Don't Forget Me

Chapter Four

Tom wandered through the darkness, unable to see, despite his night vision. Everything was dark, and silent, and he had no idea where he was going, but he continued walking.

Eventually, he was blinded by a bright light, in what looked like a doorway. He began walking towards it, but it only moved farther away from him. He slowed to a stop, watching the light stop as well.

With a sudden burst of energy, Tom yelled out, and sprinted to the doorway of light. He watched it move away from him, picking up the pace with every step he made. He felt hot tears rolling down his face as he ran, trying to get to the stray light.

It wasn't long, before Tom tripped on his own foot, and fell to the floor. His head hit the ground, hard, causing a ringing sound to echo in his mind. As soon as it stopped, he heard a familiar voice.

"Tom? Get up," the voice, usually so kind, was filled with a sort of anger, cold and sharp. He looked up to see Edd, looking down on him. However, he looked disfigured. His wings were ripped in countless places, and his face was riddled with scars. His normally lively eyes, looked grey and lifeless.

"Wh-what.." Tom asked, confused. This wasn't Edd, was it? Another voice appeared behind him.

"He said get up. Why are you still on the floor?" Tom scrambled to his feet, and turned to see Matt, glaring at him. He looked disfigured as well. His arms and face were covered in blood, patches of skin ripped off of him. It looked painful.

"M-Matt?"

"Why do you keep stuttering!?" He shouted. This couldn't be Matt...could it? This time, a third, and hopefully final, voice spoke.

"He's Tom. Weak. Dangerous. Hopeless," it started. Tom turned to face Tord. Tord...

His arm had the same bloody gash Tom had given him all those years ago. He walked closer to him, smiling a twisted smile.

Tord lifted the smaller God's chin to look up at him. He leaned closer to him, whispering, "Useless."

««•»»

Tom woke up, with a violent jerk. He was breathing heavily, his heart pounding in his chest. He could feel the tears that fell down his face. Wiping them away, he stood, and began pacing across the room.

"Nightmare?" A low growl came from across the room. Tom turned to see a small, grey dragon, laying in the corner of the cave. He nodded, before walking over to her, and sitting beside her.

"How long have you been here?" he asked her.

Ringo tilted her head, to look at him, and let out another growl, saying, "A couple hours. Bad nightmare. You were tossing, turning, and crying. Pretty loudly, too." Tom frowned, before running his hand over the small creatures spine. She made a small purring sound, nuzzling closer to him.

"Why do you come down here?" Tom asked, genuinely curious.

"First off, you're literally the only one who can understand me. You can hold conversations. Secondly, you went missing yesterday. I wanted to check on you." Tom hummed, understanding.

"How are the others?" he asked.

"They're getting worried, I guess."

"You guess?" The dragon made a motion, almost like she shrugged. Tom sighed, and continued petting her. The two stayed like this, for a while, before Ringo stood, abruptly. Her ears twitched as she listened. Then, she stretched, and turned to Tom.

"Edd's up. It's morning...You should come up. Before they worry too much."

"They won't. I'm going to stay down here. They won't care, I promise." Ringo gave him a weird look, before doing what looked like rolling her eyes.

"Ive lived with Edd for a while now. And I've been around the other two enough, as well. They will worry. All three of them." Tom shrugged, and looked away. Ringo let out a breath as she shook her head, before she started towards the entrance.

"Ringo, could you bring me some extra fruits or something? But, don't be suspicious about it...please." She looked at him and bowed her head, agreeing, before heading out.

Tom sighed and leaned against the wall, thinking about the nightmare he had. What had happened to them? They all looked...hurt. Did...Did Tom do that? Of course, Tom knew he did that to Tord, but, did he hurt the others. Did they all hate him for something he had yet to do? Probably. He shut his eyes, and let his thoughts swarm his head.

««•»»

"Ringo! Now where were you off to this morning..." Edd asked as the dragon bounded up to him. She emitted a soft growl, and he laughed, "Joking, joking." He pulled out some fresh meat for her breakfast, and as soon as he placed it down, she tore right into it.

"Did you forget to feed her or something?" Tord laughed as he walked up to the two of them.

"What? I'm not that careless. I couldn't forget Ringo here!" He smiled, as the creature ripped apart her meal.

"Honestly, I don't think anyone could," Tord smiled, before he looked around them, "Hey, wheres Tom? Is he still missing..." Edd looked at him, and smiled.

"You do realize Matt's not here either right?" It took Tord a few seconds to realize what he meant.

"Well, Matt didn't go missing yesterday!" He sputtered, rolling his eyes, and turning away from him. As if one cue, Matt landed a few feet away from the two of them, happily.

"Of course I didn't go missing," he said, as he sat on the floor at their 'table.'

"But really, where is Tom? Something is definitely wrong..." Tord sat next to Matt, and glanced around them one more time.

Edd shrugged, "I don't know. I am starting to worry though..."

"I hope he's okay," Matt spoke up, but he looked down.

"So do I..."

««•»»

"I hope he's okay," Matt said, as he wrapped Tord's damaged arm up.

"So do I..." Tord looked in the direction Tom had fled in. He winced in pain as Matt wrapped the gauze around his wound. The blood was staining his hands, but he didn't mind. He was just willing to help.

"What...What happened..?" he asked.

"I dont know. He lost control, or something," Tord couldn't take his eyes away from the spot Tom fled. He must think he hates him. But, he didn't. Of course, it hurt like all hell, but, he knew it wasn't his fault. He's seen these kind of beings before.  They separate the monster from the God.

Tord had never seen these monsters before, and he was just curious. One would think he'd be worried about the wound this monster had given him, but he wasn't. He was scared for Tom. His monster was violent. Meaning, Tom didn't fully know or understand himself anymore. Something was wrong. Very, very wrong...