“You're... you're alive.”

The blood was still dripping all the way down to her boots, yet she continued walking

“There's a lot a secret weapon can do,” she said, walking toward him.

“What are you doing this for? I was going to stab you.”

“You're confused,” she said, ignoring him, “you're the brother I'm looking for, aren't you?”

A butterfly fluttered in his heart.

“That locket....” she said, looking the locket over, “it's yours, isn't it?”

A picture flashed in his head... that girl was identical with the girl before him...

Just... just calm down!

Afton soon recovered himself.

“You... you know me, don't you?” she asked, placing a cold hand to his cheek.

She unhooded herself and the dark blue flowed down perfectly.

“Were you not the mute little abandoned child I found and adopted?” she whispered, “Why are you doing this to me?”

Spinning... laughing... autumn leaves...does he not remember?(Kaylie)

“Afton, you've changed... a lot.”

A locket... a red moon... a lake... a little boy... and me?(Kaylie)

“Don't you remember me? Doesn't something click in you?”

“Of course I remember you,” he said carelessly, “You're Kaylie. It seems we meet again. Both us, country's dogs,” Afton shrugged, sarcastically sticking out a hand for her to shake.

Kaylie growled, replacing her hand immediately, “I almost thought I saw something in you!”

“Kaylie, I already told you that I forgot my whole childhood, you can't expect me to remember anything,” he said, patiently playing out his little prank.

“Then...!” she cried, “stop acting like he does! I take you for him. Something about you won't allow me to end your life.”

She means it.(Afton)

She bit her lip, looking down, “At least,” she whispered, “Look me in the eye and say you're not my brother.”

Her heart beat quickly, as did his. He tried to look her in the eyes but just glancing her way only made a shy part of him surface.

But he did. He looked her in the eyes and said, “I'm the brother you're looking for, but... but I'm not your brother.”

Then he blinked and quickly looked away.

This is awkward. I wonder if all these frozen people can see or hear what's going on.(Afton)

Now what. I found the person I was looking for. So now what?(Kaylie)

“So, how do we do this? I got a friend here that we'd need to et away from here,” Afton said, breaking her thoughts.

“Huh? Oh. I forgot to unfreeze time,” she said, “actually it's be nice to just sit here doing nothing or just plain messing around with these people.”

Afton smiled.

So she does have this playful side to herself.

“Let's just get out of here. All three of us,” Afton said, gesturing to a wide-eyed Rain.

“That's Alistair?”

“Huh, no. Alistair... is further in. I hope the war doesn't get to him.”

Kaylie ruffled his dark brown hair and laughed, “I'll make sure not to hurt any little blonde-haired kid by the name of Alistair.”

Our life will be easier from now on, little brother.(Kaylie)

Afton went to the horses and Kaylie got into the trench with Rain and then... with a snap of her fingers, she unfroze time.

The soldiers apparently lost all senses during the freeze period so, to them, Kaylie disappeared without a trace.

Only to Rain, she said, “Come now, Afton's waiting.”

“Who's Afton?” he whispered to her.

“There's no time to talk, I'll explain it later. Just come with me,” she said hurriedly. She froze time again and the two of the walked to where Afton was frozen on his black mare.

“Nissan!” Rain called, to no avail. He was slightly puzzled at the whole freeze thing.

“Get on your horse first then I'll unfreeze everything.”

Rain was slightly quizzical as he got onto his stationery stead. His eyes widened when Kaylie got behind Afton and took the reins of his horse. Then, she snapped her fingers and she kicked the horse into a sprint.

“Kaylie! What!” Afton said, blushing red as soon as he got his senses back.

“Sh. They haven't caught on yet.”

Afton stood as still as was possible, awkwardly staring around, though obviously clinging rather tightly to the horse's mane concentrating on putting as much space between Kaylie as he could.

“Where's your horse?” he asked.

“Not taking it. They'll notice for sure.”

“Let's go to the stables and get us another horse, then,” Afton ventured.

Kaylie nodded and urged the horse faster.

“Rain will show us the way. And don't ruin the poor beast. He hasn't rested very long and the last meal he had was dinner.”

“Just keep quiet and let me handle this,” Kaylie hissed at Afton, then called to the rider beside, “Rain, lead us there!”

The three of them left the gunshots and metal-clashing behind.

****

“You called?”

“Cypress! My love. Are you well?”

“Yes, I'm alright.”

“The war hasn't reached you, has it?”

“No, it hasn't.”

“Dear, please don't be so harsh on me. You love me, do you not?”

“I loved you, Huil. But you broke my family apart so we could elope. Do you know how much family meant to me?” she said in a cold voice.

“Cypress, would you have rather let go of my hand? Of the king's own hand?”

“Willingly,” she answered without hesitation.

“Cypress, dear,” he said, softening his voice and opening his arms to embrace her.

She pushed him away, “Think of how I felt when I heard my parents were dying?!” she shrieked, “I had to just stay hidden. I couldn't even hold their hands as both of them left! Huil! Do you know how depressing it is?”

“I'm sorry, dear,” he whispered soothingly in her ear.

She sniffed and cried bitterly as he hugged her and smoothed the long, dark brown curls. “There there.”

“My mom... my dad... they're both gone!” she sobbed.

“Hush now...” he continued whispering.

“Huil, I miss them so much. My little brother too. Oh, I miss them, Huil!” she cried, melting into his arms.

“It's alright, darling,” he said, pulling her closer. “I'm sorry that I couldn't save them, Cypress.”

She pushed her face into his shoulder and shook with tears.

****

The day passed quickly.

They got a horse for Kaylie. They traveled for most of the time, only stopping to eat off the two bags of provisions.

“Where are we going?” Afton tried to ask once, but she kept her head on straight and wouldn't say a word.

Afton gave up after a few tries and fell behind to stay beside Rain, who seemed rather cross.

What are you trying to do striking up conversations like that?! You usually shut your mouth all the time! Just do what you're good at.

The whole ride passed in silence. It seems Kaylie didn't really care much for her horse, she just kept speeding it up whenever it reduced its pace.

Poor horse, seriously. Poor horse.

Finally, after those long hours on concentrating on staying on their horses, the coast came into view. Stopping quickly and jumping off, Kaylie led her horse to the bank. She tasted the water a little and then got up and pulled the horse away.

“It's salt water,” she said when Afton and Rain came up behind her.

“What are we doing here?” Rain asked, sitting down against a tree.

“I just followed the border to the coast. No one really comes around here. We'll be safe here.”

“Safe to do what?” Rain continued pressing.

“Af... Nissan, who's this Rain?”

Afton blinked, halfway through a sandwich, “Me?” he coughed.

“Wait, before that, who are you? Both of you?” Rain asked, eyeing them both suspiciously.

Afton coughed again, “Us?” he asked, pointing to himself.

“We're our country's secret weapons. That's what,” Kaylie said bluntly, “Didn't you know that?”

“Wait, so you are Chrision's and that makes Nissan....” Rain began.

“Kaylie, can I speak to you for a minute?” Afton asked, swallowing his food.

“Nissan, don't lie, I saw you stand up and take out a weapon earlier! If you dare try to touch her, I won't forgive you!” Rain jumped between them both.

Ah... I forgot that he was patriotic. How idiotic can I be in one day, seriously?!

Kaylie stopped time and turned to Afton, a dangerous fire in her pretty , “Explain this!” she said, pointing at Rain.

“He reminds me of Alistair so I took him with me on my travels,” Afton said, “I know it was stupid I really didn't know how much trouble could come about from a slip of the thoughts.”

“Just let me get rid of him and we'll be safe,” she said, stepping forward and reaching out her ungloved right hand.

“No! You can't!” Afton yelled, batting her hand away, “I have many sides to me, and I have to say that this child brings up my protective mode.”

“Then think of something! You should have told me sooner that he had no idea about Afton! I mentioned Afton to him and he stared blankly at me. So what do we do now? We're just one step away from the life we always wanted but this boy....! He'll crush everything with that tongue and mind of his!”

“Kaylie...”Afton asked quietly, “what's the life you always wanted?”

“I want to live with my loved ones, happily in the forest, whether it be in my homeland, or here. I... I just want to keep us all safe, no matter what. Even if I have to crush the world...,” she whispered.

“I know. I know how hard it is to be away from someone you love, but probably everyone has something they want to protect. Each life you take... someone else would hurt....”

“But that's how war is. The weak won't stand in the face of the strong. The hurt would just go unnoticed because...! Because no one has a heart anymore,” she said, shaking with passion.

“Then... Kaylie, let's melt them all. Starting with ourselves, Alistair, and Rain,” Afton said quietly.

“But I can't. I can't bring myself to forgive!” she yelled at him. “My whole family is gone. What's left is you and she wants me to be content with that?!”

Afton felt slightly hurt, but he didn't show it, “Who? Who did that, Kaylie?”

“The coldest of all the hearts,” was all Kaylie said before snapping her fingers.

“Rain, you know what? I'll just explain everything to you. That's if you want,” Afton said quietly, “I'm putting everything I have, everything I love on you. I'm trusting you.”

Rain looked into his eyes, “I'll listen before I make judgments,” he said coldly.

Behind him, Kaylie was glaring daggers through Afton, who continued, “You know I lost all my memory, right?”

Rain nodded.

“Kaylie was my best friend before I lost my memory,” he said, taking care to replace 'sister' with 'best friend'.

“Wait, so you remember everything now?” Rain asked curiously.

“Not at all,” Afton replied honestly, “I only recovered a short dialogue and a picture of her.”

“So... no hard feelings?” he asked, suspicions resolved.

Whew... that was easier than I thought.

Afton shook his head and turned ever so slightly red at the ears. He glanced at Kaylie to find her staring at the floor.

Rain, however, was sharp enough to catch it before it returned to its normal color and began to suspect something of it. Fortunately for Afton, he kept his mouth shut and went back to the tree to rest.

Kaylie seemed to prefer the water as she rested. She sat right at the edge of the water and spread out her cape behind her, her hood she left on. Her head lay on her gloved hands that rested lightly on slightly upraised knees. Her foot was submerged in water, just the way she liked it.

Afton quietly shifted down to sit beside her. He kept his legs out of water but hugged his knees and lay his chin on them. He stared at the reflection of the setting sun while she looked dreamily ahead...

Afton sighed a little as he experienced a sense of déjà vu. For there indeed was the little girl and the little boy by the waterside. Only, they had both grown a little more...

This scene was so lovely, so pretty, so perfect.... too perfect. We all know that the perfect endings of fairy tales are but tales.

Moments like these barely come around, I'll just soak it all in while its here.... while she's here. Because... I think I like her... but it's not much! Just a little!

And Afton blushed together with the setting sun...

****

Afton awoke suddenly with a bad gut feeling. It really wasn't anything, everything around was peaceful, birds chirping, leaves rustling soundly in the breeze, ripples lapping at the sandbank, nothing seemed very out of place. But there was this bad aura that he alone sensed, an indescribable atmosphere.

Shrugging it off as the effects of a bad dream, Afton convinced his mind that it was nothing. But his heart thought otherwise and he unconsciously contemplated all happenings thoroughly. His guard was up, as was his acting. He smiled and greeted Rain and Kaylie a good morning, looking at them both suspiciously behind the mask he wore.

He was in a terrible mood the whole morning, glaring in the direction of any unexpected sounds, refusing to talk, and keeping a little way off from any moving objects.

What's come over me? Why am I this way? What exactly is going to happen? Why does it feel so dark..... Argh! What's going on?!

Afton sat on a root of a tree and hugged his knees, ducking his head between them. The wind was beginning to blow stronger now and a couple of black clouds blocked out the sun.

Why?

“Afton, I'm going back,” Kaylie said quietly.

“Don't go,” came a muffled reply. Afton didn't even lift his head. “Don't go,” he repeated again.

“Afton, I can't be held back by childish notions. You know I care about you...”

“It's not a foolish notion!” Afton cried lifting his head. “I feel terrible. Something bad is going to happen! I have a hunch.”

Kaylie sighed, “Fine, but just one day. Alice will miss me if it's any later.”

Just like that... the perfect of the evening before was ruined. What if... it was more than just an illusionary hunch?