Into the depths of April's mind ((Clark, Ed, Cipher Nine))

[slayers_desire]

J'onn was unable to tell April much about why her voices were not working, but he sensed a darkness in her mind. And rightly was concerned because it was starting to grow... slowly, but steadily.

After a long conversation about how to remedy the situation, it was decided that some of April's closest friends should go into her mind, and seek out the true situation.

Already Clark was at her side, but she had placed phone calls to both Ed and Cipher Nine detailing enough to let them know that she needed them. And a little about why. The whole story would be stated once they all arrived.

But she was nervous. Sick to her stomach. And just wanted her mind back... so she was restless.

((posting order April/ Clark/ Ed and Cipher Nine))

Comments

[fmalchemist160]

"Yeah, and I expected that to be the case," Ed agrees. Then he blinks and turns to look directly at Atropos. "You're not here," he says after a moment. "No grave for Drusilla... You've been dead for years. And there are graves here for other people we knew who've passed on. So why don't you have one?"

[destinyborn]

"Ashes to ashes..." Atropos holds out her hands, whimpering softly. She was staked. And thus never was buried.

"There are those who mourn..." Clotho whispers to Cipher Nine, pointing to a shadowy couple who are visiting the graves.

[kalel_ofkrypton]

Clark looks at the shadowy couple, trying to see if it's anyone he might recognize.

[nonvillainouscipher]

Cipher Nine turns to look at the couple too, frowning a little. He thinks he knows who they are, though... and it's a rather depressing thought. He takes a few steps closer, also trying to get a better look.

"Right... Nothing left to bury..." Ed mutters, taking Atropos's hands on reflex and squeezing. He glances up at the shadowy couple too, also frowning a little.

[destinyborn]

The man shadow is strong and steady, though there is a weight on his shoulders. There is a flickering shadow S on his chest.

The female shadow has long hair, and moves as if tired. Her eyes glow red, when she touches one of the graves, with another friend's name. And she cries on the shoulder of the man shadow.

Atropos hisses when Ed reaches out to her. Pulling away. Not before he sees a brief glipse of light.

[kalel_ofkrypton]

Clark had rather expected that, given the lack of graves for them. It's still hard to see, even though he knows it isn't real. "It's April and me."

[fmalchemist160]

Ed's breath catches in his throat again. "Who wants to live forever?" he murmurs, understanding. He turns back to Atropos, while Cipher Nine pauses to deal with a pang of sympathetic grief. "It haunts everyone with a naturally longer-than-average lifespan... the prospect of outliving everyone you care about. One day, Cipher Nine, Al, and me, and everyone else you know who is mortal, will be gone." A small pause. "Nothing I can say here and now would make that easier to bear... Except, maybe, you'll both still have each other when that happens, and new friends you've made along the way, who'll help you get through it. And we'll live on through you." He offers his hands to Atropos again. "But it's a long way off. We've got decades left on the clock. So until that day comes... don't dwell on it. Focus on enjoying the time you've got with us."

[destinyborn]

"Ashes... to ashes..." Atropos hugs herself.

The shadow woman is starting to lose her form, pieces of herself disappearing into the wind.

The shadow man reaches out to her, calling in pain and anguish, and the voices speak as one. Piercing their souls. Don't leave me too!

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"This isn't going to happen," Clark says, denying the vision. He reminds himself that what they're seeing is all a lie. Maybe with a core of truth, but not this. "We already know it's not."

[fmalchemist160]

Ed's heart races a little as the shadow woman starts to dissolve. "No, no, no," he says, a little hastily, "you guys are Soulmates. You'll always be together, no matter what happens. You'll never leave each other behind. And anything that tries to convince you otherwise is not to be trusted!"

"Even if there's a grain of truth mixed in with the lie," Cipher Nine agrees.

[destinyborn]

"Our greatest fear..." Atropos whispers. Making sense this once. "Not being able to stay with him..."

"When we lose everyone else."

A gravestone appears. The name reads April Kent. Clotho screams... she is being sucked towards the shadowy symbol.

[kalel_ofkrypton]

Clark springs into action right away, trying to catch and hold Clotho from being sucked into the shadows. "I won't let this happen!"

[nonvillainouscipher]

Cipher Nine holds on to Clotho as tightly as he can too, digging his heels into the ground, adopting as sturdy a stance as he can. "You can't have her!" He calls to the darkness.

Ed darts between Clotho and the gravestone to intercept Clotho if Cipher Nine and Clark somehow fail to keep hold of her, and maybe to block the source of the power dragging her in. "She's not yours to take!"

[destinyborn]

"The strength must come from the last piece..." Lachesis whispers. She can feel the pull of the gravestone too, but doesn't seem scared about it.

Clotho hangs on tight onto Cipher Nine. She is frightened. But she is only a child.

Atropos starts dancing again. "Ladybird ladybird fly away home
... Your house is on fire and your children are gone."

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"I'm not going to leave you," Clark says, "not now and not ever. You won't lose me again and I refuse to lose you!"

[fmalchemist160]

Ed hurries back over to Atropos. "If there's one thing that is certain about the future, it's you and Clark," he tells her. "You'll be together forever." He stretches out his hands. "It's preying on your fears. Don't let that blind you."

[slayers_desire]

Atropos stops and looks at Ed, seemingly for a long time. She then reaches out her hand, and takes his.

The area around them is filled with bright light. There is no more Clotho. No more Lachesis. No more Atropos.

Just April. Holding Ed's hand in hers. The path only has one more shadowy area, that leads into a cave.

There is a soft whisper, around them, Free us...

((bed))

[kalel_ofkrypton]

It's a big relief to see April, whole and looking fine, instead of the Fates. They're very close now; he can feel it. "This way..." he says, nodding towards the cave. "That looks like our last stop."

[nonvillainouscipher]

Ed smiles and hugs April, also glad to see her whole again. Cipher Nine smiles too, just for a moment, before sobering again and turning to look at the cave. "Time to confront the... thing... that caused all this grief, whatever it is," he agrees quietly. There's just a hint of a quiet, simmering anger in his voice, but he's got a good handle on that anger.

[slayers_desire]

The shadowchild is standing outside the cave, watching them all intently. He points inside the cave, where there is so little light, it appears as the whole cave is filled with darkness.

"I can't go with you..." April's mental self tells the others.

[kalel_ofkrypton]

Normally Clark would take her at her word. But with her voices on the fritz... "Why?" And more importantly... "Will you be safe?"

[nonvillainouscipher]

"Are you sure?" Cipher Nine asks, frowning a little. Ed worries at his lower lip for a moment, watching April with definite concern in his eyes.

[slayers_desire]

"I would lose myself to the darkness if I tried, and then everything you just completed would be moot..."

[kalel_ofkrypton]

Clark holds her close and kisses her forehead. "Then we'll do this for you."

[fmalchemist160]

Ed grimaces. "We definitely don't want that to happen," he says. "Guess we'll be back in a bit then."