Asher the Survivor

Chapter Thirteen

So to the Tree of Death they went, leaving many footprints on the sand. ‘’It’s right there.’’ The sea reflected on Dylan’s gauntlet as he pointed to the hollow, rocky, beach cave. Darkness swept them as they entered, a gloomy dark cascaded over the walls. Inside the dark cave was a tree; it’s bark was charred, pitch black: and with one gentle touch it would leave the mark of charcoal. On the ground, the base of the tree was littered with human skulls, they were intertwined with coal colored roots. As they approached the skulls began to flash red; a scarlet glow seeping out of the empty eye and mouth sockets. It glowed once, then twice.

‘’Asher to complete this you must pick a leaf from the tree, and then you’ll go into a trance- almost dream-like state.’’ Dylan explained. Asher was getting nervous, but he agreed to do this; it it meant knowing his fate, he’d succumb to accept his demise.
Standing on his hind legs, he picked a charred leaf from the tree. And when all four paws were on the ground, he went into a trance… Dylan was watching, as Asher stood there unable to move…

In his trance… He saw nothing other than an endless darkness. ‘’Hello?” He called, though he did not hear a voice, except for his own echoing back. ‘’Asher.’’ A female Boltcat voice called. His heart skipped a beat at the sound of her voice, whoever it was he knew her. At first Asher mistook it for his aunt, Blaze’s sister, until he realized it was his mom, Regan.
‘’Hello Mom.’’ In his trance he had a tail so he excitedly wagged it; expressing his happiness beyond words. ‘’Mom! I’ve always wanted to meet you.’’ Asher remembers crying over her before he even hatched; He’s never met his own mother. ‘’Asher, you were the only egg in my litter, I’ve always thought about the day i could meet you.’’ She said filled with emotion. ‘’Mom, where are you?” He asked, puzzled. ‘’I’m in another place.’’ She replied. The voice speaking to him was not Regan; it was a fragment of Asher’s subconscious.
‘’Asher,’’ Regan paused. ‘’Beware of someone you think you know.’’ The vision of his mother than faded, and was replaced by all the enemies he’s ever fought; all the heroes he’s ever saved, and all the battles he’s ever won and lost. Even that time he helped Deaser slay Neo the Necromancer, to the recent battle with Evron the Smoke Sorcerer. All of that flashed back to him, and the next thing he saw, was the first time he met Dylan and Toni. Beware of someone you think you know. The words of Regan echoed in his mind.

…

Suddenly a new image appeared, it was of a fast beating heart. Blood pumped out of its vessels; it was bright red and healthy looking. Thud… Thud… Thud… Asher could do nothing but stare at it. It must have been a human heart, given it was far too big for the body of a Boltcat. Suddenly the heart that was scarlet, began to fade to a wicked black. The darkness slowly engulfed the red heart, as if it were covered in Kraken ink. Thud… Thud… Thud… Thud… it then started to beat rapidly, switching color before his eyes. And then he awoke from his trance; the question of how he would die was left unanswered.

"Asher what did you see?!” Dylan rushed over to him. ‘’I don’t know.’’ Emotion caught in his throat. ‘’It never told me how i would die, but in my trance i saw my mom.’’ He stammered. Dylan looked at him with much sympathy… ‘’She told me to beware of someone i think i know.’’ … ‘’And i have no idea who this person would be.’’ Asher hopelessly looked at his paws on the ground.  ‘’Hmmm, i don’t know Asher, so you're saying it didn't reveal how you would die?” Asher explained that the only thing he saw was his mother, and a heart turning from red to black.
‘’Well,’’ Dylan paused. ‘’Maybe you’ll live forever.’’

…

‘’Now it’s my turn.’’ He walked over to the leaf and picked it, kneeling on the floor as the trance began to take over his body…
He also began to hear a woman’s voice, which sounded very familiar. ‘’Dylan! Dylan!’’ She pleaded. It was apparent she was in danger. ‘’Lucy!’’ In an instant he recognized her voice. It was his wife, whom Xer had killed.
‘’Lucy i tried everything i could to save you.’’ He reached out and touched her brunette hair. ‘’I know you did Dylan, but Xer, he’s an immortal.’’ She confirmed his fears. ‘’I love you Lucy, i always have.’’ Dylan looked at her beautiful face. ‘’I know i’ve always loved you too.’’ … ‘’But listen Dylan.’’ She broke off.

… ‘’Beware of the path that lies ahead.’’ The vision of her then faded, and was replaced by the last memory he had with her; Xer crushing her to death with his sledgehammer.
The next vision he saw was of a man, Dylan stared at him for a long moment, before realizing it was himself-
But it was not the self he knew, this person looked nothing other than the byproduct of evil. But that's me. Dylan thought to himself.
That’s my hair, that’s my eyes, that’s my face… Could that perhaps be my Son?” … That’s impossible, he thought. Lucy and I never had kids.

The next thing he saw was his evil-self strangling Lucy…

Was this implying he killed the one he loved, by failing to save Lucy from the hands of Xer?