The World's Ignorance

Nightmares

Often, when I'm just trying to sleep at night, I'm plagued by images of the past. I lay restless as my mind teleports back to over 230 years ago.

Tonight was just like any other night. Exhausted, I collapsed into bed, burying myself underneath the covers. After the conflict I'd had with my teacher earlier in the day, all I wanted was some rest

But no; instead my mind decided to taunt me for daring to believe I deserved any sort of rest.

As my mind drifted off, I found myself running through the woods again, feeling the crisp winter's air rush past. The shadows of the woods surrounded me as the sky above swiftly grew dark.

I felt a pang of fear in my heart as I ran. Each and every sound I heard, from the wind rustling the leaves to the stirring of animals in the underbrush, put me on edge.

But I just kept running. As horrifying as the woods were, what I was leaving behind back at home was unmatched.

So I just kept running and running through the woods, tearing through the darkness of night until my feet were sore, and I stumbled to the ground, unable to run any further.

I wished I could keep going. I wished I could keep outrunning the fear behind me.

But, of course, that weak and fragile body of mine just had to get in the way.

I kneeled on the ground, desperately trying to catch my breath. All the while, my mind began whirling. I just couldn't believe I was actually doing this. I'd considered running away so many times, but I'd never acted on it until now.

And now here I was, out in the darkened woods, all alone.

I didn't have any plans about where I'd go or what I'd do or how I'd even survive. I hadn't thought of any of that when I first fled. I just knew that I had to get out of there.

But now, slowly, those thoughts began creeping their way into my mind as the weight of the situation began to sink in. I was out in the woods, all alone, in the middle of the night, with nowhere to go. I couldn't just survive out here on my own. Especially considering how weak I always was.

But what kind of life would I have if I went back? If I resigned myself to the life the people around me expected?

I immediately knew the answer: I'd be completely miserable.

But there was no other option. I wished I could find another path to take my life in. One which required no fear whatsoever. One which allowed me to lead the life that I wished for.

And yet that option was completely nonexistent.

I thought of my father's angered face whenever I dared to question his way.

I thought of my mother's disappointed sighs whenever I dared to behave abnormally.

I thought of my fiancé's eager smile whenever she saw me, and the love which sparkled in her eyes whenever she caught me in an embrace. I honestly hated to think that she was completely oblivious to the fact I didn't feel the same way back.

And yet this was the only role society expected me to fill.

If only there was another way...

"I think I might have a solution," came a voice, echoing out from somewhere in the darkness.

Immediately I flinched. My eyes frantically darted from place to place, trying to locate the source of the voice but to no avail. "Who's there?!"

"My name's Eclipse," the mysterious voice said, and somebody stepped through the darkness before me, "And I might be able to help you."