Ch. 6: Beside Him... (MOON)
The night was illuminated by the full moon…
I followed the moonlit path and finally arrived at the cave.
I want to save Vim.
With single-minded determination, I had gone to the cave on my own.
OO: "…Vim!"
Though the figure was in the form of a wolf, I knew it was Vim.
He was there, chained to the wall with his head hung low.
Vim: "You…didn’t go back yet?"
Vim gave a half-hearted laugh.
OO: "Vim…!"
As I hurriedly rushed towards Vim…
OO: "…!"
Suddenly, a single large wolf leapt out in front of me.
It gave a low growl.
Vim: "Knock it off! Don’t hurt her!"
The second Vim raised his voice, the wolf’s raised hackles lay flat.
It also stopped baring its fangs.
I cautiously went to Vim.
Vim: "…go away."
The chains rattled.
The wolf who had threatened to attack backed off.
OO: "Vim…"
Vim: "…"
I gently placed the palm of my hand against his furred face and stroked it.
There was an exhale and a small whimper, but whether it was the nearby wolf or Vim, I couldn’t tell.
OO: "Sarah wouldn’t want something like this. Vim…"
Vim appeared as if some feeling were about to burst forth from him, but he pushed it down.
Vim: "The key."
Saying that, the wolf came forward and produced a key.
Using it, Vim nimbly removed the chains.
Vim: "He’s my friend. The key holder."
Vim gave a single bark, and the wolf gave a bark as if in response.
OO: "Vim, you have bruises again…"
Vim: "Don’t worry about it. They were my own doing…I must look like an idiot."
While moving his newly-freed arms and legs, he gave a self-deprecating smile.
OO: "Vim…anyway, shall we go?"
Leaving the cave, we saw the field of flowers bathed in moonlight spread before us.
Vim: "It’s been 5 years since I’ve been able to look up at the full moon like this."
OO: "It’s beautiful."
Smiling at him, Vim meekly averted his eyes.
Vim: "OO…in your dream, did Sarah really seem that sad?"
OO: "Yeah…she was very worried about you."
Vim: "I see…it’s not good to make the dead worry. And I made you worry too. I bet you were scared."
OO: "No."
Vim: "OO…"
OO: "…!"
Vim gently held me close.
Though his hands were shaking slightly, they were still very strong.
Vim: "I’ll stop punishing myself, since you were worried."
OO: "Vim…!"
Vim: "But…I still can’t accept myself. I’m the one who snatched away her life. So at the very least…I’ll live with the burden of this form. Of my own will…I won’t go back to being a human."
OO: "But why…?"
Vim: "Self-satisfaction…but it’s also my atonement."
It seemed as if Vim’s will would never waver.
Vim: "But now…I want to be with you like this."
Vim’s grip on me tightened.
OO: "Vim…"
With a pleading look in his eyes, I gently began to stroke the fur on his throat.
At that moment, the moonlight that covered us seemed very gentle…
In that light, I strongly wished that Vim's heart would someday find release.
END