"What Is Wrong With Me?"~ A Greenflame Story

Chapter Eleven: Where Are You?

Lloyd's Point of View~
Kai was gone. I have no idea where he went. My heart had felt like it had been stabbed. My nose had stopped bleeding, but I didn't care. A lump grew in my throat and I just wanted to cry. I wanted to be with no one except for Kai. I wanted him to hold me close and stroke my back and tell me everything would be okay. I wanted to be embraced by his arms, feeling the warmth of his body against my own, and hearing the beating of his heart. I wanted to hear his calming voice again. I wanted to know where he was and what was going through his mind. I wanted Kai.

I couldn't enjoy the concert anymore. The music didn't spark any joy in me. I felt my hands trembling and my heart pounded as if it wanted to burst right out of my chest. And it did. I looked to the left and right and saw the others also trying to enjoy the show, but I knew they were worried. I couldn't take it anymore and bolt out of the arena. I had to find him. "Kai?! Kai, where are you?!" I shouted into the streets. People looked at me like I was crazy or something, but I didn't care. I kept calling out for him, even though I knew I wouldn't get a response. He would've been too far away to hear. I kept calling for Kai until the others called my name. "We have to find him! We just have to! He's miserable on his own!" I shouted at the others, expecting to say that I should just leave him alone. But their reactions were the exact opposite of what I had thought. "Lloyd, we agree with you. We have to find him. Besides, there is something that Nya and I must share with the rest of you. It's about Kai and the condition he's in," Zane said. My eyes widened in shock. "What is it?" Jay asked. Zane sighed and looked at Nya who was looking a bit guilty. "Everything that Kai has done and said, he wasn't in control of himself. And I don't mean that he has multiple personalities," Nya said. "What are you trying to say?" Cole asked. "Remember that creature from the mall? The one who put Kai in that coma?" Nya asked. Cole, Jay, and I nodded. "Well, when that creature had Kai in its grasp and then disappeared into thin air, it transferred itself into his body and mind," Nya explained. My heart dropped and my stomach churned. "How do you know what happened?!" Jay exclaimed. "After Kai's 'episodes' I decided to take a couple of tests. I managed to get a sample of Kai's blood and I observed it on a microscopic level. And while observing, I noticed that there was contamination in his blood. I was able to extract the contamination and analyze it. I asked Nya to help me and the two of us ran multiple tests and read through multiple books and articles until we found a disturbing truth. The contamination was the essence of a very powerful and evil beast that can take the form of any person or animal and can take possession of anyone or thing known as the 'Enchantress'." Zane clarified. My heart pounded so hard that I felt like I could have a heart attack. The shock of the news I was told made me want to faint. Multiple emotions were raging inside of me. Anger because that monster was the one who made Kai feel the way he's been feeling. Sadness and guilt because I left Kai alone to face that nightmare. Fear because I didn't know what would happen to Kai right now with that thing inside of him. What's happening to Kai at this very moment? I questioned in my head. "Why the heck didn't you say anything about this earlier?! We could've done more for him and help him!" Jay shouted. "I couldn't tell you! Zane made me promise not to mention it to anyone until the time was right. If you knew, there was a high possibility that the Enchantress inside of Kai would suspect and do something to stop us or most likely kill Kai from the inside," Nya asserted. "Is there a way to get the Enchantress out of Kai and save him?!" I asked in a panic. "Yes, after finding out the truth of Kai's behavior, I instantly started searching for a cure. I looked in books and articles and went to the Museum of Ancient Myths to ask questions and study. I was able to find out that the Enchantress can be slain by a special herb mixed with a few others. I created a serum that will kill the Enchantress from the inside without hurting Kai," Zane explained. "Well, let's get back home and give it to him!" Jay yelled. The rest of us nodded and summoned our dragons and flew back home.

When we arrived, the monastery was dead silent and dark. It was painfully obvious that nobody was here. That also meant that Kai wasn't home. "Kai?! Are you here?!" I shouted. There was no response. I panicked. "He's not here. We gotta find him before he gets himself hurt," Cole said. Zane nodded and talked to Pixal. "Pixal says she has Kai tracked and he's flying on his dragon through the forest," Zane said. "I'll grab the serum," Nya said as she rushed to Zane's room. Soon, she came back out with a small vile and a needle. "A needle?" Jay questioned. "Yes, we're going to have to inject the serum into his bloodstream," Zane answered. I felt my stomach jump. Nya came back with the serum and we all took off on our elemental dragons, in hopes of finding Kai.

Kai's Point of View~
God, why?! I seriously did it again! And I even ruined the night with the others! I even hurt Lloyd! Did I even apologize? The thoughts banged against the walls of my head. I was flying aimlessly, trying to concentrate so my dragon would remain in form. But it was no use, I could feel myself slowly losing it. At any given moment, I could lose concentration and my dragon would disappear in mid-air. My heart ached as it raced with fear and grief. It was getting darker and colder, so I used my fire to light the way and warm up. I could hear those Heathens laugh and say things inside my head. "Gah!! Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!" I yelled, losing my focus on the sky and my element. But because of the loss of concentration, my dragon vanished and I fell to the hard ground below. My fall was broken by some tree branches, but I was still left with cuts and bruises, probably a concussion. There were most likely other injuries too, but I couldn't be bothered to focus on the pain. Instead, I picked myself up, clutching my side, and slowly walked through the woods. 

But as I was walking, they wouldn't leave me alone. In fact, I think they got louder. My head was throbbing and I thought I was going to either pass out or lose control over my body. My vision blurred in and out, and I could've sworn I actually saw the Heathens fading in and out of existence. I could feel myself struggling to breathe. It may have been a subconscious feeling, but suddenly, it felt as if something was squeezing my chest, making it harder to breathe. Tears stung my eyes and dared to fall. Then I suddenly heard the sound of a girl giggling. It was a familiar sound and I turned around to where it was coming from, only to see Diamond with a sickening grin plastered on her face.

My breathing hitched and I stumbled a little. Diamond kept laughing and saying things I couldn't make out. She, then, began walking closer to me, opening her arms as if to greet me with a hug. "Stay away from me! Don't you dare touch me, you psycho!" I shouted, trying to back away from her. But she walked up to me, wrapped her pale arms around my neck, and said, "Monster." She giggled in my ear and pulled away from me. 

"His little whispers, "love me, love me. That's all I ask for. Love me, love me." He battered his tiny fist to feel something. Wondered what it's like to touch and feel something. Monster, how should I feel? Creatures lie here, looking through the window." She sang menacingly. She moved her hands over my face and I could see so many different things. I saw people that looked familiar and people I didn't know. The thing is, no one had a face. They were all blurred and it looked like a shadow covered them. But the people seemed to be doing the same things she was singing about. It honestly made no sense at all and felt like a big fever dream. But she just kept going. "That night he caged her, bruised and broke her. He struggled closer, then he stole her! Violent wrist and then her ankles, silent pain. Then he slowly saw their nightmares were his dreams. Monster, how should I feel? Creatures lie here, looking through the window. Time will hear their voices. I'm a glass child. I am Hannah's regrets!" She cried out. The faceless people continued to tell the story she seemed to be singing. It felt like a somber story of some unfortunate crimes that had happened, resulting in a faceless baby's birth. But Diamond had a distraught and remorseful look on her face, despite that big smile on her face. Is she telling a story about her life? Or someone's life in the future? Is she describing something I'm going to do to someone? The thoughts ran through my mind inconsistently. Diamond just continued. "Monster, how should I feel? Turn the sheets down! Murder ears with pillow lace! There's bathtubs, full of glow flies! Bathe in kerosene! Their words tattooed in his veins! Yeah!" She screeched. 

And with that, she just disappeared. No explanation as to what I just witnessed. But when she did leave, I noticed that I was in a different part of the woods from where I was prior. Was I walking during that entire thing? I don't remember feeling myself move at all though. I thought, scoping the new area. I was now in more of a clearing in the woods. Then suddenly, my head started to throb again and I could feel myself slipping. "No, no, no, no!" I shouted, gripping my head. I felt dizzy and stumbled, desperately trying to keep myself in control. But E had other plans in mind and I soon lost the struggle. Someone, please let this nightmare end. That's all I ask for. Were my final thoughts before completely losing control over my body.