Just a Dark Figure...

[THE Phantom]

Laodice walked around the outskirts of Dotado, the place he had known years before as Cassis and, in a more affectionate way, home. He looked at the ground and all of the scraps that still remained on the ground. It seemed to get cleaner as you got closer to the city. They must have been rebuilding from the middle out. Rebuilding? No. The city didn't look like it had before, so it couldn't be called rebuilding. They were starting fresh. But what security was there now. The world knew where they were. What was to keep them from falling prey to another war? Laodice reflected on the past and occasionally thought of the future. Though the past was bitter, it still found more favor than the assumed sweetness of a future. It was something he knew and could define, no matter how little he wanted to do so.
Laodice pulled his cloak tighter around him and moved his hood to shade his eyes. He looked along the outskirts and then to the city. He didn't know which way to go, only the way not to go. He couldn't go away from the city because the world would not accept a dark figure such as himself. In the newest ways, the world had gone back to persecuting the righteous at the stake. But who was righteous? Laodice pointed himself toward the city, knowing he'd never find anything by standing still. He had to find whether or not there was anything left in him. Was he just another dark figure on the horizon?

[Tiff'blz]

A great gray snake curled up lazily beside the wall of Dotado. It had made almost twenty rounds, circling the town itself, right outside of city limits. It was exhausted. Thoughts running through its head were exhausting, more mentally than anything. What was the solution? To outrun them, or just exhaust the body to complement the tiredness of the mind.

Running didnt work..well.. It didnt work to outrun the memories, the worries..the hurt. Red eyes slitted against the setting of the sun. A dark figure blocked the beautiful view, and the snakes head raised only slightly to get a better look. "Hmm.." It muttered, curious as to who the newcomer was. A chuffing laugh came from a mouth never meant to utter such a sound. "Newcomer..who am I to talk?.." It unwound itself, only to change into a girl, with light gray hair, with eyes that matched, all in tune with the color of the snake that had previously sat in that exact spot. A hand raised up to block the last of the dying light, hoping to get a good look at the man that stood so close, yet so far away from the city. Nothing..His cloak covered most of him, and the hood hit all but the slightest traces of his face. She stood her ground. No need making a fool of herself. She hadnt the slightest clue as to whether or not the man would even enter the town. He looked on the verge of flight. But then he turned himself toward the town. "Well..Maybe.."

[THE Phantom]

Laodice sighed and thought for a moment that he may have been making a mistake. He turned just a fraction when his eyes landed on a girl standing nearby. Where had she come from? He looked at her and did not waver. Maybe she could be his first step back into society. His eyes did not shift from her face, but he soon realized that she may have been uncomfortable with his appearance. The last thing he needed was to see another running in fear from him. He pulled back his hood slowly and squinted for a second before his eyes adjusted to the light. His hair fell to his shoulders, still as black as it had ever been, but looking gray from being caked with ashes. "Hello," he said, "is there something you need?" He said this simply for conversation, knowing there was practically nothing he could do to assist her had she needed something.

[Tiff'blz]

Cassie was startled by him speaking. Was he talking to her? She looked around, wondering if there was someone she had missed seeing. No..only her. She turned back to him, a hand raising to point at herself. "Who me?" She said, her head tilting to the side. "Why not that I know of.." She said softly. "As a matter of fact, I have to say that I was going to ask you the same thing..But I wasnt sure whether or not you were coming or going.." She said, admitting her confusion clearly. What did she care if he thought she was too stupid to know that he was coming into the town. She stepped up, trying to get a better look at the stranger.

"I live in Dotado..that where you're headed?" She asked as she took in the dark hair and eyes. He seemed like such a brooding soul.. Kinda like herself. She almost missed the old her, but that seemed little in comparison to how much she missed her best friend. "I..I could show you around if you like?" She asked, almost immediately wondering why. She didnt even know his name. "Umm..?" She asked silently for a name to fill in the blank.

[THE Phantom]

"Coming or going?" he said to no one in particular, probably to himself, "that's just the question, now isn't it?" He looked toward the city, then from where he came, then back to Cassie. "I'm Marcus," he said, "Marcus Kane. And I believe I'd like to enter the city but..." He paused for a moment. "Does the city share the desire?" He shook his head. "Sorry," he said, "I'm not sure what I'm doing here. Only what I already did." He stopped then, not wanting to give too much away. "You want to show me around?" he said, "Well, I think that sounds fine. I hope you don't mind..." Laodice raised his hood to where it had been before. "By the way, may I know who's showing me around?"

[Tiff'blz]

Cassie sighed inwardly when he agreed. She stopped immediately after. What had gotten into her? She mentally shook her head. She didnt even know anymore. Maybe she was relieved to have some company? Any company.. Cassie smiled slowly, but it was a ridiculous imitation of a smile. She nodded. "Cassie Pradas..at your service." She said, with a half-bow.

She turned toward the entrance to the city, pushing at the large metal door with a lot of force to get it to open. When it did, it revealed a city made mostly of left over metal and wood. They were peiced together as best as possible to make living arrangements. "Wish they could find a gifted that could make money appear out of thin air.." She mumbled. "First, there is the memorial site..It has the names and most of the bodies of every one of the heroes of Cassis. Those who died to protect it." She pointed to a large open section with a pitiful excuse for a playground. "That is the playground..not much, but it works..I guess." She said quietly as she made her way slowly up toward the marketplace. She turned around to see if he was following her.

[THE Phantom]

Laodice followed behind Cassie, looking at the city. When they passed the graves, it made Laodice sad. How many that he knew had fallen to defend what he had run from. I should be in there, he thought to himself, but he did not say it out loud. He saw the playground, a sad little arrangement. He shook his head at the buildings and at the ground. How could such a powerful society sink so low? He followed behind Cassie, feeling like he was following an apparition of some sort, something nonexistent. He still didn't know who she was. He looked at her and she suddenly turned to face him. "This place..." he said, "It was once very alive... How did it come this far?" He put his head down, hiding his face even more than it was already hidden. He didn't feel worthy of speaking to anyone. He didn't feel worthy to see a living face. He was to be humbled before anyone, even those persecuting the weak, because he had done the same by not helping to protect them. "Do you remember Cassis?" he asked, trying to pull any attention away from himself that he could.

[Tiff'blz]

Cassie watched him retreat into himself. "Well.. this isnt Cassis..it never was." She said in a sad voice. "Cassis is quite a bit that way.." She pointed to the left. "No one goes there anymore..it is sad..depressing..and it sunk this low.. because we were a broken people..we tried to stand up for ourselves, not knowing why we had to.. We were left with only a portion of what we had.. Only a fraction of the people.. We were a town against a world..and yes we were strong..but not strong enough it seems.." She trailed off. "Yes..I do remember, though I try to forget. I try to run from memories that chase the back of my mind like an evil being trying to force its way into my head.." She stopped, looking up at the tip of the school that was still visible from even this far away. "That place was my home..the only thing I had left.. Now..this is the only thing I have..Not even my dear Inu can be here with me..I lost him.." She said, rubbing her arm, missing the warmth that had been there just yesterday in her mind. "Why did you come back?"

[THE Phantom]

Laodice looked up when she mentioned coming back. "Who says I came back?" he said, probably sounding a bit harsh. "That place used to be home, but what is it now?" he said, "It's nothing but a pile of trash. And where are the people I once knew? Probably dead and gone." He felt tears enter his eyes and guilt fill him. "I'm sorry," he said, "I'm sure this was just as hard for everyone as it was for me. But really... what is there for us here?"

[Tiff'blz]

Cassie stopped, biting back the remark that was lingering on her tongue. "What is there for us here?" She asked, repeating his question, just so he knew exactly what she was talking about when she explained.

"The reason I came back was closure. I lost the only thing that ever mattered to me..the part of my soul that made me human. I also came here to say goodbye..something I have not been able to do..and when I did..he wasnt here to say goodbye to.

" He is still out there somewhere..I can feel it, like the wind, like the gravity that pushes my body to stay on the ground, even when I jump to see how far away I can get, and even when I am a snake, and couldnt get any closer.

" You came back because there was a reason to come back. You have a reason, even if you dont want to admit it. And I say you came back, as much as you do, it is written all over your face. In the hurt, the confusion..Its all there, no matter how much you try to hide your face. "

She stepped up, peering under the hood. "You cannot run from your own thoughts.. I have tried." She said simply. "Now why did you come back? Did you need closure? Or is there someone you are trying to find?" She wondered it herself, why she came back. She knew she said she did it because she wanted to pay her last respects to Inu..but..maybe the fact of being alone was so daunting, so horribly scary that she could not bear to be away from human contact? She had wanted for so long to find out what she had lost in those three years after the war.. That she had sought out people, so that next time she forgot, there would be someone to remember for her.

[THE Phantom]

"Someone to find?" Laodice said softly, "How could I know for sure? I don't really know for certain why I'm here..." He paused for a moment and looked at Cassie's eyes. "It's been a long time," he said, "Nothing is the same. But maybe this place has something after all." He looked around at the city. It was only a beginning. He looked at Cassie. No place on Earth defined itself. Only the ones living in it made it what it was and made it itself live. That strong and living spirit seemed to carry on, though many had died. "Maybe I'm supposed to be here after all," he said, "Thank you for showing me around." At that, he put up his hood, nodded a farewell, and walked toward the cemetery, hoping to find out for sure where he was meant to be.

[Tiff'blz]

Cassie's gray eyes watched the man walk away. He seemed to have found a new hope? Maybe..How could Cassie know? She had felt it too when she thought that her friend was still alive..when she opened up his small little casket, finding it empty..that hope.. She shook her head. Her eyes squinted in the dying light, making out the bespeckled hillside that held the graveyard. "I hope you find what you are looking for.." She whispered. "I am glad to have done something right while here.." She muttered, turning away and walking even deeper into the town to find something to eat.