Figuring Things Out
Darkness. Darkness everywhere. I don’t like it. I rise to my feet, trying to spot anything in the distance. There’s absolutely nothing here. I try to feel my way around but no objects seem to exist. It’s like I’m trapped in some kind of purgatory. All I can do is run ahead and hope to find something, anything in this eternal blackness. After a while it feels like I’m running in circles. Maybe I should just stop. I slow down when I see a small light ahead. Hold up. There’s someone over there too. I sprint in the light’s direction immediately. Whatever it is, I hope it’s useful. As I close the distance to my destination I notice a knight with her sword drawn, almost like she’s guarding it. She spots me and her helmet wisps away, revealing Elicia’s face.
She looks panicked and extends her hand. I need to get to her. I almost reach her when something pierces my leg. I stumble to the ground and try to get up again when I start getting pulled back. I can’t pull out whatever’s lodged in my thigh. I twist around to see who’s attacking me to find an oddly familiar sight. It’s some guy that I feel like I know somehow, dragging me to him with some sort of chain-hook. Whatever he’s using is working. He’s also wearing the same armor as I was in my dream from before. The only difference is that he’s wearing a helmet with a crimson visor over his eyes. “How pitiful”, he rasps. “Trying to run away from me. I thought you weren’t a coward.”
How would you know what I was, you prick!?” I continue to struggle against the pull. I can’t feel pain but I don’t want to get any nearer to this lunatic.
“Isn’t it obvious? I am you. No point in hiding who you really are. Just a monster, hoping to break free of this appalling shell. We can do great things. Terrible, but great. She can’t help you. All she can do... is offer you hope. And we both know how... useless that is.”
“If you are me,” I barked, “then you’d know I’m going to take that chance, no matter what you sadistic fuck.”
“Fine... Then I suppose I’ll force my way out.”
Suddenly his body burst into black flame, spreading everywhere. The heat was blistering, threatening to melt my flesh. I turned to see if Elicia’s okay but for some reason she’s not moving. She’s frozen and only the flame and I in motion. “No one disobeys me, boy.” Out of nowhere an enormous hand erupts from the ground and starts crushing me. I can’t breath. Everything’s... going black... no... “Daniel... wake up... come on, you lazy bum.”
I snap my eyes open to the sight of Elicia’s face hovering inches above mine. I freak out and leap out of bed. “Jesus! That’s no way of waking someone up. Especially me.”
“Ha haha. The look on your face was funny as hell. Totally worth it,” she laughs with a big grin on her face.
“Glad you could have a laugh at my expense.”
“Come on. Just trying to make you feel better.”
“I’ll feel better with food in me. ”
Ugh. I haven’t gotten off the bed in weeks. At least I’ve healed up pretty well. I head down to the kitchen when I see the Petersons on my couch watching T.V. I didn’t know they were here. They’re just lazing around doin’ nothing. I haven’t even thought of a way for them to repay me but honestly I don’t care at this point. Might as well forgive ‘em and spare myself from thinking up some needlessly unnecessary punishment. Then I see Kassy resting her feet on a big crate. The crate! MY MINIGUN! Even I wouldn’t disrespect someone else’s property in such a way. I sneak up behind them and whisper, “Hope you two are doing well.” They both jump to their feet and look at me nervously. Neither one of them wants to say anything. “What are you guys doing, ‘cause to me it looks like you’re hanging out.”
