[Dream] Dreaming of a Reality (Satu)

[Stitch]

5th of Summer, 510 AV. A dream within a dream, within a dream.
“The best thing about dreams is that fleeting moment, when you are between asleep and awake, when you don't know the difference between reality and fantasy, when for just that one moment you feel with your entire soul that the dream is reality, and it really happened.”

A sea of beautiful lights swirled together, looking like a brilliant color show to the untrained eye. If one could drift closer, if one could manage to look closer, they would be able to see something much different. The sea of color was something much more intricate once you looked past the mass, and delved deeper into the intricacies. It was like seeing a blanket, then peering a little closer just to notice it actually consisted of a thousand little strings. This was almost the exact same, actually. Leaning in close to the blanket of beautiful colors, one would be able to see they were all strings. Little strands of mystical, alluring colors, each and every string looking different from the one before. Some are faint and weak, while some ripple with pure and utter power. Some are blinding, while some are so small that even the trained eye has a hard time seeing them. All of these strings, they all danced, but they danced apart. Some came close, but they hardly ever touched. If you watched long enough though, sometimes they would rub together. Lightly, briefly, but there it was. This was a beautiful place, but a place that no mere mortal could visit.

Not unless they were dreaming.

Two of the Chavi clashed. An explosion of light rippled across the Chavena, the power of the two Chavi sparking off the other.

A man and a woman walked hand in hand through the snow, staying close to each other for comfort. It was obvious that they were lovers, the way that they snuggled to their respective partner, the way that their hands held tight, as well as the way their lips paused mid-sentence to sometimes meet. They were impassioned lovers, giggling and laughing at whatever the other said, staring upon each other with looks of pure admiration. Their fingers were never simply holding hands, they were always dancing, always wrestling in a playful fight. Sometimes they would pause from their lover's spat, but even then, they would always take some other motion. Sometimes the woman would rub her lover's thumb with her own, sometimes they would let their fingers drop apart just to clasp pinkies. It was amazingly romantic for just the simple act of hand holding. They, as a couple, were rather overly romantic. They kissed all the time; in the middle of sentences, in the middle of silence. At one point the man gently caught up the woman in his arms, lowering her slowly to the ground so that they were side by side, and kissed her there in the snow.

It was a beautiful place. They were beside a crystal clear stream, with shining shards of ice flowing along in the cold water. Pure and untouched snow could be found everywhere, coating the bank of the stream, the bare tree limbs hanging all around, and lightly filling the oddly warm morning air. The sun shone, warmth was abundant, but the snow still fell. It was somewhere in the Syliras Wildlands, but nowhere that a normal couple could reach. This place was magical, somehow. The couple were only clothed in simple britches and shirts, but they seemed quite comfortable in their bed of snow. They continued to play and kiss the other, acting like little children with carefree crushes. The man suddenly lifted one hand from the snow, placing it upon her stomach, which was swollen and rounded. The woman was pregnant. They both paused from their play, glancing down at the bulge in her belly. Their playful smiles had changed, but not vanished. They looked at peace now, calmed, and enraptured. Her hand lowered, to land atop his, and they both sat there in peaceful silence.

The snow continued to fall around them, but it never covered them, melting only from their bodies. Suddenly, as if the world had become impatient with the unchanging silence, something changed. The woman shimmered for a brief second, and was engulfed in a short flare of golden light. When the light had died down, the woman was still there, but had changed. Her long black hair was now down from the knot it had previously been in, and fell down around the snow in long and shimmering waves. She was now in a dress, her curvy frame perfectly hugged by the simple white outfit, laced with golden threads. She giggled, as if slightly aware of the change, but didn't really acknowledge it. The man didn't seem aware at all, only brushed a suddenly rebellious strand of black hair out of the way of black eyes, and leaned in for another kiss. The passioned embrace took up a few moments, silence once more engulfing the pretty little scene.

They parted, but their foreheads remained touching. The woman spoke, her voice much more amazing than the most intricate melody. "Stitchie... I have thought of a name for him!" The man chuckled, his eyes shining bright, the dark orbs once more glancing down at her occupied stomach. "And what would that be, Sadrina?"

The woman beamed at him, obviously proud of herself. "Damien. We will name him Damien."

[Satu]

The Konti lay upon the fur laden bed, breath calm, body unmoving. Only her sapphire eyes shifted, and blinked, seeing through the bars of the bed frame. A long, delicate finger reached out towards the freedom offered between the bars. She poked at the blue sky, and the tender snowflakes that fell. Her Heart was as still as the expansive field blanketed in white, beyond the bed. She lifted her body from the tangled sheets. How long had she been trapped asleep within its suffocating linens and between cold bars? Walking away through the field, the heavy snow did not impede her progress, and neither did the chill seep into her unprotected feet. Footfalls light, no indention could be seen in the soft snow to announce her passage. The Konti found this neither surprising, nor odd. Birds that she could not see, called high above her, hidden by the closeness of the trees. She was not tired, or lost, or frightened. But yet, she could not say where she was. And she walked on, the distance before her ever staying the same. Knee high piles of bloody swords and dented armour lined both sides of the path in the snow, almost like fragrant flowers of blooming metal and leather. A clearing opened before her. A man and a woman lay in the snow, their faces close in affection. The Konti did not know them, but she felt she did. Instantly, she stood at their feet, staring down at the two lovers. Even in the absence of wind, gossamer thin robes billowed around her, and the light blue colour played off of her eyes and the tiny seashells intertwined throughout her shimmering hair. “The sea has been misplaced…, I search for it,” she said in her melodic voice, staring down at them. “Its loss pains me. Did She take that off world too? To the Other place?” Her head lifted towards the sky. Magically, she lay beside the woman in the comforting snow. The woman, filled with love and happiness nestled securely between the man and the Konti. And though the newcomer draped her arm around the woman in an embrace, the Konti’s graceful hand rested atop the man’s hand. Soft scales grazed his skin, while an intense, blue gaze held his eyes over the rise of his woman’s belly. Did he even notice if it was his eyes, or his Heart that trapped the otherworldly gaze?

[Stitch]

I am not my own, for I have been made new. Please don't let me go.

I desperately need you.

The falling snow flickered and paused for a split second as Satu came within sight, but quickly returned to normal. The slight error in the surrounding scenery could easily go un-noticed. Neither Stitch nor Sadrina seemed to notice, or care. They were now focused on Satu, and were greeting her with beaming smiles.

Stitch's Heart was wild, and went unchecked. His emotion consisted of pure love and happiness, and swelled over the entire area to envelop both Sadrina and Satu. As she laid beside of them, snuggling his beloved between the two of them, he felt her hand lie upon his. The love in his Heart throbbed, and it crashed over them in a new wave of passion. The happiness was almost palpable, almost able to generate sparks of materialized emotion in the air, if such a thing was possible. If the thought came to mind, it certainly wouldn't be discarded. This seemed to be a place where anything was possible. The snow continued to fall, but the three bodies remained warm and untouched. Stitch's hand gently scooted from beneath hers, but not to withdraw, merely to reposition. He now laced his fingers atop Satu's, holding her hand, as well as holding that of his lover. Their three hands in unison, their fingers molding together perfectly. He smiled at her, hearing her words, but caring little about the worry that could exist within them. His eyes held hers as he spoke, his voice soft and sweet. "Would you like this one to bring back the Sea? The two of us have visited the Sea, and it was a happy place... This one can bring it back for you. This is a place of happiness. There is no Other Place. Not here. There is only us, and you." Stitch paused, looking slightly confused. "You? Why are you here?" He stared at her a moment, but the happiness soon came back. "It doesn't matter. You are welcome. This one is happy to have you." He squeezed Sadrina lightly with his arm, using the small motion to help refer to her. "She is this one's wife. This one's Sadrina."

She, much like Stitch, had a Heart that was filled with warmth, happiness, and love. She let Satu partake of it as well, but her Heart was a bit different from Stitch's. While Stitch had unchecked love, wild love, naive and unending love, Sadrina seemed to be the calmer of the two. She did not beam brightly at Satu, she merely smiled peacefully. Her love throbbed, but it wasn't bright, simply calm. If Stitch was a raging sea, then Sadrina was a peaceful ocean. Her hand turned underneath Satu's and Stitch's, and she too began to hold Satu's. She remained quiet though, just smiling, quite satisfied with the scene.

"We are happy here. Are you happy? Would you like to stay with us?" Stitch smiled, his love once more rushing against her. It was like he was actually in love with her, although he had never met her before. He was like a child, easily directing the full power of his heart at another. He did not mistrust, nor did he have any caution. He did not believe in any wrong in the world. Everything was right, everything was good, everything was to be trusted.

"Would you like this one to bring back the Sea? Perhaps you can, if you try hard enough, milady. Everything is perfect here. Show this one your very own perfect!" He almost giggled like a newborn toddler, obviously pleased with himself, and this nifty idea he had presented her with.

[Satu]

The man, radiated love. The woman also radiated love. One was wild, one was peaceful, but both were love, pure and beautiful. How Satu desired, and wished for it! She breathed it into her hungry soul, and overflowed the sensitive vessel. And once her Heart was filled, it still desired more as it held and hoarded the gentle treasure within. But the Konti did not think upon this, for already her own enticing love, flew back to embrace the man and the woman. “What is this place,” she wondered, studying the man’s face, “that you are so happy here? So secure?” Her gaze moved and she stared at their Innocence; like their love it was pure and untainted. They thought themselves protected; the Konti knew better. Even though in this strange place, she was an innocent too. Terrors lurked behind each gentle snowdrift, ready to lay ruin to a peaceful life. She did not understand how she knew this, the Konti just did. Pity well up inside her for the both of them, they would yet learn what a fall from innocence felt like. A warning came to her soft lips as she tried to explain, but the words refused to form, or leave her mouth. Satu frowned, but sadness did not belong in this place. So instead she smiled, and a radiant brightness lit her face. Three hands intertwined, as each supported the others, “Is there only us?” It would be a relief and a comfort if it were true. She was strangely soothed by their calmness and the peacefulness of the landscape around them. To stay with them, was a dream she played in her sleepy, sluggish mind. It was hard to think. “I don’t know how I came to be here, or even know where here is…” But Stitch wanted to know her ‘perfect’. Who was she to hide anything from these lovers in spirit? She cared so dearly for them. Her ‘perfect’? Instantly, as the question first touched her mind, the thought formed. And in the forming of it, in this world it became reality. Dreamily, Satu’s head turned to contemplate the landscape behind her. And in it came, her ‘perfect’. The sea! A lump formed in her throat, she could not swallow. How long gone had she been from Laviku’s waters? Why she had stayed away, she could not recall. The sea! In it came, so near. Satu’s beaming checks flushed and she turned towards her lovers. “The sea! It is here! Can you see it?” She cried before turning back to the astounding view. The affable waves continued to roll closer, and Satu remembered the sea birds, calling and circling overhead. None were here in this secluded place and Satu mourned their absence. Smoothly, Satu’s arm extended and reached behind her, fingertips stretched to touch the nearest little wave as it began to overlap the snow covered ground. Soft plunks of frozen ice fell into the water. She expected it to be cold against her fingers, but it was blood-warm. She rolled over to see waters thickly crimson and foul, oozing in to greet her, covering her fingers. Slowly and quietly, the dark surf crept up and brought its thick tendrils of water closer. “No! This is not my sea!” She cried, scrambling up to her feet, the newly innocent Konti stumbled behind the lovers, frightened and unsure.

[Stitch]

The woman glanced to Stitch, a light smile dancing across her lips as she studied her lover. She looked amused, holding back the answer to Satu's very first question, just because she knew how eager Stitch was to answer it. Indeed, the man looked quite ready to spew out an answer, his cheeks puffing eagerly as he struggled to hold the words inside. His happiness was overflowing, his joy abundant, and he could simply not hold it inside for very long. He looked to his lover for permission to speak, not wanting to burst out if Sadrina herself was about to talk. She chuckled slightly, nodding at him, letting him know he had the floor. Stitch quickly turned to Satu, beaming brightly at her. "This place is... The Wildlands. It is a special place. Our special place." He motioned to himself, then Sadrina, who was now smiling serenely at Satu. "This is our special place where to go to escape. To be alone, to be apart from the rest of the world. Just the two of us, and only our happiness. Isn't it beautiful?" Stitch motioned around him, to the pretty limbs of the trees, to the ever-falling snow, to the crystal clear stream with little pieces of pristinely perfect ice.

He looked proud to share this with her, like a little boy showing his mother a creation of his very own making. Soon though, he realized exactly what he had said, and a stricken look flickered across his face. He gave Satu's hand a quick squeeze, as if confirming his following words. "Not that you aren't welcome, milady! This one is very happy to have you, as you bring much needed company to this place!" The smile flickered back to his face, but then quickly fell, as he once more realized the error in his words. Whipping his head toward his love, he blinked rapidly, now trying to correct it for her. "Not that this one is lonely with you! This one just figured you would like to have another woman here! For, you know, womanly things." Sadrina just looked amused at Stitch's distress, and tossed Satu a wink, as if trying to include her in the joke.

Stitch let out a breath of air, relieved that he had managed to salvage his bungled attempt at conversation. He eagerly continued on, trying his best to explain this world. "This is... This is... This one is not sure. This one knows this is a place that we love, but this one isn't sure how we got here. This one doesn't particularly care." He paused, and when he began again, his voice trembled just slightly. "Why ask questions, and try to find the problems in perfect? This one doesn't want to leave, so this one will just say."

Both Stitch and Sadrina saw the sea before Satu turned to notice it. The small icy creek slowly morphed, widening and expanding into a ocean. It was magical and impossible, but Stitch and Sadrina accepted it because it was here. They slowly climbed to their feet, releasing Satu's hand, hugging close to each other and watching the beautiful Konti with expectant smiles on their faces. They were eager to see her happiness, in this perfect place.

A single flake of snow fell onto Stitch's face, and it was cold. He blinked, suddenly confused, glancing upwards toward the slow torrent of snow. Admist the icy white flakes, there were ones that had been stained a bright red. There was blood mixed in with the snow. Eyes widening in horror, Stitch lifted a slow hand to his face, touching his fingers to the drop of snow that had touched to his cheek. His fingers touched blood.

The snow froze all around, remaining suspended in midair. There were specks of frozen blood mixed within the pure snow, giving the once beautiful landscape a somewhat eerie look. Stitch took a step back, confused and scared, glancing down quickly to Sadrina for some kind of comfort. She was still smiling, but she wasn't look at Stitch. Her eyes were distant, as if she had seen something very far away, and was enraptured with it. She suddenly looked... fake. Artificial. Stitch blinked rapidly, touching at the blood on his cheek again. Why was the sky raining blood? He hurriedly turned to Satu, arching his head down toward her, desperate for some kind of comfort. His perfect was falling apart.

He stepped back again, startled as she scrabbled up, hurrying behind the two lovers. Stitch was suddenly faced with the full sight of the bloody sea, and it horrified him even more. He gasped, his entire body trembling, catching Sadrina in his arms and pulling her close. He cuddled her to his chest, desperate to protect her, his eyes locked on the bloody sea. It was horrible, ugly, and stunk of death. Why was it here? Why was it ruining everything?

Her.

Stitch suddenly stumbled back, pulling Sadrina with him. He pulled away from both Satu, and the bloody sea, glancing back and forth between them. His face was full of fear, his eyes wide and confused. Sadrina looked lost, staring into some beyond, looking less and less alive as time went by. That smile was stuck on her face, but it looked so fake. Stitch didn't seem to notice, he just held onto her tightly, unable to let her go. His gaze finally locked on Satu, and he spoke, his voice trembling. "Who are you? Why are you here? You... You weren't here before... Did you do this...?" His voice sounded heartbroken, as if he had trusted her with this place, and she had ruined that trust.

"Who are you?" The question was almost spoke in a begging manner. He truly needed to know, he needed some kind of comfort.

[Satu]

Bloody and red, the snowflakes fell from the sky like dark jewels from an angry heaven. Yet, unlike precious stones, these held neither light, nor a glimmer of life inside them. The peculiar redness descended upon them and Satu cried out to the sky, “Why?” Each drop landed with a muted thud, unnaturally heavy to turn the remaining white landscape into a crimson slush. With a horrified look upon his face, the man stared at the abomination the sea had become. Satu watched him closely, for she thought he had the same look of horror in his eyes when he looked upon her! Pulling Sadrina closer in his arms, he tried to protect her from the many changes taking place around them. Stitch blamed the Konti, and Satu felt shamed. She pleaded for his understanding, and choked, “It is not me! I did not choose this!” Scarlet rivulets trickled down her face and dotted her skin. “This is not what I chose, I did not ask for…,” her hand fluttered around her, to encompass the strange world, “I did not ask for this place! I only wanted to live!” The man was heartbroken, and he stared at Sadrina while Satu observed him, fidgeting. They needed to go. They needed to go. They needed to go now! But Sadrina looked different and changed. Her face held a faraway look, unreal and removed. A cold chill coursed through the Konti. Sadrina was not what she seemed, of that the Konti was certain. Sadrina was false somehow! Satu could not look away either. “Oh Avalis! She is one of them!” she breathed at Stitch. “Can’t you see!” She hugged herself holding each elbow, and almost bent double in supplication to impart understanding to him. Satu wanted to run, but she could not. Not by herself, not alone. She was afraid, so she hesitated, fidgeting in anxiety. “Please! Leave her be – she is not what you think!” Terror took over her then and the HeartSeer boldly clutched the man’s shirt. “Run! Run away! We must flee!” She pulled at him, as pinkish water began to puddle around her feet. The sea was coming in, and Satu screamed, “Oh please hurry! They will come, and it will be worse. They will take every bit that is good from us!” How did she know this? Unsure, her mind was oddly void of answers, though she felt the truth of it. And when she turned, she saw the crimson sea crashing closer, its waves inching ever nearer to their feet. Dark, bubbly foam reached out to envelop them as the false sea rolled in.

[Stitch]

When a heart breaks, it never breaks even.

"No!" The Konti cried out, trying to defend herself, but Stitch refused to listen. The whole sky was turning red, raining down crimson snow, each flake heavier than the last. The entire landscape was being washed in blood, and the fake sea rose even higher. Stitch was horrified, a little for himself, but mostly for his beloved. Why was everything changing? This had been a wonderful place, this had been the place that they had decided the name for their child! It had been so beautiful before, and now it was horribly scarred! Why was there blood everywhere? And why had the woman brought it with her? Why had she ruined it all for them? Satu pleaded for Stitch to understand, but her cries fell upon deaf ears. He stepped back, turning his gaze from her, now focusing on the woman who had just become his wife. This was supposed to be a honeymoon! Why was everything going so wrong, on an occasion that was supposed to be utterly perfect? Still not noticing the doll his wife had become, perhaps not wanting to, Stitch wrapped her up in his arms. He held her close, covering her face with kisses, shakily wiping dark bloodstains off of her pristine features. "It is going to be okay, love. This one will protect you. This one won't let anything happen to you. Don't be scared. This one loves you, this one will be with you forever. Forever."

What am I supposed to do, when the best part of me was always you?

Still holding Sadrina close to his chest, he took another step back, his eyes filling with tears. He turned to Satu, distantly aware of the snowflakes coating his own features in little spots of blood; distantly aware of the ocean seeping in around his ankles. The landscape felt so cold now, and the warm so blood. The sun was slowly darkening, and shadows were flitting across the world. Where had all the warmth gone? Satu was an almost horrifying specter now, her once beautiful features panicked and scared, coated in the same spots of blood as Sadrina and Stitch both. He cried out for Stitch yet again, hugging herself as if to comfort. What were those words she had spoken? That Sadrina was one of them? "No! Do not speak of her, not like that. Not with horror to your words! Look at her, please... She isn't bad, she isn't one to be scared of... She isn't what you think! Why are you doing this?" Stitch kissed at Sadrina's forehead, now facing Satu, keeping a cautious eye on her. He was scared of the Konti, scared of what she would do. He refused to run, yet refused to face her. He wanted to stay here, stay where everything had been perfect. It would change back, very soon. He couldn't leave here. If he was to leave this place, he would have to leave her, and that was something he could never do.

As if hearing his thoughts, Satu finally reached out to grab him, screaming for him to leave while tugging him to her. "No!" The word came in a yell, and tears crashed down Stitch's cheeks. She was trying to force him to leave her, trying to get him to leave this place. One arm left Sadrina, the other still holding her close. That one arm that was now free, it moved in a blur, chopping at Satu's hands to roughly remove them from his shirt, then blurring out to give her a hard shove away. "This one won't leave her! This one is staying right here! If you want to leave, then leave! But this one can't lose her!" He wept, tears flooding down his cheeks, his eyes shining at her with a desperate plea for her to understand. "Not again! This one can't lose her again! No one will take her from me, not you, and not what ever comes! This one will protect her from everything! It won't happen again!"


I'm falling to pieces.

He shook, his hand clenching into a fist, his eyes now defiantly flashing at her. He seemed unaware of the bloody sea, creeping up his legs; and unaware of the bloody snow that was slowly drenching his entire being in red. Sadrina was motionless in his arm, barely breathing, that dreamy smile still on her face, and her glassy eyes still staring straight ahead. The world flickered for a second, and in that split second, the landscape was changed. They were in the Wildlands once again, but Sadrina was dead in his arms. That dreamy smile was on her face, but her other features had been torn to shreds. She had been gored by something that was unearthly, that had done damage that no mere mortal could accomplish. Her once perfect body was now ribbons of flesh and blood, almost seeping out of Stitch's arms. Stitch still stared defiantly at Satu, blissfully unaware. The landscape only shifted for a mere moments, then was back to the bloody winter scene. Sadrina still a motionless doll in Stitch's arm, beautiful yet unreal, and the man was still stubbornly staying put.

The world trembled around them suddenly, rumbling as if onset by an earthquake. Stitch clutched his love to him, not letting Satu out of his sight, one hand outstretched as if to ward her off.

I'm falling to pieces.

[Satu]

The sound filled their ears and rumbled in their bones! It was not caused by thunder, or even an earthquake, it was something far, far worse in Satu’s mind. Boots! In formation they marched, unseen. Satu could not see them anywhere. Her head turned wildly, this way and that, until finally she forced her gaze to the disturbing sea. No! She told herself, no! She should not have been able to hear them march. But she did. Oh Avalis she did! The Konti saw their heads rise up out of the bloody, foamy waves. Each step of their submerged boots lifted them higher, exposing more of their bodies, the shoulders and then torsos. Out of the sea they marched, crimson water pouring down their uniforms, and in spots, drops of bloody sea water clung boldly to them. At their feet the water boiled madly. Three deep and ten wide they came in formation, but as Satu looked on in horror, another grouping of them rose from the depths, followed by another. Silent, they approached, but for the tramp of their feet, and the dead of their eyes. Quiet Hearts hurt her soul... There were faces she recognized. But just as Sadrina’s face had changed before her shocked eyes, so too did the guards undergo a transformation. Their faces shifted, becoming shredded and mangled, and unrecognizable in that instant. But still they marched toward the three, sending up splashes of decay around them. Stitch tried to keep Satu away, tried to ward her off with his hand as he continued to hold onto Sadrina. He had hit the Konti’s hands away already, but now she was insistent. This was too much! Satu threw herself again at him, not caring if he struck her. In her terror, she reached out to pound her desperate fists upon him, striking out in terror to try and make him see. But her fists landed feebly upon him, and softly as if she had only tapped him with little strength. “What is this?” she cried, falling backwards and staring at her useless fists. “This is wrong! This whole place is wrong! Look with your Heart! Oh please, see what I see! You have already lost her to them!” The nightmarish fear became too great to stay any longer, and Satu began to slowly back away from Stitch and the men of the sea. Still as she moved, her pleading continued, “Please, come with me! I can’t stay… I can’t do it again, it is too hard! Do not leave me alone! Please! I am so frightened!” Her foot slid backwards in the ankle-deep slush as she took another step away. The men neared as tears streamed down Satu’s face. “I am alone. Please, stay with me… She is lost to you! I am not, I live. Laviku help me, I live!” She repeated, sobbing, looking from Sadrina to the guards and back again. “It is not safe, let her go!” And she took another step, ready to run at any the slightest provocation.

[Stitch]

Stitch hugged her to him quite tightly, the tender Sadrina nearly crushed in his arm. He didn't notice her still, didn't notice the dead look in her eyes, and the emotionless smile on her face. His black eyes were completely focused on Satu, the person who he thought had stolen away all of his perfect. Why had she come here and ruined it all for him? Why was she here in the first place? He and Sadrina were the only ones who knew about this place, how had someone else managed to find it? The questions rampaged through Stitch's head as he slowly backed up, wading ever so deeply into the bloody ocean. He seemed not to mind the bloody, churning water. He only minded Satu, and the dangers he feared that she might bring. When she battered him with her fists, he didn't even give up a struggle, simply continued to back away. They didn't even sting. He knew he didn't have to defend himself against her. She was completely weak. She was trying to trick him, trying to drag him away. She was the real danger here, not the ocean. Not this beautiful sea, which sang out to him in a voice that he heard deep within his skull. Another voice echoed nearby, a voice that mimicked the one in his head, the one from the sea. It was a beautiful voice, even more emmaculite than the one that sang in his mind. It was Sadrina.

"Stitch? Come with me. Please. Stay with me forever. We can be together forever, safe forever. It is somewhere perfect. They call it Opportunity." The stricken orphanage owner glanced down at his woman, a relieved smile flickering across his face. He pressed a quick kiss to her lips, ignoring Satu's fervered cries and pleas. He nodded, whispering his acceptance to her. "Of course, my love. Anywhere, with you. We won't have to leave the other, never again." Sadrina smiled, and only Satu would be able to know something was wrong. Something was very, very wrong. "Excellent."

A hand snapped from the ocean, wrapping around Stitch's ankle. He gasped, starting in surprise as the men rose from the sea, one simply using Stitch to support his climb up. Stitch's eyes widened, filling with horror, but he was quickly silenced by comforting whispers from his wife. She smiled darkly at Satu, as if mocking her from within her nightmare, secretly telling her that she had won. She had already taken Stitch. They had already taken Stitch. On they marched, surrounding Stitch one by one, swarming up around him in neat rows. Even as they turned into shredded corpses, Sadrina whispered those comforting words into Stitch's ears, even though her eyes remained locked on Satu. Stitch shivered in her arms, as she was now the one holding him, but he held his ground. Just like he had promised. Satu would be able to see the desperate love beaming from his heart, like a little boy who refused to let go of his mother. He was truly in love, and was truly going to do anything for her. Anything at all.

They were clear to Satu, even among all the soldiers. One row was missing from their ranks, allowing Satu to see straight to Stitch and Sadrina. She would be able to see as one of the soldiers stomped by Stitch, flashing a sword across the man's shoulder. Blood squirted from the wound, and Stitch let out a cry, a hand going to the wound. His features shuddered with pain, yet Sadrina comforted him again. Once more, his heart throbbed with love, and he stood strong. Another sword flashed from the never-ending army, and another wound was opened. He let out another strangled cry, this one more agonizing than the last. Yet Sadrina was quick to comfort him with another whisper, her eyes still locked on Satu. Mocking her. It wasn't Sadrina any more. Those weren't the eyes of the girl that Stitch had loved. Satu might could see them now. All the strings that Sadrina dangled from; all the dozens of them, moving her about like a puppet.

Another sword flashed, and this one went straight through his chest. Stitch crumpled, screaming his agony to the sky. Sadrina fell with him, screaming out his name, the strings that held her suddenly snapping in two. As they fell, swords flashed to intercept them, piercing into the loving pair from all sides. Satu would bear witness to the carnage, the soldiers making sure she was able to see it. On they marched, never-ending, never stopping. They now came for her. The swords continued to plunge into Stitch and Sadrina, stabbing them hundreds of times, the passing soldiers now turning it into a sick ritual. Their pained screams filled the air, tormented and accusing eyes gazing right at Satu. They still blamed her.

[Satu]

Stitch’s black gaze hurt her. His eyes stared at her, full of Blame! And Fear! But… but she had done nothing wrong! Nothing! Drenched in blood, she was still innocent. Pure! This was not what she had chosen! “No, no, no!” Her Heart sobbed as tears made trails down her bloodied cheeks, “You are wrong! I am good! A good woman!” Sadrina’s voice sang out then, and called to Stitch to join her from where ever she truly was. And Satu had not run away and left them yet. Oh goddess! It was difficult to leave as frightened as she was. She could not go alone! “Do not leave me!” The Konti screamed to Stitch. “Do not leave me alone!” But Sadrina’s voice said sweetly, “Opportunity... A perfect place…” Satu froze, the word sent spiders chills along her nerves. There was nothing in her memory; she did not recall it, but still the word filled her with revulsion when she thought of going there. And she understood that Stitch should not go there at all. A trick! Why could no one see? Amidst the monumental lie, Sadrina smiled as the snowflakes turned to red, red rain. Sadrina knew the lie. Sadrina was the lie! Like a thief, she used Stitch’s love, and his promises against him. It was too late for him, he believed it all… Flee! Satu told herself. Flee! But she could not. The earth cradled her feet like stones, and rooted them to the slushy ground. The soldiers approached the lovers. A sword lifted and Satu, unused to violence in any form, screamed as the weapon flashed down, silently on Stitch. Through the rain, he cried out while Satu watched in trepidation as he bled. She tried to help, to assist or save him, but she could not. The ground would not release her, stuck as she was in the bloody muck. Panic! Panic settled over her. More swords, and blood, and with it Sadrina’s lies of comfort. “Don’t hurt him!” Satu yelled from her frozen position. “Please…” she cried. But when she saw the strings, words failed her and unable to speak, Satu fell silent. Puppet strings? Sadrina a puppet? What did it mean? There was no time to think, and she needed more time, but another sword crashed down into Stitch’s chest. Even Sadrina screamed at the attack’s intensity. And the next came upon its heels, and the next. Never did it seem to end. Satu watched brutality taking place before her eyes, and uncontrollably her arms and chest shook, while tiny drops of crimson sparkled around her. Were her companions dead? She believed so, but their eyes still stared, casting blame and accusing her. Wrongfully accusing her! Satu could not bear it! Disfigured, bloody, and focused the soldiers turned towards Satu, each footstep sloshing closer. Alone! She was alone, no one could help her! But her head turned anyway, seeking assistance, but there was none to be found. The Konti’s body shook and trembled, while small sounds of terror squeaked from her throat. Unable to look upon their faces, Satu closed her eyes. When the nearest reached her though, strangely the men stopped, and stilled. Slowly, her blue eyes opened. The soldiers stood at attention, waiting for her, deferring to her. Their swords lowered. A heavy sound burst from her chest, OH! Satu almost choked, and she shook her head again, the sobs coming harder. Alone! No one could advise the girl, or even help her in this place. She had nothing but betrayal to fall back on! By Stitich and Sadrina! By Danna, and all the others! And the cruellest cut of all, betrayed by her own Konti sisters! Betrayed by all she had known and trusted. This was what was left then, these men. Her eyes drifted over them and saw them as if for the first time. The nightmare soldiers, shredded, retched and bloodied! But no, their features came into a glittery focus as her Heart realized, they only wanted Freedom, just as she did. They were merely men who needed guidance. That was all. Guidence. Satu sniffed, silent sobs beginning to slow in the crisp air. The snow finally began to dissipate and the Konti dragged the back of her hand across her nose, smearing a swath of blood across her face. She would be strong, and give them Guidence. These men needed her! For them, she would show the world what Strength truly was! Straightening, she stood tall and resolute. Satu’s blue eyes hardened, but her face softened as she looked over the hideous men. She lifted her arms out to the sides, as if to encompass them all. Like a mother with a newly reunited family. Except that she was a woman who dripped blood poured from the sky above and her new companions were murders.