The Swan's Song.

Chapter 28

We are back on our normal schedule, barring any other stranger schedules to work. But without further ado, let's rock!

The lore is thick for this chapter. Character development galore and background. Lots of it.

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In a dream, Swan remarked how this one was an actual dream compared to reliving his past.

He sat at a chair, or a couch. The specific detail wasn't as important to him as the sight of Brixley and Ivan talking at a small counter.

Their words were little more than a series of small noises and what sounded like words over the mute clinking of glasses and the droning of more voices in the background.

Ivan and Brixley conversed in a casual manner, and the wolf had a glass of what Swan assumed was red wine in her hand.

As he watched the scene, he spotted Callie and Rita conversing at a table.  Benny and the crew alongside Phantom talked in a corner.

Then, he saw himself sit down with Rita and Callie and join in on their conversation in a merry manner. Swan watched himself, jovial by all accords, as he talked with Rita and Callie.

Rita and Callie laughed lightly and Swan saw himself smile.

Such a thing immediately made Swan deal jealousy, envy, and above all...

Longing.

Swan utterly yearned to experience what he was seeing so far.

To simply feel like a normal person. Farseeker had eroded normal thought and emotion. Swan knew what it was to have emotions before the application of the serum.

It was supposed to wipe away all emotion according to Ivan, getting rid of what made him human.

But it had failed for reasons unknown to everyone. Ivan himself had commented on it various times, calling it a 'peculiar' and 'intriguing' thing.

Swan watched as Ava came up behind him and lightly roughed him up before patting him on the shoulder. Swan felt envy as he watched himself smile in his dream and jump up, latching onto Ava with a rough hug.

Ana came from somewhere and she sat down at the table. Echo and Izzy came in as well and all seemed merry.

But most importantly, Swan watched as he showed signs of genuine happiness when his dream version hugged Ava.

And he could not miss how happy the dire wolf appeared as well. She smiled and looked like she was laughing. The only thing missing would be the sound of laughter, but there was none.

The merry moment was fine with being just a vision and Swan was okay with that.

Then, Swan woke up.

He bolted up in his cot and exhaled sharply, remembering that he was in his dark and cold room in The Annex.

27K.

No merry room. No happiness.

"Aw, son of a- COME ON!" Swan's voice escalated quite rapidly, surprising even himself.