The Prophecy; Fulfilled (Part Two)

Chapter Ten - Sonic's Mind

~Sonic~

It was the same thing. The same thing every time I closed my eyes.

The same nightmare.
Every single time.
I couldn't escape it.

I had gotten to the point where I didn't want to go to sleep, and when I did fall asleep, I didn't want to wake up, because I would wake up in a place where I didn't remember falling asleep.

In this room, where colorless floors and walls and absolutely nothing else stretched as far as I could see in all directions, it surrounded me like a cloud; a dark, ominous cloud that completely engulfed me as it swirled around, sometimes taking the form of puffs of smoke, sometimes taking the form of an everchanging, shapeless ball of grey light, sometimes taking the form of just... air. I couldn't explain it if I tried. But it swirled about my body, taunting me, silently laughing at me. And just like every other time, it drove me down to the floor, drove me to wrap my arms around myself in a failing attempt to ward it off. I was powerless against it. The world-renown hero, the fastest thing alive: powerless against a simple puff of smoke. It didn't exactly do any physical harm, it just wouldn't leave, torturing me with its mysterious presence. When I moved, it moved with me. When I breathed in, it made a home inside me. When I ran, it was stuck to me like glue. I tried to scream, but it muffled my voice. As if anyone could hear me anyway. I was stuck in a dark place that nobody could reach. And yet, every time I came to this place, my mind was as clear as day. I felt like I was free to think and feel, whether my thoughts or feelings were good or bad.

"It's about time you told me who you are," I said as I sat there, oddly growing used to the eerie presence.

At least, I guessed it was a who and not a what. There were no instances that told me it was alive, that it was some form of a being with a conscious and a soul. There was nothing that told me it was even real, either. Maybe it didn't even exist and was just something my recently jacked up mind was hallucinating. I was in a dream, anyway; or at least some form of it. Without any specific reason, I automatically linked this.. thing.. to the voice in my former dreams. Perhaps that's what it was.

"Why won't you answer me?" I asked, actually expecting a reply. I stood, fists clenched. I took a few steps and, as expected, it followed me, swirling around me in circles. I took off running at top speed, burned a few circles in the floor, and stopped suddenly in a random spot. The thing didn't miss a beat.

That's when it hit me: it was part of me. There was no other explanation.

But just what was it?

I walked around in a circle a few times, keeping a close eye on it. It didn't budge. I stopped and set my hands on my hips, still keeping an eye on it. I studied it closely and, after a long moment, it conducted the faintest of movements, only in the span of the twinkle of an eye. Something like a tremble.

I stared, gaze softening, trying to decide if I had imagined it or not. Then, without any warning, it did it again, more vigorously this time. My lips parted with a slight gasp. "You moved."

It moved again, as if in response, and I backed away. This time, it stayed exactly where it was. I stared at it for a minute, a bit surprised. Then a thought came to me.

"Duh. You were trying to get my attention, weren't you?" I asked. It shook there in its spot for a few seconds before it took off, whizzing through the air at such a speed that my eyes could barely follow. I gathered my wits and ran off after it, following it into the void that lay ahead.

As if just appearing out of nowhere, a large, black structure came into view. I slid to a stop as the scene collided with a memory, ultimately ending up in me recognizing the thing. It was the crystal altar from before. The one that looked like a dark version of Angel Island. The one where the voices had entangled about me.