Black Swan Wonderland

Makoto

Halo Twenty-Three: Makoto:

"Yeah, I got her back home," Mikado said over the phone. "Where is she now?" He peeked around the corner into the room. Noriko lay sleeping in her futon.

"Ishikawa is asleep right now," he said.

"Why was she out there in the first place?" Masaomi asked on the other line. His friend shook his head.

"I don't know," Mikado said. "She never did give me a straight answer. She didn't give me any answer. I don't even think she will remember last night." Another thought crossed his mind.

"Where did everyone go last night?" Mikado asked.

"Huh?" Masaomi asked. "What are you talking about?" The tadpole boy shook his head.

"Nothing," he said. "Just be careful, okay?"

"Sure..." he said. Mikado paused for a moment to look into the room again. Noriko turned over in her sleep.

"Listen," he said. "I'm going to stay with Noriko until she wakes up."

"Alright," Masaomi said. "Do you want me to call you later?"

"Yes, please," Mikado said.

"Good," his best friend said. "How are you?" The tadpole boy leaned back and rubbed his forehead.

"Honestly," he said. "I'm a bit weirded out." Mikado laid down onto the floor. His mind went back to Noriko's warning last night.

"I was trying to keep you safe. They were trying to kill you tonight. You saw the fog, didn't you?"

Mikado stared up at the ceiling. He rubbed his forehead. Who was trying to kill him now?

-Makoto-

I can't sleep anymore.

I hear their voices even more when I am alone. Michiko is still trying to drag me into the fight. Why can't she leave me alone? I don't want to fight anymore. She can't seem to get that through her head. I drew my knees to my chest.

"Makoto?" I heard someone say. My ears strained when I heard footsteps coming towards me.

"Makoto, why are you still up?" Evie asked. I shook my head. She rested her hand on my shoulder. I didn't jerk away from her.

"Makoto," she said again. Her voice sounded so distant. I started trembling. The color had long since drained from my face. I think I'm going to be sick.

Things have gotten worse. I can't stop seeing them. It's happening again, isn't it? The city is going to fall into ruin, and everyone is going to die, aren't they? I can't escape it, can't I?

No.

I lifted my head. There she was. Michiko stood in front of me in my mind.

Oh god. Not you again.

We've got no choice.

I can't do this anymore. It's too late. They're all going to die anyway.

Bullshit!

I froze. Michiko folded her arms across her chest and frowned. She glared at me.

What do you want from me?

You have to help me stop this! There is still time. The horsemen aren't here yet.

What's the point? They are just going to screw us over no matter what! You know this. Why do you keep fighting this pointless war? You know they will win again. I could hear her growling at me. Why can't she see the truth? Why was Michiko in such denial about this? But then she said something that made the air catch in my throat.