Memories (Of Dreams and Demons)

Childhood's End

I can feel the town around me fade, the library sinks deeper under the weight of the courthouse that now takes its spot. Is this a fairy-tale or a nightmare? I look for Vuitton: he is no longer cowering in his little hiding spot. I hope he gets away from here. Alia, poor Alia, she sits silently in her cage watching us. A deep sense of helplessness washes over her; a black drape covering a piece of art that will never be appreciated again.

"She is to be taken away to boarding school," Moloch points at Naoko, and then turns his finger to me. "And he, far away to the country side."

"No!" Naoko shouts.

"What?" I burst out. "When is this happening?"

Two hands clamp down on my shoulders just as the two already rest on Naoko. Their grip shoves downwards and takes hold: unmovable, unbreakable. I look up; an angry face upon one of the figures from the crowd stares off into the distance at it holds me. Deep, unflinching eyes rest satisfied with my punishment. It turns, spinning me with it, before it starts to drag me in a direction away from the library.

"Now," the face says. "It's happening now."

My eyes wide, the physical pain becomes no more than a mere distraction compared to what threatens to rise within. When did this happen? I'm not going anywhere. I jerk away from the rough hands, trying to be free, but they hold the strength of a full-grown man. A child can never be free under the grip of an adult and his rules.

"Remember to be happy!" Naoko's cry silences thunder, "remember to dream!"

"Naoko," I say stubbornly to no-one in particular, fighting harder, but the hands drag me further away. I can't give chase or join her. This is it. This is really it.

"Please," her voice turns desperate. "Remember me!"

Moloch rests his elbow on one knee, letting his chin sink into his raised hand in casual amusement.

"No!" I cry. I strain further, mustering all my strength against adult hands that force me in a direction I dread. My skin stretches and stings as I try to wiggle out of their grasp, half-dried blood from earlier wounds cracking open to sear my flesh with a new wave of biting pain.

Naoko struggles slightly free, kicking and screaming against the authoritative figures holding her down. She shoves the hands aside to rush forward, and in an instant wraps her arms around me to hold me tight

"No matter how far away they take you," I say as she buries her cheeks against my chest, childish bravado rushing to the fore, "I will find you."

"Believe it," she says, smothering her face against mine in kisses. "Promise!"

A hand rushes in to shove her aside, knocking her to the ground. I rage against the grip holding me tight, struggling to be free to rush to her side. Instead, they leave my shoulder to wrap around my neck, and black spots fill my vision as they grip tighter. I get pulled higher in a painful lurch to be torn away from Naoko struggling to get back on her feet.

Feet rush forward, and shoot a swift kick that sends Naoko sprawling back into the mud, coughing violently. A second set of hands forces me further away. I can hear my mind roaring. This is not fair; this goes far beyond punishment for childish mischief. She says my name in defiance, causing a fist to strike down from above into her cheek. Wincing in pain, she raises her battered face to look at me one last time.

Her blue eye catches fire; an oil spill upon the endless ocean set alight to burn the endless seas.

"Naoko," I whisper.

She smiles bravely at me. Promise, she mouths silently. One final thump knocks her unconscious, blood splattering on the ground. Her limp body crashes into the mud, to be dragged away before me by members of the crowd. If only I could see their faces; this day will be their greatest regret.

Children do not deserve this. Nobody deserves this.

For a second, I feel myself breaking free of the grip that binds me. A black bow, fashioned from the strongest yew and patterned with trophy demon bone, appears in my hand. I am immortal vengeance. All evil here will die, destroyed so completely it will be erased from history. Only for a second, before a strike sends me reeling.

Hate. I hate you, a voice within me rumbles in the moment before I pass out; a menace beyond my years swearing revenge. This is not over. I will never forget this. I will never forget you. I promise.

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