't belong, despite his warnings.

"We're fine. Ko just fell down the stairs."

"Yeah, I missed the floor and got the stairs instead," Ko lied, not wanting to tell him that she had seen the woman. It might cause Kabuto to either think they were crazy or arouse some suspicion and further questioning by the man. She didn't feel like putting up with that right now, the two of them gone through enough for one day without the Spanish Inquisition being involved.

"You should try and be more careful," he advised. "I'll escort you to the dining hall."

Both girls nodded.

XxXx

In the dining hall, everyone was sitting at a long table, big enough for over twenty people and awaited Ko and Azmy. The ceilings were high, and a beautiful chandelier hung above, light radiating from its crystal-like pattern, and a large portrait of the same woman hung on the wall, overlooking her guests. Their heads all turned in unison upon seeing the three enter late. They were happy that they had finally showed up.

"There you are," Undine was happy to have found them. "I was beginning to worry."

"Did you get lost?" Fife asked. This place was pretty big, so he couldn't blame them if something ended up happening.

"No, Ko just fell down the stairs," Azmy told them. She figured that she might as well tell them the truth, just in case Ko ended up hurt later.

"Yeah," the girl admitted with dead pan. She didn't really like the excuse but she knew that she had no choice but to go with it. "Something like that…"

The large portrait caught Keiji's glance as his eyes laid fully upon the sight before him.

It was a large painting of the mysterious woman whose image seemed to flood the old house. It was framed in an old-style gold picture frame and enclosed the portrait's subject nicely. Many questions plagued the boy's mind about her whereabouts. He was beginning to become apprehensive. Kabuto knew the legend so well. He had to know something about her, especially since he talked of her so intimately as if he had once known her when she existed on a mortal plain.

"Hey, who is this lady?" He finally asked. The questions ate away at him until he was forced to speak. He was hoping for an answer but was unsure of actually getting the results. Even if Kabuto was willing to tell them, no doubt there would be pieces of the story that were left untold.

"Yeah, we see her everywhere. She's very beautiful and mysterious," Chichiri complimented, staring at the picture.

Ko looked perturbed, "didn't know you liked that type…"

"I usually don't…but I can't help but feel this attraction to her," he said wistfully, almost as if his mind wasn't in this world, "like I want to know more about her." He wasn't going to lie; the girl in the portrait was indeed attractive. Ko was right, he wasn't usually the type to fall for refined, sophisticated women as he saw them high-maintenance but there was something about this woman that he couldn't pull his gaze from. Her very form commanded attention, and like so many who had drowned in her beauty before him, Chichiri was pulled in by her unspoken spell.

"You can't," Keiji let the cold, hard facts be known to his friend, "she's dead. Kabuto told us earlier that she was one of many casualties that occurred here."

Kabuto was silent.

"Yeah, but she's important somehow," Ko knew that to be fact. That ghost didn't just show up for no good reason. She was searching for something, looking for some kind of answers from beyond the grave. She was sure of it.

"You guys don't pay attention very well. She died at her wedding, which took place here," Keiji noted. Of course she was important. Kabuto had discussed the impact of her story with them. She was one of the many tragic casualties that happened at this house of horrors.

"Ohanna," the darkly clad man uttered a name in a nostalgic tone.

"What?" Ko asked.

"Hm?" Fife questioned.

"Her name is Moshinaga Ohanna and that picture you're looking at…is cursed."

"Cursed?" Ko asked and glanced at the portrait in curiosity. That was strange of him to say. Why was it cursed? She didn't feel anything from looking at it. To her, it was just some run-of-the-mill Victorian painting. Maybe it only effected men?

"It's said that after the mass wedding death they tried to sell off these paintings. They went through many hands but eventually came back here. All of their previous owners have died…However…Since they are here, people who have come here died as well. They all had a tendency to become fascinated with it and their curiosity was their downfall which led them straight to their death," Kabuto told them the history behind the course of events. No matter where the paintings were, they only led to a series of blood trails.

"Well I guess we'd know who would be next, hm?" Fife mused, looking to his blonde team mate with a peaceful smile on his face.

"Don't even joke like that!" Ko warned. She didn't think it was a bit funny that the feminine boy would make light on a subject like that, especially considering she and Azmy's encounter with the bride on the staircase. She didn't want any omens placed on Chichiri.

"I bet there are tons of ghost stories floating around about this place," Fife mused with great curiosity. With how old the legend was, he figured that the lore behind it would have been equally big. It takes a lot to be placed in second to the Winged Boy legend.

"Yes," Kabuto agreed. "This is a place of myth and legend…of delusion, heartbreak and sorrow."

"Well it's getting late. We should get some sleep," Keiji got up and dismissed himself from the table. "Thank you for the food." He was tired of hearing about all of the unsettling topics that were being brought up anyway. Keiji was shocked that he could even find it in him to get any sleep at this rate.

"Are you going to sleep?" Fife asked, looking up to the boy from his seated position. Keiji looked worn out.

"I'm going to stay up for a little bit," he was going to try to rest, but Keiji knew that it was going to take some time for him to wind down.

"Can I come too? I'm done."

"Me too," Ko added. She didn't want to be left at the table by herself. No way in hell was she falling down those stairs again.

"I guess this is a group leave," Chichiri stood, agreeing that it was time for everyone to go to their respected rooms. Besides, if everyone else was going then he didn't feel like being left alone, Kabuto creeped him out and the thought of eating with him alone sent shivers up his spine.

"Are you leaving too?" Undine asked, looking to Azmy.

The girl looked at her half-eaten food. "I'm not done yet, I'll be there in a minute, `kay?" She smiled warmly at the Undine.

"Alright," she took one final glance at the large portrait hanging on the black wall above before leaving.

The only ones in the dining hall were Kabuto and Azmy. The man straightened his glasses and stood stiff, much like a toy soldier. His emotionless eyes looked over to the girl who was sitting alone and silently finishing her food.

"Don't hesitate to call if you need anything," Kabuto spoke.

"No sweat. I think we've got it covered for now," Chichiri waved from half-way across the room.

"Of course," he looked to Azmy. "Do you need anything, miss?"

"No, I'm fine. Oh, and my name is Azmy," she told him with a smile. It felt odd to call her with such a formal title. If someone called her by her name, she felt more at ease and not so out of place.

"Yes, of course, Azmy." Kabuto corrected himself.

XxXxXx

It was dark and nothing could be seen in the room. It was of undefined length, width and height and seemed to go on forever. The only light that was being emitted was one from a large reflection pool. It lit up an elaborate throne. The cushions were of bright red velvet that almost glowed vibrantly against the small light and the frame was gold and had many elaborate reliefs (1) that resembled a tidal-wave pattern of sorts.

A small woman sat upon this throne, dressed in black clothes. She wore a corset and a skirt that was short in the front and became longer in the back. The corset was composed of leather and the skirt of black veils. This being wore knee-high black boots with many straps and buckles aligning the sides and long leather gloves that looked similar and extended to her mid-bicep. This woman looked strikingly like Undine. One could call them twins, minus a few things that made them dissimilar. Her eyes were of an amber color, while Undine's were pale slate blue and on either of her head, she had two tendrils that curved in and cut straight along the bottom and two chin-length pieces of hair that were had a golden cylinder around the middle of them.

This woman presented an even darker aura than Undine herself.

Below her a woman in revealing red leather lay. She had long black hair that extended to her mid back. Her bangs and the end of her hair in the back were cut straight across and her eyes blue and cat-like with long black lashes. This dark woman also wore a short, tight red leather skirt and a red short top, made from the same substance and was no bigger than a bikini top. It wrapped around her breasts, barely covering them and it was simply held together by two strings in the front that were in an x across her breasts. She also wore knee-high, plastic-looking boots with long, spiked heels and red gloves made of the same material that was just as long as the one sitting in the chair. Her cape was a blood red and tied in the front with a lighter red interior. Around her there were various males, dressed in fine clothing that accented their manly features and each one beautiful and charming in looks. They sat and stood around her, as if they were her adoring fans.

Cold amber eyes looked down to her.

"You've been watching them for a while now," the black-haired woman spoke as she looked to the reflection pool, where the events of what was happening in the haunted house were taking place. The picture was set on Ko and her friends as if it were a movie meant for entertainment.

"Their progress is going according to plan," the mechanical voice spoke.

"Mistress Soel," the black haired woman turned fully to her.

"Yes?" the mechanical female slowly turned her head.

"Have our plans been put into effect yet?" She asked.

"We need them to come into contact with the legend. First, we need his power in order to carry out our mission," Soel spoke.

XxXxXxXxXx

An empty plate sat upon the mahogany table as Azmy stood, untying the white cloth from around her neck as she smiled brilliantly. She was full and now all that was left was to excuse herself and get to her room for a well-deserved night of sleep. After today, she needed the rest. These new people were something else, but she couldn't help but feel happy just being around them. They were all so nice to her.

"That was good!" She chimed, "now, time to head back."

Across the table, an image of Ohanna appeared to her once again as eyes widened in realization. This was, in fact, the same figure that she'd seen at the top of the stairs. But why, why was she appearing now? Why was it only to her?

"Huh? It's her," the girl's voice was barely above a whisper.

The bride looked at her.

"Ohanna…" Azmy said softly not sure of anything else to utter at the moment. She was nearly rendered speechless by the bride's dark presence.

The apparition walked in front of the large portrait which hung on the wall.

"You are the one…Who will prove helpful to me," Ohanna told the girl in a mystifying voice, cryptic in tone.

What did she mean by that? What did she want with her? Azmy didn't understand.

XxXxXx

His blue eyes shot to the side as if someone had been there. "I have more guests…This is the most I've had in a long time," Kabuto was bit baffled at this. All of a sudden so many people were appearing at the same time. It was good for business but odd all the same.

"I think you know why we're here," Hiroshima told him as the two angels stood in front of the front door. Their shadows cast over the man.

"You came on behalf of Ohanna." Kabuto told them. Ohanna had told him of their arrival and he did as he was instructed- to meet them and treat them as allies.

"Of course," Tsurugi agreed. "We support her views."

"I understand. How long will you be staying?"

"Only a couple of days…I see that things have already begun," the black-winged angel noted.

"Of course, you may stay here on the bottom level," Kabuto welcomed them to the house of the dark bride. He had a feeling something interesting was about to happen. When the legend was around, there was always an interesting time to be had.

XxXxXxXx

"I feel odd…like I'm half asleep…but my eyes are wide open," Azmy bent her elbows up. She looked at her palms as a strange fog began to surround her and a lethargic feeling rested in her body. It was as if the parallels between life and death were converging and she was becoming a zombie. The girl felt her self-control slipping and her vision becoming cloudy.

"This all has a purpose. Come with me," Ohanna gestured with her hand as she walked slowly away, her bridal gown fluttering behind her as if it defied gravity.

Azmy's body began to follow her. The girl made inward protests but she couldn't stop it, no matter how hard she tried to struggle against it. This was not by her will. She felt like a marionette being controlled by the cruel hands of its master and forced to do things against its will. 'I'm moving on my own…What's going on?'

"You should never be left alone in the House of the Dark Bride," the bride advised her calmly. Didn't she get the memo from the last time that they had met? Well, things were about to get interesting now.

"Dark Bride?" Azmy questioned, making a connection.

"Welcome to the House of the Dark Bride."

Kabuto's words bounced around within the depths of her mind as her eyes widened. 'She's the legend…What's going on?' Her thoughts repeated as her features lit up with fright. The girl was clueless as to why her body was moving on its own and what she had to do with anything concerning this mysterious woman. She was afraid.

"Don't be frightened," the apparition told her coolly as she looked over her shoulder. "Death is short lived. People fear the unknown without taking in the good options."

"Please," Azmy pleaded, her voice shaky as she tried to reason with the spirit. She didn't want to end up dead. Above all things, she wanted to live.

Ohanna stopped, never even bothering to glance behind her at the girl.

"What are you going to do with me?" She asked. Azmy dreaded the answer, but she knew all too well what the answer might be.

"Humans are easily possessed when their mentality is weakened. However, I need a proper mortal…One that won't break easily…So I need to test you."

"Test me?"

"The trials and tribulations will begin."

XxXxXxXx

"Man, it's late already," Chichiri looked at the clock sitting on a nearby nightstand. Time had considerably passed when they had all left the dinner table to come back to their rooms. It didn't feel like it had been that late, but they had a pretty long, eventful day. Maybe it was the fact that he still had some adrenaline left. He didn't know why, but he felt restless still.

"I wonder where Azmy is," Ko hadn't seen the girl in hours. She was worried and beginning to wonder if Azmy came into contact with Ohanna again. After all, they did see her earlier and that was disturbing enough. Who knew what would happen if that ghoul caught someone off guard while they were alone. She knew that she should have waited for her.

"She stayed behind to finish since she came in late." Chuchiri told her.

"Yeah, but so did I," Ko pointed out that they had come to the table at the same time.

"But you eat fast," Fife pointed out happily.

"She was acting weird. She seemed spacey," Keiji said gravely. He remembered the girl's attitude change before they had all rested. Something happened to her when she and Ko came to the dining hall, but what was it?

"We saw something," Ko looked down, her white bangs shading her eyes and a frown plastered to red lips. It was about time that she told her friends the truth of the situation.

"Really, what," Fife asked curiously.

"Actually, I've seen some things that are beginning to make me wonder." Ko looked up with serious expression on her face. The ghost was the main factor, but there were other, smaller things as well. She didn't like the way things sat, or added up for that matter.

"Yes," Undine agreed. "This place has a strange feel about it…Almost unearthly. It always seems in mourning."

"There's a room with gory paintings in it. Kabuto stopped us before we could go in. I managed to see them through the small crack in the door I made. The room was white and looked like a photo studio room of some type," Ko noted. At first, she thought it was a figment of her imagination, but she was sure of what she laid eyes on. Besides, there was a reason that Kabuto didn't want the two of them snooping around, and she was sure that was it.

"Not to mention all of the cursed pictures around here," Fife added. "Like the one in the dining hall." Why would they keep so many pictures around if they were all cursed? Wasn't that a liability? Yeah, people were there to obviously see the paranormal happenings, but he didn't think Kabuto wanted to see people die. Sure, he was cold, but was he a serial killer?

"And the fact that this place has a lot of ghost stories behind it," Keiji said. That was the most unsettling fact about the House of the Dark Bride. Did they really all die because of a terrible circumstance, or was it something much more?

"That Kabuto guy…He gives me the creeps. He's always lurking around and even though there's so much suspicion going on around here, it's like he knows everything about it," Chichiri added.

"I'm going to go and check on her," Keiji responded. He was worried about the girl. Azmy may be in trouble and she may need his help. No one should be left alone here. It was far too dangerous and untrustworthy of a place

"I'll go with you," Ko volunteered. She wanted to see if Azmy came in to contact with the bride again and what exactly Ohanna wanted with them. Maybe Azmy knew something they didn't and could provide a new window of vision for them.

"Let's all go," Undine advised. "It doesn't seem wise to be left alone or be separated."

"But I'm being lazy," Fife whined playfully as he stretched out across the bed.

Undine felt a drop of sweat run down the back of her head.

"Do you want to get stabbed again?" Ko threatened.

"Oh-kayyy," the feminine male purred.

All of them headed for the dining hall.

Upon first glance it seemed empty. There was no sign of life to be seen but when looking much closer, a figure stood near the end of the table where Azmy once sat. An elegant hand grabbed the side of a white, porcelain plate, lifting it up as eyes peered from behind lenses.

"Okay you creep, where's Azmy?" Ko fumed accusing him of having something to do with her disappearance. After all, it was all too strange that Kabuto knew so much. She was getting tired of all of the mystery. That guy had to have some kind of connection to the Dark Bride, and she was tired of him playing double agent.

"I don't know," Kabuto was perplexed. He honestly had no idea of what they were talking about. Why did they think he was creepy? What was with all of the accusations? If their friend was missing, he would have gladly help them look for her.

"Why should we believe you?" Chichiri asked. This was getting ridiculous. If Kabuto had something to tell them, he shouldn't be hiding things from them…Unless it was some sort of plan.

"You shouldn't but I have no reason to lie," the man retained his innocence. Someone might have taken Azmy, but it wasn't him.

"Will you help us look for her?" Undine asked. "She hasn't come back and the last place we saw her was here." Instead of throwing around mindless accusations, she wanted to work with him instead. Azmy hadn't been gone too long, so they could more than likely find her inside of the building. The more they wasted time, the longer she would be gone.

"Of course, I warned you about being left alone," Kabuto told her.

"Cut the crap and tell us what's really going on," Keiji demanded. He refused to believe that Kabuto was completely innocent in all of this.

"I'm afraid I can't do that."

"Why not," Ko asked. "What are we a part of?"

"This can't be stopped, I'm afraid. It doesn't matter if we know or not. Ohanna will still go through with her plans." The man resisted to help them in any way. It was true, he knew exactly what was going on, he had seen it countless times before and like hell he was going to interfere.

"Plans?" Fife looked baffled.

"This has been going on for a long time…and I'm afraid I can't stop it. Things will continue to escalade at this pace. Let me explain things to you."

XxXxXx

Pure terror and fright were plastered upon the girl's features. She looked as if she might burst out into a fit of insane tears. Her large eyes reflected her inner torment which was driving her to the brink of insanity. Her features almost looked like she was in physical pain as images ran through her head at light speed.

"Now, you see the events that befell everyone here. You can feel everything they felt," Ohanna explained, "the pain and suffering of 230 people of all ages."

A crystalline tear ran down the girl's face. It had finally forced its way from her eye as the pain she felt was now unbearable. The burdens and suffering which had been laid upon 230 people where now all on one girl's shoulders. Their pain and sorrowed cries echoed in her head. Those who pleaded for help but could no longer obtain it. Those who sought help in the afterlife, not aware of the fact that they are dead.

"All that had fallen victim to my cursed paintings, the misery of eternity."

"Why?" She asked in a small and unhinged voice. She didn't understand why Ohanna was doing such an awful thing to her. Why did she have to feel all of their pain? Was this some kind of karma, paying her back for her worldly sins? If it was, she would have rather died than experience this kind of pain.

Ohanna didn't give her an answer.

"Why would you do this?" Her voice a bit more desperate as tears began to stream down her face. She didn't understand why it was her who had to see the suffering. Why was the painful situation being laid upon her? Why was she being tortured as the 230 people were? What was the meaning of this? Was this just some kind of mean spirited thing or was she a victim for a reason?

"The answer is very simple. It benefits me."

Everyone dashed through the halls, desperately trying to find Azmy. Worry filling their minds and causing their adrenaline to rush faster. They either had serious or surprised looks, minus the perpetually happy Fife. They searched all over, in every available spot that they could. There was no hint of the girl to be found.

"You've got to be kidding me!?" Ko exclaimed after hearing the dark man's tale, "but why would Ohanna want Azmy?"

"Azmy's mind must have been constantly wondering about her. Ohanna uses people who hold an interest to her. She needs a willing subject." Kabuto explained. Someone who was curious enough to seek her out often became her experiment. That was how Ohanna worked.

'Fife was right…Chichiri is in danger…' Keiji thought before speaking. "Wait." He stopped dead in his tracks and Fife ran smack into him, bouncing off and nearly falling to the ground.

"Ow!"

"Watch it!"

"Why did you stop?" The boy blinked.

"Where is Chichiri?" Keiji asked as realization spread across his face. If Chichiri had gotten separated, he may end up in the same situation as Azmy. This wasn't good. This wasn't good at all.

"I don't know," Fife scratched his head with one finger. "Should we really be lagging behind like this?"

"Come on," the green-haired boy looked over his shoulder and took off running as the other male followed behind him.

"Let's follow them first," Keiji instructed, looking to the one behind him.

All of a sudden, a sharp, ear-piercing scream echoed through the hall, feminine in tone.

"AZMY!!!!"

"Huh?" The two males said in unison as they looked up upon a ghastly sight.

Azmy was standing on the railing of the floor above them, holding something to her chest and looking blankly ahead. Her eyes were hollow as if she were dead to the world around her. She stood still, her existence dangling in the uncertainty of life and death.

Kabuto looked up at her in dismay. 'It's already begun…'

"Azmy," Keiji said upon laying his sights upon the girl and noting her situation.

"What are you doing up there?" Ko shouted up to the girl.

Tears ran down her cheeks as she spoke. The girl was going through a heavy encumber and immense distress. It showed on her physically and mentally. "I can't take it anymore. Please," she begged, pushing the knife that she was holding firmly between her breasts, threatening to break the skin and rip her soul from her own body. She was mad with grief and any sudden move could cause her to die.

"She has a knife," Fife observed, noticing the flash of the metal object against the lighting.

"And from the looks of it, she's not afraid to commit suicide. This is a dangerous situation. Either way, she may die," Keiji noted. This was no situation to make lightly of. He couldn't screw this up and neither could anyone else. He'd hate to think of what would happen if the consequences were negative.

"I don't understand. She was fine before," Fife couldn't make any sense of it.

"She's always seemed sad…and we don't know her well enough to label her," Undine pointed out. Her eyes were locked upon the suicidal form. She really hoped that the girl didn't jump. If she did, then it would be all over for them, and another death would take place in this house of horrors.

"Know her? None of us really know each other," Ko stated.

"She's right," Chichiri agreed. "We all went into this as total strangers."

"True," Fife nodded. "The only thing keeping us together is the desire to find the legend."

XxXxXxXx

"Do you think Ohanna has overcome her enough to make her commit suicide?" Hiroshima asked from his position on the other side of the room, perched upon the railing, his feet hanging over the edge and strong, lean arms propped him up as his eyes lay sight upon the events before him watching as if it were a television show

"You're entertained by a lot of things," Tsurugi stood behind the wooden railing and propping his head up with his hand, elbow bent up. In his own sadistic way, he too thought of the event as one that seemed like a television show with imaginary lives.

The other angel smirked darkly. "I'm entertained with a lot of things," he remarked with perversion.

"Hyuu! Hyuu! You're so dirty!" Tsurugi teased him.

"Heh," his smirk grew wider.

XxXxXxXx

"You don't know what it's like…Feeling so much pain and wanting release…The pressure of the world and damnation…Being forsaken for all eternity," the crying girl was in a fit of emotions.

'That void in her eyes. No doubt it's Ohanna…But why that girl?' Kabuto thought to himself as he gazed up at the grief-stricken Azmy. Out of all of the people in that group, she seemed like the least likely candidate for what she wanted. Usually, there was a method to Ohanna's madness, but he had no idea what it could have been now.

"Weak minds have an easier time succumbing to eternity." A deep and feminine voice said from beside of him. Looking over he caught sight of the dark, wavy, long hair and pale features of the dark bride.

"What do you search an eternity for?" Kabuto asked Ohanna.

"Isn't that what we as humans wonder? What is it that makes us carry on through all of eternity and never ending quest to seek?" Dark green eyes looked ahead, calmly observing the chaotic situation before them.

"Often the things we seek are right in front of our noses and we fail to realize their existence until it's too late." Kabuto told her.

"Azmy! What's wrong with you?" Ko asked, emotion filled her eyes. She hoped to talk the incoherent girl into getting off of the railing and not killing herself but it seemed like her words couldn't reach her. She was fighting a losing battle.

A battle in which something precious was held as hostage…

"These feelings…will not decay," Azmy said softly, still holding the knife dangerously close to her heart.

"Azmy, don't do this," Ko begged. Even if she had only known her for a small amount of time, she didn't want her to die. There was no need for another death in this place so full of despair.

Suddenly, the distraught girl's foot slipped, causing her to fall limply from the railing. Her lifeless body was sent plummeting to the tile floor below. Her form was descending and if someone didn't do something quick, she would fall head first into the tile floor below and cease her own life.

"AZMY!!" Everyone but Kabuto and Ohanna who were standing far back, not in plain sight, called out in despair and were helpless to save her.

To Be Continued…

1. Relief - For those who take art classes, a relief is a painting that you can feel the textures of. It's been raised out of a stone or other hard surface.