We Dream of Hope

Barren

Warner took a stand to face the intruding creature who towered over him. the shaking that once consumed his actions failed as he regained a past version of himself so long lost. "You are not welcome here demon."

"Oh dear," the creature raised a hand gracefully cupping near their mouth displaying a hand with nails sharpened like needles, "Warner is that how you treat a long-lost friend?"

"You are no friend of mine," He gripped a cane and pounded its point into the ground causing the monster to move no further forward. "Nadia is free from you, let her be."

He looked past Warner to Nadia and Ma'at. Nadia took her friend's arm, "My sweet children. Please come home. We will work through this together, I cherish you above all other treasures. You cannot leave me."

Odio snarled and Nadia could feel him wanting to spring forward at the demon no caring if he was alone, but the grip Ma'at held on her sword suggested he would have back up. This brought to light a new fear, the two of them fighting together.

"If I go with you-"

"Nadia no!" Ma'at shrugged off Nadia's hand and gripped her shoulder, "You're not going back."

She turned and smiled sweetly at her friend, "Ma'at look around. He's not letting us go."

"Those people-"

"Those people are our friends, family, we grew up together. I can't leave them to be used like this. I mean look at them. Blindly following-"

"We can't help them."

"She's right my flower petal." The demon spoke up just to crush Nadia's hopes, "Normal humans are unable to break from my aura unless prompted, and dearest, you are not capable of such power. Even if you were, the withdrawal from the effects can be deadly to mortals. Look at my old friend Warner." his fingers pointed crookedly to the old man, "Do you recall the withdrawal symptoms you suffered for years?"

Warner nodded, "It's not something I would wish on any man."

"His failing health is probably another side effect. Poor chap, you know I can take that pain away."

"You said that humans can't escape, how did Warner?" Nadia's question was out of nowhere, but it ached at the back of her mind. "What happened?"

"Oh this is such a fun story, Warner should you tell it or should I?" clapping his hands together the beast gave a short jump excited and eager to tell the tale. "You know what I'll tell it, and you can piece in what you will at the end." He cleared his throat and began, "Warner was in charge of taking care of the animals. he saved little Odion from my torture, I guess I kept him in a cage too long, I don't know. Odion was such a cute little puppy, but he had a nasty temper and I couldn't control that beast. Warner took him in and when Odion got bigger he thanked Warner by biting him. This released him from my aura. Then he went on a rampage attacked you, and that was an action I will not forgive." His nostrils flared as he recalled that night, "But that's all past, as long as I get my treasures back nothing else needs to happen."

"Odion," Nadia turned to him, as the demon spoke she felt his emotions flutter with a flash she saw it all.

Odion was young, small, the kind of small that he could fit into one man's hand. He still witnessed the smoke. It grew from many of the people, twisting their thoughts so that they wouldn't think twice of their actions. He ran one night, tried to run away, but his legs couldn't carry him far. The beast caught him. Odion bit down as hard as he could, but no damage was done. Still, so angry with the attempted escape, the demon took revenge, he was locked in a cage. No one came for him, he howled night after night as he grew the cage shrank around him. He was fed, but there was no care given to him. He knew this was going to cause him to go feral, but in the end, it was better to have his mind lost than to go through this with sanity. 

The bars continued to close in, but then one day someone else was there. No reason for the change, but he was finally given freedom. Warner treated various wounds on his paws and nose from the cage. Then fed him but with great apology placed him back behind bars every night. It wasn't a sudden change that caused Warner to snap out of it as the demon claimed. Nadia could see the change over time. Warner was becoming aware on his own through interactions with Odion, then one day the change was complete. Odion could never harm Warner he felt closer to him than anyone else in the world. The demon claiming Odion hurt him infuriated Odion beyond compare. 

I'm so sorry, Nadia fought back a tear as the emotions of Odion's past flowed into her. "You monster." 

"My darling, I'm a demon." his smile stretched wide across his face, "Now come with me."

"NEVER!" Nadia screamed 

The echoes of Nadia's voice forced the battle to begin as Ma'at took her cue. She lunged forward as arrows flew over her head. She made it to the demon and knocked Warner backward as he hit the ground Odion grabbed his shirt at the should and pulled him closer to Nadia.

Please care for him.

Nadia looked at Warner his hands grasped his stomach as an arrow stuck out. It wasn't deep, Nadia could tell, but still with Warner's age and failing health how much help could she be? 

Odion took his place in the fight but both of them kept their eyes on the demon. Nadia watched as the people around them stood still, unmoving, but ready to release more arrows. 

The demon gripped Ma'at by the throat holding her above the ground as he stood on top of Odion. Nadia didn't see how it happened, but it had just been seconds before he gained the upper hand. The pair stood no chance. Nadia knew this fight was a lost cause, still, the pair were ready to fight with everything they had. 

"Stop!" Nadia called out but the demon wasn't listening. He was waiting to hear the snap of Ma'at's neck and Odion's back. He was determined as the two squirmed. 

Warner reached up to Nadia brushing her face, "You can help them." The weakness in his voice meant there were minutes left in his life. She knew how much it would hurt Odion to miss his last moments. 

"Everyone!" Nadia called again but still, she was invisible. Carefully, she placed Warner's head on the ground and kissed his hand as she set it on top of his chest. She stood up slowly, feeling something welling up inside of her. Then as she began to run toward the group she let out a scream, "I said STOP!" She crashed into them as a bright light swelled around them. She knocked the demon back causing him to crash through a few rows of trees. Ma'at fell to the ground gasping for air Odion struggled to stand and the light continued to grow. It engulfed the entire mountainside, the beams stretching high into the sky swirling around as a wind knocked the other people from the camp backward causing them to fall unconscious. Nadia took felt the darkness taking over, her strength she had was failing quickly. She took one last look around before falling to the ground her eyes refusing to open.