DRYSTAN
I squinted my eyes, trying to make out anything from the darkness surrounding me but I could barely see anything. I did a 360 turn, hoping I'll at least catch a glimpse of light but I was surrounded by nothing but darkness.
"Favian!" I whisper-yelled, wishing that he will answer me but when all I got in response was a deafening silence; I felt shivers run down my spine. I gulped nervously, and took deep breaths to calm down "Lukianos!" I yelled, praying that there will be a response this time but when all I got back was silence, I began to lose hope.
This felt all too familiar, I was alone in the middle of nowhere with no one in sight to at least tell me where I was.
I stood there for a few seconds deliberating on what to do, I don't know where I am nor can I see and it seems my wolves have abandoned me too, at least they were here the last time. My eyes darted around again, trying to make out something from the darkness but I still couldn't see anything.
I sighed deeply and decided to just walk around, till I find a clue on where I am and how to get out of here. I was about to take the first step when I felt someone's presence and I immediately halted, there was no scent attached to the person, which means it was either a witch or a dangerous wolf. I heard a branch break under the person's foot and I readied myself for an attack, the person took another step forward towards me and a twig snapped under their foot.
The person took another step and another till I could feel their presence very close to me and I immediately turned towards their direction, trying to make out who the person was but the darkness was blinding.
"Drystan" the bone-chilling voice that I have been avoiding for the past years, called out my name and I immediately froze, my hands slumped to my side and I stood up straighter, "You can't run from me forever, Drystan. I am a part of you and no matter how hard you try to ignore that fact, you can't change it," he said and something inside me snapped at his words.
"Don't you dare call yourself a part of me, I am no bloody murderer!" I growled out, and I could swear the ground rumbled beneath me.
"You can only deny that fact for so long Drystan, but you can't change who you truly are!" he snapped back at me, "You can try all you want to lock me out, but I promise you, I will always find a way out" he stated confidently.
A violent wave of anger coursed through my body at his words, and before I could think of what I was about to do, I charged toward him violently and blindly; and despite the darkness, I landed a punch on him and my lips curled up in a smirk.
I waited for the satisfaction of punching him to come, but all I felt was excruciating pain in my chest. A pained-filled gasp left my lips, and I quickly clutched my chest in pain "what did you fucking do to me?" I snarled at him and collapsed on my knees.
"I did nothing to you, Drystan. You chose to hurt yourself by hurting me, and you will keep doing that till you accept the fact that I'm one of you," he said in a taunting manner, and I clenched my fists tightly by my side.
"Give me just one reason I should accept you as a part of me!" I snarled, and he walked closer to me.
I felt him crunch down to my position, and I could feel his gaze burning through me "Because all I did that day was to protect you!" He said and I scoffed.
"Bloody liar" I spat out and he just sighed.
"I know you won't believe me, but that's the truth! Maybe if you keep your ego aside, and actually think, you'll find out that all I've said is nothing but the truth" he said and stood up "You can choose to wallow in your self-doubt and spend days cursing me out for something you can't change, or you can come with me" he said and I chuckled humorlessly at his words.
"I'd rather die here than follow a bloody murderer!" I seethed and he tsked at me.
"Suit yourself" I heard him say, and just as he randomly came, I felt his presence disappear, and just like before, I was left alone again, and the pain I was feeling earlier began disappearing slowly.
I stared wordlessly at the place he was previously standing before I sighed and slumped on the floor. I have no idea where I am, what to do, or where to go, so I might as well sleep. There was a nagging thought at the back of my mind, subtly warning me not to fall asleep, but I ignored it and closed my eyes, and soon enough I was about to fall asleep until I heard the voice I least expected to hear in such a place.
My eyes immediately snapped open, and I began looking around for the direction the voice was coming from.
"Drystan! Can you hear me?" Selene's voice resonated around the place again, and I immediately sat up.
"Selene?" I called out, looking around frantically for her.
"I don't know if you can hear, but if you can... Please, please wake up" my face scrunched up in confusion at her words "You can't stay like this forever, just wake up" she pleaded and I stood up from where I was sitting.
"What do you mean, Selene? I'm awake, I just don't fucking know where I'm at" I yelled and rubbed my forehead in frustration "if you can hear me too, please tell me where I am!" I pleaded desperately but I got nothing in response.
"Hello?" I yelled, looking around for her but just like before I was surrounded by nothing but darkness.
"I know you can do it, Drystan! Just try a little harder, you have to wake up, okay? We have soldiers to train" she said again, and I got even more confused. None of her words made any sense to me.
"You fucking have to wake up, you dickhead! We..." Her words suddenly paused, and I raised an eyebrow at her even tho I'm sure she couldn't see me.
Just as I was about to yell what's wrong, she began speaking again "I get it now! Drystan, I know you can hear me, you have to remember what happened okay? Whatever you are seeing now, it isn't real. Where ever you are, it's your subconsciousness and you have to fight it okay? Follow your instincts, Drystan. I know you can do it" she said confidently.
Her words once again only added to my confusion, and I was about to slump down on the floor again when the memories all of a sudden flooded my mind. I immediately stiffened as I recalled everything, and suddenly I became scared because if this truly is my subconsciousness, I do not know my way out.
"You do, Drystan," Favian said all of a sudden, taking me by surprise, but I was relieved to know he was with me "you just have to trust your instincts and move in the right direction," he said, but his words seemed so impossible.
"But..." I started but he immediately cut me off.
"There's no but, Drystan. You have to trust yourself and get us out of here" he ordered and I immediately nodded my head. If Favian believes I know the way, I just have to trust myself.
I closed my eyes and took a very deep and long breath, and the moment I opened up my eyes, I turned in a random direction and began walking.
My steps felt stiff and wobbly at first and I was full of doubts, but then as I walked further, I got more confident and took longer and bolder strides the further I went "Yes, Drystan! You can do it, just a little bit more" Selene said all of a sudden, and her words added to my confidence, and before I knew it I was full-on running.
"Yeah, just a little bit more" her voice urged, and I increased my pace and ran mindlessly.
"You are almost there," she said again, and before I could stop myself I ran into a random ball of light.
"You are awake!" She yelled excitedly in my ears as I opened my eyes "you are truly awake" she mumbled and grabbed my hand while I slowly turned towards the direction of her voice.
"Selene?" I voiced out when I saw her seated beside me with the biggest smile on her face, she nodded her head rapidly and tightened her grip on my hands.
I smiled at her and trailed my eyes around the room and a small smile tugged at my lips when I realized I was no longer in an endless abyss of darkness, rather, I was in the confinement of a hospital room.