Chapter Eight

A few small houses composed what was known as the Village of Mist. Cecil almost felt sorry for the people of the town, living in the shoddy houses while the Castle of Baron stood in its majesty across the Misty Mountains. It was so barren and desolate…the lack of water caused a minimum growth of vegetation and aside from a stray flower here and there or the occasional desperate garden, the town was encased by dust…the mist still hung over it, yet it did nothing to supply nourishment to the needy plants…crops withered away…the sun somehow pierced its way through the fog; and Cecil imagined that if he stood there for much longer, he would see the town wither away before his eyes…

There were few people out on the dusty streets. They had no reason to be there. The outside was meant for children with their wild imaginations and animals, since the small houses already had little room enough for the family members…Cecil almost laughed aloud when he thought what the people would say when they noticed him and Kain. Just two washed-up, wandering knights-errant, looking for a small child’s kitten in a tree or a damsel in distress.

We’re not far from it, Cecil thought in dismay…

Cecil and Kain entered the village unnoticed. He knew if they saw the emblem of the Baron double-cross etched on his dark armor, it would cause an uproar that he and the dragoon couldn’t handle alone. The sound of wind chimes tinkling in the wind was the only thing they heard…

"Check ‘em out, man…"

Kain took great delight in watching the wind chimes sway back and forth in the breeze that whispered through the valley. They were strung from a withered tree, pitifully small in the hard mountain soil.

"Who’s the Elder of this town?"

Like Kain knows, Cecil thought ruefully…

"Is there an elder in this place?" Kain asked with some contempt. "I mean, with the monsters on their side they don’t have any need for a human leader…"

Cecil produced the scroll from his chain mail.

"We need to make an announcement to someone…" he said, glancing around. He could almost feel the eyes watching him from the doors of the houses.

"I’ll show you how to make an announcement, man…"

Kain reached a brawny hand toward the scroll, but Cecil shook his head.

"I’m not going to let you do this, Kain," he said seriously. "If anything happens, I’ll pretend you were an escort…"

Kain stared at him in amazement.

"You trust them enough to think they won’t hurt you just because I’m supposed to be an escort?"

Cecil shook his head.

"It’s not that…" he said quickly then paused. "I just don’t trust you making this announcement, man…"

Cecil didn’t watch the dragoon’s reaction as he untied the maroon ribbon on the scroll…his heartbeat had suddenly quickened…his fingers didn’t seem to want to hold the ribbon, and after he untied it, the ribbon fluttered to the ground.

"I’m just ready to finish this and –"

Cecil gave a shout of surprise as the scroll burst into flames in his hand…oh God, what’s going on..? The edges curled up and blackened as Cecil watched, dumfounded, then as the flames licked at his fingers he threw the flaming parchment to the ground.

"What the --?"

Kain spun around to see what Cecil was doing, and his eyes widened as he saw the scroll burning in the dirt.

"Cripes!"

The dragoon started urgently stamping on the burned paper…Cecil backed away…something is going to happen, a voice told him…

A sound like the crackle of lightning erupted in Cecil’s ears, and instantly flames stormed up the street of the silent village, blowing away the make-shift gravel roads and scorching the edges of the humble little houses nearby. Cecil heard a scream as another flame burst from the inside of a house and torched the wooden logs….Fires enveloped the entire village in a matter of seconds, melting away even the foundation of the few houses made from brick…what in God’s name…Cecil watched numbly as a living body of fire sprang frantically through the burning streets, a person in the flame screaming in agony…Cecil closed his eyes…it was too late to block the sound of the screams out…they would be there for awhile…possibly forever…

"Come on!"

Cecil finally shouted above the din to Kain, who stood with his mouth in an O of horror. Cecil leaped through a fire blazing very close to him, and the heat gripped his dark armor. Flames licked at his flesh from the windows of houses, searing his uncovered skin, and occasionally an explosion ripped through the valley; and Cecil ducked with his arms over his head to prevent the debris from falling on him…no one can be alive anymore, he thought in dismay, but it doesn’t hurt to try at least then I’ll know I tried…Cecil forced his way into one house but the thick black smoke choked him, blinded him, and he was forced to stagger away…it’s too late…he stumbled out and saw Kain dimly through haze, and he coughed violently as he dashed toward the dragoon. Kain had the dragon helmet in one hand and tears streamed from his eyes…he coughed and hacked feverishly into his hand; his face was covered in soot and ash…

"Is…there…anyone…left ?!"

Cecil screamed at the top of his lungs to the dragoon…God it was so hot…

Kain shook his head, his dirty blond hair flapping left and right…

"I…couldn’t…find –"

Another crackling erupted from their left side, and they looked up to see the roof of a house splinter and collapse in a hail of ash. Smoke engulfed the remains and Cecil stared at the scene…he couldn’t tear his eyes from the black smoke billowing from the wreckage…he probably would have gaped at it forever if a hand didn’t clutch his arm earnestly.

"Cecil!"

He whipped around to see Kain leaning toward him, desperately trying to make himself heard over the hissing and crackling of the flames; but before the dragoon could speak there was another distinct cry over the hellish burning.

"Mommy!"

Kain’s eyebrows knitted in surprise. Cecil glanced at him for a brief moment before he leaped to his feet, straining to see through the wall of black smoke and flames…there was a slight movement amidst the reddish glow, and without hesitation Cecil motioned for Kain to follow him…Kain nodded and snatched his dragon helmet over his head. Cecil heard Kain’s boots pounding behind him as they thrashed through the barrier of thick smoke and ashes and debris…Smoke spiraled around Cecil’s legs and left him short of breath and weak and tired and oh God I guess I’ll die here too but first I need to know what’s going on…my God, someone tell me what is going on!

The movement flashed again through the smoke…Cecil paused, squinted…tears spilled from his eyes as soot clung to his eyelashes…

A little girl stood through the blackening fog…her clothing was covered in ashes and dirt and her filthy face was streaked with tears and streaked with ashes, her unkempt hair, dirty and stringy, drooped down over her thin bare shoulders…

She kneeled by what appeared to be a body…

…Mommy…

The cry that had been heard earlier seemed to echo in Cecil’s ears…

Her mother…the filthy little girl kneeled beside the body of her mother…it struck Cecil like a physical blow…

As Cecil and Kain approached the small girl, she leaped up, frightened not of them but of her mother’s uncertain condition…

"Mommy…was…praying…for…help…to…protect…our village…" the child sniffed, wiping a dirty hand across her face. "And she told…me…to…stay inside…b-but…when I heard…her…crying…I came…out here…and now she’s…hurt!"

She dropped back to her knees beside her mother and Kain frowned at Cecil.

"…Praying for help..?"

Cecil nodded grimly.

"A summoner…"

It was so clear…frightening and sickening, but clear…

Kain stared blankly at Cecil.

"…You…don’t get it…do you?"

Cecil asked, his teeth clenched tightly so he could feel the pain in his head and teeth and everywhere else but his mind…Kain…dumb bastard…

"The…dragon…"

Kain frowned.

"…It was…the…help…"

Kain’s frown darkened…Cecil could tell that he was understanding every word…

"When we…killed…the Mist dragon --"

…That’s what forms the bond between the summoners and the beasts, Kain don’t you see? my God don’t make me spell it out for you…

"—We…killed…her…mother…"

Cecil bowed his head in defeat; how easy it was to use that word…kill…like he were saying good morning…or good evening…

The small, bedraggled girl stood slowly as she absorbed Kain’s words.

"Did you –"

Her lips began to tremble…Cecil could hardly keep his eyes on her…God he felt so depressed…don’t finish what you’re going to say, little girl, Cecil silently begged…don’t accuse us because we can explain…

" –you…killed…her…"

Her lower lip began to tremble…and tears sprang into her eyes not because she understood what had happened but because she didn’t understand what had happened…the injustice…her mommy…dead…

"I’m…sorry –"

Cecil extended his hand to the little girl…as if he offered her something…but what…? He bowed his head in shame and would have touched the child’s grubby fingers if Kain’s own hand didn’t grab him from behind.

"His Majesty wanted to get rid of the summoners, man ---" he claimed as if in sudden understanding. "—That’s what your last duty was…"

Cecil shook his head as if there were no truth in Kain’s words but each word was very true…

"We have to…get rid of her…too…"

Cecil whirled around vehemently, snatching Kain by the collar:

"For God’s sake, Kain, she’s just a kid!"

Without a mother or a home or anything you bastard! he wanted to scream but he just glared at the dragoon, his eyes flashing in anger…

Kain shook himself loose from Cecil’s grip and scowled:

"What are you saying, captain? Are you ignoring your responsibility to his Majesty’s orders?"

If the little girl were not standing so near, Cecil knew he would have drawn his sword and killed Kain right at his feet…Cecil bit so hard into his lower lip that he tasted blood and he leaned close to Kain, his face nearly touching the face of the dragoon…

"Look Kain!"

Cecil thrust a finger at the small girl behind them…she was kneeling again beside her mother’s lifeless body and weeping…

"Look, dammit!" Cecil commanded angrily. "There’s what you get for following the king’s orders!! There’s what we get for obeying every command he gives us!!"

Kain stepped back…but Cecil was not finished…

"I’m not being the king’s servant to kill…did you hear me?! TO KILL a little girl’s mother!!"

Cecil turned away, clutching his head with both hands…God…it was so unfair…the innocent people…

"And if you follow another order like this, Kain –"

Cecil abruptly turned toward the dragoon again, his jaw set firmly, resolutely…

"I swear to God I’ll kill you…"

Kain stepped away…

"No way, man…" he stated quietly. "I’m tired…of…this…"

Cecil studied him…

"I owe King Odin everything --"

Kain shook his head as he spoke.

"—But I won’t pay for it by the blood of innocent people…"

Kain…noble bastard…Cecil almost laughed aloud…

"---It’s a disgrace to the Order…"

Cecil gripped his arm urgently.

"Then are you with me on this?"

Kain nodded and raised the spear to his head in salute.

"Until the end, captain…"

Cecil smiled.

"You know you’re an honorable bastard, don’t you?"

Kain smirked.

"It’s not for your sake…" He looked around quickly. "Let’s get out of here!"

As he turned to leave, Cecil clutched his arm.

"What about the little girl?!"

Another tremendous explosion wracked the tiny village, causing Cecil and Kain to flinch and gaze around in concern. The girl was lying beside her mother’s body; fresh tears streamed down her cheeks…

"We’re not going to leave her here like this!"

Cecil shouted to Kain over the explosions and turned toward the child hastily. The dragoon couldn’t protest over the roaring flames so he had no choice but to follow Cecil.

Cecil was kneeling beside the small child as Kain drew near.

"Listen--it’s not safe for you to stay here!" The Dark knight was pleading to the girl, who appeared to ignore him.

"Go away…"

Cecil shook his head…what now…? What do I say to get her to trust the people who just destroyed her village, her friends, her mother…we killed her mother, for God’s sake and now I want her to listen to me…

"Please come with us!"

Cecil felt awkward negotiating with the tiny girl, but what else could he do? He reached a hand to her but she jerked her arm away.

"No!"

She clung to her mother and cried harder, oblivious to the choking black smoke and flames around her. Cecil glanced at Kain desperately as if the dragoon would have a solution.

"For chrissakes man, just take her and let’s GO!"

Kain reached for the girl, not as gently as Cecil, and the girl sprang to her feet.

"Get away!!"

Cecil leaped up and clutched her little dirty hand.

"Please come with us –"

"NO!" she shrieked, snatching her hand from his, tears spilling down her filthy face. "Go away! I hate you!! You killed my mommy and I hate you!!"

Kain lunged at her again, determined to snatch her into his arms; the instant his fingertips touched her thin arm there was a deafening rumble and the ground beneath Kain’s feet exploded with a volcanic force…Kain was hurled off his feet and tossed into the air, flailing helplessly as rocks rained down on Cecil and the girl…then a tremendous hand, fingers the size of a human body, rose from the ground between Cecil and the girl…Cecil staggered back dumfounded…tears stung his eyes as dust and soot choked the air and he was uncertain if he were actually seeing the yellowish hand in front of him…it was so clear…covered in black hair to the tips of the mammoth fingers…the thick nails caked in dirt…the little girl disappeared in the dust as she was sent tumbling head over heels, squealing as rocks crashed into the earth nearby…she covered her head with her hands…God she’s just a little girl…Cecil remembered as he started toward her, lost his balance, toppled to the ground …

"Kain!!"

Cecil shouted in the uproar but he knew it was useless…his voice as lost somewhere amidst the tumult and rocks continued to shower around him and the ground trembled violently, making it impossible to distinguish earth from sky…the rocks and stones clanged on his armor, striking forcefully against his helmet…Cecil managed to stay half-way on his feet and he searched desperately for Kain but he could see nothing except a film of impenetrable dust and a chalky haze…he made the mistake of sucking in a deep breath and he immediately began coughing as his lungs filled with the thick and gritty air…

Another roar resounded through the Misty Valley…Cecil dropped to one knee and stared at the mountains around them...

The peaks of the Misty Mountains crumbled…in slow motion they crumbled and began to collapse over the land…It was funny in a strange sort of way…buried alive…but another voice screamed in his mind get up and run you don’t have to die here because you’re not supposed to die here…

Uttering an oath Cecil clambered to his feet with a strength borne of fear and bounded through the cascade of rocks and dust and dirt and sand…

"KAIN!"

There was no audible answer…and Cecil’s mind raced nearly as fast as he raced through the hail of stones…Kain, my God, man… just say something… just make one sound any sound… I don’t care if you tell that stupid joke about the chocobo and the minotaur …man …even though it’s stupid and you’re the only bastard that laughs at it Kain I swear to God I’ll laugh at it this time if you’ll just let me know you’re still alive…

At last Cecil spied the little girl, huddled on the ground in a miserable bundle…entire sections of the misty mountains rained around her but she was oblivious to them…without hesitation Cecil dashed toward her, dodging the onslaught of rocks…a stone struck him with such force on the side of the helmet that it dented the metal until it touched his head…and Cecil reeled senselessly into a pile of rocks and debris…his vision darkened for a moment…no I can’t do this yet I’ve got to at least get out of danger but where is that…his vision returned leaving the world almost too clear and vivid and his heart thundered in his chest drowning out the sound of the earthquake around him…

Another rumble tore Cecil’s eyes from the ground and forced him to look into the mountains again…He laid on his back, gaping at the sky as both sides of the Misty Valley quivered…

In a matter of seconds everything would come down…

Cecil struggled to his feet again, his breath squeezed into ragged gasps…lord, all I need is a breath of fresh air just one deep breath of fresh air…he spat onto the ground, tasting blood…and he limped toward the girl…

The child turned to him, her eyes sparkling in the otherwise tarnished world around them…her tear-stained face streaked with dirt and soot and ashes and blood…without a word Cecil crouched beside her and hoisted her onto his shoulder…no time to explain…or apologize…that would come later…if there could be later…she screamed in fright directly in his ear but his senses had already been dulled by what was happening so he didn’t notice…

When the rumbling of stones from the misty mountains drowned out the little girl’s screams, Cecil started to run…

As he ran madly through the thickening black fog he felt her tiny fists pummeling his back and shoulders and he gritted his teeth…side-stepping as rocks smashed into the ground around them…he nearly fell once, lost his grip on the child, and in turn she kicked him viciously in the thigh and Cecil lost his balance and crumbled to the ground…get up and run idiot a voice kept telling him because if you don’t get out of this ravine with the little girl then you’ll die and she’ll die like Kain…NO…he’s not dead…Cecil half-dragged half-carried the girl, risking a hasty glance toward the Misty Mountains…

He instantly regretted his curiosity…There were no misty mountains anymore…everything that had been there was now blotted out by a cloud of dust…a cloud of dust that blotted out the sun and blotted out the world…the Village of Mist? It didn’t stand a chance…and me and the girl? No way…

The avalanche of rocks reached him seconds later…the last thing Cecil remembered was tripping on something…a body perhaps…and tumbling helplessly, weakly to the dusty ground…the little girl flopped from his arms…I’ll have to apologize for that too, Cecil thought crazily…then he crawled toward her and covered her tiny body with his own…

…God…let me just wake up alive…