Epics of Noche 5, Reflection

EON CH 10 - ACT 61, WAKE UP

LIFE SUPPORT.

1777, APRIL 06th, WEDNESDAY10:00 am.

The hospital room was silent except for the occasional beep of the heart monitor. Noche laid asleep on the bed as the machine continued its rhythmic noise. The lights flickered and the room darkened. Creeps stood at the end of Noche's bed. It's hand slowly stretched out towards her head – it's fingers wrapped around her flesh.

Noche's eyes snapped open and she lunged upwards with a gasp. The lights were on and she was alone in the room. Still, her flesh had goosebumps and a small bead of cold sweat ran down her temple.

"Was it a dream?" She muttered.

It was impossible to tell. Real or fake, Creeps still scared her. How could it not when the thing was fear itself manifested into a physical form. Noche felt her face, her hair clips and choker were still there. She was wearing her normal outfit, a red and white striped shirt under a black jacket. Her left sleeve was tied in a knot.

Scanning the environment more carefully, she found a dead plant near the window and a dimly lit lamp. A small fly was buzzing around the light; it flew past the lamp shade and onto the bulb. A small wisp of smoke floated up from where the fly landed. Noche just stared. The little thing's inadvertent suicide was too close to home.

"Awake?"

"Holy shit!" Noche shouted.

She turned her head and found Galloway standing in a spot that was empty a moment ago.

"This could have been prevented. If you were willing to continue your training," he said.

"Fuck you! How!" Noche said. "What, would you have stopped DeathTech's invasion? The death of my grandfather! Vida beating my ass?"

"DeathTech only attacked because Creeps was hungry for you," Galloway said. "I can keep Creep's hunger for you suppressed by masking the scent of your fear... Should I be willing."

Noche raised her middle finger.

"Creeps's goal hasn't changed. Consume to Personification of Existence's seal," Galloway said. "A white orb that represents all of existence... If Creeps eats it, then it's the same as fear consuming everything."

"I don't care about that! Creeps killed my grandfather! Edward killed my mom and dad. So I'm going to destroy both of them!"

"If you want to do that, you need to master all of your powers," Galloway said. "You need to finish my training."

"And why should I do your training? Why shouldn't I try to master my abilities on my own?"

"You want to get rid of Creeps and me as fast as possible, right?"

"Yeah?"

"Like it or not, I want the same thing," he said. "I want you to master your abilities immediately. My training is harsh, but you'll gain power quickly – faster than anyone on this planet has ever done before."

Noche narrowed her one eye. "I've already mastered corruption... So only Limbo is left?"

"Correct."

The blonde held her gaze before letting out a long ten-second sight. "Fucking – fine. Let's get this over with."

"Forest for the trees," Galloway said. "Hate me all you want, but I'm looking at the bigger picture."

Noche threw off her blanket and moved her legs to the side of the bed.