Differential

Differential: Division Seven

Differential: Division Seven

Though my soul may set in darkness,

It will rise in perfect light,

I have loved the stars too fondly

To be fearful of the night.

~Sarah Williams

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I breathed deeply, filling my lungs with crisp air. Where was I?

For surrounded me, blotting out any chance of being able to see where I was. I raised my hand. Intending to shine light on my surroundings. Literally.

But nothing happened. I tried again, reaching for the warmth that normally flowed inside me, but it wasn't there.

"What the hell?" I muttered, trying to use any of my abilities. Disguise didn't work either. I was still plain old Shannon.

"Your gifts won't work where we are."

I spun, drawing in a quick breath of air.

A man stood before me, dressed in a light silver robe. His face was a little scruffy, like he needed a shave. His hazel eyes held a glint of something unrecognizable. But his face held something familiar. I just couldn't place his face.

"And where are we?" I asked. Was I still asleep? Was I hallucinating?

"Depends. If I said we were here, then we wouldn't be there. But at the same time we're both. So we can't be here. Though we obviously are."

Giving him a confused look I asked, "What?"

But he just smiled and came closer.

"That is the question of the day, isn't it? Days, weeks, hours, all controlled by time. Yet in the same instance, we control time. A conundrum isn't it? Does that imply we ourselves control our path? That we could go back, change what was wronged, set it right? Or does someone else control the paths? Selecting one at random like you would a drink."

What was this guy rambling about? He sounded certifiably crazy. And I'm not sure who he even was.

"Excuse me?" I asked, cutting off his mutterings, "Who are you?"

"Who am I? Wrong question. Better be careful what you ask, may not like that answer. The more wrong question would be who are you?"

My head was starting to hurt. I was going in circles.

"Me? I know who I am." I felt compelled to say it out loud, make it true. "Part Aduroum, my mothers side. I am fifty two years old. My name is Shannon Welter. I am-"

"Ah ha! Shannon Welter. I know that title. Little Warrior of the light. Poor thing. Doesn't know what's coming. Doesn't know where the guardian is. And she will need him soon."

I rolled my eyes as his words trailed off, this guy was off his rocker. One fry short of a Happy Meal. Two cats shy of a crazy cat lady. You get my drift.

The fog started to swirl around me, sending a dizziness through me. I looked down to see myself growing faint, almost translucent.

"Goodbye little bird. Don't let them clip your wings! The fallen do strange things. You were always meant to fly."

He started humming a strange tune, that faded as I slipped away.

I tried to call out, to ask him what in the world he was talking about, but I was spiraling down quickly, sucked under by a swift current.

My eyes closed.

I drifted away like the fog.

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