The Catalyst

Chapter XX: Everywhere but No Where

Darkness was all Dante saw. He couldnt see anything or feel anything. It was nothing. Dante looked around and around to still see nothing. Than Dante heard a voice. It was a woman's voice. It was soothing to Dante's ears for some reason. "Hello Dante. I see you finally couldn't take the pain any more." "Where am I?" Dante asked. "You are everywhere, but no where Dante. I see you have been busy lately." The voice said. "This cant be real.." Dante said. "I must be dreaming or something." "You could say it is a dream. But this dream is all but not real. Dante. Do you know who i am?" Dante thought for a minute and came up with a guess. "Are you the woman from the visions?" Dante answered.

The woman giggled a little. "And i thought you were ignoring them. Yes. Im the woman you have been seeing." "Well than who are you?" Dante asked. "In time Dante, in time. But for now i must tell you something. About the girl." "Layla?!?" Dante said shockingly. "Where is she?!? What has happened to her?!? Is she dead?!?" Dante had the sound of panic in his voice and the womans voice noticed. "Calm down Dante. She is not dead. But simply sleeping. The Catalysts put her in this deep sleep for you to continue un-distracted with your mission." "Well it didnt work. I want to find her; where is she?"

A bright light shown out of no where and a woman figure came out. Like it was a door of some sorts. The woman pointed toward a wall. An image shown. It was Layla. Sleeping on a stone bed in what seemed to be a tomb. "Where is this place?" Dante asked. The woman looked at Dante and got closer to him. "I can only show you the place. Not how to get there." The woman said. "Dammit. Well at least shes safe." "Not exactly." The woman said.

"The intentions of the Catalysts are the same as the Saints. They both want change. The Catalysts change may be better than the Saints, but they must go through the same process to do so. Death. In this case all the people you have killed. But the Catalysts believe the girl will be a hualt to their plans. Thats why they took her. But if you dont finish what you started, she will die Dante. She is sleeping a deep sleep at this moment. The Catalysts want the Saints dead. Its a trade offer. The girl for the lifes of the Saints. Thats how they see it. But you have more of an option than that. You are a Catalyst now Dante. You cant change that. But you can change the way things are around you. You can save her in time. You just need to convince the other Catalysts that she isn't a distraction."

Dante starred at the woman. Her words gave Dante motivation and comfort. "Okay. Im ready. I've made my decision." Dante said. "I want to save her." The woman stepped closer to Dante. She put her hand on Dante's face. Dante felt the warmth on his cheek. "I have faith in you Dante." She kissed Dante's forehead and Dante opened his eyes.