Those That Are Lost

Stygian

Chapter 1

Cerin

   Dark. Darkness. Black. Blackness. This was all that I could see. What I thought I saw. All I could do is wonder through this endless night following any sounds that might lead to safety. I knew I was in danger. The sounds were more intense, coming towards me and wanting to grab me. I started running. As fast as I could in all of this night. Where? I don't know. I've never known. I will never know.
   My name is Cerin Blaecleah. No other person has said this name. I only know that it is mine because it is the first thing I remember that was whispered to me in this eternal darkness. I have never met another person like me. Someone who can think, feel, and breath. All that is out there is the darkness and the sounds that warn me of danger and tell me when I'm safe. There is no way to tell how long I've been wandering, and I have no idea how long I've been alive.
   The sounds occasionally have something discernible out of the chaos. The first noticeable message was, "You need to run Cerin!" In a hushed, but hurried tone. I ran as hard as I could for as long as I could. It seemed like an eternity that was spent in running. I had to quiet my breathing so that the danger couldn't track me. I felt the danger pass, but the sounds hadn't told me if it really was gone. Finally, after running for as long as I did, the hushed voice came back and said, "Cerin, the danger has passed. You may stop." I collapsed almost immediately, and I went into the world that I have called Empyrean.
   When I go into this world, I see the most beautiful and wonderful things. To see anything is baffling, but the colors are astounding. It is here that I have learned that there was a world with color. A place where a person like me was common and the sounds were of people talking with people. I normally see this beautiful city with buildings that reach for the sky and reflect the sun in glorious colors. Whenever I turn around after marveling at the beauty, I always see this stunning girl. She takes my breath away. The way her brunette hair frames her face, how it looks like a waterfall the way it waves, how it reflects the sun and makes her glow. Her face is like that of an angel. It always lights up when she sees that I'm looking at her and she demands all of my attention. The way she has this half-smile, eyebrow lifted as if to say, "What are you going to do? Stare?" She asks me if I'm done staring, and I look at her again and she has this dress that seems like it's on fire with the vibrant colors and elaborate designs. We start walking towards the center of the forest of buildings when a shadow comes over us all. At this time in Empyrean I realize I'm not in the real world and I panic at the thought of the darkness coming again.
   The girl looks at me and tells me in a voice like a flower, "It's okay Cerin, it can be nothing but a cloud! No need to be so jumpy." She smiles at me and takes my hand. I suddenly here a loud commotion and it sounds like the sounds in the darkness. I start to pull her away from the noise when she plants her feet and stays there. I tell her, "We need to get away! That means danger!" She would not move.
   She told me, "My name. What is my name?" I was at a loss. She has never told me her name in any of the Empyrean experiences I've had and she certainly has never asked for it. She looked panicked as she said, "Cerin, if you don't tell me my name I will be lost to you. Forever."
   I was trying to think of what her name was when I felt her lifting up. I grabbed hold of her hand and squeezed it trying to keep her on the ground. She was being drawn to the sounds and I had to keep her away. My grip slipped. She started screaming. My heart stopped. I pulled with all my might, but all was lost. She was going to be lost and there was nothing I could do.
   Suddenly I heard a voice cry out, "Emilly Hephzibah! Come to me my delightful beauty!" I realized it was my voice that had said this and I was baffled that I said anything. I had no idea if that was her real name, and I couldn't see her. I shouted over the sounds, "Emilly Hephzibah! My delightful beauty, you belong by my side!" I heard a scream and Emilly came flying toward me. She knocked into me and I took her into a tight embrace and told her, "I will never let you leave me again Emilly!"
   The darkness interrupted everything. The sounds returned. I had to run. Run to Emilly. Run to her and run for her. It was all I could think about. The way she looked at me, then how she was snatched by the sounds. I had to run.