Champion of The Dream Keeper

A Happy Place

It was weird suddenly appearing in an empty arcade. I must be dreaming. Lights were on, everything working and running as the games flashed in competition to garner a potential player's attention. Almost nothing seemed amiss - except for the lack of people. Being an introvert I wasn't against it, but it was odd nonetheless. 

I walked around passing little corners and alcoves, past a snack bar and occasionally making circles that came to completely different areas. Instead of feeling panicked, a sense of nostalgia overcame me because despite looking nothing like reality it harbored the sense of happiness back in the little boardwalk's mall with their tucked away arcade. It was a pleasant feeling.

A small smile made its way to my face. Then I came across a change machine there was nothing odd about the change machine, but rather the person standing next to it. He was about my height, soft brown eyes, with a mole on his neck, but the most unusual thing about him was the grin he wore on his face. My brows scrunched together in confusion. This was Dustin, but it wasn't Dustin. Dustin would never have a wide easy grin on his face, or at least not directed so openly at me. I couldn't explain it, but something in me just knew this was a demon possessing his body.

I don't mean demon as in heaven or hell, but demon as in a being interested in furthering its own gain. It is neither good nor bad, but unless you know its intentions, trust should not be given.

"You're not Dustin," I bluntly greeted the being.

He grinned wider if that were possible, amusement filling its stolen eyes. "No, I'm not. Do you know what I am?" He questioned.

Slipping my hands in my pockets, I responded, "You're a demon."

"Yes, I am, but more specifically I am an incubus." He walked closer towards me. I stayed where I was not panicking, but not necessarily concerned nor curious. I figured he wants a reaction, an emotion he can exploit be it fear, anger, or curiosity to further his intents, whatever those were.

"Why him?" I asked, nodding towards the form he chose to take.

"Because I need to ensure, that you are at ease for what I am about to discuss." He answered, pausing a moment before continuing with a smirk. "I also sensed your desire for this human." 

The demon must be behind on the times. I hadn't felt anything towards my old freshman crush in a couple of years.

"If you say so," I shrugged, walking away. Not quite sure how, but without looking I just felt his confusion. 

"No matter, this form is merely to disguise my real one from frightening you," I stopped in front of an arcade basketball toss game.

"I doubt it, but alright, whatever." I shoot a ball perfectly landing it into the hoop.

The demon seemed to have regained his composure as he started speaking again, "It is of no consequence, do you have any idea why I brought you here?" I shook my head 'no'. "I brought you here because this is your happy place and I am to keep you here until you pick a side."

I'm not sure how, probably through some means of my subconscious, but I knew what he was talking about. He was talking about an ongoing war between the demons and what I dubbed the Enochians. Neither side was good news for humanity, "Alrighty then, I don't mind spending a millennia or so here." I shot another ball making it into the hoop.

From the corner of my eye the demon looked stunned. "But what about all the people that will die from your lack of decision?" He attempted to guilt trip me, how pathetic.

"As fucked up as humanity can be, I still have more faith in them being able to resolve their problems, conflicts, and wars to fix the world than either of you." I made my last shot before deciding to wander around looking for skee ball game.

"Do you truly believe that?" He scoffed crossing his arms. Paying no mind to the demon shadowing me, I ambled my way past a corner to find exactly what I wished. Man, dreams are great. Silence fell between us as I picked up a skee ball and rolled it along the ramp. Chalking it up to the dream for getting it in the center hole, I continued this pattern a few times as he continued his tirade, "Humans are naturally violent. They spread diseases, wars, harbingers of their own destruction without intervention. Why would you possibly not side with either of us? "

Another perfect skee ball shot, "Because, your side is pure chaos. It is neither good nor bad, but I'd rather not live in purely cutthroat world where it is truly survival of the fittest with all competition and little cooperation." I paused my motions with the skee ball, "However, Enochians are the other extreme pure peace at the cost of free will, where complete compliance takes place of compromise. I don't want an extreme, because an extreme will destroy the world. Humanity is a toss up of both, maybe a little too chaotic, but at least we have free will, for better or worse. "I finished explaining.

" You are the champion. You have to make a decision. It is the prophecy," he insisted.

I lost it at that comment. I stormed up to him up to him no clear plan in mind. Pinning him against the wall, I hissed out my exact thoughts on situation, "Prophecy doesn't mean anything, if I can extend the time we got on Earth then I'll do everything I can to prevent it."

He glare met my snarl as we were close enough for me to see red specks blended in with the chocolate brown, "And what do you intend to do to stop it?" I was irate at this point, but I considered myself the winner of our argument when I felt his disdain slip away to confusion and slight terror as I pressed my lips to his. I slid my tongue in his mouth. It was surprisingly good. It was satisfying to best him as I could still taste the taint of confusion and nerves in his mouth. I pulled back I looked at him briefly, shock and timidness present in his face. Then, I awoke.

"Fuck, I kissed a demon, and I liked it."