A New World

Chapter 16 - Light in the Darkness

At the snap of Blake's finger, Rouge slowly opened her eyes. In the background, she could hear the quiet crackling of dancing flames from the fireplace several feet behind her. She was surprised to find herself sprawled on the lush red rug in Blake's office.

Why am I on the ground? What happened?"

She wasn't able to fully grasp what had occurred before she found herself on the floor. To her, she made her escape with Hayato only to wake up in the same room moments later, as if it was all a dream.

As she got up she recognized the familiar form of her childhood friend on the couch. Her heart skipped a beat. It was only moments ago that he simply vanished from her grasp, but there he was, sleeping peacefully on the couch in the same position she left him.

She was right back in the office next to Hayato who she escaped with only a few minutes ago, or so she thought.

She held onto his hand as tears clouded her vision. "I thought you were gone," she said wiping tears from her eyes.

"You can't scare me like that," she said softly. Hayato's presence was enough to give her the comfort she needed.

Her attention was broken upon hearing Blake give a light applause as he witnessed the scene unfold before him.

She stood up and turned around to focus on him. He was enjoying every minute of this. Rouge clenched her fists unable to grasp how he could resort to such methods. He was holding them hostage for information.

"That was an exquisite performance. Nearly put a tear in my eye," Blake said revealing a smirk. "How did you like your little dream?"

"What did you do to me?!"

"I told you didn't I? That neither of you would be leaving this room!"

Blake's eyes suddenly flashed black and Rouge once again found herself unable to move. And like clockwork the dark figure appeared from the meditation room once again; deja vu.

Somehow, Blake had put Rouge to sleep making her believe she had escaped. When she awoke, the events in the office simply continued to progress from where she left off from

"That's much better. You're more tolerable with your mouth shut. I was tired of hearing your smart comments," Blake said walking to the dark figure.

Rouge tried her best to break free of her paralysis but to no avail.

She tried calling for help but was unable to let out even the tiniest shriek. The office grew dark as if day suddenly turned to night. Something was preventing sunshine from entering the office. The dark figure drew closer to Rouge as Blake shut and locked the door to the candle-lit meditation room.

She glanced over at Hayato who was now slumped over on his side on the couch. She could feel her quickening heartbeat. Just as Blake had said, the people of this world were blessed to be born into such a peaceful world, but with that peace came ignorance to the issues of life that were prevalent in the world both Blake and Hayato were well acquainted with. A world she knew nothing about.

The dark figure was now several feet in front of Rouge. Without taking a single step, it simply glided towards her.

At the corner of her eye she saw the door to the office shut by itself, sealing them completely in.

"Don't harm either of them! I don't want this situation escalating to the point where they get involved. However, she may be useful. I don't sense a similar gift of dreams from her, but we may be able to use what she has to extract any necessary information. Once you're finished with her, start on the boy," Blake said exposing a twisted smile.