Wallowing | Albedo's Descent Book 2

Chapter 1: Utter Destruction

She blinked several times as she stared up at the city gates about 200 meters away from her little feet.
Why was everything so red? It smelled like smoke... She didn't remember setting off any explosives inside the city?
She held onto her backpack straps as she started marching over. Maybe someone had a cooking accident?
She started to feel unsettled as she stopped at the other side of the bridge. The usual guards weren't there... she could see charred stands beyond the arch. There were a few small fires still going, embers flitting through the air silently. Why was it so quiet? Where was everyone?
She pulled her hat down more securely, the wind making her feel cold. The sun was out so she should feel all warm... why was everything so... wrong?...
She stepped inside, making her way straight for the Knights' headquarters. If anyone knew what was going on it would be Jean.
As she made her way through the burned city, the only sounds were a few crackles of dying fires and her boots against the stone roads. A good portion of the houses were still intact but everything was still very charred.
She stopped once she stood in front of the large double doors. The fire wouldn't have been able to burn this place down. At least, not from the outside. Stone didn't burn, she thought, or did it? Maybe she could have Lisa help her find a way to burn stone, too. After all, she was able to make waterproof bombs.
"Klee! Klee!"
Klee turned around, hearing her name.
Lisa stood at the water fountain not far away.
If she had been calling for her for long how come Klee hadn't heard her?...
"Klee!" Lisa ran up to the child, getting onto her already scraped knees.
"Miss Lisa what happened to your socks?" Klee asked in concern.
Lisa's eyes spilled over, "I'm so glad you're okay!" She held Klee tightly, only letting a few tears leak out.
"What's going on?" Klee asked, "if it's Klee's fault, then Klee is very sorry."
"It isn't your fault," Lisa took Klee's shoulders.
Klee noticed how torn Lisa's clothes were and how dark her eyes were. She felt like something bad would happen if she stared into them for long. She also noticed that Lisa's hat was missing and her hair was strewn about her shoulders and face.
"I've been looking for you for ages," Lisa caressed Klee's cheek, "where have you been?"
"I went fish blasting with a nice lady with a bear," Klee smiled, but then let the expression fade. Why did it feel wrong to smile right now? She didn't like this weird feeling in her stomach...
Lisa giggled tiredly, "that sounds like fun. I'll tell you what? How about we go to the other side of Cider Lake and I can help you make some more bombs?" She stood up, holding onto Klee's hand.
Klee took a step back, withdrawing from her, "not right now, please. I have to report back to Maser Jean before-"
Lisa quickly took her hand again, "that's okay, Klee, I can tell Jean all about it later." She smiled down at the little girl.
Klee shook her head, stepping backwards, "no... I have to tell her myself..." She knew she had to go inside. She did want to go with Lisa but... she knew she just had to go inside right now. RIGHT NOW!
Klee turned on her toes and shot inside the doors like a feral cat; a move she learned from Diona.
"Wait!" Lisa grabbed for her but just barely missed, tripping over the stairs, "Klee!"
Klee froze as the doors closed behind her.
"Take him away." Jean said somberly with a stern expression, "hold him in my office, I'll be with you shortly." Her clothes were torn as well, but not as badly as Lisa's. The look on her face was grim and upset.
Klee's eyes finally moved to the people she was talking to.
Everything moved in slow motion as Klee took it all in. Her hair stood on end and her eyes widened as she realized what was happening.
Huffman was holding someone's hands behind their back. He looked sad as he lifted his foot to walk forward.
The person he was restraining had a blank look and glazed-over eyes. His hair was a mess and his clothes were torn in multiple places. It was Albedo. He stared at the floor, his head lolling as if it were about to fall off.
No... That can't be Albedo...
Klee shook her head as Jean began to speak again.
"We'll question him soon, just don't take your hands off of him."
Time resumed its regular pace as Huffman took Not-Albedo into Jean's office.
Klee ran up to Jean.
"Ah- Klee..." she looked to the closing Office door, "Klee, I..."
"Where is Albedo?" Klee asked.
"Klee, I'm sorry..." Jean didn't know how to explain this to a child...
"Where is he?"
Jean knelt down in front of Klee, "you know how sometimes you need to spend some time in solitary? Albedo needs-"
"No," Klee stamped her foot, "that is not my brother."
Jean wore a look of disbelief, "what? Klee..."
"That isn't Albedo!" Klee screamed. She turned back around and started running, "I have to find him!"
Before she got anywhere, she ran into a pair of long legs.
She staggered backwards before looking up.
His eyes wandered away from her. His mouth moved to form words, but no sounds escaped his lips. Kaeya's clothes were torn as well, though he had obvious cuts and gashes. He still held a sword in his hand.
Klee went around him. He didn't try to stop her.
Lisa finally made it in the door. Klee noticed that she had a bit of a limp.
Klee felt like crying from frustration. She didn't know what was going on or where her bother was. It wasn't fair.
"Klee," Lisa fell to her knees in front of the child, "please, don't be mad at us. We had to-"
"What happened to Albedo?" Klee asked, "why isn't he here?" She was trying very hard not to yell and not to cry. She needed to show that she was a strong girl.
Lisa looked down as she sat back, "Klee... we had to take Albedo away... He wasn't being very nice and... needs some alone time..."
"Klee isn't a little kid anymore!" She dropped her backpack from her shoulders, "tell me where he is!"
Lisa looked over to Jean.
Jean heaved a heavy sigh, "she says that it's not him..."
Lisa grew confused, "so you saw..."
"That isn't Albedo." She folded her arms adamantly.
Lisa looked up to Jean again.
"I'll... be back later..." she said quietly as she retreated into her office.
Kaeya helped Lisa stand again, letting her lean onto him for support. He closed his eyes for a long moment before looking at Klee, "Albedo tried to destroy Mondstadt."