The Story of The End [2]

• • •

I walk, slowly, hand in hand with Akito, as we make our way to our hill. As the village is ravaged by flames I walk, as if not part of this world. At my side, Akito looks at the fire with poorly hidden concern. My gaze turns to match his, and I see the well in the village's market square. Due to the size of the square and the well's position it remains the only untouched object in the village. An oasis in a sea of flames.

"Do you want to get some water?" I ask, nodding at the well. Akito answers with an enthusiastic nod and we change our course. As we get closer, a very faint smell invades my nostrils, I cannot place it and continue moving forwards. Arriving at the well, I grab the handle and turn it until the bucket is within a reachable distance. Looking at its contents I freeze.

The bucket, apart from containing water, is full of white delphiniums, not only can their toxins kill adults- the flowers' meaning today holds a brand of ironic insensitivity. Seeing my reaction, Akito's posture takes on an anxious stance. "Yuki? What's wrong? Hey-" He steps towards the bucket and after meeting my eyes looks at the contents as I did just seconds ago. Not noticing anything of significance he turns to me once again. "Yuki? What's wrong- what are these flowers?"

"I- um. They're… White delphiniums." I state dumbly. It makes sense for Akito now to know what these flowers mean, not only is he not interested in botany like I am, these flowers need the right climate to grow, one which Ascot Village certainly lacks. "T-they're toxic- to humans and livestock, meaning we can't drink this water or we'll get poisoned." I stare down at the plants as their meaning fleetingly enters my thoughts.

Encouragement. Joy. And remembering those who passed. •Is this supposed to be some kind of joke?• I scoff internally as my expression morphs into a frown. A voice interrupts my thoughts. "How come I've never seen these flowers before?" I look to my right to see Akito shyly stare at his feet. I put my hand on his shoulder, though the movement isn't as smooth as I'd like it to be, and lean against him slightly to reassure him.

"It's a great question... They don't grow here." I smile at Akito when he looks up at me, eyes communicating a silent question- the thirst for knowledge. I have seen these eyes every day for the last 5 years and they always have that glint in them. I used to avoid his eyes, but now I can't imagine surviving without them- without him.

"They grow in the East and South, mostly in ring C with the exception of one or two villages." I explain, my eyes staying on Akito as he loses himself in his thoughts. "The exceptions are Craydon Village in ring B and Aeston Village in the North." Akito's face whips around to face me as I finish, his arm raising to point past the well.

"You mean that one just over there, that Aeston Village?!" He frantically queries, and I only nod in response. Dropping to the ground seemingly deflated, Akito sighs. I wonder what he's thinking.

Looking up from the ground at my face, Akito takes on a serious expression, as he did when I tried to go back into my house earlier this morning, although it's still dark. "We can't go to Aeston Village." He says simply, I frown trying to understand the meaning. "There might be someone there that did this." Akito explains looking into my eyes like they're a window to my mind, reading everything behind them. Although his voice has taken on a cold tone as he said the sentence, his argument makes absolute sense. What would I do without him?

"So- where should we go?" I await his suggestion. Akito moves on the ground to sit in a more comfortable position, with his legs crossed, and looks at the ground, as always when he loses himself in his thoughts. I smile slightly at the familiar scene, where all else will never be the same.

"Hirave Village is the only choice." He says after a while. I accept before he begins to explain. "Hillfar Village is too far, and the same goes for Cherrytown Village, we wouldn't be able to make it especially with your health at stake. Hirave Village is also the closest. It'll take a full day to get there, including rest and sleep, so we could be there by tomorrow morning. Any other villages are too far to make it on foot, But also the two I mentioned are too close to villages where white delphiniums grow- too close for my liking. Uhm- what do you think?" Finishing his rant, Akito looks away as his hand makes its way to his neck.

"It makes perfect sense. Let's do that." I smile at Akito, whose anxiousness seems to fade away at the approval. "Should we try to look for some supplies before we go?" I ask, looking at the flames surrounding the square, still at large.

"M-maybe let's get away from the flames first? We can get some sleep and search tomorrow?" Akito suggested holding his left arm loosely, as if the majority of the strength in it was gone- reminding me of my own body.

"Sure! Should we go to the hill?" I exhale a breath of relief when Akito nods, and sparing one last look at the flowers before turning away, never to return.

• • •

Then, watching the flames dance through the village like in celebration, I think about the past.

I close my eyes as I remember the days where I could explore to my heart's content, attempting to learn every nook and cranny of the village, and then being unsatisfied with the idea of reaching that goal. What a happy child I was, though the majority of those days are lost to time, and only the feeling remains. I was about 5 years old then, maybe less. A more vivid memory comes to mind, of when I met Akito, and I smile as it resurfaces.

•We were all scared since it happened. Mom didn't let me out anymore, too scared to lose me, and once on a grocery errand I saw a boy sitting by the well, him and his mother pulling water into their own buckets, as the small crowd of the village moved along. It took a lot of promising to be let out again, 'I'll stick close,' 'I won't wander off,' and the like, but how worth was seeing the sun unobstructed by layers of glass, feeling the air aside from the draft which sneaked in when the door opened, they'd always watch me when that happened though, making sure… Not even this cruel world could extinguish my will for exploration back then, ah, how times have changed.•

•I tugged at my mom's clothing to make her look at this boy that looked so happy with his mother, as do I? At first, I was intrigued, but as I looked closer fear settled in my heart, the aura faintly visible, though a different colour. The mere possibility reminds me of times better forgotten. I shake my head to rid myself of the thoughts, and focus on remembering our meeting. I remember begging my mom to let me talk to the boy- and despite her extreme hesitance she allowed it under the condition of her being at an arm's length… my arm's length. I easily accepted the condition, being so close was nothing out of the ordinary. Walking closer to the boy, his blue eyes deepened in colour as he saw me, growing wide a second later. I don't know why to this day, but it wasn't the only time it happened. He was wary of me, and I was scared of him so we didn't have the nicest first impression of each other. This changed quickly though- as when I offered to be his friend his wariness quickly dissipated replaced by a glint of interest that I know all too well now. As we got closer I started noticing the details of his aura, it didn't feel malicious like ■■■ ■■■. In contrast, his purple aura felt extremely protective- just from this I knew I'd be safe with him. I told this to my mom, explaining how I was absolutely certain he's a good person, and an outlier amongst the evils of the world.•

•That is how we grew close, because of my stubbornness mom allowed us to spend time together, at our house of course, since I wasn't allowed to leave- especially without my parents right by my side. For some reason this changed in the last year, I was allowed to leave again- but any friends I had before were replaced by the steady presence of Akito, one I am glad for.•

Looking up at the moon, I silently vow.

I will find you. Mom, dad, wait for me.

Hearing footsteps to my left, I turn my head to see Akito striding across the grass towards me. Once he makes it to the top, he simply smiles- although it conveys sadness, the glint in his eyes remains as he looks at me. "Are you alright?" I ask, I can only admire him further as he nods, I know I couldn't.

A gentle smile slips on my face as we converse, an unconscious yet not unwelcome action. Akito has always been there for me, ever since we first met, and he'll be here in the future too… right? "Hey, Akito…" I begin, the question on the tip of my tongue. I shake my head at his attention, his eyes fill with worry at my saddened tone and I quickly add "Nothing. Nevermind, sorry." I move to lie down. "I'm just tired, let's get some rest before we have to move." Closing my eyes, I relax at a noise of agreement from Akito, and finally, I am able to fall into a dreamless sleep with the heavy conviction settling in my heart.