The Protector

Chapter 3 (Not yet named...)

It was all white. A glow that was so beautiful, but it was out of my reach. I could see it, far away on a ledge. Wait a ledge? Where did that come from? I thought I was floating in a pure, white room. Looking around I noticed that I wasn't in an empty space, but I was in a forest area. There were trees, thick and covered in green, along with a thin river. The river was filled with clear water. I've never seen water so clear. I can see all the fish and colorful rocks. The place was beautiful, and it seemed to be right out of a dream. The sky was a light blue, and there were no clouds. It was as if this place had no imperfection.

I begin to walk beside the stream, looking around in amazement. Before long though, I noticed this place was different. It wasn't as perfect as I originally believed. The world seemed to be dead in a way. There were no sounds of life, no buzz from bees or even a breeze. Upon closer inspection of the world, I realized that even the water was different. The river was flowing in the wrong direction as if telling me to go the other way. That can't be right. Rivers don't have thoughts. I'm just being silly.

As I continue, going the opposite way as the river water, the sky seems to grow darker. Before long, it turned black. It was as if the sky was disintegrating, slowly disappearing before my eyes. From the left, the sky became more pixels than anything. Is this like a computer game, or is it some sort of glitch? The more I walk in this direction, the more the area around me crumbles. The glitch of pixels moved down the sky and until it hits the unnaturally green grass. The ground began to c***k and shake. It was a few feet away, and the grass surrounding me turned an ashy grey color. It was like ash that fell after a volcano erupts or even the leftovers of a fire.

Time was moving slowly as the ground continued to fall. Inching its way, chipping, cracking, and breaking towards where I stood. As it grew closer and closer, I became frozen. I couldn't move, even if the area around prevented me from doing so. I was like a statue. Shortly after the ground under me started to shift. The pixel pieces began to start disappearing around my feet. The blades of grass turned dead beneath my weight.

It wasn't long until the ground under me disappeared completely, and I began to fall into the backwards Earth's surface. All my senses became useless as I was plunged into the darkness of the underground. I could feel the air rushing passed me. It was like a force pushing passed me, and in the process created a whirlwind around me. I was falling faster and faster. I knew it wouldn't be long until I hit something.

A few minutes, maybe even a few seconds, pass and I slam into an invisible force. Pain flared and shot through my body, but the force stayed. It was like the force was keeping me in place. Then before anything else happened I felt even more pain. It was so strong and intense that I was on the verge of what I believed to be death. It was then that something appeared, but I couldn't make out what it was. I did hear the thing mumble something. "You went the wrong way. Trust your surroundings. Trust your instinct, or I won't save you from the void again," then I hear a snap and I'm falling again. This time was different though, it was less intense, and it was much more peaceful. I could relax in the embrace of the cool air that was surrounding me. After a while though, I went peacefully to sleep to the sound of a xylophone.

A sound of a xylophone pushed through my ears as light passed through the open blinds attached to the window. With my eyes closed, I wrestle over until I find the annoying noise-making machine. Oh, it's my phone. I forgot I set an alarm on it. "s**t!" I exclaim as I realize it's already nine o'clock. "I have class today." Why was I so stupid? I rush through my house grabbing an outfit along the way. I don't have time to eat. Throwing shoes on, I rush out the door, but not before reaching for my bag.

Once again, I run down the same f*****g route as always. The wind blows quickly as I run through the streets and alleyways, trying to get there before he starts. Why do I always run late for this class, it's my favorite. It makes no sense. No matter how much I try...I'm always late for his class. I pass by many open signs to places I've never been. Stores that I have never entered or bought anything from. Places I had no time for. Almost there! Maybe I can make it on time today.

It seems like time is not on my side. When I entered the room, the Professor was halfway through an explanation. As he sees me, he only gestures, with a small movement from his hand, to go sit. While he continued to explain what this lesson would be about, he looked at me and shook his head. The disappointment was clear on his face. Like a mask of pure disappointment, but there was a knowing look. It was as if he knew I would be late, even if it was by a few minutes. "Now, as I was saying, today we will be starting a new unit. The unit will cover different types of religion, but mainly those that go within the mythology category as that is why you all signed up for." Oh good. I thought it would be about the more known ones, but then again, I did sign up to learn this stuff. Why am I such a history nerd?

The professor takes a deep breath before turning turns us. "This religion is the oldest we will discuss in this class.  But due to how ancient it is, the name is currently unknown." He pauses for a moment.  "It is usually consisted to be a part of mythology. As we believe it was created around the same time as the Greek and Roman empires." He pauses for a moment, "Maybe even before." He said as an afterthought. "This conclusion came from the similarities between them. For example, the belief in multiple gods or all-powerful beings. Along with the belief of demons and angel-like creatures." He turned back towards the board writing the main details onto it, summarizing them.

"Alright, so long-ago people believed in all-powerful beings to answer the unknown. For example, the Greeks believed that the gods were the cause of different natural events. Well, in this religion it is believed that the world we, humans, live in is not the only one. In fact, they believe in three different universes that reside next to each other." That's crazy, more than one universe. Is it referring to parallel ones? There's no way that it's true, even if it would be cool.   "The first one is the one we live in, the world that we all know. The second one is a place similar to Hell. It is where demons, corrupted spirits, and some lost souls reside. It is simply called The Void. The last place is in between our world and the Void. It is a place that is believed to be vacant, with no souls or any form of monsters. It is referred to as the Veil between worlds or simply the Veil." A place between the worlds? Yeah, sure does sound like it would be empty. "It is said that the Veil is a place of no sound; a place that is completely covered in darkness." Yeah, I never want to go there. I can't even handle being in a room without any noise. The Veil sounds like my own personal hell.

Out of the corner of my eye, I see something floating in and out of the wall. It was weird because one moment it was there and another it was gone. Is my mind playing tricks on me? Yeah, I just didn't get much sleep, that's all. I try to reason with myself before I feel like I'm insane. It was like a figure of some sort, trying to find someone, something maybe. A being of multiple shades of black, grey, and white, moving throughout the sides of my vision. It's can't be my head, my mind playing tricks on me. It's way too realistic to come for my thoughts. It's not a daydream. What could it be?  It wasn't long until the professor pulled me from the train wreck of a thought process that is my mind. "I think that about covers the basic information. Tomorrow we will begin talking about the being they call the Protector but until then goodbye. Class dismissed." What? Class is already over? I must have gotten lost in thought again.

I leave the class and embrace the cold air from the November night, chilling me to the bone. With my bag and an expression of pure exhaustion, I walk into the darkness of the street. Looking up, the sky was clear of the earlier rainstorm and showed the bright stars that shine around the almost full moon. It's chilly tonight, but it's really beautiful. Almost peaceful, but the strange feeling of being watched kept creepy throughout me. Even though the streets were bare of any life that could be seen, the feeling never went away. I'm just thinking too much about it. There's no one out here. I continue on my way, trying to comfort myself.

I try to make myself believe that what I was feeling was all in my head, but the more I got thought the more I got lost in the sinking feeling. It kept growing, intensifying until I knew it couldn't be ignored. Someone, no something was following me, but I was blind to it. "Okay, I know you're there. Come out!" My cries were unanswered. It was as if the presence could not be heard, but I started to see the same darken figure that I saw before. That's the thing I saw in the classroom. Why is it following me? I need to get home. I broke out into a sprint, trying my hardest to reach my home before the thing could catch up to me. One block away. I pump my legs as fast as I can.

I make to the door and quickly throw it open before slamming it closed once again. The shadow that was following me was left in the dust. I toss the bag next to the door and head towards the kitchen. Passing through the living room, I spot something on the table. Is that a letter? Where did it come from? How did it even get in here? That must mean someone was either in my house or is still in the house. "Is there someone here?" After a moment with no response, I try again, "Hello, is anyone here?" Again, there was no response, no sounds at all really. It was like the world went into a dead silence. As if someone pressed the pause button on the world. This silence is killing me. What is going on? A letter can't appear out of nowhere, and it's way too quiet. It's unnaturally quiet. A light creeps across the room, making its way into my sight. What in the world? Nothing should be making that light. I wonder what it is? The glow was coming from the table, it was the letter. Though it now had markings on it. Upon closer inspection, I could see that it was not markings but Latin. The Latin was different than normal. It was moving, changing into a more familiar language. One that I could read. Oh, it's in English now? I pick up the fragile piece of paper and began to read.

Ethan,

You must have a bunch of questions, maybe you don't even remember the job you accepted. I know humans tend to forget tragic events, but you're not really human anymore, are you? I remember when I was in the same shoes as you. It was hard to believe, and it seems to be a horrible nightmare. But it's not, it is extremely real. You accepted this job in order to save your life. Hopefully, you now realize that what happened last night was, in fact, real.

Now, you must be wondering what responsibilities you have as the new protector. Well, first you act as a kind of reaper, helping souls pass on into the Light. Plus, you must protect them from demons, or those souls will be corrupted and lost to the void. The Chooser would not like that, trust me on that one. Especially, when he gives you specific souls to cross over. Those are the ones demons go for the most as they contain more humanity than other souls. He would really hate it if they were corrupted. Of course, you can't forget one of the most important jobs, slaying the demons who escaped the void. The demons who make it to your world are only there to create problems. Creating mayhem and stealing humanity from people is all they do. They all are trying to collect enough in order to stay in your world and being able to corrupt everything is fun to them.

About your earlier question, you know, if I had any abilities. Every Protector gains abilities to help them. They are mostly based on the personality of the Protector, but the Chooser can give more power. But it rarely happens. Personally, I could not tell you what your powers could be, hopefully, they will be better than the Protector before me. I heard that he barely had any defense. Anyways, your power will show itself in the midst of battle or sometime in the future. I'm not certain when or even if they will, because there are stories of Protectors who didn't have any powers.

That's about it, I think. All you should need to know about the reckless decision you made, hopefully anyways. Oh, I should add that this will be the last you hear from me. Since you took over, I get a new life. Just like those before me. And before you go cursing me, remember that this was your decision.  Also remember, the only way to end your time as a Protector is to find a soul who has died before their time, so like you. Or find a soul who has taken other souls. Alright, now I'm done.

Good luck and don't die,

Formal-Protector Drake

There is no way that this is true, but on the other hand, it makes sense. The creepy shadow things could be the souls he was referring to. Plus, it matches the strange dream I had last night. This is the craziest thing I have ever thought, done, or even thought about believing.  But it can't be a dream. This Drake guy knows too much detail about it, so there's no way it could be. Even if I wish it was a dream or some twisted trick. But I know that's just false hope.  The question now, is what did I get myself into? I think as I fall onto the couch in complete shock of what waits for me in the near future.