>•~Falling Upwards~•<

Chapter Seventeen: An Outstretched Arm

A good,
A true,
Friend,
Would always be at the others side.

No matter,
The situation;
If they are in the right,
Or in the wrong.

If one is true,
If one does really value,
Their friendship,
They would risk everything for them.

*~*

(A flashback; all occurs within a few moments)

~C~

"No!"

  A whirlwind of colors. Some red. Some dark blue. Some violet. Some golden. Many are colors I cannot name.

  They all whirl around me. They dance. They spin. They twirl. They distract me from what is happening.

  I do not want to be distracted. I cannot be distracted. I have a task; a mission. To be carried off to a safe place while others are hurt is just cruel.

  I try to push aside the flaming colors. I reach out my hand, and try to shove them back. I need them out. I need to focus.

  Eventually, they fade off at my soft touch. They were the silks that covered up what is not meant for my fresh eyes. A sharp shred of glass has pierced through them. They lay sliced open for all to view. That "all" is just me.

  I get up. I never knew I was sitting until now. I suppose that is just part of the process. The process... Do I really want to, well, continue with it?

  What about the dangers? The threats? There must be a reason why I have forgotten almost everything. This is a loose crack. By myself placing my weight on it, it will splinter. There, I will fall. Deep, and deeper into a world of pain.

  The colorful assortments of the fabrics around me dances. It comes closer. I push it back with my hands. — Not now. Not when I am so close to what I need.

What I need...

  I shake my head. It sees what I desire. Even if this is not what I desire, but rather a craving. Cravings can hold deeper intentions. Those intentions can have dark meanings. Do not crave.

  So, the curtains waver off. Each is like a wave lapping up on a beach. It recedes, before rushing back in. Just like a little kid playing with its family.

  Suddenly, I am left out in the cold. There are no colors. Everything around me is bare. Black and white; two stances which contrast the other greatly. Similarly to two friends, or lovers. Maybe, perhaps, enemies too. Both sides tip the other over, as they pull back to show their greater difference brought by themselves.

  I stumble forward. An unknown force urges me on. I follow. I know I need to find something. No, someone; I must help someone.

  A flood of courage comes to me. No longer am I the weak prey. No longer am I a fledgling, with not a speck of the right feathers to burst into flight. Now I feel strong. At least for now.

  As I continue to walk, though, I feel myself grow smaller. Each step takes me farther and farther away from the rainbows of the colorful silk. Each step brings me to a younger version of myself.

  I hear crying. Cries of a horrid sound. At this point, I must be half of my original size. I am a kid. Children should never have to even hear cries of that kind.

  I peak through a corner. This is the only corner in this whole black and while corridor. I am the only color left in here. I am the only one who can fix this.

  Wait, no, I cannot. This is merely a memory. I am just a viewer. There is nothing I can do. I cannot console the one who cries out now.

  I let myself slip out of my corner. I see someone in the corner. An older woman. Her striking dark hair sticks out to me. It shines with the light which does not exist here. She seems sweet, although I do not know her besides from what I see here. Why does she lay on the ground?

  Another girl. Yet, this girl is younger than me. Her hair is in a sharp contrast to the other. Now it is just white, as this is the context of where I am. Yet, I know that it holds a different color. It seems fake. I can just tell, although I do not know her either.

  She is not me — She is the one crying. Sharp glass splinters around her. I believe she was helping the elderly woman clean up. Why does she cry?

  I try to see her face. I try to see the woman's face. I cannot see either. Their faces are blank. Nothing defines who they are. There is nothing for me to recognize who they are exactly.

  Then, I see me. Well, another me. We are both at the same young age. She sees me, and casts a quick worried glance. Right now, I hold a strong, thick courage. I hold no reason to not help her.

  I run beside myself. I have to admit, to stand beside yourself is off. Not a reflection, but an alive version of you. She is distant from who I am now, but she is still here.

  I see what she is protecting the others from. More like "other" now. I worry for that woman. Her condition must be failing, especially with none of us able to help her.

  Large footsteps near. There is a figure. A very angry figure. Again, I cannot make out who this person is. No one has a face, beside myself, and my other self.

  Whoever this is holds a weapon. The being is not in their right mind. I can tell, although this is not shone on the exterior. What I cannot tell, is if they are human. Humans would not cause harm.

Monsters cause harm, just like what has been done here.

Monsters cause pain.

Monsters cause suffering.

A monster must be slew before it hurts anyone.. else.

  I see what this monster holds. A light shines on the item. On the weapon, rather, as that thing is not just a harmless item. This light is darker, unlike the light played on the woman's head. It caused what happened to her.

  The being slurs out words. I squint my eyes. Its words are not audible. They are nonsense. I would have to bring out another one of its kind to get the words it says.

  It grows angrier when I do not understand what it says. It raises the weapon. A person rams into me. A human being with a heart, unlike what is in front of us. I see it is the other me.

  I understand what she was doing. I give her my thanks with a small smile. Then I realize — I should not be hiding in fear like a cooped-up animal. I need to help.

  That's too late, though. I stare dead at the thing. The curtains begin to pull me back. I try to scramble out. I must help! The world begins to falter. I watch that monster pull a sharp lever on its weapon.

  I got to say something. Even just a word. I must get the word out. There is danger lurking dangerously close.

"Gun!"

~*~

"Gun!"

——

A/N: mmm spicy cheetos