Adrastos

Chapter 17

Mason roamed the library made from giant books. Bored and learning that boredom was way better than facing a monster or any nightmares. Mason needed this. He ventured for a while, trying to manifest his mom by imagining her touch, personality, and how warm she felt. After countless failures, he divulged in the inanimate books. Frustrated, he yelled, "how am I gonna read a book in peace if the words keep changing!"

The pit bull barked boomed as he rubbed himself on Mason. "hey boy, I forgot about you," Mason said in a childish voice. The dog ran before coming back moments later with a ball. Mason smiled, "wanna play fetch?"

Taking the dog's bark as a yes, Mason threw the ball but being in a library with floating books, it ricocheted off the shells and back to his feet. He picked the ball again and smiled at the confused dog. The room was a terrible idea to play fetch in. So he found his way out of the room, but instead of a diverse world, he found another library smaller than the one before. Each time he tried leaving, the next room would be smaller. Mason even tried going back, yet the result was the same. The dog whined in distress as it stayed by his side.

Mason rubbed his hand and concentrated. "come on, you've seen mom do it a couple of times. You can open a door to another dream or place," Mason mused as he thought of a huge baseball field so that can play fetch with his new buddy. A portal opened in front of him, shining bright white light upon his face before he could summon a door. Mason was hesitant but gave chase when his dog leaped through it.

Mason walked through Manhattan the streets filled with debris and destroyed buildings were the theme of this dream. In front, the beast finishes her two play toys and feeds on them. Bones snap like twigs as she chews her meal. When his presence found the Cerberus, she slammed her paws on the ground, and from the cracks, three dogs the size of a jaguars emerged.

"Awww, pups. When did this happen? I hope you're not cheating on me now. Grr," Mason teased.

Each dog was different. One was big with muscles, and the other two small, but the small ones had long razor-sharp canines and claws. The biggest dog-beast breaks from the pack and charges towards Mason while the other two was hunched low to the ground waiting for an opening. Mason instincts kicked in as he ducked. He was not afraid anymore. He knew that this was a dream, his dream. Not wasting time, the other beast dogs charges, swiping their claws at Mason. Reacting, Mason sidesteps, barely avoiding a fatal blow. One beast grazed his cheek and the other his hand.

Even though Mason knew this was a dream, it was hard controlling the world to his will. He pictured himself fighting like Bruce Lee, using the enemy to his advantage. That or at least move as fast as lightning but nothing. He has a lot to learn. This nightmare will not end until he does.

Mason took a deep breath as a sword materialises out of thin air. "Aha, the tables have turned," he bragged. The beast dogs laughed and rolled over, playing dead. Mason was confused about the sudden behavior change. That was until he realised that the Cerberus vanished from sight. With a look behind him, the Cerberus down on its haunches, ready to pounce. Her nostrils blow hot air. Mason's heart trembled. Was he feeling fear?

"No, not now. I can't give in to fear."

Mason swung his sword, but his sword melted away before it touched the beast. The Cerberus roared, the wind force knocked Mason off his feet tumbling over to the dog beasts.

Fear held Mason to the ground. The alpha charged at Mason, but to his rescue, the pit bull jumped, locking his jaw at the neck of the beast. Like a wild animal backed in a corner, the alpha rips through Mason's dog, but he wouldn't let go. The two smaller beasts slashed at the pitbull and didn't stop until the dog was in pieces. Soaked in Mason's buddy, the beast dogs all charge together now as a team going berserk, swinging their monstrous claws again. He dodged the big beast one swiftly, but the smaller beasts were faster. Mason lies, bloody on the ground, slowly losing his consciousness. The beast dogs surround him, each one sniffing him. Liking the scent of blood before tugging on his limbs.

Time slowed down for Mason. If he dies here or loses consciousness, he might never wake up in the real world. Which means he'd never get to see Ellen. Mason saw her face in his mind clear as day, smiling brightly at him, waiting for his embrace. There was a fire burning inside of him when he thought of what happened. His buddy sacrificed his life for him. Mason didn't even name him, and these beasts took his dog away. He opens his eyes, hanging in midair with one leg resting on the ground. The beasts still pull on him like they're playing a three-way tug of war. This is just a dream. His dream. He was invincible here. He was stronger here.

He used that free leg to spring up, launching himself 20ft in the air. The beast lost their footing, and Mason used that to spin, smashing all three beasts into the ground. The surroundings melted away with the beasts revealing a white room. All that stood was the Cerberus. Its eyes were of fire before she lunged, letting out a roar. Mason rushed towards the beast, not backing out. Each step was hard, causing the white floor to crack. He leaped forward, causing the floor to move like liquid, rippling. Mason was 50 ft in the air. He wanted to keep a straight face since he was in the most intense battle, but he couldn't help but smirk, enjoying every bit of action. Mason was living. He felt so alive. The Cerberus launched into the air, her mouth ready to swallow him whole.

He pictured himself flying but to his surprise, nothing. A little panicked but regaining his composure, he used the beast's nose to evade a deadly bite. He then kicked the down with both legs sending the beast tumbling to the ground while he ascends further. Falling, he put his fist in a superman pose downwards. The Cerberus wakes and glances up only to be met with the meanest punch, breaking Mason's hand. The rest of the room melted to white, the Cerberus didn't disappear but shrunk to a small three-headed dog. Mason walked to the dog but stopped when he felt a burning sensation, his body steamed like a hot kettle. All his bruises, bite marks burned with a blue flame. The flames did not hurt Mason. Instead, when the flames stifled out, the wounds completely healed. He continued forward and poked the dog with a stick he materialised. The dog squealed like a cute puppy. Mason felt sorry, so he petted it.