Dream: The Catacombs Beneath London

Date: 7/4/2020

I was a young woman named Raya. I had some minor magical abilities and was skilled in taking down monsters from beyond the veil. Years ago I had visited London with some friends who had similar gifts. We were called in to try and close off small cross points between our world and the world beyond. Basically patching up the veil at these areas. I was one of our fighters. Battling the beasties that escaped alongside me were Mikiah and Flo. While the remaining two people focused their energies. Tristan as our eyes and Connor patching the veil. We were all good at what we did. We were better together. But that was years ago. We were now down a member. Mikiah had been lost to a cross-point in the catacombs. Grabbed by something he couldn't face alone and our combined forces couldn't get away from him. Over the years I've heard him whispering to me. I'd drift in my sleep to the veil. He'd be on the other side talking to me. Taking me how sorry he was and that as long as he lives and fights this thing he was grabbed by can't get through. There was so much he wanted us all to know. I would pass on what he would say. They could hear him whispering but I was the only one who could hear the words. Now I've returned to London. My team and I hoping that we had gained enough power to save our friend while trapping his captor on its side of the veil. We headed back down. Stronger wards upon us this time. We thought we were ready. So many monsters had been let loose in the catacombs. At the center of the chaos… we could see Mikiah. His form starting to change from his prolonged exposure to the other side. There were scales forming on his shoulders and arms. His nails had blackened and his skin had a sickly green glow to it. "You shouldn't have come back. I told you that I couldn't be saved." Mikiah told us as his horde turned to look in our direction. Flo and I immediately took our positions while Tristan stood guard of Connor. We started to cut through the horde of monsters. Either destroying them or forcing them back to their side of the veil. As we did that, Connor began pulling on the energies of the veil to try and close it around the beasts that had gotten through. The fight ensued and all but two of the beasts remained. As well as Mikiah. Throughout the fight, Flo and I got separated from each other. I was knocked back, hard, by one of the beasties and sent flying into one of the side tunnels. Mikiah was there with me. He stayed on the opposite side. Watching. Observing.  "Why did you return?" He asked after some silence. "So we could free you. So we could finally seal this cross point." I stated as I got to my feet and pushed my power through me to make my wards once more. The symbols glowed bright upon my skin. Only to vanish with a wave of Mikiah's hand. He looked to me with a great sorrow in his eyes. I lifted my dagger and blocked an oncoming spike. "I can't be saved. Just close it around me as well." He told me and placed a hand on my shoulder. His nails dug into my skin. "I'm no longer human enough for my freedom to matter, Raya." I forced his hand away from me. The searing pain of his nails being yanked from my skin nearly made me shriek. I held my dagger tight as I watched him. This was becoming far more unpleasant than I imagined. I could see the sorrow of my closest friend. I could see him wanting to protect us. Was it really so selfish for us to want to release him from this curse? "Yes, Raya, it is." He stated, having read my expressions. I felt my chest tighten at his words. He was so bound by that idea. He couldn't see any other possibilities.  "Guys! Status?!" I called out. "On our way!" I heard Connor shout. I watched Mikiah and he gave a pained smile before whispering, "Thank you." I drove my warded dagger into his shoulder. I removed it and shoved him through the veil. Connor closed up that final cross point and we made our way back upwards. "I'm sorry but I am grateful."  A final whisper from the veil. (Then I awoke.)