The Shadow

Part 2

            I was flying. Mountaintops brushed the bottom of my fingertips, stretched out on either side of me. The air around me was cold, but I couldn't feel it. That has always been the way with me. My wolfish DNA keeps me warm, no matter where I am. The scenery around me was very hazy, and I remember that everything on the sides of me, when I tried to look that way was blurry- almost so that I couldn't see at all. It was like looking through someone else's' glasses. My red- white hair flew behind me, and I closed my eyes. Bliss. Suddenly, with my eyes still closed, my "ride" got turbulent. Now opening my eyes, I saw that I was approaching something. My sluggish mind reluctantly provided me the answer to what the "thing" I was heading for was. A tunnel. A bigger gust of air came up from behind me, and ushered me toward it. A few seconds later, I was inside. Water dripped from stalactites that clutched at the ceiling. I cautiously looked down, and tried to see the bottom of the cave. Nothing. Just seemingly endless black. Farther into the cave, I saw a fork in the path. Two choices, and I could only pick one. I hesitated before choosing. From the right way (that sounds ironic ) I was getting an aura of peace. I was swayed to go down that tunnel, because I somehow knew that no harm would happen to me ever if I went that way. The smell of that tunnel was so good I can not even describe it. Almost sickly sweet. I turned to the other tunnel. This one spoke of deepest despairs, and of broken hearts. The apocalypse. But it also told of great adventures, soldiers coming home, and the whole experience of life. I could tell that it was my time to decide. Which tunnel would I choose? I made the decision. Slowly I drifted towards the left tunnel, until the entrance yawned just over my head. I looked back once, and then let the darkness of the tunnel swallow me whole.

♂

I woke up for real. Around me I could hear monitors beeping a steady rhythm, a sound I had heard one too many times before. I was back in Link, in the hospital wing. Funny this time I actually had a reason to be here. I was healing from.... Rey. Right. I remembered now. The night, the knife, all of it. And I was mad. Mad at Rey? Maybe. I was mad that he had failed at killing me. That might sound a little weird, but trust me there are things worse than death at Link. They torture people, even their own. Then, I was instantly nervous, and hoped that Rey was OK. I had to do something, and help Rey. I struggled to sit, and look around, but before I could someone came to my bedside and tried to push me back down. I saw their, or should I say his face. It was Rey. He looked OK, but VERY tired. I vaguely wondered if he had been watching me, and trying to see if I had recovered from the time I had been out. That's when I realized that I didn't feel any of the pain that I should've felt when I sat up. That meant that I had been out for a while. By now I had lots of questions, and was beginning to stare threateningly at Rey, who was slowly backing away from me, a sheepish grin on his face. Although I could tell he was also relieved that I had woken up. I didn't smile back.

"I think you need to answer me some questions, Rey. You owe me that."

By this time, I was barely keeping it together. How could he do this to me? Bring me back to the place where I had been tortured on bad days, treated like a expandable pet, on good days, and never experienced holidays, or ANYTHING remotely happy. Furthermore, Rey had tried to kill me. In a normal brother sister relationship, anything close to what Rey had tried to do to me was unthinkable. I "couldn't wait" to see what he could possibly have to say for himself. Rey smiled before he began to talk. Smiled. If I hadn't felt so weak, I would have gotten up from that hospital bed, and wiped that smile right off his face.

"I am so very sorry Suri. I would say that Link made me do this, but that is only partially true. Sure they may have- pushed me to do it, but the fact that I actually did it..." Rey's voice trailed off as he tried to battle sobs rising in his throat.

"I know that you probably won't believe me, but I really am really sorry that I did bring you here, and that I would do anything to get out of this place, if I could."

I guess I could admire him trying. I just know him too well. Rey wouldn't do whatever it takes to get out of Link, but he and I both know that isn't true. My brother is a killer, a liar, and a manipulator. Through all of this, someone I have managed to love him.