For All Those Sleeping [Editing]

Superest

 Capitulum X

Part 1

Everything was tainted with a green essence. It felt like I was levitating, and I couldn’t move a single muscle. I wasn’t bound to something, if the feeling in my arms served me correctly, but there was definitely something paralyzing my entire body. Finally I was able to see my friends through the envious smog. Ophelia, Sierra, Maelstrom… and myself; all surrounded by a yellow-green aura. My own body was staring at me. And where was Jace and Zephyr? A clouded mumbling started up from outside my bubble, however, I couldn’t stop staring at my face. It was boiling with anger for the longest time, but then the terrified eyes flicked to mine. A long, single note was dragged out through the look-alike’s lips, just before it hit me.

All at once, my body was shocked by an unspeakably painful jolt. My head fell backwards with an exasperated hint, and my spine arched in agony. My hands became fists as I tried to ignore the tormenting knives piercing through me. The spasm lasted for what seemed to be forever, not giving in a single touch. It felt like my very being was being unraveled, leaving me weaker and weaker. When I reopened my eyes, it looked like colors flew from my body up this weird cylinder. Uncontrollable shaking took over my whole body, and I finally realized that the screams I heard were my own, just reflecting back at me.

“For Caeles’ sake man, what are you doing?”

I gasped for breath as my eyes snapped open, and I could still feel my body shaking. Whatever I dreamt of, it felt real… and it was terrifying. I looked at my hands, touched my face, and felt for my heartbeat. Everything was intact and normal.

“Mael…” I whimpered.

It was dumb, I know, but I felt vulnerable at the moment. The sense was despicable, but not as bad as the night terror. My head scanned the area, and I noticed that everyone else was missing, and the camp had been all packed up. A bit reluctantly, I lunged forward and wrapped my arms around Maelstrom’s torso.

“Oh, uh… h-hey, it’s okay. Was the dream that bad?” he stuttered, slowly giving into the awkward hug.

I nodded. “Sorry about this, I just needed to get this out of my system. It was crazy. I felt it in my bones, I really did!”

“Just don’t tell anyone we’re friends again, alright?” he smirked.

“You got yourself a deal.”

Apparently the group wanted an early start on the day, so they left me a note and headed off for the city. When I didn’t show up, they sent Maelstrom to fetch me. I like sleeping, alright? Iunctis was only a short walk away, but when we caught up with the rest of the group, I noticed that Zephyr was missing.

“So where’s Zeph?” I asked harshly.

“He wanted to go check out the town, so we let him wander. We agreed that if by the time he was satisfied and we were already gone, he should just head up to the castle.” Ophelia explained. “That’s where we’re heading now that you’re here. Thanks Mael.”

As the five of us cut right through the square, not caring to stop and look at a crumbling fountain, and I mumbled to myself that I wouldn’t mind breaking off and looking around like Zephyr. That comment earned me a nasty look from Sierra. I don’t know what happened, but I felt like the two of us had nothing in common anymore. Maybe it’s because she spent her time in Bellator, and stayed in Malum. Strict versus free. That can certainly cause problems.

Finally, the castle in the distance was magnified, and I could tell that the dirtied walls and towers of the enormous building were in a slightly worse condition than the rest of the town. It didn’t exactly look like it’d fall apart at any second, but there were dents in the thick bricks as if something was battering it continuously. Dense metal doors were again pulled open by Jace, Mael, and I (way to pull your weight, Zeph), and a grand staircase was the first thing I saw. Once-proud banners sadly hung on rusted poles hanging from the ceiling from thin wires. A soiled rug was wrinkled and folded at all the wrong angles, and broken glass sparked with the help from breezy windows.