CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Blurred, my vision is blurred. I can't see the stars, or the ever changing moon. I can't hear the crow, or the darkness silence. I can't hear, I can't see, even silence, becomes a sound lost to me. The dark, I can't even feel. This isn't hell, this goes beyond. This is.... Oblivion.

Victor Mairo

  First off, I'd admit I was wrong. I shouldn't have reacted the way I did, to such a "tiny" issue. Her words, not mine. Now, let me back up a bit, in order for you to understand. In the beginning, we were in Eden....

   "Dean, what do you mean by Armageddon is going to happen soon?" Brianna asked me with a raised brow. I felt stupid, because she acted as though she was referring to a recalcitrant child, with no iota of sense. I didn't know exactly how to explain my recurring visions, or the destruction I saw, all around me. This place, the one place nature thrived, was a living time bomb, because I knew what was coming. I had seen it. Over and over again. No matter how much I tried to shut off the vision, I can see them the moment I close my eyes. They dance around my vision in a teasing way, as though saying what can you do about it? I was tired of being mediocre, being told what to do and how to do it. This time, I call the shots. 

  "Errm, I saw it," I answered lamely. With all the meticulously planned ways of delivering an epic answer to her question, I ended up with this. Figures. 

   "What do you mean by you saw it?" she asked halting in her steps. I knew deep down, I didn't want to tell her about my dreams, or visions if you will. But, I had to.  So, I steeled my resolve, and began. 

  "Recently, I've been having visions. Not just your normal dreams. I could literally feel the fire on my skin, the smell of ashes and sulfur. The metallic taste of blood in my mouth. The world in chaos. No law, no order. It was like.. The purge. The only thing I knew for sure, was I was standing on a skyscraper, overlooking the scenery. It was gory, dark and sadly captivating. Then, I jumped, before I hit the ground, I opened my eyes." I ended monotonously. Brianna looked at me as though I had two heads, and said nothing for a few minutes while we walked. I was starting to think that she forgot but then, all of a sudden, she rounded up on me.

" That vision was supposed to have been averted!!" she screamed at no one in particular. I was confused, honestly. First off, I didn't get why she was mad, it's not like I chose to see the things I saw. I can't even control my dreams, visions if you please. I closed my eyes, just to get a moment peace, and immediately, she vision started. This time, the fire was on my skin. Burning, melting it to ash. The words died on my tongue, everything felt so real, till I jumped.

   "Wake up, wake up!!!" I awoke to Brianna slapping my face. Ouch. That hurts.

   "What happened?" I asked as soon as I noticed my surroundings. I was on the ground, no idea how I got there.

   "We were talking and you just fell. Your eyes glazed over, and you literally convulsed. Only the whites of your eyes showed. I was scared, so scared," she said shivering, hugging herself. I was no psychic but I knew one thing for sure. I was important to her, or at least important to her cause. From all she said, I could glean one thing. I blacked out. This was a big problem.

"So, you mean.. I blacked out? And convulsed?" I asked thinking furiously. This wasn't good not in the least. If this continues, I'd be in danger. It got worse when I was close to Brianna. She was like the sun, overcharging me. I felt... Like any second, my fuse would blow and I would short circuit. This was all so, overwhelming. I stood up, dusted myself and asked... "Which way?"

   She pointed just over the horizon, at a slope, just a few feet ahead of us. It was the entrance I guess. Let's see if I guessed right. I walked faster, yet keeping the same pace with Brianna. She walked faster which was fine by me. I just needed to rest, lay my head down and sleep my sorrows away. Which may not happen soon. In case you forgot, I can't sleep, even close my eyes!

  

  We finally got to the slope, and it curved downwards. What I thought was a slope, was actually stairs. Worn by various feet. I couldn't wait to see Eden.

   We stepped on one, two, till we got to the end. I watched every little thing, carefully noting the details of the place. Then I took a deep breath, and stepped into the town.

   The smell hit me first. It was the smell of the morning dew, mixed with the aroma of popping corns, and the musky smell of wet earth. It was intoxicating, it felt liberating. A little boy ran past me, he stumbled and fell. I didn't hesitate. I held him, and picked him up. Because once, I was that little boy. Maybe, I still am. I looked at the little boy, and ruffled his hair. Asked his name.

  "Liam" he said showing the most beautiful dimple I've ever seen. I instantly felt protective of him, like I could shield him from future falls. He reminded me, of myself. He ran away, smiling and laughing, so carefree.

  "Wow, I never knew you liked children. That's so sweet." Brianna said from just behind me. I was startled but didn't show it. Not every time she had to mess with my emotions. I was different now, I just realized. I didn't seek the validation I used to from her or anyone. In reality, I didn't even care what they thought. Nobody actually cares anyway.

   "Oh yeah, I do like children. They remind me of the innocence I once had, before reality hit me over the head with depression," I said with a laugh, realizing just how true that statement is. I don't trust anyone anymore, not my best friend, Tyler, nor Brianna. I thought about my sister, my parents. First time I thought about them in a while. But, with the recent events, I trusted no one. Not even myself.

   "So, you miss being a child?" Brianna asked, a far away look in her eyes. I was focused more on the surrounding.. I heard her, but I didn't really concentrate. It was a busy place, people going up and about, in archaic clothing, laughter and smile rang in the air. This was indeed a beautiful place, a place worthy to be called paradise.

   "Have you ever felt like you grew up too fast?" Brianna asked, out of the blue. I was so startled, I stopped in my steps, wondering what led to the question she just asked. I thought about it, for a few seconds at least, and concluded that I've never felt that way. I tried as much as possible to hide in the crowd, never letting people notice my presence. I wasn't in a hurry to grow up, I'd never been. So, I answered the question with all sincerity. 

  "No, I don't feel that way, except recently I guess. I've always tried to remain a kid, I never saw the fun in playing grown up," I answered after deliberating for a while. "It's not like I didn't want to act a grown up, it's that I never was enticed to. I played kid games, and had literally one best friend since I was a kid. I never tried to explore, what was never my problem in the first place. But in the past few days, I had to grow. Fast. And, I don't know if I feel good or resentful, about my lot in life. So, I guess that's it. I guess..." I finished just as we got to a huge mansion. Or, would castle be a more appropriate term? It was huge. The meaning of staggering. Like, I knew why that word was used. It was made of pure stone, harder than granite. Had a modern, yet antique look about it. It was a work of art, a masterpiece.

  "Earth to Dean, earth to Dean." Brianna said waving a hand over my face looking mildly irritated and amused.

  "So sorry, this building made me lose my train of thought. It's so huge, so beautiful. Like a regal princess, adorned to visit the royal Court. This was a building I knew, would change everything.

 " So, are you ready to venture into your future?" Brianna asked me, smiling with nostalgia. She missed this place. I knew one thing for sure.. I was going to love it here. I just knew it.

  "Yes, I'm ready" I said steeling my resolve.

   "Let's go in," Brianna said. "Also, Ladies first" She gestured for me to enter. I raised an eyebrow and she rolled her eyes. Then, as though we planned it, we walked in together.

   That was one of the best days of my life.