Falsified (Tarnished Book 2)

23 The Nightmare Resurfaces

I found myself in the darkness of my slumber. Suddenly, the battlefield from that nightmare appeared. Corpses lining the soil while I felt the skip in my heart. I peered around for signs of life, but so many people were dead. I ran into action looking for the enemy in the mess of this massacre. I need to stop this.

I ran around only to spot beasts and monsters chomping down on the remains of the corpses. None of them took notice of me but I needed to find the one responsible for this nightmarish hell.

Spinning around, I realized where I was. This was close to the shore of Erstonia where I grew up. I ran looking for Eiyon when I saw it scorched once again. Every building covered in flame and collapsed. I heard a voice crying out. My pace increased as I hurried into the inferno of flames in Eiyon. I noticed two people fighting a humongous dragon. I saw one teleport in an instant. There was no doubt who they were.

"Kay! Simon!" I ran closer but it was like they did not recognize my voice.

Why could they not hear me?

"Because to them, you are no longer in control." A voice spoke to me as if they were standing right beside me. "Free me or I can make all that you adore a pillar of flame and rotting flesh."

I searched about me but there was no one there. "You are wrong."

A cold chill brushed my left cheek. "You poor boy, you still believe that you can defy me. I am always here inside you. It is time for you to unchain me from my slumber or you will suffer to watch all that had meaning to you thrown into oblivion."

"I won't do that."

"So, you still think you can stop me." It scoffed. "My that's precious. Jaiden, I will come into Terra again. The first thing I will take from you is those two."

I stumbled toward Simon and Kay. They were wearing down with the dragon. The dragon reared its head preparing a blast of flame. I ran into the battle. The flames enveloped everything around me, and I heard their screams. "No." I crashed to the scorched soil to see them both severely burned and limp. I tried to do anything to help them.

"It's useless, you know that."

I ignored the voice. "Hang in there. You both need to stay with me." I attempted to treat their burns but as soon as I touched Kay his skin rotted. I stared at him while my tears began. "Don't leave me, please." The tremor in my body would not settle. They were going to die because I had no power to begin with to save them. I wept by Kay's side.

"I told you, this will be your fate. They will die and so will anyone who ignores me for this world."

I wanted the voice to go away. I wanted to stop fearing this nightmare, but it felt so real.

"Your love for this Godforsaken land and its people will not sway me into submission. Give up this futile resistance, Jaiden. This world will die whether you submit to me or not."

I watched the flesh peel off Kay's bones. His skeleton exposed while I remained by his side. I glanced over at Simon's body to see his form melting away into the soil. They will not make it, but I cannot lose them. "What do you want from me?"

"Oh, now we suddenly care about motives. Afraid you will do what I asked for, Prince of Wolves?" The chill ran along my shoulders this time. "You need me as I need you. I found you and I will take from this world what it has taken from you."

I shivered. What on Terra does that mean? "No, I will not give into you. I will not allow you to terrorize all of Terra."

The voice mocked with its empty laughter. "It has already begun and there is nothing in Terra that will impede me. War, mayhem, the weak perishing under the strong that is all you are protecting." I felt invisible hands digging into my shoulders. "Let me out and I might spare those two. However, if you deny me, then I will make certain they suffer in front of you."