Penumbrae: The origin

CHAPTER 12: I AM A TASTY TREAT

Will there ever be a morning where I wake up peacefully and enjoy the sunrise, brew myself some coffee and read book while I drink that coffee. I don’t think so because I again was awakened by an unknown source and I didn’t expect this source to wake me up. What source am I talking about? Dreams, people. I woke up because of my nightmarish dream. It’s not like that I have never had nightmares or dreams before. My night isn’t completed without nightmares, but this nightmare felt so real, like it was happening in real time. Even though physically I wasn’t there I felt that I was there spiritually. Before anyone starts complaining that I need to be admitted in psych ward, Let’s rewind a little back to prove that I am sane.

After so long I dreamt about something other than Ophelia and dark watchers, yet I still didn’t see anything pleasant. I was in a place I couldn’t recognize.

“Shall we try again master?” Initially, I could only see darkness but eventually my dream focused, and I observed a lot of human sized creatures standing in line as if they were ready for battle and waiting their command.  

“Not yet but soon walker.” I heard a deep voice speak back. This voice was so deep I could feel the earth shake because of its sound waves.

“Sir what is your command for me and that fleshy?” another person asked. I didn’t know what these creatures were. They looked like human, but their clothing was like of animals and the clothing looked like it was merged with their real skin. I don’t remember seeing them in the chaos book. I looked at the person beside the weird animal skin human and I saw Walter standing there.

Hey what is he doing there? Is he one of the bad guys? Oh man I had taken a liking to that man!

“Did you know what would happen fleshy? Did you help the orphan?” The larger creatures voice forced Walter to fall to his knees and put hands on his ears. If you focused more, you could almost see blood seeping from Walter’s ears.

I wanted to do something, but I had to know that this was a dream, and this wasn’t happening in real life, so tried I calm myself down and see the events unfold. Who was the orphan they were talking about though?

“No, I promise my lord! I didn’t even treat her right. I would always scream at her and when I realized Ophelia found her, I even kicked her out of my house! Master please do not punish me! I did nothing wrong!” I stopped feeling pity for Walter as I realized that the orphan was me. What boiled my blood was that he did everything on purpose. He treated me bad on this creature’s order! Without looking into all the facts, he just tortured me for ages for this monster! I was so pissed that I didn’t care about his ears anymore.

“I will be the judge of that.” The large monster extended his arm and showed Walter his palm from which a Scorching bright light came out and I had to shut my eyes to protect them from any danger. It was so hot that I felt I was burning even when I was nowhere near this place.

“Master be careful! That banshee will start screaming again if you finish this fleshy hastily and her screams can lead everyone directly here.”  Another animal skin human said, and that suggestion was smart but it did angered her master.

“YOU DON’T COMMAND ME WALKER!” and with that the whole earth shook and the animal skin human was swallowed by the earth. Wait. Hold up. Am I not the only one who can do that? I thought because Gaia blessed me, I was the only one who can command earth to do stuff for me. That doesn’t make me any special.

“SOMEONE FASTEN THAT HAG'S CHAIN AGAIN!” as the humongous monster said this the earth shook again, this time my feet felt like giving up but I remembered that this is a dream nothing else.  I found myself looking at the weak, old women who was apparently behind the monster all this time. She was heavily restrained and the chains didn’t look normal of course as the animal skin human had to wear a thick pair of gloves to deal with those chains and even after that they have to hurry and dip their hands in ice cold water to stop their hand for cooking. I don’t know why an old, weak lady would need these many restrains but because of the amount of animal skin human creatures, the huge monster had on guard was telling me that she was quite a royal person.

“You have to help me. I am your only chance at survival. Don’t listen to anyone else’s advice dear. I trust you will do the right thing which is to save me.” The lady spoke in merely a whisper but I heard her well. When she was speaking her golden glowing eyes met mine as if she knew I was watching this. “Take me out of this agony and I will grant you your m-“

I couldn’t hear what she would grant me because the huge monster was back and he was screaming. “SHE IS HERE!” The huge monster growled and directly looked my way. I thought I was going to get squashed by the big foot here but suddenly my dream changed and I saw myself in the dream fighting a lot of people alone and being defeated badly. The girl looked like me but she didn’t move like me. She was more confident and she was fiercer. She knew that she would get defeated but she still didn’t stop fighting. As I was watching myself fight my ears were picking up something else. A women’s voice that was layered by many and it was speaking in my head. Carefully the words were being settled in my brain like my brain was quicksand and the words were stuck.

“At the brink of summer,

The dark shall bloom

And lead the stray to f*******n room.

From the ashes the hope is awoken

And renewed shall be the blade that was once broken.

The final choice burdens the betrayed one

And the light will wither the old one.”

It was repeated twice in my head. I was so focused on the words I didn’t see that I was completely defeated in the scene in front of me. The area the fight was taken place lit up with a light and I had to force my eyes close.

I woke up panting, I looked up and saw the ceiling fan was working but it felt like this room was in the middle of Sahara dessert. My heart was racing and I couldn’t seem to help it by deep breath. It felt like my chest will rip open and my heart will run a marathon. I felt water dripping on my hands but there was no water leaking from the roof. I realized the water wasn’t water it was the sweat that was dripping from my on my hands. I saw my hands were clinched and my nails were pressed into my palms. I don’t know how long my nails were pressed into my palm but by the looks of it, it was bad. I observed that I had bruised my palm unintentionally and I could see some blood drip out of 4 crescent shaped scars. My hands were shaking uncontrollably and my hair were matted against my forehead. I was scared to move and to focus on my surroundings lest my dream would turn real. I moved towards the headboard to give my back some rest and took deep breaths. I unexpectedly heard a loud piercing screaming. I covered my ears and rushed into the bathroom.

I splashed my face with the shaking hands and looked at myself in the mirror and saw that my eyes were bloodshot. I thought the scream I heard was a part of the dream but I heard it again and this time it was so much louder and so much lethal that the mirror in the bathroom developed a c***k in it. I covered my ears but not much difference was there. I felt something drip on my hands that were covering my ears. I brought my hands in the line of sight and saw the presence in blood. I looked in the mirror to confirm my thought and by the look of it, my ears were bleeding. I felt so much pain that I fell to the ground and curled up in a ball.

The screams weren’t stopping like the first time I heard them. They were constant. After every scream there was another and with this rate, I think I would go deaf. I glanced at my wrist because something was radiating warmth. The black stone in my bracelets was emitting some sort of light. It was doing the same thing it did when I was at Alexander’s place. Ignoring it as I had much worse matters on hand, I packed my bag, left $20 as tip on the dresser and ran. I ran covering my ears. I should probably look up some spells for protecting my ears from loud noises but that would require me to uncover my ears and I wasn’t ready for that. I activated my magical vision and followed the big energy. What if that’s where the screams are coming from? That would be catastrophic for me and my ears. I paused to think but with continuous screams I couldn’t. It was blocking me from my own brain. Then I suddenly remembered a thing from my dream. The animal skin human said the banshee screams and it will lead me towards the huge dark big foot monster and I am so not ready to face that monster. I probably should go the opposite direction of screams but even for that I must remove my hands from the ears to hear properly where the screams are coming from.

My arms started to get heavier and the area where I was wearing bracelets started getting warmer. I was feeling the same thing I felt when Ophelia was touching me. It felt like it was a sign saying that she is with me. I ran opposite the big energy place but then It came to my mind that this is where the dark watchers come from and I stopped again. Looking left where the dark watchers are and right where the energy area is. I am supposed to be the wise one, the one who solves very problem but I am the one right now bewildered. Without thinking of any consequences, I ran ahead straight into the dense forest.

I didn’t think about any lurking monster I just wanted to get away from the screams. Hoping that the dense forest will shield me from the screams I ran straight into it. I ran for straight 1 hour or you can say I tried too. I kept on slipping on moss and tripping on the roots. These forest were unknown to me and I didn’t know how to hike so I was at disadvantage here but if I learned to use my earth powers then I can beat anyone here even the dark huge monster from my dream. I removed my hands from the ears when I heard no noise. I never thought about having first aid material for my ears as I never thought I would damage them.  I left it the way it is. However, I could hear the ringing in my ears which was annoying but it was better than those screams.

I was thinking about my dream and remembered the lines that were really rhyming.

At the brink of summer,

The dark shall bloom

And lead the stray to f*******n room.

From the ashes the hope is awoken

And renewed shall be the blade that was once broken.

The final choice burdens the betrayed one

And the light will wither the old one.

It sounded so much like a prophecy from those Greek mythology books. I could only make sense of the first line. Just as soon as the scorching summer started Ophelia and the dark watchers have started following me, thus, the dark forces awaking at the brink of summers. The first line made sense but for the rest I hoped I would find someone to tell me about it. As it didn’t make sense to me. Right now, all mattered to me was my origin which was getting harder to find about. Then a thought came to my mind. What if the dream I saw wasn’t a dream but future? Did I just see myself die? I stopped in one place freaking about it.

I was there to safe someone when their life was in danger. I didn’t even know if I would be saved. I was now considering leaving everything and put myself in a room and protect it with magic. I am sure I can learn some cool tricks and make myself invisible forever. I don’t want to die. I haven’t done anything exciting yet. The only exciting thing that others might find is me discovering a whole new magical world, which by the way wasn’t exciting for me as there are just more things in the world that can kill me now. All I did in the last week was kill and avoid monsters. I can’t do anything right. The dark watchers are still at large and I am sure that the wentiko that regenerates itself isn’t dead either. I am a useless person who can’t seem to do anything right.

There were tears brewing and my breath was coming out short. Before I could start walking away, I heard something whiz past my face by barely centimeters. I looked around to see no one. Who? What? More confused and scared than ever, I looked around the woods to see that there wasn’t anyone in sight. To be honest I couldn’t even hear any bird sound or any cicadas or any creature which was fishy. In the corner of my eyes I saw something in blue color move swiftly. Since when do Dark watchers start throwing things? I saw another flying object and before it could hit me right in the middle of my face, I stopped it by holding onto it. It was an arrow. The arrow was heavenly detailed. It was carved with inscription in a language I couldn’t understand and it was the most beautiful piece of weapon I saw. It was metallic yet light and it was dark silver in color. I got distracted by the beauty of an arrow that I forgot about the fact that I was under attack.

My scream echoed in the silent forest as another arrow struck my leg resulting in me dropping on one of my knees. Instantaneously the arrow I was holding in my hand, its body extended, producing dozens of miniature spikes which poked my hands making me bleed from my already bruised hand. The amount of blood I was losing was making me lightheaded. I felt like I was twirling but my legs were glued to one place.

I dropped that arrow and looked around frantically to still see no one. Who are these people and why are they attacking me in the middle of forest? Most importantly, why aren’t they showing themselves? Dark watchers are visible to me so I am sure it’s not them. I was done with this charade and was fed up with all these people wanting to hurt me. I showed up some courage and decided to fight till I die.

“Really that coward to show yourself? If you have any ounce of courage in your bones you should face me loser!” I exclaimed getting tired of the games.

“You are in our land lady. Do not challenge us.” Us. There were more than one.

“You are the one throwing arrows at me! Where is your manhood? This is what your mother taught you? Hit ladies?” I screamed in all directions. I stood up leaning against the trunk of the trees and walked when another arrow whizzed by my face. It was millimeters away but it did manage to graze my cheek. Ugh why are so many people behind me? Do I have a signboard with flashing lights behind my back saying ‘Come and get me! I am a tasty treat!’ cause believe me, I am not tasty at all.

“I just want my parents. Once I find them, I will stop wandering as everyone have problem with it.” I can’t believe I was whining about having no knowledge of my parents to unknown people. I think I have officially lost it.

“You will achieve everything but that Lysander.” I stopped in my tracks when I heard my surname again. I wanted to know how people know my surname Lysander hell how they knew me at all? I don’t even know the guy Lysander, who was supposed to be my father. I wanted to know so bad but there were so many obstacles that by now I felt like giving up.

“Now you know my name too? Show yourself jerk!” and suddenly I see people step up from behind the trees and form a circle around me. There aren’t two or three or four people. It’s a whole g**g of at least 12 people.

“Don’t try anything Lysander. You are surrounded.” The tallest of all of them spoke.

“ummmm who the hell are you to tell me what to do? The boss around here?”

“Yes, actually I am the boss. Now please discard yourself of this property.”

“Nope, sorry can’t do. I would have to disappoint you boss man but this path leads straight to where I want to go and I don’t want to take any detour. Thank you so much.” I walked ahead a little because right now my sight was actually pretty clear and it was showing me the way out of this forest and into some safe shelter. How I knew this? I don’t know but even Ophelia wanted me to leave but I had to be stopped by a small kid and he was standing in my way in front of me.

“Move it kid.” I said but the kid didn’t move.

I bended at his height level, looked him in the eye and did the only thing possible.

I used my good leg to unbalance him by swinging my good leg and hit his leg. He falls on the ground and I don’t miss the opportunity of the open path to run. As the other guys stepped forward to help their fallen man I ran. I ran fast again as I could see the path through this forest with the help of my sight but the g**g caught up fast. Of course, they did. Their legs were okay and they weren’t injured at all whereas I was still being healed from my wentiko attack.

I was running okay and was keeping up my pace when I heard the scream again. I didn’t know that would be my last straw but it was. I heard the scream that shook the ground. My legs buckled and I stumbled upon one of the bigger roots and my ears started ringing louder. I did my best to cover my ears but covering wasn’t the best solution. I turned around to see the g**g but they weren’t being affected by this at all. I heard a woman’s voice again. It resembled the voice of the women in my dream the old and weak one. “It has begun my sweet. He has been awoken and he only grows stronger. You have to hurry.” I couldn’t hold it anymore and I screamed. I went beyond my lung's capacity and screamed loudly. I let out all the bottled-up frustration and anger in that scream. I couldn’t carry it inside me anymore. I was getting nowhere near my answers. Everyone in this world was out to kill me. I don’t give up easily but I was tired and the scream was the result of it. I couldn’t see anything clearly. Dark spots were dancing in the sight and everything was blurry. I couldn’t hold myself up either and eventually my vision darkened I felt myself dropping. I didn’t feel myself hitting the ground but I did feel someone catch me before I drop.

“Drystan?”

“Let’s take her to camp. She is no danger to us. Let’s go” these were the last words I heard before my eyes rolled back and I lost conscious.