[audio] Initial Break (1)
[Hito is terrified as he wakes up. He’s disoriented, uncertain what has happened or where he is supposed to be, but red hot flashes of fear and apprehension are stabbing at his heart. The boy scrambles to his feet and pushes away from where he was sleeping a moment before.
He stumbles in panic in the dark room, then presses himself up against the nearest wall to regain his composure.]
Where-
[The panic is choking off his voice, so Hito casts about quickly for some sign of what has happened. As the terror ebbs, he’s able to remember where he was last. He remembers the gunfire, how Asuka got them where they needed to be to stay safe. And the smoke - how terrified he was of being trapped with it. Then the cauldron and how they would supposedly be safe until the ship stopped moving.
He notices with a start that Asuka is nowhere to be found. Panic rises up again, but his eyes land on the book and he moves toward it, reaching out and flipping the pages.]
Again?
[Hito has seen the greeting now, but he doesn’t want to believe it.
He flips through the pages of the book slowly, then more intensely as he realizes that the book somehow transmits audio messages. Stopping, he hesitantly begins speaking, unsure if he’s even doing it right.]
My name… my name is Hito Sagashi.
[It’s a good start, even if his voice is still shaking. He’s come to terms with the fact that he can’t do anything about it at the moment.]
I guess… I am searching for some people. If anyone knows where they are… I need you to let me know. The first one… he’s kind of weird. Tall, silver hair. He’s got to be somewhere nearby, so… tell him I’m looking for him. His name’s Asuka.
[He’s almost got the tremor of his voice under control, but as he presses on, he feels his control cracking again. If the message is right, then the tiny hope of ever finding Pyry again has vanished completely.]
The other… her name is Pyry. She… I…
[He can’t do it. His voice drops to a whisper.]
Just… let me know.
[With that, he’s finished. Biting his lip, Hito shuts the record back and sinks to the floor, dropping his head onto his arms. When he’s ready to deal with this, he’ll move on. For now, he just needs time to absorb what’s happened.]
He stumbles in panic in the dark room, then presses himself up against the nearest wall to regain his composure.]
Where-
[The panic is choking off his voice, so Hito casts about quickly for some sign of what has happened. As the terror ebbs, he’s able to remember where he was last. He remembers the gunfire, how Asuka got them where they needed to be to stay safe. And the smoke - how terrified he was of being trapped with it. Then the cauldron and how they would supposedly be safe until the ship stopped moving.
He notices with a start that Asuka is nowhere to be found. Panic rises up again, but his eyes land on the book and he moves toward it, reaching out and flipping the pages.]
Again?
[Hito has seen the greeting now, but he doesn’t want to believe it.
He flips through the pages of the book slowly, then more intensely as he realizes that the book somehow transmits audio messages. Stopping, he hesitantly begins speaking, unsure if he’s even doing it right.]
My name… my name is Hito Sagashi.
[It’s a good start, even if his voice is still shaking. He’s come to terms with the fact that he can’t do anything about it at the moment.]
I guess… I am searching for some people. If anyone knows where they are… I need you to let me know. The first one… he’s kind of weird. Tall, silver hair. He’s got to be somewhere nearby, so… tell him I’m looking for him. His name’s Asuka.
[He’s almost got the tremor of his voice under control, but as he presses on, he feels his control cracking again. If the message is right, then the tiny hope of ever finding Pyry again has vanished completely.]
The other… her name is Pyry. She… I…
[He can’t do it. His voice drops to a whisper.]
Just… let me know.
[With that, he’s finished. Biting his lip, Hito shuts the record back and sinks to the floor, dropping his head onto his arms. When he’s ready to deal with this, he’ll move on. For now, he just needs time to absorb what’s happened.]