The Demon Within

Chapter 3 (Promptis's Dream)

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The field I opened my eyes to was beautiful. Lucious green grass, amazing smelling flowers, just the smell of spring. I inhaled deeply, sinking to my knees. I tilt my head to the sky, eyes closed, the sun warming me. I felt some of my sadness slip free from me. A gentle breeze rustling the grass and I look back down, watching it bend playfully in the breeze. Everything seemed perfect except, it was missing something. Prompto should have been here with me, enjoying the wonders of this beautiful spring. The sadness returned, and suddenly, the dream wasn't happy anymore. The grass died underneath me as the sky went pale grey. I gasped, standing up quickly, the ground turning white. It was a thick blanket of snow, and I was freezing. I looked down at my hands and saw them turning blue. My breath looked like the smoke that came out of magiteck engines. I tried cried out, but no sound came out. I turned around to find myself face to face with a large mirror, unable to comprehend what reflected back at me.

I saw me, or rather, a version of me. She looked regal with the crown she wore high on her head. A skin tight but silky looking dress with a matching jeweled staff. Standing around the twisted reflection were people I knew very well. Verstael, Ardyn, Nadira, even Emperor Aldercapt. Aldercapt was dead, I couldn't understand.

In the back behind me, there was Prompto. However, he seemed to be nothing more than a servant to my alternate self. I felt my blood begin to boil. This reflection in the mirror made no sense. My  fist shot out, shattering the mirror. The pieces disintegrated into the ice and snow beneath me.

I looked at my arm and watched as piece by piece, my body was overtaken by magiteck armor. I screamed, now wanting nothing more than for this nightmare to end.

A hand yanked me backwards and someone was screaming at me to run. Everything was happening so fast I felt like a rat trapped in a maze.

"Promptis! You need to open your eyes! Run! Your in danger! Please, please..." I opened my eyes, being pulled to my feet, and finally looked at Prompto.

We stood there staring into each others eyes for what seemed like eternity.

A shot echoed through the valley, and time began moving slower. Prompto began slipping towards the ground but I held him tight. I fell to my knees with him, cradling him against me as tears flowed down my face. "No, no, no! You can't leave me no! Prompto please no!" I was screaming at this point as I watch the life slipping from his eyes. "Please don't go... I love you."
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I was jolted out of my nightmare by Noctis pulling my headphones off of me. I screamed and shoved him away, panicked.
"Woah, Promptis, it's just me!" Noctis protested, picking himself up off the floor. I stared at him, taking a few deep breaths before I began calming down. "I-I'm so sorry Noct." I felt shame run through me, and heat rose to my cheeks. Noctis sat back down next to me. We sat there in silence for a few moments.
"Nightmare?" Noctis asked softly, looking at me. I could only manage to nod. I folded my arms and laid my head down on them, taking more deep breaths. Noctis put his hand on my back softly. I sat back up and put my head on his shoulder, letting tears fall down my face. Yet again we said nothing.

After a while Noctis left me to go talk with Gladio and Ignis, wherever they were. My thoughts ran rampant, in search of their own answers. Aldercapt was dead, I saw it almost a year ago with my own eyes. Then there was Nadira, she had been on her knees in front of Aldercapt's dead body, sobbing. Aldercapt being deceased took away the entire possibility for me to rule his kingdom. If he was gone what was the point of the reflection? I never wanted to rule, I wasn't fit for it. I was still confused by Prompto being in the picture. There was so much of him I held on to, but I couldn't figure out why he was there. Unless they forced him to be a body guard for me. I shook my head and looked back out the window. The sky was starting to lighten but further in the distance was very thick plumes of smoke.

This train was heading straight into the heart of it.