Dream: The Continuum

Date: 11/28/2016

It's been anywhere from 8-10 years since the last time I was found wandering in this place. That man has become more crazed and many of my “classmates” have vanished. I fear the worst. I was always different from the others in this school of “religion” as they called it. It was a place most called “The Continuum” because it continually grew and pulled people to it. I never called it that. I called it hell. That man who swore to be the priest of this place, who swore to teach great religious beliefs, who swore to protect us students from evil...he was the worst evil of them all. I was just a young boy when I first met him. Barely older than eight. I saw him every year till I turned either 12 or 14. I don't remember when it stopped. He watched me grow. Lusted after me for both my body and the immense psychic power I held in my soul. He continued to try and brainwash me into following his ways. I pretended I did so that I wouldn't get hurt. I saw what he did to the “bad ones”. The punishments ranged anywhere from a light beating to rape and murder. Murder was only what happened to the ones who “couldn't be saved” anymore. The lost causes. I feared that man. I was grateful for every chance we got to spend walking the woods for herbs or going to the town for food and supplies. Anything to get away from him. One day in the woods I almost fell to my death. That was where I met him. This boy was older than me by a few years. Or at least I always assumed that since he was taller than me. “What were you doing up so high?” He asked, holding me practically bridal style. “I was trying to get that ripe apple at the top.” I told him. I was maybe ten at this point. “Can you put me down now?” “Don’t like being held like a bride?” The older boy asked jokingly but put me on my feet. I could feel my cheeks burning. “I'm Alikai...who are you?” The boy smirked and I saw a flash of yellow cross his gray eyes. “That isn't your real name. That's the name they gave you. Tell me your real name and I'll tell you mine.” I stared for a moment before I glimpsed the tail wrapped around his waist. The thing I had just thought was a belt. “Marko. I'm Marko. But please don't call me that near them. We're not supposed to use those names.” He grinned, unwrapping his tail after noticing I wasn't scared of it. “I have many names but you can call me Aziel if you like.” he said before adding, “You're quite different than the others.” “I have to be if I wanna keep myself.” I whispered and lightly ran my fingers over his tail. It intrigued me that I was so close to this boy who was far from human and he wasn't trying to hurt me. “The Continuum is pretty good at brainwashing people.” he said and pulled his tail away from me, “No offense kid but I'm trying to behave with you being so young.” I blinked up at him and then noticed the red tint to his eyes and the feverish aura around him. “I apologize. I didn't know. I've...not met any of your kind...outside myself.” He blinked now and placed a hand to my forehead. “How odd. I wonder if that old coot even realizes the demoness who resides in you.” “Not yet. I plan to keep it as such. To protect her.” I told him and grinned, “Don’t worry, I won't tell him about you either.” “Your kindness is misplaced. I'm a demon remember?” He teased me but sighed. “And that man isn't human. I see his wings everyday. Not everyone has my sight. His illusions are strong.” I said quietly, “I don’t want you to disappear.” After that encounter I had ran into Aziel more often when I was in the woods or out in town. He'd help me get the right herbs or select the best food and supplies. He hated that I kept getting this stuff for the school but he seemed okay after I told him these were my only times out of the school. One time, after I'd turned twelve, I had awoken deep in the woods all alone. I felt pain across my entire body and noticed cuts that had looked like they should have been fatal. I soon saw Aziel walk over to me. His face held mixed expressions of concern, anger, and fear. “Az...iel…” I barely rasped. His eyes widened, realizing I was actually alive. He ran over to me, sitting beside me and gently pulling me to him. “You idiot. Why did you...come back…?” I could see tears fighting to spill. He was the sole reason I would never believe all demons to be evil. “You saved me.” I whispered, feeling the painful stitch like feeling as my wounds tried to close themselves. “No. You saved me. He found me. You tried to protect me and then you died. I saw you die. You…” he trailed off, some tears betraying him. “I couldn't stay gone. You needed me.” I told him. Though he had no idea the extremities they had gone to in trying to break me. The old man had raped me. Had cut up my body. He beat me. He'd done this for a week before I'd been tossed in the woods to die. For Aziel to see me dead. They wanted him to attack the school so they'd have more reason to kill him. “You idiot.” Aziel said again as he pushed some of his own energy through me to help me heal faster. My wounds were damn near closed now. “Yes. I'm an idiot. But I can't help it.” I told him jokingly. I finally healed but he scooped me up in his arms and carried me off a couple towns away. “Aziel where are we---” “My home town Marko. They'll help keep you safe from that man.” he said, venom in his voice. “If you fall asleep and drift back to where you came from, promise you won't come back here.” I stared up at him in surprise. “You knew?” “From the moment we met.” Aziel told me. “Now promise me.” “I promise that I won't come back as long as you don't need me.” I told him. Aziel groaned at my little loophole but gave a soft smile. “Understood.” That was the last time I saw him. About 8-10 years ago. Now I've gone and woken from being sucked back into that world. I'm older now. I looked like a young man in there. Which you would think would make it easier for me to hide from that old man. That supposed priest. I had woken up in town. I was in an alleyway near the path that led to The Continuum. The town looked desolate, deserted almost. There were the initial shopkeepers but not many normal citizens. I saw a couple kids, barely older than ten, going stand to stand to gather supplies. They had that same brainwashed air around them most students of The Continuum had. I know their guide must be here somewhere. Someone who was watching them. There was always at least one of the elders keeping an eye on them. “Alikai?” I heard someone call. I flinched when I heard that name. A young woman smiled and walked over to me. It was Carsini. That was the name they'd given her. “My God it is you. I heard you'd died.” she whispered. She looked back to the kids but I knew her peripherals were good. “Carsini, please don't tell them I'm alive.” I whispered back. She stiffened and glanced around before saying, “You may want to change your mind. Your friend was captured. The Priest sent many elders to his town. Raided it and took him prisoner.” “Is he alive? Are the townspeople alive?” I questioned her quietly. “The townspeople live. I made sure no one knew...but Darzor warned them. He gave them a map to safety. Your friend though...he's being held below and I don't know how long he has left.” Carsini explained to me. I felt my blood boil and she saw, for the first time, my wings flutter angrily behind me. “Alikai you're---” she started. “Not human? Yeah. I never claimed to be such.” I told her. “Take extra care of your students Carsini, don't take them back there because I'm about to raise hell.” I told her. “What about the others inside?” she asked. “They'll know the moment they see me. Everyone who was there last time I was here...they'll know.” I told her. My energy rolled in waves of anger now as I stormed towards The Continuum. Carsini gathered the students and led them to whatever safe haven Aziel’s town had been led to. Fast forward and I was now in the halls of The Continuum staring down the man who was evil incarnate in my mind. “So nice of you to return to us from the dead young Alikai.” The priest said as many elders who had once been part of my class were now gathering the young ones and leading them out of the building. “Where's Aziel?” I questioned him. “You stay gone for years on end and all you want to know is the location of that demon.” The priest stated with feigned pain across his face. “I'm disappointed. I had hoped your long disappearance would have taught you better.” “So says the man who killed me.” I said coolly. Anger flashed across his calm demeanor for only a second as he stepped up to me. “He's in the cellar. Though I doubt you'll find much of your friend left.” Anger rolled off me again as my wings completely unfurled from my back and stretched behind me. I knew many people could see them. Just as I knew the priest was starting to realize just who he'd decided to fuck with. “The dreamweaver!” The priest shouted in surprise and I grinned. “That’s one title I have. My name is Marko and I would greatly appreciate you dying now.” I told him angrily before sending him flying with my energy. “Everyone else out! If there are any prisoners in the cells beside my demon then release them and get them to safety! Now!” The many elders and higher-ups were frightened by my commanding voice and aura, or so I'd like to assume, since they all did as I commanded. The priest let out his wings, not caring to keep up his illusion anymore. He charged after me and slammed me into a wall. His hand wrapped tight around my neck. “Don’t be so foolish as to think you can win dreamweaver.” he told me. I spat on him and smirked. “Don’t underestimate the power of dreams.” My ribbon-like wings slithered and wrapped tightly around his neck, forcing air to escape him quicker than what he was trying to do to me. His grip loosened and I slammed my fist into his gut. Slamming a kick into his crotch right after. The priest let go of me and stumbled backwards, my wings letting go of him. Soon enough I was hearing shouts that the cells were emptied except for my demon. That the last of the young ones were already evacuated to the main town and they were moving everyone to safety. “You won't win.” The priest said, lying on the ground in pain. I used my psychic energy to force chains to wrap around him and pin him where he was. Using that same energy I carved special binding magic that even kept high angels from being able to break free. “I will win.” I told him and charged into the cells below. I walked onward to the back to see Aziel, much older now, shackled to a cell wall. He was hanging limply, lifelessly. Or so it seemed. The moment I got close enough he launched towards me as if to kill me but I was just out of reach. “You idiot.” I told him with a smirk. Whatever dark fog was over his mind seemed to clear some with those words because he seemed to recognize me, if only barely. “You promised not to come back.” he said glaring at me. “Only if you didn’t need me.” I told him and walked over to him. I could see the light swish of his tail to show he was happy I was back despite his stubbornness. “Shield your eyes.” He closed his eyes tightly and I used my energy to break the shackles off of him. He damn near collapsed into me at that point, too used to the shackles keeping him up. “Life draining seals.” I whispered, having glimpsed the seals while helping him stay up. “You can open your eyes.” Aziel looked me over and soon noticed my wings. “I got saved by a friggin angel…” he shook his head. “Nephilim.” I corrected, “Or did you forget about the demon side of me after all these years?” I led the way out of the cells and up to the front door of this place. “Sorry.” he murmured, barely able to move. “As am I. I wish I had come back sooner.” I whispered and felt him sigh more than heard it. “You were a kid and terrified of that man.” he told me, “I don’t blame you.” “Yeah.” I mumbled as we made our way to the entrance. Suddenly I heard chains clatter to the floor and stiffened. Aziel glanced at me but I just ran, forcing Aziel to run, practically dragging him. “Marko, what the hell’s---” “He got free.” I said and soon heard the fierce flapping of wings. I pushed some of my own energy into Aziel and gave him a quick kiss on the lips. “I'll find you again. Please don't forget me.” I told him and shoved him out the door as I heard the wings draw nearer. “Marko!” I heard Aziel shout as the doors to the building shut tight and lock with a click. I spun around, wings fluttering fiercely, my energy high. “I won't let you win!” I shouted as the priest smirked, charging for me. I awoke right after.