The Verdon.

Chapter 3; The Man In Black.

Chapter 3;The Man in Black.

Ferd was searching for Sunler when his gaze accosted a view of a person among the crowd. A sudden and uncomfortable urge to get near someone he knew and didn’t know at the same moment, started enveloping Ferd’s mind. . The person was wearing a black hat, black coat and a black pair of trousers. There was a group performing in the field. It seemed to capture the whole crowd’s attention. Ferd was alarmed. It felt familiar and unknown at the same time. Although That was not what was really happening outside Ferd's mind.

Ferd stuck his gaze back to the person in black. The person faced him and whispered, “I have met with you now.” Although the distance between them was great, Ferd could hear him. He felt like he knew the man. The man who dominated his night all along. Meanwhile his environment seemed to be gradually changing although unnoticeably.

“I have. met with you now.” Those words made Ferd’s heart tremble. The person sensed the fear in him. He knew that Ferd never expected a reality of his dreading nightmares. He looked at the unmoving Ferd and proved his being by making his hair glow blue. Slowly Ferd approached him, not willingly but because of the growing will in him that he didn’t understand.

Ferd felt like his body wasn't listening to him. He felt like his mind was being read. He didn't know how he could perceive that but he felt it. He was trying to resist the urge to approach the man but the other man seemed to be stronger. The man formed a smirk assuming a friendly expression. Soon Ferd was a metre from him.

“What have you done to me?”Ferd asked feeling wronged. “Nothing Verdon.” answered the man. “Who are you?” Ferd asked.“My name is Maul,” the man said. “ I am not Verdon, you met the wrong person.” Ferd said, glad that the man will release him after finding out that it wasn't him he was looking for. To his dismay, “Your real name is Ferd. But you are the founder of Verdon. You won’t understand me until you know your real origin.” said Maul.

He just went straight to the point. He seemed not to care that he was offending Ferd. “I feel manipulated. What are you?” Ferd asked. He refused to give into the man’s control. Could the man be a witch or some unknown being?

“I’ll tell you what I am after I am convinced that you are ready to accept a normal conversation with me.”Maul said.”Where am I?” Ferd asked. “You're in a mental dimension right now,”Maul answered. “How will I trust your words when you are a stranger?” Ferd complained, “you're even manipulating me right now against my will.”

“I apologise for doing this but I had no other way.” Maul apologized, “ I am not here to hurt you either. I only want you to understand that Telins need you. You are ready to be their redeemer.”

The man’s words hit Ferd with vigour. He remembered the same words being said in his nightmare. The person who said the words in the nightmare was unrecognisable, but the sound of the person and Maul were similar. Ferd was lost in thoughts. He tried to guess that Maul was the person in his dream.

“Yes it’s me.” Maul said. Ferd was shocked. “How did you…you read minds?” “I heard your thoughts.” Maul answered. Ferd was angry. “Whatever power you have, never do that again!” he warned. “I can’t do anything about it.” The man said. Ferd’s head started to probe in pain due to his struggle to resist the man’s power of manipulation. “I beg you to stop doing that. It hurts me.” He protested. “It will stop when you stop trying to resist it.” The man said. “It’s harmless”. Ferd felt uneasy. “I want you to stop,”he protested. “Okay I will try if you promise me a normal conversation.” Maul said. “ I'd like you to meet me after you are out of this illusion.”

Ferd suddenly saw everything change. He came back to the physical dimension. Sunler and Lizer were already around him. The man in black was further. He still had his gaze on him. His hair had a little glow of blue. Only Ferd could see that. Sunler grabbed Ferd’s cheek as if trying to pull him back to his senses. Lizer looked at him with a worried expression.

“What just happened?” Ferd asked. “ Your hair and eyes started glowing blue. You floated in the air for a few minutes and then came down with a thud.” Lizer explained. Although they were afraid of coming closer to Ferd, everyone's attention was on them now. “ I have never seen this happen to you before. What's happening?” Lizer asked.

“Ferd are you okay?” Sunler asked. “Yeah… I’m…I'm okay.” He said feeling embarrassed. He felt some sort of new strength surging in his body. He could not understand the transformation in his body. He looked at all the gazes on him. He felt nervous. “I feel like I need a lot of fresh air.” He said. “ I'm going with you.” Sunler demanded aware that he wanted to be alone. “You better tell us what's going on man.” Lizer demanded as Ferd walked toward the stadium’s exit. “No. I'm going with no one.” As he moved on, the crowd which was gazing at him paved way. Ferd got out of the pitch, into his car and drove off.

“Are you sure he's okay?” Sunler doubted. “We have to follow and keep an eye on him. I don’t think he is.” Said Lizer as they walked out too. “We won't watch the game.” Lizer was unwilling but concerned too. “What was with the blue glowing hair and eye iris?” Sunler asked. “I don't know. It always freaks me out.” Lizer answered. “What! You knew and never told me?” Sunler was disappointed and shocked at the same time.“ We have to figure it out.” Lizer said ignoring her. “Glad that no one here knows more for now.