The Adventure of Finn and Val

Chapter 6; The Painting

Val suddenly pulled out a book from the shelf and a hidden stone passage heading straight back formed. Val walked in and the passage was chilly and dark. As quickly as he stepped in, the torches on the wall crackled to life to fill the passage with warmth and light. It opened up to a large room with multiple closed, wooden doors that seemed to be rather old. The main room had weapons and a painting depicting a young Val with Luke, Brutus, Lina and two other people behind them. One of them had long black hair, and a face similar to Val's. His eyes were like dying embers and looked extremely serious, the serpent symbol was printed on his jacket. The other person had a bright smile and was extremely happy looking. His hair was shoulder length blond hair with red mixed in. He was taller then Val. They all were wearing old Victorian clothing. Valient was certainly the shortest out of all the people in the painting.

Finn was just busy battling with his thoughts he slowly lurked behind, not caring to notice the change in his surroundings. After about 3 minutes just standing there stupidly he finally noticed, "Who are all these people? Why are they all so damn tall?" Finn chuckled, examining the painting.

"Well you have met Brutus, Lina and Luke obviously... The other two are Singe, which is my brother, and Leon.... Leon died long ago and Singe went missing... Luke will not tell me what happened to my brother." Val's face looked sad as he looked up at the painting.

"Oh, I'm so sorry," Finn looked at the painting Singe looked so familiar to him. Like he knew him personally once before. Singe kind of looked like his friend from his dreams. "I have a question, was Singe I don't know... violent?" Finn asked. "I feel like I know him." Finn tried to put his finger on it but he just couldn't.

"Hm, yes actually... But why do you ask?" Val raised his eyebrow curiously. "How would you even know him actually?"

"I've seen him in all sorts of dreams I've had and his hair... it all feels familiar. I swear I've seen him in my dream and the symbol on his coat looks like the symbol on the books in my dreams..." Finn felt confused as he thought about the symbol that was on everything in his dreams. Coats, books, plates, food, and other things like furniture.

"Val do you know anything about his disappearance? Or was it just like he was gone? And why won't Luke tell you?" Finn was losing patience with himself. He wanted to find an answer for this but his body wouldn't allow him to dive into his memories.

"Luke will not tell me anything, he just changes the subject when I ask... I have tried for a long time. I just remember Singe snapping and the next day we couldn't find him but Luke was in a coma for a couple of days after... Do you think his disappearance and your dreams are connected?" He tilts his head out of curiosity.

"That I don't know," Finn was thinking and then his brain kind of freaked out as if it threw one thousand memories at him. His eyes became red with anger for some odd and random reason. Yellow was also overtaking him.

"Finn, are you okay?" Val suddenly grabs Finn's shoulder, and placed another cool hand on the side of his face.

Finn looked nauseous and he felt weird. "Gah!" He felt his chest feel like it was going to explode. His head started to burn. What was happening. He was losing himself. He looked at Val terrified, "I-I don't know," his mouth bled as a 2nd voice joined him, "Yes! Soon I will be free from this body!" Finn staggered back as it laughed, as it tried to make an escape though it was starting to hurt Finn badly.

"My chest!" Finn screamed in pain. "What is happening!?" Both of them said in unison. It was a lot to take in as Finn battled this mysterious sounding guy. His voice was almost identical to someone Val definitely remembered. It was Singe. Singe was making his first appearance in hundreds of years.

Val's face dropped. "B-brother... what has happened to you..." He looked sad as he grabbed the sides of Finn's face. "Please stop hurting this kid... he did nothing wrong." Scarlet tears started to fall from Val's face.

Luke had returned noticing the wall being open, "Why would anyone be back here?" He quickly descended into the depths of the passage, hearing Finn screaming in pain and Singe struggling to get out. Luke looked Val in the eyes, "What did you do?" He looked upset, "You should've never gone down here with him! I knew this would happen!"

Finn felt his body weakening and he looked at Luke, "Help us-..." Finn sighed, passing out.

Luke looked at Val angrily then looked at Finn feeling horrible. He concentrated heavily trying to separate them. He was feeling weak but he didn't want Finn to die. Not if he could help it. "Hold on kid!"

Singe was pulled out of Finn and Finn laid there for a while before getting up and coughing blood. Luke was strained and he soon passed out, "You're welcome" he said before falling. Finn instantly reacted, catching Luke barely and slowly setting him down. "It's you!" He looked at Singe, "It was always you!" He put Luke down and pointed at Singe looking accusatory.

"I would be careful if I were you Finn... we are still connected in a way." Singe smirked menacingly. "Thanks to Luke at least now I can stand on my own without you. I am sorry for the pain, but I had to do it." He chuckled and touched Finn on the shoulder, Singe feeling it on his own as well. "Be careful young Finn... Take care of Valient for me." He smiled softly and then disappeared, not really wanting to answer any of Finn's questions that he may have.

"Be careful!?" Finn looked like he was about to burst a blood vessel. "I don't think it's me who needs to be careful." Finn was infuriated and wanted to kill Singe right then and there. He didn't even understand how a person could do such a thing and just say sorry as if it were nothing. "Is he serious!?" He looked over at Val. His eyes were a red orange. He slapped himself on the forehead seeing if Singe would react. Singe and Finn were still connected physically and mentally in a way. "I swear to god if-" he heard a faint, "Oww?" And chuckled, "Nevermind," he smiled.

Finn would suddenly feel as if he was suffocating, like someone had their hands wrapped against his throat and squeezing firmly. There would be a whisper in his ears. "As I said, be careful..." Suddenly the feeling would leave.

"Ah c'mon all I did was slap you." Finn said, "And if I'm being honest you kind of deserved it." Finn pouted and then looked at Luke suddenly feeling guilty. He picked up Luke, "A little help Val. We can't just leave him here and I don't feel like dealing with Singe." Finn wanted to mess with Singe but he knew Singe played dirty and not fairly.

"A-alright..." Val walked over to Luke and picked him up, strangely he felt like he didn't have the strength he once had before. He didn't complain and continued to help Finn.

Finn quickly walked up the passage with Val. He purposefully flicked himself on the forehead and continued on.

Val hissed at Finn harshly. "Will you stop such a foolish thing? Singe has more tolerance to pain than you, so imagine what he could do to you..." He looked upset as they carried Luke to his room.

"I guess you're not wrong," Finn sighed and looked at Val. His eyes were soft and looked all lovey.

"What's that face for?" Val smiled softly at Finn. Already knowing why.

"Hm, I dunno..." Finn chuckled, "Just something that happens," he smiled softly as he watched Val carefully. He was letting himself get a little bit carried away.

"Ah, alright..." Val's eyes drop a little.

They lowered Luke onto the bed and tucked him into the bed. Luke's room was rather big with wooden style walls and an old bookshelf in the corner. Val turned towards the door and walked out.