Eight

Loud bolts of lightning hit a nearby building and the small girl quickly looked up to the cloudy sky. It was as if by some mysterious force or just bad luck that it started to drizzle. Soon evolving into a full-blown storm. It rained so hard that it made an ear bleeding whirring sound from the wind. It was critical that they didn't get wet. If they did they would freeze, seeing as tonight would hit record cold temperatures soon.

Both children ran despite being tired and wounded knowing they had to find an alternative shelter that would shield them from the cold acidic rain. It had taken another hour before they eventually stumbled upon an old abandoned store with graffiti covering the walls. Opening the door, they quickly rushed inside. The store was surprisingly in good condition and even had old supplies from when it was previously open.

Because of the night ahead the boy locked the door and barricaded the windows as an extra precaution. They were still too close to the entrance of the underground, so they couldn't take any unnecessary risks. The day had been gruelingly long and reflexively Silla had tightened her grip on the silver snake pendant in her hand. Almost as if it could protect her while Phanes dutifully sat next to the small girl watching her with interest. He seemed to just keep staring, blankly observing her every movement taking comfort in her presence.

He gently slipped the pendent out of her hand and put it into the lock and the music box gently turning it and waiting for it to play it's gentle toon. The soft lullaby started as it slowly opened like a blooming flower and the beautiful glass figurines inside turning in a repetitious pattern. The glass they were made of reflecting the dim glow of the room. It's sounds in sync with the patterning rain as an eerie, soft tune started to play.

Throughout their time together Phanes had numerous heart attacks and panicked more than he had in his entire life today. The boy had come so close to losing her so many times and if something had happened to her, he just wouldn't have known what to do with himself. He couldn't even bring up the thought as it made his heart beat erratically with pure terror. It made him feel like pulling out his hair. The mere thought of losing her in anyway made him go...

Absolutely mad.

Unconsciously he had moved on his own. Without her notice Phanes had inched closer and closer towards her and before she could catch on to what he was doing, she felt an odd warmth caress her ear. Surprised she turned her head to the left and was met with half lidded green eyes that were so unexpectedly close to her that she flinched.

She was so beautiful to him. From the love she gives to her ideas and the creative ways she expresses her personality. Silla was unclouded by greed and desires and only he could see that, could see her value. Unlike the filthy humans that dared to compare themselves equal or above to her.

She was the most astonishing person he had ever met... Easy to talk to and fun to be around. Even in the silence when neither one of them spoke her understanding presence was calming. There was beauty in being a good listener, someone who seeks to make connections and joy and to see things from new perspectives. She had safe eyes, perhaps that's the best way to say it.

Perhaps what he truly loves most about her were her vivacious eyes. At first glance they seemed like a simple elegant blue. But her eyes, her eyes showed her soul. They were a deep pool of restless water, an ocean of emotion and loneliness. The kind of emotion and understanding that the rest of the fitful world around them didn't have. The first moment he looked into her eyes he knew, all the beauty of the universe could not even hope to compete with this simple thing: compassion.

Passion that turned her eyes into orbs of the brightest raging storm, and in them he clearly read her unusual kindness no longer found on this planet. She would not let the world break or change her. Sure she could cry, but she would never let them take her true self from her. She clung to her continence with passion. Passion that made her even more lovely. Her outstanding altruism and otherworldly morals. She was the reassurance and proof that there was still good in the world; still hope.

His hope.

He murmured a single word in an almost forgotten old-world language.

"Krasivaya."

Confused Silla tried to yank herself back away from him, but something ran along her back preventing her from doing so. Looking down she automatically saw that he had anticipated her movement and had wrapped his arm around her back without her noticing.

Phanes gently laid his forehead on hers as he stared deeply into her deep blue eyes causing an embarrassed blush to form on her cheeks. The entire time the boy seemed to be in a daze, his pupils dilated in overwhelming emotions and in shock she could only watch as he leaned closer.

It was sudden when she felt his lips on hers. They were soft and gentle, yet the chaste kiss was full of need and adoration. The rain pattering on the rooftop made it all seem like she was in some sort of lucid dream.

Her first kiss.

He pulled back and brought a single finger to his lips gently rubbing it across the soft pink skin. "Tak myagko..." He muttered to himself. He looked over and saw her a blushing quivering mess. She didn't know what to think. She wasn't even aware that he felt that strongly. But what perturbed her the most was that she let it happen. Did She truly like him as more than a friend or was it just shock?

For a while they stared at each other unsure of what to say. Until Silla broke the silence and grabbed his hands in hers a nervous and unsure look on her face. She felt no matter what happened or how she felt he would always be her friend and he needed to know that. Silla knew he deserved at least this solace. "I'll always stay by your side," She told him in a confident and serious voice. Unaware of the possible misunderstandings and consequences of this simple action.

"It's a promise," he said smiling sincerely his green eyes shining darkly as he grabbed her hand in his.

"Ty dolzhen vsegda ostavat'sya na moyey storone..." He whispered before the sun fully set.

She was unaware of the consequences of her simple action, but it was too late to take back. She had tempted the heart of a lonely boy who would never let her go again.

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Silla awoke in the morning when she felt the urge to get fresh air. It was so much better than the stuffy air inside the abandoned store. Phanes, however, lazily laid sprawled out on the palate made out of old sheets and at the sight she chucked and opened the broken front door and took a deep breath. He was so strange.

Even after all the time, they had spent together she only knew that he had been born in the upper ring but she still had no idea why he had left. She had a feeling it was rather traumatic. Even so she couldn't help but wonder about the mysterious boy; he had to be running from something. What she couldn't know.

Sitting outside she noticed the city air was fresh that morning, almost sweet and floral as the pace of living relaxed to a steady rhythm. It was strange... Everything in the lower ring was polluted; including the air which was so calm that not even a light breeze blew by. At the moment there was no green smog or acidic rain here. It was an oddity as the City Of Bones didn't have such calm weather. The sky was always in constant chaos much like the city below and now that she actually thought about it, she remembered that the air in the tunnels was somewhat unpolluted, quite the opposite compared to the rest of the lower ring.

So then...

Where was the fresh air coming from?

Originally, she had just believed it to be a myth like every other rational person but the ancient tunnels were rumored to connect to the upper ring. Could it be true? Was it truly possible to leave the lower ring?

Though what was suspicious was that Phanes knew the tunnels like the back of his hand while most people would find themselves trapped or lost within a few minutes. He also knew where it was located. She couldn't decide whether or not to question him about it. Deep in thought the young girl figured she could ask the boy once he awakened.

However before she could do anything, a rough hand clamped down over her mouth shocking her. Arms as strong as steel wrapped around her not letting go, trapping her arms at her sides. Pure fright consumed every cell in her body, swelling them with terror. With every second she practically felt the rise of her blood pressure, but she knew that this was the least of her worries.

She tried kicking the person behind her, but it was no use as they dragged her backward with force. Silla's eyes widened, and she frantically tried screaming for help, hoping that Phanes would notice. It was then that she realized she couldn't breathe, it felt as if someone was choking her. Her heart was racing, and all she wanted to do was curl up into a ball and wait for someone to save her. But she knew better than most that no one would, no one was there. Still this didn't stop her from desperately banging on anything and everything around her with her legs to alert someone, anyone; making as much noise as possible.

A choked cry for help forced itself up her throat, and she felt warms drops run down her cheek. It seemed as if this was the end of the road for her.

No one had heard her cries.

The last thing she saw before she was dragged around the corner was the abandoned store they had made their shelter staring straight back at her. She couldn't help but panic and feel her eyes water. Red-hot tears ran down her face, each one carving furrows on the tender flesh that still stung as they ran down her face, like water flowing through drains. Rubbing salt into her open wounds. It was more than just crying, it was the kind of desolate sobbing that comes from a person drained of all hope. Her tears mingled with the others flowing down her face and her gasping wails echoed. The pain that flowed from her was as palpable as the frigid winter wind.

This was it.

He had found her.

She was dragged along the street in the direction of an all too familiar vehicle. A vehicle that Silla had seen many times and had caused dread to boil into the pit of her stomach for years.

In one last desperate attempt she bit his hand causing her kidnapper to yell out in pain and let her airway be free allowing her to let out a scream that'd make anyone go deaf. It came from deep inside her and forced its way out of her mouth. It was a blood curling scream. As if a demon was unleashed from the bottom of her soul. Cursing, he slapped the girl across the face making blood pool into her mouth.

Angrily, he threw Silla into the back of the floating craft and locked the doors to make sure she couldn't escape. But before the engine turned on the door of the abandoned store slammed open revealing an angry and worried Phanes; miraculously he had heard her, and he came straight from the discarded building.

Panicked green eyes quickly caught hers, and he rushed to the back window of the aircraft as Silla banged her fists repeatedly on the glass separating them. They desperately clawed at the glass separating them trying to get through to each other. However, it wasn't long after that that the boy was spotted by the man who had first locked her in the back of the craft.

Disturbed by the noise the kidnapper slowly turned to the much smaller boy. It wasn't long until they reached each other and the violence had begun. The older mans fist slammed into Phanes face while Silla's stomach sank at the sight. The boy was a bit shocked when he was thrown back, and blood pooled in his mouth as he gagged on the thick crimson. They stumbled apart for a brief second to catch their breaths before diving back at each other, eyes narrowed in determination.

Thankfully the next time round the boy was able to dodge the fist and came up with his own; for a brief instant the attacker's deep blues had widened before he managed to tilt his head back and slam it into Phanes. Stars burst in the young boys vision but he shook it off, blindingly throwing a sloppy kick as the man stepped back, easily evading it. He threw his body weight behind the fist that edged closer to Phanes face and it hit his jaw with such force blood flew out of his mouth. Pain erupting from the point of impact.

She paled at this rate Phanes certainly wouldn't be the victor.

With the man's own two hands he grasped the boy by his light hair and brought his knee cap up to his nose, there was a blunt crack and the blue-eyed man released the boys sandy, haired head as crimson leaked from his nostrils, his small nose twisted to the right.

Brutally unrelenting the blue-eyed monster drew his fist back again and ploughed it into the boys stomach, like hitting a train head on as the receiver of the blow vomited blood. Phanes scrawny and malnourished body wouldn't be able to take much more. The sandy blonde was already exhausted; even more evident by the unnatural dark purple bags around his green eyes and the newly forming black bruises. He was already fatally wounded from being shot and attacked in the tunnels and now he barely stood a chance.

Guts smashed together, blood vessels bursting the boy panted. He repaid this by weakly punching the mans jaw, his much smaller fist colliding with all his body weight. The hit was strong, and his string bean body almost flew forward with his punch. Though the short victory didn't last long. Out of the corner of his eye, the boy caught a silver glare in the man's hand and by the time he had recognized what it was, it was too late.

The blade quickly met flesh, soft and lean and made a satisfying squish as the tip of the blade sank deep enough to make his green eyed victim scream. The assailant twisted the blade in his hand, all the while sinking it deeper and deeper. The boys marred skin was tearing to shreds as the knife rotated, the sound of his muscles and nerves being gouged growing louder. Then, without warning, the man jerked it all the way into his back, until the shiny metal had disappeared inside Phanes and the black handle was pushing against bone.

Despite going so far in the knife was violently ripped out and the sharp red tip shot towards the boys face in what seemed to almost be slow motion. His singular green eye watching in shock as the blade came closer and closer to his eye; pupil expanding.

The pain he felt was sudden and excruciating. He could no longer see out of his right eye as a large gash from his eyebrows down to his cheek ran in a straight line over his eye. The dark crimson blood even blurring the vision in his unwounded eye. The blinded bloodied boy stumbled back as he held his wounded eye with his hand, blood flowing through his fingertips as he held it. Knocked to the ground he wouldn't be getting up anytime. His cracked ribs puncturing an organ or two.

From there the battering only continued as the boy laid blood running out of his now closed right eye. His chest gently rising and falling with each shallow breath he drew in. His eye wound felt like the impact of thousands of venomous blades piercing and tearing apart his eye. The deep cut running over his eyelid went all the way down to his cheek bone.

While taking the beating the boy seemed to notice a shine of colorful light reflecting beside him and through the blood he set his eyes upon it. Unbeknownst to him when he fell the small music box in his pocket had fallen out and onto the ground. Quickly realizing what it was Phanes desperately reached out after the small box that was only a few feet from his extended arm. Desperately his appendage reached further and further almost an inch away from what he so recklessly desired; not watching the man who had so easily beaten him to a pulp.

Weakly, Phanes laid with one arm reaching and the other clutching his stab wound on his stomach; only barely seeing out of one eye, the other closed with a giant cut over it as a blood trail oozed out and down his face. In a sick act the man laughed at his pathetic-ness and crushed the boys hand under his harsh boot. Breaking the bones in the process as the green eyed boy screamed in pain as his hand shook and bent in unnatural directions. Anger evident in his one green eye his wide red-rimmed blood filled eye almost screaming out in agony and shock. As if an almost cruel joke the green eyed boy could only watch as the same foot crushed the little music box under its heel in front of him.

Shocked the boy was still as his arm was still in a reaching motion as he looked down at the small shattered box in surprise almost like he believed if he stared at it longer it would somehow be fixed and put itself back together. The man smirked and spat saliva at the nearly dead boy laying in his own blood on the ground. The disgusting substance running down his face. Desperately Silla's hands slid down the windows as her body seemed to slack.

If Phanes was left there he would certainly die. He had already suffered from blood loss when he was shot in the arm but now he had lost even more of the red life sustaining substance. Not to mention the internal bleeding, he now had. If that didn't kill him, the cold or acid rain certainly would. All she could do was watch the boy crawl on the bloodied ground.

Seeing her defeated and hopeless expression as he passed the back of the craft the man spoke as he looked upon her. "Dirty whore just like your mother." He entered the contraption and wasted no time in locking in the proper gears so he could speed off.

In one last frantic attempt Phanes somehow despite the pain stood on his two feet. One of his injured legs lagging behind the other one. He limped making a dash towards them but before he could reach her, the van suddenly jolted forward. He was limping and holding onto his rib cage but nonetheless ran as battered as he was. His one frantic green eye shining with pain and urgency as his other closed shut and bled down his face. As he just within arms length he tumbled to the ground; shock filling his facial features.

His face contorted into pure agony, his face grief stricken. Large hot tears ran out of his one intact eye. Within seconds he slowly became out of sight, and Silla could hear him screaming in anger and sadness in the distance laying on his knees in the gravel.

Almost out of sight he bellowed out a promise, "I v'ill find you." Heart sinking as they drove off into the distance she knew it was highly unlikely that she would ever see him again as she headed towards an all too familiar direction; coming into her early childhood home. For the man who was driving the white vehicle and took her away was none other than her own father...

The reason she ran away and was living on the streets for so long. He wasted no time in throwing her into the house, and she landed on the hard floor boards. Silla tried her best to get up but her rib cage wasn't letting it happen. "Ungrateful brat," he spat, his shoe crushing the side of her face as tears gushed from her eyes. Obeying him, she crawled to the bathroom and waited till he left the room. She began to scrub the flooring on her hands and knees with a sponge and a bucket of soapy water.

Somehow her rough year away from home was the best year of her life and she so desperately wished to be back to those times. But now she was back living in a never-ending hell and all she could wonder was how it all went wrong. How was her father able to find her in such a desolate location?

After an hour the grimy house floor had become so clean it practically sparkled from both the soapy water and her tears. Finishing up her father walked back in. The smell of alcohol invading her nose as he came closer. Silla looked for any kind of weapon she could use for self-defense but she didn't spot anything. She looked over her father who was now one step away from her, holding a belt in his right hand.

'O' Gods please help me,' was the only thought that she could muster at the moment knowing what was about to happen. The brutish man slapped Silla with the back of his hand on her cheek as she fell to the floor holding her stinging skin. Not long after a heavy weight was on her as he put his knee on her back pinning her to the wet soapy ground, so she couldn't move.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw him grabbing the belt and held it like a whip and the belt came down on her back as tears pooled in her eyes. He laughed at the girl and once again the belt went down on her back but this time she screamed in agony and let even more tears run free.

Not yet having enough of her fear Silla's father grabbed her by her raven hair and slammed her head onto the corner of the bathtub her mind seeming to fog over as she felt her thoughts and memory's becoming unclear. Her consciousness faded, and she sank far down into her ocean of thoughts and pain; the sunlight a soft diffused glow. Those once golden rays from above are only blue in her thoughts and the deeper she sank the less light penetrated.

Her memories of the probably now dead boy Phanes were silhouettes in the dim corners of her mind. The light he had shown her died quicker than the heat from a winter campfire. The memories in the water seemingly fading.

Leaving, her father eventually got off the girls back and walked out of the bathroom with Selena; his girlfriend by his side. She looked horrible. Like she was in great despair. Her distorted and worried expression was clear on her face. The foreign passed out girl laid on the cold bathroom floor shivering from the cold and the beating she had just received. Dried tears were running down her cheeks and her back was stinging badly. This was probably the worse she had gotten from him yet.

As she droned in and out of continuousness she heard a soft voice and a warm fuzzy cloth cover her body. Looking through her hooded dazed eyes, she looked up to see Selena's figure next to her. The woman's smiling red lips moving even though it fell deafly upon her ears.

"... I'm sorry-"

"But I had to tell him where you were..."

"To bring you back-"

"... This is your home."

"He means well, I know he loves us."

Her brainwashed red lips seemed to smile even brighter than before causing a feeling of deep betrayal to fester in the young girls stomach. Humming out a low, quiet tune Selena used to sing to her when she was smaller Silla's eyes a hypnotizing blue were empty.

That evening, even the sky seemed to cry.

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To be continued...