In Memoriam - An Unus Annus Fanfiction

19.03 - 03/19 - 5 weird Apps that predict our Death

Exhaustion hit Annus like a sack of bricks as they stepped into the tavern. The air was warmed by an open fire in the middle of the room, and it smelled of heaven. Something that vaguely resembled a rabbit spun on a metal stick over the fire. He realized how hungry, thirsty and cold he had been.
Hansen sat down on a bench close to the fire, motioning for them to join him. To be fair, it was more of a carved log than a bench, but right now, it felt like the most comfortable thing possible.
»A plate and some mead for me and my friends,« he ordered, before leaning forward and looking at them from the side. "So, you two. Tell us about the flash. You're mages, aren't 'cha?"
Unus nodded. »You could say that. We fled from,« he searched for the right words. »A dangerous place where we were held captive. A different realm. And now, we're looking for a way home.«
   »Well, I don't know much about realms and magic and all that.« Hansen leaned over to take his plate from the waitress. »But maybe I know a guy that can help. I can introduce you to him. If yer wanna help me with something first, that is.«

He took a bite from the meat on his plate and washed it down with a big gulp. »Whaddaya say?«
The two men looked at each other, and Unus nodded.
   »Great. We'll meet here tomorrow morning, then I'll give you some details. But for now, why don't 'cha tell us more about that escape you made? Everybody likes a good story.«

The room had fallen quiet. Everybody was listening to the strange men from another realm as they began to talk. To them, it was a story of magic, full of benevolent wizards and evil warlocks and armors that moved without a person in them. A few people with colorful hats began to scribble down notes, others were already plucking chords on their instruments.
If it were for them, the strangers could have stayed here all night, telling their story again and again. But both of them were tired, and finally got their well earned rest when a barmaid shooed out the last of the bards.
   »We have a room upstairs,« she said with a kind smile. »It's usually 20 pieces of copper, but you can stay there for the night.«
She led them upstairs to a small room with two beds on each wall. Unus realized how tired he was. He sat down on the left bed. The mattress was filled with straw, but at this point, it didn't matter. Within minutes, he fell asleep.

He couldn't move his body. Unus opened his eyes, but his body was like paralyzed. A shadow stepped to the bed. His heart stopped when he saw his own face float above him. Pitch black eyes looked down.
   »Poor Unus,« Blank whispered. »Are you beginning to realize that your struggles are futile? How many more people will be hurt before you let it be? The clock can't be stopped, and you will die. Don't you understand? You hate me, but I am not the enemy, just the antagonist. You can win against me, but not against time.« Blank turned his head over to Annus, who was sleeping as if nothing was wrong. Unus tried to scream, but his lips felt as if they were glued shut.
Blank turned his attention back to him. »Something is wrong with him, too. Can you feel it?«
Unus closed his eyes. This couldn't be real. Blank couldn't be here. His head jerked forward, bumping against the wall. He looked around the room. It was empty.
He sat at the edge of the bed and took a deep breath. Sleep paralysis. Nothing more. He slipped into his shoes and went downstairs. He carefully closed the door behind him and inhaled the cold air of the night.

It was just sleep paralysis, he reassured himself. They were far away from Blank and the Machine. He realized that it would take him a while to fully realize that.
Unus noticed light coming from the stables. He didn't want to go back to the room just yet, so he decided to check it out.