Shadows of the past

[Shadow]

The cemetery was cold and dark, even though the sun was shining brightly every where else. A cold wind was blowing, but it disappeared as mysteriously as it would appear. The surrounding countryside was warm and bright, not being affected by the sorrow and death flowing out of the assembled graves. Nothing usually moved in the cemetery, aside from a few stray leaves and dust clouds.
But today, the dead had a visitor. A tall figure, covered in a black cloak with a confident stride. The figure walked among the graves, looking for something. Coming to the end of the cemetery, He knelt down, removed his hood and bowed his head. His black hair blew in the wind as he closed his eyes and said a prayer. Moving to the grave beside the one he was just at, Shadow paid his respects to his dead mother, sister and brothers. Looking forlornly at the last grave in the row, a single tear escaped his control and fell down his face. Walking over to his father’s grave, he closed his eyes, said something under his breath, and stood up. Then the memories hit him like a bucket of cold water.

He looked around at the room his brothers brought him into. Asking them why they had brought him there, they shook their heads and said "If anyone tries to open this door, and it is not either your father, mother, sister or one of us, Do not open it. do you hear?" Young Shadow nodded in scared agreement. After his brothers left, he ran up to the door and placed his ear against it. To his dismay, he heard the sounds of fighting, and the death cry of his father. He was shocked, but then, he heard the death cries of his oldest brother a few sword clashes, and A scream of pain from his other brother. Then he heard the desperate voice of his mother, begging the stranger to go away, or at least not kill her daughter, Shadow’s older sister. The pleas were futile, as Shadow heard a muffled scream from his mother and then his sister. Shadow stepped away from the door, hands shaking with fury. The only thought on his mind was revenge…
Young Shadow looked around the room. Seeing a knife on the wall, he ran over and grabbed it. Then the visitor decided to enter the treasury, which was where Shadow was hiding. The man had little trouble entering the room, but was heavily wounded from the fight with Shadow’s father and brothers. He laughed as Shadow growled and faced him with a dagger. Shadow, who was enraged at the man, exploded with fury. He leapt at the man, tearing ferociously with the dagger, attacking in a blind rage. The man died laughing, having not seen the attack coming, his blood covering Shadow’s young form. Shadow, dealt a grievous wound by sorrow, dragged himself from the house and tried to run away. He didn’t get very far, seeing as he-

[/center][/i]

Suddenly, the memory stopped, just as it had started. But It left Shadow shuddering uncontrollably and in a cold sweat. He sank back to his knees, and dropped to his hands. Breathing heavy, he wondered to himself. Why? Why did I see that here, now?

[Ariadne]

Ariadne walked into the cold cementary, her knees shaking slightly, her face pale. Ariadne was never disturbed of going into one, but this time she was. She didnt come to just wander around. She had came for a reason. "This could change everything." Ariadne thought. Ariadne didnt notice anyone else in the cementary she was deep in her thoughts. "Please God...Let him be dead." Ariadne thought. On normal circumstances she wouldnt hope anyones death or bring death upon nobody. But this wasnt a normal circumstance. "I never did saw his grave or his dead body...Maybe it could be here." Ariadne thought. As she rememebered what Shadow had told her.

Ariadne wandered the cementary as she walked through the aisles of graves. Her fingers touching slightly the grave stones. "I dont see it." Ariadne whispered to herself.

[Shadow]

Shadow noticed that someone else had entered the cemetary. He shook himself and tried to stand up. Unfortunately, the effects of the memory were still upon him, and he could not. "let me up..." He closed his eyes, and slowly got up. his legs supporting him firmly at last, but he still needed to use a nearby gravestone for support, and he uttered a stream of curses. "why is my energy drained? it was only a memory..." he shook his head again, trying to clear the cobwebs. remembering that he was not the only live person in the area, he cautiously looked around. He saw a young woman walking around the gravestones, obviously looking for something. "Hello there. Are you looking for something in particular?" he said this in a low voice, but right after he said it, his legs gave out and he fell again.

[Ariadne]

As Ariadne was deep into thought about the gravestone of Alexander Crepsley. She heard someone whisper. "Hello there. Are you looking for something in particular?" Ariadne looked up and a couple of paces forward there was a man. the voice sounded really familiar. But she couldnt see the face of the man since he qucikly fell. Ariadne walked up to the falling man. "Yes...I was loooking for something..But nevermind that. Are you okay?" Ariadne asked him.

[Shadow]

Shadow struggled to stand up, but managed to only get into a sitting position. The voice sounded familiar. "Ariadne, is that you?" he looked up and smiled. "Can you help me up? I cannot get up." He sighed and tried again, this time, making it to his feet. unfortunately, he couldnt stay there, and sunk to his knees. "I cant believe a memory drained my energy... of all things..." He layed down and looked up at ariadne. " What are you in here for today? Paying your respects to a relative?" he weakly waved an arm at his familys' graves. "there is my family. the reason I killed over a hundred men."

[napeir]

napeir walked into the cemetary" the smell of the dead is always so strong here, is that why you act weird when were here" napeir asked megilan. Megilan just returned it with a agervating meow and hopped up onto a grave stone." yeah i guess you should go and see if anyones around, go scout the area" and with that megilan shot off to look around leaveing napeir alone to sit on a grave stone.

[Cloud Strife]

strife was walking past the cemetry when he saw someone inside. he walked in and was surprise to see shadow...strife smiled,"hi shadow...how are you?"

[Shadow]

Shadow looked up at strife. "Hello there strife. Im just great, you?" His voice dripped with un-intentional sarcasm. "a stupid memory has drained me of my strength, enough so that I cannot move more than my mouth." he sighed, and looked around. "Hey ariadne, look, its Megilan! that must mean that Napier is in here some where to..." Shadow struggled to get up again, but couldnt get into a sitting position. "damn it all..."

[Ariadne]

Ariadne walke dover to Shadow and held out her hand to help him up. She saw Strife there and smiled. "hey Strife!" Ariadne said calmly. She then looked around the cementary and nodded. "Yup Napeir is by the entrace sitting on a grave stone." Ariadne said still waiting for Shadows hand to help him up.

[Shadow]

Shadow blinked realizing that ariadne has extended her hand. "thanks" he smiled and reached out, slowly and in pain. "My body is having trouble responding, so im afraid you are going to have to pull rather hard." When she said that napier was at the entrance Shadow looked over. "Well, I wonder why he dosent come over and say hi?" Shadow slowly sat up, with ariadne's help, and even slower, he got to his feet. "Hey! I can stan-" he staggered and lost his balance again, but his hand, which wasnt reasponding, stayed gripping ariadne, and as he fell. luckily, he was begining to regain some motion, just on the side opposite of that he needed. it's probably gonna make her fall too... unless... his other hand shot out and grabbed a gravestone. "ok, so my left side works... Now i gotta work on regaining my right..." Steadying himself, he pushed his arm out straight and stood up. "Sorry 'bout that ariadne"

[Ariadne]

Ariadne ndded and helped Shadow up but then he seemed to lose his strength and theywere soon goingto come in contact with the floor but then Shadows left hand grabbed a gravestone. "thank god" Ariadne muttered undder her breath. And in a few secods Shadow was standing up. "No problem Shadow". She then looked over to where Napeir was at." I think hes alone because he wanted some alone time with the dead." Ariadne said answering Shadows answer.

[Shadow]

he nodded. "Well, Id hope so, seeing that he's in a cemetary." he laughed. "So what brought you here today ariadne? paying your respects to a lost relative?" he looked around, and jestured to his family's graves again. " well, that is why im here..."

[Ariadne]

Ariadne nodded at his comment as she looked at each of Shadows past relatives graves. "pfftt.. A relative..Heavens no. More like a mortal enemy." Ariadne stated with disgust. Ariadne then looked at Shadow. "Have you looked around the cementary?" Ariadne asked him.

[Shadow]

Shadow shrugged. "Once a long time ago, when i was searching for a place to bury my family. Why?" He looked at her curiously. "A mortal enemy... Is that the man who has been haunting your dreams?" he stroked his chin. "hmmm... and you are takingmy advice and looking for evidence of his death..." he smiled. "ill help you search."

[Ariadne]

Ariadne nodded looking down. She then looked up when Shadow said hell help. Ariadne looked at Shadow and her eyes lit up."Thanks Shadow...This really means alot to me." She told him. "His name is Alexander Crepsley." She told him