The Enchanted Realm: At Journey's End

Buried Memories

 The night sky loomed over the dull city. Orion woke slowly, examining the unseen area out of his bedroom window. The flickering vibrance of a streetlight allowed Orion to see a twenty-one gear bicycle. I guess a quick bike ride could help me a bit. He thought. The teen looked at the clock beside his bed. 3:14. He had nearly three hours to burn. Why not? Orion slowly opened his door, seeing his roommate, Anna, asleep on the couch. He silently approached her, softly clasping his hands around her freezing cold, limp hand. How could you sleep like this? Orion took a blanket from his bed, carefully draping it over Anna's sleeping body. Orion couldn't help but feel a warm smile creep up his face. He shook the smile away, turning to the door. Orion took a jacket from the wall, and his shoes beneath it. Taking a keycard from the kitchen counter, Orion slipped out the door and into the dim hallway. He walked and walked, all the way to the elevator; but he couldn't help but feel like he was being watched. Orion turned back, only seeing the emptiness of the hall behind him. The teen shook off the feeling, entering the elevator. He pressed the button titled "L1" and began his descent. The whir off the pulley system was the only noise as Orion waited. And he waited.

Then it stopped. The door didn't open; not for a few seconds. The door slid open, revealing a reception and entrance. Orion walked out, exiting the complex entirely. He walked towards the bicycle, throwing his leg over the side and getting on the seat. Orion slowly took the bike backwards, riding into the midnight. He pedaled slowly across the empty sidewalks, eventually fighting the fear and dropping onto the road itself. The patterned street lights lit up his face from time to time.

Then they began to go out. A darkness began to approach Orion. The street lights began to pop. Run, run, run. As fast as you can. No matter how hard you try, I WILL catch you! An ethereal voice echoed in Orion's mind. He knew it wasn't his. Orion could never hear his voice in his head before. The darkness began to catch up. Orion pushed forward, pedaling faster and faster. But the shadows were faster. They caught up to Orion, passing him as all the street lights popped out. The luminance of the pale moon had disappeared. Orion was enveloped in darkness. He felt like he was falling, further and further. There was nothing to see but his own hands. But even that soon vanished...

...

Gasp! Orion shot up, shallow breaths escaping his mouth. His body was assimilated in fear. Orion weakly pulled his hand to his chest. The teen looked outside. The street lights were still on. The bicycle was still there. Everything was as it was before. Impossible. It all felt so... real. Orion looked around his room. There was one small thing about it that felt off. A note. A paper note, laying on his desk. Orion took a deep breath before rising from his bed and walking over to the note. There was still fear quaking in his legs. Orion grabbed onto the desk, using it for leverage. He looked at the note, slowly making out each word from the darkness of the room.

Orion Foxro Darkheart,

You might not know me all that well, but I certainly know you. You are a savior. You helped those in need. And now, they require your help once again. Go to where the memories are buried, and find the things that have helped you along your journey.

Signed,

J.

Orion could only wonder who this J person was. And how did they know him? Was it someone Orion barely knew, but helped back then? Or was it an old friend, concealing themselves within a letter? Orion didn't know what to choose. He examined the last sentence carefully. To where memories are buried. There was only one place that perfectly matched the brief description. Orion rushed out the apartment, down the stairs and out the complex. There's no way they know. Orion kept telling himself. He grabbed the bicycle, riding it all the way across half of Detroit before sharply turning into the forest beyond. The bicycle could barely handle the rough terrain. Orion pulled the brake levers back, taking him to a shortstop. And there it was. An unnatural mound in the dirt. Orion looked around. And there was his entrance. A shovel, hidden between the trees. Orion grabbed it and began digging. The sun slowly began to poke through the many buildings. People began to come out of the concrete and brick shelters. Orion dug faster. He felt as if the hole would never end.

Clang. Orion moved some dirt out of the way before reaching into the hole. His hands ran over a large, steel box. Orion firmly gripped the sides, beginning to lift the box out of the hole.

"Not one more move, kid." Orion felt the muzzle of a gun against his head.

"Damnit." The teen whispered.

"Put the box down." The armed individual ordered. Orion set the box back into the hole. "On your feet." Orion didn't move. "Hey, are you deaf? On your feet!" The armed one lashed out. Orion flipped over, looking at the man dead in the eyes. His body was covered in a dark suit, his face concealed by a balaclava. Orion could see his dull, golden eyes, ready to watch as Orion's blood spilled across the earth. "Last warning." The man pulled back the hammer of the revolver that scrunched against Orion's nose. "On. Your. Feet." Orion examined the gun. It was a modified .44 revolver. Snub-nosed. Orion hesitantly got up, his hands unwavering from his side.

"What's in the box?" The man asked through his balaclava.

"Why the hell do you want to know?" Orion seethed.

"I've been tasked with following you and retrieving it. Now that you've led me to it, I want to know what's inside." The man answered. Orion gave no reply. "Open it." Orion remained still. "I said open it, kid."

"I'll open the box when you take off your mask." Orion stated. The man chuckled.

"What makes you think I'll let you do that?"

"You want the box, don't you? Show me your face, and I'll let you have it." The man chuckled.

"I don't make deals, kid."

"And neither do I." Orion swiftly pointed the revolver into the air, kicking the man's stomach in the process. The teen ripped the gun from the attacker's hands, dumping all the ammo onto the grass. Orion threw the gun into the forest, turning back at the man. "Now you're unarmed." The man unsheathed a butterfly knife, flipping it around his wrist and rushing towards Orion. But something stopped him. A bright flash, followed by the phoosh of a laser. The man fell to his knees, then his side. There was a large portion of his head missing. Orion looked away. "Disgusting." He looked back towards the hole. The teen reached down, pulling out the large steel box. There was a lock on it. A number lock. 2-0-1-5.

Click. Orion lifted the top of the box open. "After all this time..."