The Night Belongs to You

Chapter 2 - Thread the Needle

He fell asleep, the image of a beautiful garden appeared all around him in his mind. He felt like it wasn't a dream, but he didn't know what else it could be.

He walked around, admiring the tropical flowers and marveling at the melodic birdsong.

He wasn't in pain, he was at peace and he didn't feel the need to cry. His arms were smooth and scarless, his body restored to its former pure glory. Did he die? Was this the afterlife? He was very sure of it.

After a long time of walking and enjoying his new state he saw something drawn on the light soil, a rune of sorts. As he knelt down to observe it, he felt a presence behind him. A voice, no, not one, several voices, all melted together, male, female and indistinguishable, old and young, all spoke to him in a gentle whisper, "Hello there, I've been expecting you".

He quickly turned around to see a body of smoke, a white mask with six eyes and the rune that was drawn on the floor where it's face was supposed to be. He knew he was supposed to be scared, but the strange entity seemed welcoming and gentle, he wasn't scared but confused. He knew this wasn't a dream but he didn't know where he was or who or what that being in front of him could be.

"Who are you? What is this place?" He said, looking intensely at the entity. Apart from the mask, it seemed to be made not of smoke, but of floating black sand. It produced an alien humming sound as it moved but he could also hear faint voices trying to be heard from within the creature.

"This is your mind. Well, specifically, my garden. My pride and joy, I put so much work into it. You can come whenever you want, I know it's easier to be here sometimes." The entity started moving away from him, towards a path lined with azalea flowers, the sweet scent invaded his nose beautifully.

"Does this form make you uncomfortable? Would you rather I'd change it?" The masked entity looked at him, staring through his body at his soul. He thought for a second it could read his mind.

"Perhaps... you prefer this?" The entity moved around its sand-like particles to recreate the form of Eden, his past lover.

The image of Eden returned him to his painful state and he fell to his knees, a tear escaping his eyes as he tried to cover them. "Please... not him... please..."

"Oh I'm terribly sorry, is this better?" With a whooshing sound the entity turned into a young woman, still masked.

Its skin was pitch black like the night sky, it's hair white and wild. Long claws escaped its fingers and its body was covered in a golden robe adorned with sigils.

"Yes... it's better, thank you..." he stood back up and wiped his tears, returning to that state of calm once more. "Who are you? What is this place? Why am I he-" he was cut off by the entity, the feminine part of its voice now being more noticeable to the rest of its voices. "Shhh. Calm down. One question at a time, there's no hurry!"

"First things first, my name. It's too complex for any mortal tongue to pronounce, so you may call me whatever you want". The entity moved around playfully, it's voice welcoming and unsettling at the same time. He felt drawn to it for some reason, like fate had bright them together. "How about... I call you Sleep? That is how you came to me, after all." He mumbled, feeling slightly intimidated.

"That's a wonderful name, darling! You're so creative!". The entity seemed giddy and he could feel it smile from under its mask. He winced at the nickname, his dear Eden used to call him that.

"Now for the next question, you are here because we both need something from each other. I can give you magnificence. I can give you power, peace, love, greatness, anything your beautiful mortal heart desires if and only if you join my side" The entity seemed eager, maybe a bit too much, but he didn't suspect anything evil. He was desperate, he couldn't go back to that room oh so full of his stinking despair and rotting pain.