Mysticons:The King's Concealment

Horrors of one's mind

       The Mysticons and their solon arrived into a foggy place. The fog  was thick and they found it extremely hard to see and didn't dare to move. "Is it just me or is the ground too soft to be dirt?" Whispered Piper, shivering as fog swirled around them. "It feels like we've sunk down a bit,and it's cold too." Replied Em, glancing down uncertainly. Zarya nudged Arkayna and pointed to the horizon. Arkayna squinted towards where she was pointing. A faint light was glowing....
         "Guys, be careful and follow me." Said Arkayna and she cautiously took a step forwards. Her foot sank down to her ankle. Slowly she began to make her way towards the light with the others following behind.
          The light got brighter as they got closer. The fog seemed to thin out. They walked on until they were engulfed in the light.
          "Woah..." They were on an seemingly endless cloud. The blue sky was cloudless above them. They looked all the way round but there was nowhere to go or no one there. "Is King Zane here or did the spell malfunction?" Piper asked. "A spell can't malfunction, piper. We may not be in the exact location where King Zane is, but he is close. Maybe if we walk forward a bit we may see them." Suggested Malvaron. "I think we can see if someone is here." Said Zarya looking around but just as she said it a figure materialised a few yards away from them.
            Zane stumbled and managed to regain his balance. He shook his head and sat down on the cloud. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "I can see you five standing there." He said. Malvaron and the Mysticons exchanged glances. Zane opened his eyes and beckoned them to join him. "Don't worry." He said reassuringly. "Here, nothing can hurt you. No dark magic can penetrate this place." "What is this place?" Asked Em sitting down across him. Zane gave a small smile. "Well, I'm not really sure on how to explain it but we are in someone's subconscious mind." He said. "Someone's subconscious mind?" Arkayna repeated skeptically. Zane nodded. "Indeed. And it's not a happy one." Zane's smile vanished. "Who's mind? What is happening  right now?" Asked Malvaron. Zane sighed. "A child's mind. She's asleep. The only time she gets to remain peaceful and happy." "What do you mean?" "She's living in fear. In pain. She's being tortured everyday. I stay here to help. To reassure. To encourage resistance." He replied, his hands curling into fists.
         A sudden rumble shook the place and everything went dark. A blue sky turned crimson and the white cloud became black and angry. It began to shake. Malvaron's protective sphere circled them as they all jumped up in panic - except for Zane. "Did you forget? We can't get hurt. She's being woken up by her torturer." Zane stood up. "Break the spell." Malvaron snapped gis fingers and the sphere disappeared. Zane jumped from the edge of the cloud that appeared beside him. "Follow me." His voice echoed to them. They hesitated, before jumping.
        They landed on the black ground. Lightning began to crackle in the blood red sky. "Lightning?" Piper squeaked terrified and ducked behind Zarya, who looked impassive. "Not lightning. It's a distraction her mind has formed to the real horror. Listen to the sound. That's not the real sound of lightning." They all stood listening.  Crack! Crack! Crack!
         "A whip?..." Zarya's quiet voice broke them out of their reverie. "Whip? Is someone whipping her?" Demanded Em, turning toward Zane. Zane nodded his head, a grim expression on his face. "No..."