6: The World’s End
“Yeah, that crap,” said Kaori. She examined each of the empty cubicles and then under the sinks before she continued, “I guess I should be honest with you, Phantasia. Joel and I have this pact thing, you see. There’s a group around here who, well, this is going to sound a bit silly, but…”
“The twats get them to sign a blood pact,” Lyra said, slamming her fist into the wall with more strength than her frame would have suggested, “Part of a ‘ritual’. These shamans drain their energy, and all the idiots get in return is a little bit of false happiness. Doesn’t even last them the night,”
“It’s – it was enough,” said Kaori, trying to hide behind her hair, “You know what the world is like. Not everyone can handle it as well as you,”
Lyra kicked a small bin over, stomped towards the exit, and slammed the door open, “Like you’d know what it’s like,” she snapped, before she stormed out. The rickety wooden door crawled shut after her.
Kaori had returned to the mirrors. Her eyes were starting to water up again. Phantasia, driven by some natural urge, put a hand on her friend’s shoulder and tried to comfort her.
“Where does it happen?”
“The chamber is under the club,” she said, as she tried to correct the smeared markings on her face with shaking hands, “Oh no, I can’t let you get involved any more! Not after what just happened. I didn’t think – I’m so sorry – you’re so sensitive to everything, and this place is so horrible and-”
It started creeping up on her again, a dark shadow dimming the flickering lights of the room and tempting her to embrace it. Phantasia saw Kaori’s broken aura begin to crumble, and a wisp of her life-force began to float away as if enticed by a nearby temptation. She couldn’t let her friend face that darkness again! She had to stop it!
With that sudden burst of determination, the shadow retreated and once again she was standing with her hand on Kaori’s shoulder, as her friend tried to control her sobs.
“I can’t control it,” said Kaori, “It keeps coming back,”
“I’ll stop it,”
I just wish I knew how…
Kaori looked at Phantasia and her black lips formed a tiny smile. “A-are you sure? Won’t it be dangerous?”
“I’ll be fine,” Phantasia grinned back, “I have to be strong. I know what’s coming this time. I’ve had to deal with worse.”
“The shamans aren’t very friendly,” said Kaori, and without any warning she turned and hugged Phantasia tightly. “Please be careful! Don’t get hurt! Take the others with you or something…please?”
“I’ll be back in a minute,”
Phantasia waited until Kaori loosened her embrace before she made to leave. She closed her eyes and felt around for a trace of the darkness that had touched her friend. It was faint, but unlike at the school, the foreboding atmosphere had preserved its trail like footprints. She watched as Kaori glided back towards the club with only a hint of alcoholic clumsiness and, when she was certain no one was around, she began to glide at speed through the maze of corridors. With each level she descended, the graffiti edged closer towards gibbering insanity, and the darkness permeating the walls became heavier. Every time it felt like it was going to consume her, she reminded herself of Kaori’s warmth, and somehow it shielded her from the corruption.
