Order of the Golden Dawn (Neophyte Series 2)

CHAPTER 12 : RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW

        Memories flashed through my head, too quick to recognize but powerful enough to evoke emotion. Lying in bed, I fluctuated between hot and cold sweats. I found it difficult to function, as each breath hurt more than the previous one. I felt weak, perhaps moments away from death. Raising my head from the pillow, my eyes fell upon a shadowy silhouette standing before the window, darkened by the filtered sunlight that warmly bathed the cabin walls in shades of yellow. I knew that the figure was a man, and I knew that I was trying to console him for some reason, but he seemed unable to turn and look me in the eye. With his back to me, staring out into the quiet prairie beyond the window, he broke the silence.

    'Everything happened so fast by the river. I guess instinct just got the best of me. This is different, though. Too much time has passed, and all I feel is fear... he's going to kill me, isn't he?'

    'Yes.' I replied as I began to cough uncontrollably. The pain in my lungs felt like a knife piercing me with every cough. As I answered I noticed a distinct southern American accent which became more obvious as I listened to myself continue. This voice was familiar to me... I had heard its whispers within the darkness of the black room of my nightmares.

    'With time to dwell on your proceedings, it becomes prudent to reflect on our deeds of the past. So much gunfire hailing past you, yet you stand before me unscathed. Surely the Almighty see's you out the corner of his eye.'

    'Evil men aren't difficult to understand, Doc. They are simply thrill seeking, macho types with nothing to live for.'

    'I beg to differ, Sir. There are many men who fit that personality but that's not the entity that you are now forced to deal with. His physical body seems human enough, but there's a part of him that lives only for the satisfaction of destruction. Ringo can never really kill or inflict enough pain to fill the void that has been missing since he was a child.' I could sense the sorrow he felt deepen as he questioned me anxiously.

    'What is it that will satisfy him?' I coughed harder and struggled to answer the man by the window but finally the words left my fragile lips.

    'I'm afraid it's not that simple. His bitterness and greed go hand in hand with vengeance.'

    'Vengeance for what?' I attempted to look him in the eyes; however, the sunlight kept his face hidden from me.

    'Existing. You see, a persona such as this relies heavily on the thrill of the kill, and every excruciating moment which passes that does not involve murder or the prospect of it, is exactly that; unbearable. His revenge is simply for being born into a life he despises. Nothing short of his own death will satisfy him.'

     Coughing violently once again, the man in the window stepped forward, the sound of his spurs clanging with every step of his boot. Though his features could still not be seen, a badge reflected light off its metallic surface, the words "United States Marshall" shimmering on the star-shaped metal.

    'Michael?' I asked as the memory began to fade and flashed back to the sensation of falling. The white light blinded me as another vision came into focus.

    A small, delicate hand grazed my cheek and I turned my head only to see Jordan's beautiful green and blue eyes seeming to peer straight into my soul; just as normal as I could remember. She smiled happily.

    'You came for me.' She said simply as she wiped tears from her eyes.

    'Of course I did. You think I'd abandon you?' I realized that this vision was too real to be anything but truth. She hugged me harder than ever before and as she did, our surroundings came into focus. We were inside a cavern, on top of a small island made of smooth rock and surrounded by a small body of water. Soft, blue light gently lit the cavern from the calm surface of the water beneath us. A large waterfall flowed next to our little perch. I got to my feet and stepped to the edge of the stone island, staring at the sandy floor of the small cavern pool.