The Zodiac Signs - Time And Space

Chapter 19 - The Force Of Pain

[Jul 5, 2023-Aug 1-2023]

Taurus's POV
Song: Demons By Imagine Dragons

I headed towards Mrs. Delphinus' class to meet with Aries. We are brothers, after all. I leaned against the wall as I waited. But to my surprise, I saw him walk right past me when he left. "Hey!" I called to him as I caught up with him. "Why'd you walk past me?" I asked him. "Tell Dad I won't be coming home until I find Aquarius."

"What?! But you have to come home!" I stood in front of him and looked him in the eye. His expression was serious as he stopped walking.

"I didn't stutter, did I?" He raised his eyebrow and continued walking.

I was astonished. "B-but..." I walked up to him. "I'm getting her back if it's the last thing I do!" Aries glared at me. He then sighed. "Sorry, but I just need her. She was the one person who helped me when Mom died, and she's the only one who doesn't care about my temper." Aries looked down. "But I don't care about your -"

"You're afraid of my temper, Taurus. Aren't you?" Aries looked at me. "I..." He was right... "I knew it... My own brother doesn't trust me to not blow up at him..." Aries walked away. "Aries..." I tried to get his attention, but I could tell he ignored me.

I looked down. I just wanted to tell Aries how sorry I was... But I know he wouldn't believe me... I just want to go home...

. . .

"Your brother said what?!" Dad looked horrified. "He said he wasn't coming home until he found Aquarius..." I looked down. Dad just sat down on the couch and sighed. "Well, he's as stubborn as your mother was... There's no stopping him..." The look on Dad's face was full of disappointment, understanding, and utter defeat... I feel terrible that I didn't try harder to stop Aries... I sat down with Dad and hugged him... "I'm sorry I didn't try harder to stop him..." I hugged Dad tighter. I felt him hug me. "It's okay, kid... It's okay..." I heard his voice breaking... That made a tear fall down my face.

We both just stayed in that hug for a while... It was the only form of comfort we could give each other...

. . .

After a few hours of sitting and talking with Dad, he turned the TV on, probably to try and change the subject. The news was on.

'Breaking News!
Local Teen Girl Kidnapped!

Teenage girl was reportably kidnapped by another teen around her age!'

"Why does the news have to rub this in our faces... It's bad enough that Aquarius was even kidnapped in the first place..." I sighed. "Well, it's their job to report this type of stuff, and just about everyone in the world watches this, so the police department should be searching as we talk." Dad explained. "Yeah, I get it, but it still hurts. I can't imagine what her parents must be thinking right now..." I looked down. "Yeah..." Dad put his hand on my head.

"Let's just try not to worry about it, okay?" Dad looked at me. "Let's stay optimistic and hope someone finds Aquarius and that your brother comes home." Dad smiled. I smiled back at him. "Yeah, okay. I'll do my best!"

(Later That Night...)

I turned over in my bed. I saw Aries' empty bed on the other side of the room. I miss my big bro... I sighed and put my pillow over my head and eventually started snoring.

. . .

I woke up in a weird space dimension. I rubbed my eyes and looked around, not seeing much. I yawned and tried to go back asleep.

But suddenly, a giant force fell on top of me! "Ack!" I yelled in pain. It weighed a ton! It felt like my bones were being crushed! As I tried to get a closer look at what was crushing me, I saw that it looked just like me? Just as I got a good look at it, though, it pushed my head to the ground! I was pinned. The longer I stayed pinned, the more claustrophobic I got...

I couldn't move, and I felt like the force got stronger than before! Just my luck!

First, I get called an egghead today. Next, Aries goes on a mission for Aquarius and isn't coming back. Now, I'm getting crushed and feel like I'm about to die!

I tried to get through this force by using force. Brute force! I uppercutted the human-like figure in its jaw, spinning it onto its back in the process. Then I booked it and ran as fast as I could. It wasn't fast enough, though, and the force pinned me to the ground again! But it was even worse than before!

"You're not going anywhere..." The human figure had an ominous voice, which mimicked mine.

I gulped out of fear and tried to free myself again. I was squirming around. "Let me go!" I yelled and ran again, faster than before. Just as I thought I was safe, though, I saw the human figure running towards me, sprouting huge bull horns!

I ran away again, panting hard, and I almost felt faint, but I kept going on full adrenaline and stubbornness.

I kept going, faster,

faster,

faster...

Then I felt a sharp pain in my back, as my ears started ringing. It was too much to handle. My body fell limp onto the ground. My vision faded as I layed there, unable to move.

Help... me...

I shot up in a starle, panting hard. I was on the floor, but I was still in my room. "This isn't an illusion, is it...?" I murmured to myself. But before I had time to think about it, Dad rushed into the room. "Son! You're not hurt, are you?" He kneeled down to me. "N-no, I don't think - Agh!" I fell to the ground as I tried to get up. "What's wrong?!" Dad held me. "I-I don't know. My back! It just stopped working right!" I was yelling in a panic. "Take deep breaths, let me look at it." Dad ordered. I did as he said, but it was hard. I was still worried, but I did my best to calm myself down.

"Oh my god..." I heard Dad mutter. "What-what is it?" I tried to look back at him.

"Your back is completely covered in blood..."