To Hell and Back
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Chapter 1: A Vision of Darkness

Thick gray mists hung heavy in the air, weighing
heavily on Dias' shoulders.  The mist was dark,
too dark and thick to see far.  He could see
nothing beyong the mists but got the distinct
impression there was more.

Gray mists...  All around...  So thick...
Can't see far...  So dark...

He heard humming.  Humming of a song which he
could quickly recognize as the same one his
mother used to sing to him as a child.

That song...  So familiar... Mother's...

The voice of the hummer, too, was familiar,
though too different to be his mother.

That voice... So familiar... But not...

The mists thinned slightly before him and he
could see a young woman drifting slowly closer.
She had long, pale blue hair and blue eyes.
Dias could recognize her in a heartbeat, no
matter what.

Cecille!

Her eyes were sad.  Tears shone in her eyes and
ran down her cheeks, one by one.  "Dias," she
whispered faintly.

Crying...  What's wrong...?

"Dias, help me.  Don't leave me here all alone."

Where are you?

"Help me, Dias.  Dias, please."

What's wrong...?

She turned suddenly, as if trying to hear some
faint, far-off noise.  "Help me!  Dias, don't
let him -"  She drifted back, away from him.

How can I help you...?

The mists began to thicken again.

No!

She called out a final time.  "Dias!"

Don't go!

The mists inveloped her entirely.

Cecille!

* * *

Dias opened his eyes, the dream clear in his
mind.  Somthing was wrong, Cecille was being
harmed in some way.  What could harm even those
who had passed over, he could not imagine.  Nor
who she had been talking about, 'him.'  But Dias
was filled with a new determination and this
time he refused to fail.

I failed you one...  Not again...