Captured

Before I begin: Actually... I don't have a lot to say. Please review... and... that's about it.

Chapter Two: Depression

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Southwestern Bern
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Florina was quiet. She couldn't feel anything. How long had the swordsman been carrying her? She didn't know. She didn't care. She only became aware of what was going on when the swordsman stopped for a second. Florina turned her head to look in the direction the swordsman was facing. She saw a stream and grass. The swordsman carried her to the stream and placed her down. Florina then became aware when he started to lift up her dress. She quickly began to squirm, the swordsman stopped and released his grip on her. She looked at him, her eyes wide but expressionless. "I'm sorry, I was just going to check your wounds." He said. Florina didn't reply. Why did he care? Was he just going to rape her like the bandits did?

The swordsman sighed and walked over to the stream. He reached into a satchel that was hidden by his cape and pulled out a canteen. He dipped it into the stream and began to drink from it. He then refilled it and brought it to Florina. "Here, drink some water." He said. Florina didn't reply. The man sighed. "I'll give you some time, I understand that you don't trust anyone." He said, walking away. He set up a fire and turned to her. "I'm going to find something to eat, I'll be right back." He said, walking out of sight. Florina sat up, feeling pain in her hips and womanhood again. For a second, everything felt as if she was back at the bandit camp, being used like some kind of toy. She shivered and bit into her lip. She laid down in the grass. Nothing felt right, everything felt cold to her.

After a while, Florina heard footsteps approaching. She turned her eyes and spotted a hideous man, his face covered with burn scars. It wasn't the swordsman, who was he? He noticed Florina and let out a wild grin. "Well well... a little girl ripe for the taking!" He said. The words didn't sink into Florina, she watched him without emotion or expression. He approached her, grinning, and then he let out a laugh. Suddenly, Florina felt fear. It was the same laugh as the bandit leader. Fear washed over her, she couldn't move, she couldn't scream, all she could do was watch the man approaching her. He leaned over her and lifted up the crude dress that Florina had been given, then noticing her hips. He let out a disgusted groan. "Damn... I guess I don't get a virgin. Oh well, better than nothing." He said. Florina shivered, she opened her mouth but no sound came. The man reached for his pants when she heard the sound of metal scraping metal. The man stood up and let out a shout. "WHO THE HELL ARE YOU?!"

A mans voice replied. "GET AWAY FROM HER!" He shouted. Florina recognized it, she turned her head and saw the swordsman, his giant weapon in hand.

The other man grabbed Florina by the hair and pulled out a knife and pressed it against her throat. "BACK OFF! YOU TAKE ONE STEP CLOSER AND I'LL SLAUGHTER THIS GIRL LIKE A PIG!!" He shouted. The swordsman flinched, he wasn't approaching. Florina felt like her scalp was being torn off, she felt the cold knife biting into her skin. But she didn't cry out, she had grown used to a pain even worse. The swordsman bit his lip, the other man grinned. "Drop your sword and hold perfectly still. If you do as I say, I'll leave the little whore alone." He said. The swordsman took a look at Florina, she looked back at him. He lifted his sword up and tossed it away. The other man smirked and dropped Florina. He approached the swordsman. "Good boy, now hold still. It'll be over quickly." He got within his knife's reach of the swordsman, his face had a sadistic smile. Florina noticed the swordsman moving his hand, it was covered by his cape. The evil man raised his knife high, suddenly the swordsman lashed out, a short sword in hand. It knocked the knife out of the sadist's hand and sent it flying. Florina looked at the sword that was once concealed. It's blade had a gap in the middle giving it sort of a two-prong shape, the blade was blue and sharp, a few runes etched on it. The hilt guard had a strange shape like bat wings.

The sadist, without his weapon, began to run back towards Florina. She raised her arm in defense, but the swordsman was much faster without his sword. He grabbed the sadist, the swordsman than smashed his fist into the sadistic mans face. The sadist landed on his side, the swordsman approached him, intense hatred burning in his eyes. The sadist looked at him. "STOP! SHOW MERCY!! I'M JUST A LOWLY THIEF!" He said.

The swordsman spoke, his voice had a dark tone in it. "You're a sinner, like I am. Sinners need no mercy, or sympathy." He slashed downward, cutting down the thief. Florina saw him sheath his sword. He then walked towards where his much larger sword hand landed and picked it up. He walked over to Florina, his eyes were now soft. She crawled away from him, the swordsman stopped. He then looked at his huge sword, took a few steps back, and shoved it into the ground. Florina looked at him curiously. Why did he do that? Wasn't he just going to hurt her also? The man turned to her, approaching her with his hands raised as if in defeat. "Please... I know you don't trust me, but let me help you. I swear on my fathers grave that I will never hurt you." He said. Florina let him approach, he took a look at her hips, sighed, and covered her back up. He then got up and went back to pick up a few fruits he had found. He walked back to the fire, Florina watched him eat one and then pull a satchel off his back. How much stuff did he have concealed by that cape? He put the fruits in the satchel, went back to pick up his sword, and then walked back towards the fire, shoving his sword into the ground again. He sat down, leaned his back against the flat part of the sword, and closed his eyes.

Florina watched the fire slowly dim. The man must've gone to sleep. She got up, feeling a sharp pain in her lower half. She quietly thought to herself. She had been raped, she had been used. She felt the pain again as she began to walk quietly towards the swordsman. She reached towards his cape and produced the blue short sword that he had concealed. She took a few steps away and fell to her knees, staring at the sword. She felt her shame well up. She had been ruined. She was dirty. She felt her emotions return. She was in pain, what had she done wrong? Why had that happened to her? She stared at the blade, her tears flowing again. She just wanted to disappear, her life was already ruined. She couldn't face Lyn, she couldn't face her sisters, she couldn't go back to what she once was. She lost her armor, her weapon, even her mount. She was useless, ruined. Florina bit her lip and turned the blade towards her stomach. She couldn't stand the pain. She couldn't stand the cold. She couldn't stand the fear. She couldn't stand the shame. She was dirty, there was no way to clean herself. She didn't want to live.

Florina tightened her grip on the sword. She tightly closed her eyes. This was all that was left, she had no way to save herself. She didn't want life. Florina jabbed the sword towards her cut, she felt it break the skin, but she couldn't get the blade to go deep. The blade that once seemed to effortlessly cut through flesh had suddenly gone dull. Florina pulled back and forcefully jabbed it towards her stomach, breaking open two more cuts, but she couldn't die. Why?! She let out a frustrated scream. She raised the sword again, but it was snatched from her hands. She turned back and noticed the swordsman, he sheathed the sword and knelt towards Florina. "I know what you were thinking. Don't. There's nothing you can accomplish by killing yourself." He said.

Florina felt rage well up. She just wanted to die, she wanted the pain to end. She stood up and swung at the swordsman. He didn't try to block, he let her punch him. Florina let out a scream, she threw another punch and then collapsed. On her knees, she let out another scream. Why? Why was she so helpless?! Why was she so worthless?! Why couldn't he just let her die?! She began to sob, the swordsman walked towards her and knelt besides her again. "Listen to me, your life isn't over yet. Don't let yourself become such a mess over the actions of someone who is now dead. You've got nothing to fear, nothing to redeem, you just need to live. Don't give them the satisfication and submit to your pain like that." The swordsman said. Florina looked at him. Why did he care? She just wanted the pain to end. She wanted the fear to end. She hated herself. She turned towards the swordsman and looked at him. His eyes, they were sorrowful. Like hers? His were full of pain. She grabbed onto him and sobbed. The swordsman wrapped an arm around her. She was so afraid, so cold. She clung to him tightly as if she were drowning. She couldn't control her emotions, she shivered and sobbed, her tears glittering on his moonlit armor. "Just let it out. I won't leave you, I'll make sure that you have nothing to fear." The swordsman said.

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Sunrise
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Florina woke up slowly. She felt a sharp pain in her stomach and throat. When did she fall asleep? She sat up and then felt her bladder throb. She stood up and limped towards some tall grasses and knelt towards the ground, relieving herself. She felt pain as she did. She bit her lip, careful not to cry out. When she finished she stepped over to the stream. She remembered seeing the swordsman take a drink from it. She lowered her mouth towards the water and used both of her hands to scoop it into her mouth, gulping down as fast as she could. After a minute she took her clothes off and went into the stream. The cold bit into her flesh, but she didn't care. She waded in until it was up to her breasts and began to wash her body. She stayed in the water quietly, for at least an hour, until she heard a voice. "You'll freeze yourself if you stay in their much longer." The swordsman said. She turned towards him, but his back was turned towards her. Florina sighed and waded out of the stream, the pain in her throat gone, but the rest of her body was numb. But, at least the pain in her thighs was gone also. Florina walked over to where she left her dress and covered herself.

After a minute, Florina approached the swordsman. He had a fire going, Florina sat next to him. He looked at her. "So, you trust me now?" He asked.

Florina looked at him. She couldn't speak, she simply nodded. He smiled. "Well, that's a start." He reached into the satchel on his back and produced two pieces of fruit and gave them to Florina. She greedily gulped them down, finishing both pieces in under two minutes. She sighed and fell back again, the swordsman catching her before she hit the ground. Florina's eyes were growing dim, she wanted to sleep. The swordsman stood up, Florina sat up also. She watched him take off his cape, without it Florina noticed a sort of sheath close to his shoulders for his huge sword, another scabbard strapped to his armor for the blue sword, and a very large satchel and canteen. He wrapped the cape around Florina's shoulders. She wrapped her hands around the edges and tightened it around her, laying down again in the grass. She turned onto her side, placed her hands under her head, and closed her eyes. Just for one more day, she needed sleep.

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Hours later
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The swordsman looked at Florina and smiled. Even after what had happened to her, she seemed at peace now that she was asleep on her own will for the first time in a long time. He stood, carefully walking so that his armor wouldn't clank and wake her up. He went over to the stream and looked around. Though there was fish, he noticed a better target, a small crocodile. He was out of food, and he knew that he wouldn't be able to abandon the girl even if he reached a village. He quietly walked back towards his sword, a double-edged zweihander which he had named "Requiem." He approached the crocodile quietly, it had noticed him but hadn't wandered back into the water yet. The swordsman then darted forward, despite his sword and armor he was fast enough to impale the lizard through the head and kill it. He carefully lifted it up, it was very heavy, but perfect for food.

Florina woke up an hour later, hearing the fire crackling and smelling meat. The swordsman had set up a spit roast and had been cooking a large lizard over it, it's scales had taken on a bright color. He noticed Florina and signaled her over. She stood up, the pain in her hips had lessened. She walked slowly towards the man, he produced a knife at cut off the lizards tail, placing it on some leaves next to him. "Give it a moment to cool, after that you can help yourself." He said. Florina looked at the man. She knew he wouldn't hurt her, but why was he helping her. He looked at her and noticed her curious look. "Is something wrong?" He asked.

Florina looked at the ground. She wanted to speak, but couldn't. The swordsman looked at her. "Is it something you're missing?" He asked. She focused, trying to pull the words into her mouth. "Do you need me to take you somewhere?" He asked. Florina shook her head.

Florina turned towards him, managing to mutter a single word. "Why?" She asked.

The swordsman narrowed his eyes. "Why am I helping you?" He asked. Florina nodded. His gaze became sad. Why did he look so sad? "Do you remember what I had said before I killed that man last night?" He asked. Florina nodded. "I am guilty of a sin that is too deep for me to mention. I cannot cleanse myself of it, I live in redemption by trying to protect the people... and destroying those who would commit the same atrocities that I have." He said. Florina looked at him. Was he once a bandit? Why did he change? He looked at her. "You would never understand... but for that you should be thankful. It's something I need to do on my own." He said. Florina looked at him. She could feel his sorrow, his grief. He tried to shake it off and cut off another piece of the roasting lizard and began to eat. Florina picked up the tail and did the same.

An hour later, Florina had eaten her fill. The man set the last of the meat in the hot sun to dry, he was gazing at the sky. Florina watched him. She remembered the grief she felt from him, the guilt he had been carrying. She paused and reflected on herself. She felt pathetic. He had saved her life, he had given her food and water, he was helping her, but she felt guilty for lashing out at him like that. But she fought back tears, she knew that it wouldn't help her. What could she do? What did she want? She then focused on the swordsman. What did he want? What was the redemption he was talking about? She then heard him praying. She focused to hear it. "Father... am I... doing the right thing?" He asked the sky. He then looked at the ground and shook his head. "No... I've destroyed Soul Edge, I can't have doubts like this anymore. I will not become a nightmare again. I can't undo what I have done, but I'll still protect those that I can." He said. He stood, his resolved strengthened. Florina looked away, she pretended to be staring at the sky. Though she had heard his prayer, felt his resolve, she felt empty inside. She wanted to help him like he had helped her, but how?

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I may or may not post another update tomorrow, it all depends on factors that I have no control over. Please tell me what you thought and write a review.