What If?
Die choose heaven hell dream like state happens instantaneously on earth watch (empty) reincarnation right or wrong relativity.
posted by Unknown at 3:18 AM
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Monday, June 05, 2006
Thursday, June 01, 2006
Be Careful When You Dream
Chapter 1: Born
His name was Terry and like most young men his age, he had dreams. He wished for the storybook life and searched for the perfect girl. He tried his best to fit in with his friends while retaining his unique personality. He struggled with his grades and puberty. He was just... normal.
But how normal could he really be? Each person had had traits that separated him or her from the rest. Each had something unique inside that no one else had. Terry would soon find out that even his birth was unique. The nature of his birth would be his salvation but also his own undoing. Soon the time came. That night that would change Terry's life forever.
Chapter 2: Friends
"Thank you." Terry said to the bus driver as he exited the bus.
"All right." the bus driver acknowledged.
Another day of school started with the ordinary routine.
"Oooh! Football!" Terry thought in his head as he saw Carlos, one of his best friends, throwing a football to Aaron, who threw it back to Carlos sloppily.
"Carlos!" Terry yelled as he dropped his backpack on a corner while running towards the direction Carlos was facing, indicating that he wanted Carlos to throw the ball to him.
"Go far!" Carlos yelled.
Everyone was playing catch with the football Carlos would yell "Go far!" to Terry. Of course Terry would follow Carlos's directions and end up being a fool.
Carlos would wait until Terry was far enough and pretended to throw the ball, but he never would. Today, he did. Terry was surprised. Nevertheless, Terry ran forward anticipating the football's trajectory. Terry kept running as he simultaneously looked up and saw the ball in the sky. Terry bent his knees like a tiger getting ready to pounce on its prey. He jumped as high as his legs could take him and raised both of his arms. The football was near and Terry started to clasp his hands. The football stroked Terry's hands with tremendous force due to Carlos's powerful throw. Terry continued to close his hands on the football and was certain he had caught it. Then, as always, the ball slipped out of Terry's hands. Terry felt gravity pulling him back down. The ball landed on the ground before Terry did and as he expected, Carlos made another crude remark about Terry's catching skills.
"Pffft! Hahaha!" Carlos cried like a monkey.
"Wups... Oh well." Terry whispered under his breath. He was used to dropping the ball. He wasn't embarrassed easily.
"Man! Catch the ball!" Carlos yelled from afar.
Terry ignored Carlos's statement and threw the football back. Passing was Terry's forte. However, Carlos passed more elegantly than Terry. The great distance of Terry's throw surprised everyone. Even though Carlos caught the ball with ease, Terry was still proud of his perfect spiral. Suddenly, out of the corner of Terry's eye, he saw the vice principal. Terry made the sign of a knife cutting his throat using his hands, which signaled everyone to stop throwing the football.
Luckily, Carlos got the signal and held onto the football. Terry walked over to Carlos and started a conversation.
"What's up with you?" Terry asked as he noticed Carlos rub his head.
"My head hurts." complained Carlos.
"From throwing the ball?" Terry said sarcastically.
"No!" Carlos responded. "I accidentally woke up too early this morning..."
"Ha!" Terry laughed.
"...And I couldn't go back to sleep. So I went to take a shower and I turned on the water. Then I hit the freakin' shower head with my head." Carlos concluded.
"Haha! Stupid! Haha!" Terry teased.
"It's not funny. OW! It still hurts." Carlos said painfully as he rubbed his head again.
"You always hurt yourself." Terry pointed out.
"Yeah!" Carlos agreed.
Another school bus arrived carrying what seemed like a million kids. One by one they exited the bus door and walked to their designated "groups" of people. Terry scanned the bus for a particular someone, slowly realizing that the person wasn't there. So, Terry walked over to Kathleen, Carlos remained to talk to their other friends.
"Hey stupid." Kathleen teased.
"Fine then." Terry said as he pretended that he was hurt by Kathleen's statement.
"I'm just kidding" Kathleen apologized.
"I know. Haha!" Terry teased as he walked back towards Kathleen.
"Leave-me-a-lone-man, leave-me-a-lone." Kathleen chanted as she danced with her arms swinging erratically.
A moment of silence came over Terry and Kathleen. Suddenly, Terry started to laugh. Another friend of theirs, Reuben, arrived.
"Haha! It's Reubenish!" Terry said, adding I-S-H at the end of Reuben's name.
"Ooo-k," Reuben, responded, obviously annoyed. "Guess what?" He prompted.
"What?" Terry asked anxiously.
"I don't know." Reuben said, confused.
Another bus arrived. Again, Terry searched for a particular person exiting the bus but was disappointed once again.
"Who you lookin' for?" Reuben asked, smiling.
"Who else?" Terry replied.
"Looori?" Kathleen mocked.
"No." Terry said sarcastically.
"How did I know that?" Reuben asked rhetorically.
"You didn't say anything!" Terry yelled.
"I said it in my head. 'Cause I'm psychic like that." Reuben said. Playfully.
"Uhuh." Terry replied.
Terry kept glancing at the bus stop. He wished that Lori would come soon. He had so many things to say to her. Things that he meant to say a long time ago.
"Anybody know what time it is?" Carlos asked the crowd.
"Time to go!" Aaron replied.
Aaron's words seemed to be magic words because right when he yelled, "It's time to go!" everyone who was sitting stood up. Everyone who was standing grabbed his or her backpack and started to walk to class, everyone but Terry. Terry always liked to be last. He thought that it was like making a grand entrance to a party. But today, he wanted to stay for Lori.
He was listening for the rumbling of the late bus's engine. He started to think that Lori might not come and that he might not get to say the things he needed to tell her. Suddenly, his wishes were answered. A large yellow bus pulled up to the bus stop. Terry peered into the bus full of students.
"This has got to be Lori's bus." Terry thought.
One by one, the boys and girls exited the bus. Terry waited anxiously to see Lori's face, impatient to see her big smile. Time seemed to have stood still. Terry spotted Lori's beautiful body. He was across the field but he could see every detail. Her glasses glinted against the rising sun. Every movement from her body seemed to flow so naturally like an iceberg adrift on the ocean's surface. Her body seemed to be cold like a glacier. Lori needed something to keep her warm. Terry believed that he was the fire that could give her the warmth she needed but he was always afraid to get closer. He might melt her away and cause a tremendous flood of destruction. He was thinking this just as Lori noticed him waiting for her. Lori approached Terry and greeted him. Together they walked side by side to class.
"So, what did you do this weekend?" Terry asked.
"A lot!" Lori replied and gave a sigh of relief.
Lori described all the volunteer work that she did during the weekend and how she also managed to complete all the school projects. In a way, Terry envied Lori because of all the extra work that she could fit into her schedule. At the same time, he was proud of her.
"Geez. You work too hard." Terry said, unsure if that was the right statement.
"Sometimes." Lori agreed.
The two met up with Kathleen and Carlos.
"Hi Lori!" Carlos greeted.
"Hey Carlos!" Lori responded.
Terry and Kathleen looked at each other and started to laugh as they all entered their first period class.
The day went by quickly. Suddenly, it was the time of dismissal and Terry had not said a single thing to Lori about his feelings. The buses waited at their stations. At four o'clock, they would start their engines. Without warning, Terry heard one of them rumble.
"Bus!" Terry informed everyone around him.
Everyone started to walk to his or her designated bus. Terry started running to his bus knowing that his will be the farthest to get to. He passed all the other buses and waved goodbye to his friends. This was the worst part of Terry's day for he hated to leave school. Many of his friends thought that he was bizarre because of it, but he still admitted that he loved school more than anything. Terry walked into his bus and sitting on the left, front row he saw his friend and counselor, Kathleen, again. Jay, her boyfriend sat by her left, a position that Terry would've wished for two years ago. But now, Terry and Kathleen are just great friends, almost like siblings. They share a lot of their problems with each other, but not that day, since Jay was there.
"Hey Tehree!" Jay greeted.
"Hmm." Terry replied.
"How was your day?" Kathleen asked.
"Like the usual." Terry answered.
"You wanna buy some candy?" Kathleen offered, as she changed the subject.
"No money." Terry declined.
"Aww." Kathleen said disappointed.
The bus was loud with so many people talking at the same time. It seemed that everybody was talking gibberish. Then the bus driver entered the bus, late as usual. She started the bus's engine and altogether, everyone made shuffling noises as they made themselves comfortable for the long ride home. However, the presence of the bus driver did not lower the noise level, for the bus driver was also talking to the other bus drivers on her walkie-talkie. Terry was starting to get exasperated, for he had a very short temper. Then, he saw Lori outside the window, facing away from him and talking to her friends. Her bus was late and she was still waiting on the bus stop along with her bus friends. Suddenly, as if she knew that Terry was looking at her, Lori turned around and looked directly at his eyes. At that moment Terry saw everything in Lori's mind and Lori saw into Terry's mind.
"Bye." Terry breathed.
"Bye." Lori said in the same fashion.
As the bus moved, further away from the bus stop, the two gazed at each other for what seemed like an eternity. An eternity that would only last until the bus turned on the first corner. The gaze between the Lori and Terry was disrupted and it would be long until Terry would ever see Lori awake again.
The bus finally arrived at Terry's bus stop. The time-consuming ride home made Terry fall asleep.
"Wake up Terry!" Jay yelled.
"Huh? Oh, oops, sorry." Terry mumbled bewilderedly.
Terry quickly stood up and exited the bus along with Kathleen and Jay. After they all accredited the bus driver for the ride home, they started walking away, headed to the same direction. They took a short cut through a middle school to quickly get home. The long walk was at first quiet, until Terry started singing.
Kathleen was laughing her head off.
"I didn't know the rest anyway." Terry apologized.
They finally reached the corner where they would separate to go home. They all said goodbye to each other. Kathleen was still giggling.
Chapter 3: Home
Terry finally arrived at his apartment. He reached into his pocket for his keys and unlocked the door. He was greeted by his cat, Baby, with a loud purr. Baby rubbed his body against Terry's leg affectionately. Once Terry was settled, he greeted Baby back with a bear hug. Then, Terry realized that his father, Jim, was asleep. Terry decided to walk quietly to his own room in order to not wake his father. He changed into his house clothes, ate dinner, took a shower and started doing his homework. The clock hit seven and he heard his father's alarm clock go off. Terry felt a chill pass through his body. Any second, his father would wake up and call him. Surely, Jim did.
"Ter!" Jim called Terry by his nickname.
"Coming!" Terry called out.
Terry stepped out of his room and took two extra steps to his father's room. He opened the door and asked Jim what he wanted.
"What time did you get home?" Jim asked.
"Four thirty." Terry said.
"What are you doing now?" Jim continued.
"My homework." Terry replied respectfully.
"Did anyone call?" Jim went on.
"No." Terry answered.
Jim rattled on with his unlimited questions. Finally, he ended the interrogation by telling Terry to go back to what he was doing. Jim went back to sleep. Terry was glad to have finally sat back on his chair. He continued with his homework until ten o'clock. Then he heard Jim's alarm clock go off again. Once more, Jim called out to Terry.
"Are you still doing your homework?"
"Yeah!"
"Hurry up so you can get some sleep!" yelled Terry's dad.
"All right, Pa! I'm almost done!" Terry yelled back.
Terry wasn't doing his homework anymore. He was drawing one of his characters again. It was a tiger but with a longer snout. It was in an attacking position and seemed to be roaring. The creature's eyes were gold like the sun. Its fur was coated with an indescribable red shine. But the most distinctive feature of this bizarre creature was the beautiful flame that surrounded its whole body. When Terry put the finishing touches on the red tiger, he decided that it was one of his greatest creations.
"Good night Pa!" Terry yelled to his father as he got off his chair.
"Yeah! Good night!" Terry's father responded.
Terry placed the paper with his new character drawn on it inside his drawer. Terry jumped onto his bed and put his blanket on. He thought about his room.
Terry had a small room since he lived in an apartment. He barely had any space to walk because of all his belongings. On the wall by the door, he had a wooden entertainment center. It had a black TV/VCR that he used to record his Saturday morning cartoons, a stereo with two big speakers, his small Hot Wheels collection on top, an old Sega Genesis game system that he rarely used, and a Playstation game system with about fifty games. He had a big bass speaker by his door with an angel statue surrounded by his two leis.
In front of Terry's entertainment center was a huge dresser the length of his bed. It had many drawers where he placed his everyday items in and on top he placed his phone, his alarm clock, his angle statue, and his red piggy bank. There was a two-door cabinet in the center of the dresser, where he stored his clothes in. By the dresser, he had a lamp and a computer desk. He had the computer essentials: a CPU, a monitor, a keyboard, a mouse, and speakers. On the side of his desk was his brand new printer.
His window was on the right of the computer desk. He could no longer open it since there was an air conditioner installed in it. On the left of his computer desk was his closet. He stored old toys and books in there. Finally, there was his bed, which took up most of the area in his room. It was a bunk bed with a full size mattress on the bottom and a twin size on top. He thought about all these things while he started to fall asleep. He felt comfortable in his room; it would be a long time until he would feel that way again.
Terry finally fell asleep and was about to have another dream. Then something started to happen. Various scenes started to flash in his mind. They seemed to be memories. They flashed like TV shows showing scenes from every episode for the season final‚ special. It always ends in the same fashion: a black ball floating in space, surrounded by a bright glow like the sun's corona. This was the introduction his mind received preceding his new dream. But this time it was not another ordinary dream. This time, it was real.
Chapter 4: Sleep
"Terry, help me!" Lori screamed.
"Terry, please help me!" Lori screamed again.
Terry was far away from Lori but just close enough to hear her muffled voice. He tried to find the direction the voice was coming from when he heard Lori again.
"Terry! AAAAHHH!" Lori screamed in horror.
Terry started running towards her. He was in a jungle. A tropical jungle, he thought. He was running through what seemed like blades of grass, except they were larger than his own body. He was being cut on almost every part of his body, but he did not care. He was focused on finding Lori, but how could he. He still heard her cries but he was in the middle of nowhere. There was no road to take and no horizon to see. He tried desperately to get free from the gigantic grass and then suddenly he just stopped. He was on his knees with tears in his eyes.
"Somebody please give me strength. Somebody please help me! I need to help her!" he cried.
Then everything was silent. Everything was inert. Lori's yelling had ceased and all he could hear is his heart pounding and his hard breathing. Then something behind him shook the earth. Something inside him knew what it was. He felt in his blood that it was there to help him. His cries have been answered. He turned around and there he saw the most amazing thing he had ever seen in his whole life.
Chapter 5: Scarlet
"Hello Terry. I am glad to have finally met you," said the mysterious creature.
"It's you! It's really you!" Terry said in amazement. "I've always dreamed of you coming to life, and now it's really you!" Terry repeated as he stared at a giant, red tiger.
"Yes it is me, but there is no time for explanations now. Lori is not the only person we have to find. My Time Stopper will not last for long. So, let us proceed," the creature, explained.
Something in Terry's instinct made him hop onto the creatures back. The creature was huge and it ran swiftly through the jungle. As they were racing across the jungle, the creatures so called Time Stopper seemed to be fading away. The silence was now covered by Lori's cries again. The brushing of the grass against Terry's new friend could now be heard and the size of the creature now enabled Terry to see further ahead. He could now finally see where Lori was. She was being chased by a dark two-dimensional shadow. Terry and his new friend were closing in on her. Finally, they were right behind the shadow. Terry's friend pounced on the dark shadow's head and stopped it from chasing Lori. They were now after Lori who was afraid of Terry's newly found friend.
"Lori! It's me Terry! Don't be scared! I'm here to help you! Just like you wanted!" Terry hollered.
"Terry?" Lori yelled out.
"Yeah, it's me. Now stop running away and give me your hand. Please. Before that shadowy thing gets back up!" Terry pleaded.
Lori was convinced and Terry's friend ran closer to her. Terry then grabbed her hand to pick her up. He explained that the creature was a friend and they ran towards the shadow again.
"Why are you going back? No! Get me away from that thing!" Lori yelled.
"Do not worry young lady I am here to protect both of you and this shadow is a mere pest to me. There will be no problem in destroying him," the creature reassured them.
"Destroying him? I don't want to see killing. I just want him gone!" Lori yelled.
Just like that the creature disappeared and Terry looked at Lori with a puzzled face.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" Lori said, annoyed.
"You just made that thing disappear." Terry pointed out.
"How? How Terry? How did I make that thing disappear?" Lori questioned.
"I believe that he is telling the truth. You, Lori, have some kind of power that made that creature disappear," the creature explained.
Realizing that the creature could talk. Lori jumped off and started running away again. Terry jumped off too and ran after her. Terry finally caught up and stopped her. They sat silently on a field for a couple of minutes and calmed themselves down. Finally, Terry broke the silence with a laugh.
"Why'd you laugh?" Lori asked.
"I don't know. Nothing's funny but I just needed to laugh. I don't know how I got here. The last thing I remembered was that I was in my room and about to fall asleep. Then, suddenly, I was here, hearing you call for me. I followed your voice but I didn't think I'd make it. That's when that big creature appeared. Something in my heart told me he was a friend, so I rode on him to find you. How did you know I was here anyway? Wherever here is..." Terry explained.
"I saw you fall out of the sky. We got here in the same way. Right when we fell asleep. This is our dream. Somehow they are mixed together. I haven't woken up for days. I think. You're the first person I've seen since I got here. I'm sorry for the attitude but I've gone crazy being alone. Well, not all alone. I do have her." Lori explained.
Lori has been carrying a crumpled sweater with her the whole time. She finally opened it and inside was a small, purple, fairy looking creature the size of a hand.
"She's been with me ever since I got here. She appeared to me right when I needed help, just like you... I mean just like your friend did for you." Lori blushed.
"Oh..." Terry stared. "Uhm... Is she okay? What's her name?" Terry asked.
"I named her Angel. Anyway, She got hurt pretty badly. She's still breathing though and she still has her purple glow. That shadowy figure wasn't the first thing that tried to attack me. When Angel first appeared, giant vines were squeezing me. It was so cute how she saved me. She showered the vines with some kind of fairy dust and the vines became limp and we flew away. Yep. She threw some fairy dust on me and I was able to fly. It was amazing Terry. Flying above the world. I felt so free. She took me to her colony. That's where I've been staying. Until that shadow came. It cast itself throughout the colony. It was terrible Terry. The darkness got to them. They became insane and they destroyed themselves." explained Lori as she started to cry.
"It's okay Lori. It'll be all right. We'll find a way to make her better." Terry comforted Lori.
"I'm lucky to have saved her. Her own family attacked her. We managed to get away but the shadow chased us. That's when I saw you fall from the sky. Somehow I just knew it was you. Thank you Terry. Thank you for coming," Lori said with care.
"Maybe it was meant to happen. Maybe we were supposed to come together. I have a feeling more things are coming, or more people. If we really are in both of our dreams, we must also be in other people's dreams. After all we're not the only ones who dream," Terry concluded.
"How is it possible. How is it possible for our dreams to merge and why does it feel so real. And why don't we ever wake up?" Lori thought out loud.
"I think I know someone who'll be able to explain this to us," Terry said. "Scarlet Tiger does."
"Scarlet Tiger? That's a funny name." Lori commented.
"Yeah, I decided to name him Scarlet Tiger. Hey! Scarlet!" Terry called.
The creature sat up realizing that Terry has decided to call him Scarlet. Terry walked to him and gave him a look.
"Tell me everything." Terry requested.
"I am not sure about every single detail but I can explain to you what I know." Scarlet paused. "You and Lori were born on the same day and in the same hospital. The scientists in that hospital conducted experiments on newborn babies. Their technology was advanced and they were able to inject microscopic programmed machines called Knights in the babies' bodies. Those machines merged with the cells in the babies' bodies. With their advanced technology the machines were able to act like cells and therefore were able to multiply just like cells. You and Lori were part of the group of babies. You have grown with organic-machine hybrid cells. You have become just like your modern computers except you are equipped with organic human intelligence. You have become an advanced species. You two were the oldest of the babies and therefore were the first to develop, Trance, the dream world that you are now in. During the development of your adolescence, the program of those machines was told to tap into the subconscious mind. The Knights program was specifically design to work its best when the brain turns to the subconscious mind. The mission of the scientists was to study how human behavior relates to the subconscious mind. Dream analysts have always tried to understand it but it was very hard. So Knights was developed to perform a study on humans. Bases have been built in hospitals around the world to implant Knights in almost every newborn. But controversy aroused and the use of Knights were soon banned. The scientists were hunted down and imprisoned. The ones who escaped have secretly kept track of the entire Knights host. Unfortunately, they did not anticipate that the babies would grow up to be very different types of people. You see the Knights are equipped with a tracking system. That means that they transmit signals and those signals overlap other Knights signals and that is how your dreams have merged. This is a temporary event and is difficult to be accurately predicted. As you know now, there were other babies in the hospital you were born in. They all grew up in different ways with different personalities and therefore different dreams. The shadow creature you just saw is a part of another person's dream. I believe it's from your acquaintance, Vladimir Jackson. He has a rather corrupted mind and it reflects on his subconscious. That shadow is probably his Core. Just like I am your Core and that fairy creature is Lori's Core. Your Core is your subconscious and the Knights program combined. It has a built in memory created by the scientists and that is how I know about your history. The form that I take right now is from your drawing right before you slept and the fairy's form is from Lori's imagination. The scientists have finally developed a program to enhance our performance. We, your Cores, are here to protect your mind and body. There will be more dreams coming in some will be dreams of your friends' and your enemies'. Some will even be of people's you don't even know. There have been incidents when another person's dreams invaded another and put that person into an eternal sleep for they have died in their subconscious. But as long as you are in the Dream World, we, your Core, will have a chance to prevent that from happening again. And your friend Lori there is our best weapon yet." Scarlet concluded.
"Me?" Lori said, surprised.
"Yes, there was a prophecy from the artificial intelligence that Knights have developed. The prophecy said that a young woman would need help and be saved by a young man. She will be the first to refuse a fight and be the first to control the dreams of not just hers but of other people's. This, I believe, is how you made the shadow from Vladimir's dream to disappear. You are the young woman in the prophecy. The young man in the prophecy is the young woman's source of power. So Terry, you have to be careful. Take care of yourself and Lori. With you two here, we might just be able to end this nightmare," Scarlet said.
"So we're here to save the lives and minds of people. That's kind of intense but I'm up for it. I've always felt this would happen someday. So what do we do now?" Terry asked.
"Right now you have to wake up from this dream. Terry, you need to help Lori wake you two up. Don't worry about the other dreams; other good Cores are protecting them. Both of you just focus and wake up. Think of something that will give your conscious mind a shock and make it happen." Scarlet instructed. "And Lori, hand me your fairy. I'll take care of her. She'll be good as a newborn when you get back. Trust me Lori." Scarlet pleaded.
"Okay, Scarlet, I trust you. Here you go. Her name is Angel. Take good care of her okay? She means everything to me. And be careful. Both of you." said Lori.
"We will and I assure you that I will not let anything happen to her." Scarlet said.
Chapter 6: Responsibility
"Uhm... Scarlet here, wear this. This is my prized possession. It's a digital watch. I'm letting you borrow it. That means I'll be back to get it from you okay?" Terry said, mysteriously.
"Thank you, Terry this means a lot to me. I will make sure have it when you get back. It is now time for you to go. I sense and alarm going off in your room. Goodbye for now Terry, you too Lori. I have got to get going myself. We Cores have to rest when you're awake." Scarlet said as he ran away.
"Wait! Scarlet!" Terry called out.
"Yes, Terry!" Scarlet turned.
"I thought I drew you with fire. Where is it?" Terry asked.
"Indeed, you drew me surrounded with fire. However, it was your final addition before ending your artwork. Therefore, it would ignite only during our final meeting." Scarlet explained.
Scarlet started running again. Terry stood there and watched as Scarlet disappeared from the horizon. Lori grabbed Terry's hand and closed her eyes.
"Focus, Terry, focus," Lori whispered. Remember what Scarlet said. "Think of an earthquake, crack the ground, and make us fall in," she instructed. "That should wake us up."
Terry closed his eyes and did what Lori told him to do. Then after a couple of seconds, the ground rumbled. The ground beneath the two saviors opened and slowly they sank to the darkness of their consciousness.
Chapter 7: Reality
BEEP BEEP BEEP. The alarm sounded
"What the!" Terry exclaimed. "Damn I'm late! It's seven o'clock!"
Terry, realizing he was late, quickly got off his bed and tripped over his blanket, which was tangled all over his leg. He hit the carpeted floor violently. Then his dream returned to his memory. He jumped up and looked at himself in the mirror. Suddenly, he raced to his drawers and searched for his digital watch. He could not find it. He started to realize that his dream was truly real.
Chapter 8: Tears
Deja vu. That was how the day seemed like to Terry's eyes. Everything was going, more or less, the way it did the previous day. At least it was until Lori failed to arrive. So Terry walked into class, greatly disappointed. Then a loud beep was heard that signaled to anyone who was not in his or her designated classroom was tardy. The teacher immediately started the roll call.
"Kathleen?" the teacher announced.
"Here!" Kathleen yelled out.
The teacher continued on. She called out Carlos's name and he also said "Here" but with great apathy. Terry waited for Lori's name to be called so that he could announce that she was absent but surprisingly, the teacher skipped her name. Terry was about to say something but the teacher's calls sped up.
"Terry?" the teacher said as she came closer to the end of the list of students' names.
Terry failed to hear the teacher's call for he was staring into space. He felt that there was something terribly wrong around him.
"Terry? Yoo-hoo." the teacher repeated.
"Why did you skip Lori's name?" Terry asked out of the blue.
The teacher's eyes widened and suddenly a tear rolled down her cheek. She took a deep breath and opened her mouth to talk. But Terry had expected the worst. He stood from his seat and ran out of the classroom with his hands covering his ears. The instant the door closed behind him, he let out a great yell.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!! WHY! SHE WAS RIGHT THERE BY MY SIDE! SHE WAS HOLDING MY HAND! WE BOTH FELL IN THE DARKNESS! WE BOTH WOKE UP FROM THAT DREAM! HOW CAN SHE BE GONE NOW! WHY! LORI! WHY!" Terry screamed at the top of his lungs.
Terry fell to the ground, devastated. He felt every function in his body start to fail. His tears were flowing down the concrete like a raging river. He heard people gather around him but he did not care. Then he felt a soft touch on his cheek.
"Terry, hang in there. We don't want to lose you too." Kathleen pleaded as she lifted Terry's head.
"Why? She's gone. What else can I ever look forward too?" Terry sat up.
"Why the sudden pessimism? You're better than that. You can pray that she wakes up soon. Only if you listened to the first few words Terry. She's not dead. She's alive, Terry. Just pray that she wakes up from her sleep." Kathleen explained to Terry.
Terry suddenly found himself standing. He listened to all the words Kathleen said. He found out that Vladimir has been missing for two weeks. He was suddenly filled with hope.
"It's a coma." Terry said aloud.
"Yeah. So don't lose hope." Kathleen implied.
"It's a coma and Vladimir is gone." Terry repeated.
"What are you thinking about?" Kathleen asked curiously, detecting a hint of planning in Terry's voice. The crowd has now lessened to just two people: Kathleen and Carlos.
"Carlos, tell the teacher that I'm going home. Take my backpack home with you. I don't have time to get it." Terry told Carlos.
"Dude. What are you gonna do? I thought Kathleen just explained everything to you. You still don't get it. Don't throw your whole life aw -." Carlos stopped as Terry interrupted him.
"Just do what I say Carlos. I'm fine and I'm not throwing my life away. You two are right, I'm not like that. I'm going to save Lori." Terry explained.
"Wha -." Carlos started to say but Terry started to run away. Carlos ran after him but Kathleen told Carlos to let Terry go.
"Whatever he's planning, we'll find out. Whatever we find out, I hope, will help him." Kathleen said.
Carlos and Kathleen returned to the classroom. Carlos told the teacher what Terry wanted him to say and made up a story that Terry ran to the office to call his father. Kathleen sat down looking up at the ceiling, pondering what she could do to help Terry.
Chapter 9: Smoke
Terry did not really plan on going home. What he did was run. He ran west, to the direction of the beach. He was perfectly fine, he ran as fast as he could. His eyes watered but had a glint of determination. He did not know why he was running toward the beach. But what he did know was that it was his source of peace. He kept running as far as his legs could take him but realized that he wasn't getting anywhere. He stopped running and was out of breath. He wanted to get to the ocean so badly. But how could he? Suddenly, his whole body started to float and become transparent. Slowly, his body developed into smoke. He floated to the sky and the wind blew him westward. Of all the things that had happened the last twenty-four hours, this ability of his was the least surprising. Finally, he saw the ocean and was reminded of its tranquility, just then, his body of smoke lowered down to the shore. He quickly became solid again.
Terry looked out into the endless view of water. He had figured out that if his dream was real, then that was where Lori would be trapped in: a dream. He now knew why he came to the beach for he started to relax. He came there to sleep. He wanted to sleep because that was the only way that he could save Lori.
Chapter 10: Mom
He was awakened by the sound of the ocean's waves. He stood up, searched his surroundings, and was disappointed that he failed to dream. That was until he heard a familiar voice behind him. He looked to the direction voice's source and fell on his knees.
"Anak." - "Son." a woman behind Terry said affectionately.
"Ma?" Terry said with tears in his eyes.
"I'm here babe. It's ok" Terry's mother, Lorilie, comforted him.
"I know you're here. You really are." Terry said as he stood up and hugged his mother.
"Yes, but do you know where here is?" Lorilie asked. "You're dream."
"No." Terry pulled away from his mother. "You can't be fake. Why can't you visit me in real life?"
"I am not fake. But I am not real either. But trust me, all that you hear from me is truly from my real mind, heart, and soul." Lorilie explained. "Please, trust me."
"I know everything about what happened to me. You're my mother. You were there when all implants took place. I've heard it before. But refresh my memory." Terry pleaded for an explanation.
"You're right, I've been part of everything since the very beginning. You may even say that I was the founder. But don't get me wrong, I did not choose for all this to happen. I am a mere disciple of Augur. Augur is a supreme entity. He is a god and what you don't know much about is my place in the world at the time of your birth. Terry, I was a religious leader, the highest ranking of them all. Even the whole world worshiped my faith. Then my whole life changed when Augur talked to me. This god told me that I was to bear a child that would become a savior. But this child would not save in a physical manner. But he would save people from the evil within themselves." Lorilie paused. "Terry, that child was you. The prophecy that you now know was messages from Augur. Terry you have much to accomplish but you seem to have trouble within yourself. You need to find a way to overcome your problems before you take on this great responsibility." Lorilie concluded.
"But how did Knights come to play? And why are others like myself dragged into this situation?" Terry asked impatiently.
"This is the part that I do not yet fully comprehend. I feel that it was fate that brought your father to develop Knights?" Lorilie clarified.
"He what?" Terry questioned surprisingly.
"There was nothing in the prophecy that said you would ever need science to fulfill your destiny. But it turned out that Knights was the only thing that could've brought the prophecy to life." Lorilie said, surprised by her own words. "Your father only wanted to protect you. He also received Augur's messages but he interpreted it as a war that you would end up fighting. Your father has never gotten over his experience in the War and developing Knights was the only way that he felt you could be protected. So far, he's been right." Lorilie stated.
"Still. Why are the others here? And how are you able to communicate with me through my dream?" Terry asked.
"It's all from the prophecy, my son. They need to be here. Somehow, you need them around. Even your enemies." Lorilie explained. "As for me. I am no longer as respected as I used to be. The ethical offenses of the Knights Project brought an end to my leadership and also to the project itself. But before everything was shut down, I injected Knights into myself. I felt that I needed to monitor you first hand."
"Ma. You seem to know everything. But so did Scarlet. His story and your story are a little bit unparallel. How do I know you're telling me the truth?"
"Terry. You must find that out by yourself. Find your own answers. I'll just watch you the whole time. Just remember Terry, I love you." Lorilie concluded as she disappeared into thin air.
Chapter 11: Elements
Terry tried to save his mother but she disappeared before he reached her. Now Terry was left all alone. "Find your own answers." The words of his mother kept repeating in his head. With that statement, he again, turned around to look across the ocean. It has lost its serenity and across the horizon, Terry saw a giant tower of ice. He stepped closer to the edge of shore and soon found himself walking toward the large glacier. It was getting darker and colder. He again wished for help from Scarlet. He waited for him to arrive but never did. Then, Terry started to feel his bones crunch as he saw himself transform. His knees bent as his skin color changed to red. He was then crouching on all fours. His nails shrunk and started to form a sickle shaped object. Then he developed black stripes. He looked at his reflection in the water and saw Scarlet.
Terry had Scarlet's voice in his head. Scarlet said that this would be their last meeting and right then, Terry's new body bursted into flames. The water beneath him started to boil. The vapor collected into a single gaseous mass that lifted Terry to the top of the giant glacier. Before he stepped off of the gaseous mass, he put out his body's fire. He then steeped onto the glacier and heard his foot sizzle.
His new body gave him the ability to run at a tremendous speed and was still able to see everything he passed clearly as if he was walking. The glacier had a dark dome at its peak. Terry raced to reach it, certain that, there, he would find the answers to his questions. He came closer and closer to the dome and saw the entrance. Terry took the first leap into it and felt a great pain pass through his body. He saw nothing but darkness and heard nothing but one voice, the taunting voice of Vladimir.
"Well. If it isn't Mr. Savior guy." Vladimir mocked. "Come to save little Lori?" Suddenly, Vladimir's voice became low in pitch. "Well, you'll have to destroy her first."
Then, everything became bright and in front of him, Terry saw Lori. Her eyes seemed to be focused far, her legs were bent as if she could barely walk, and her arms drooped like a dead flower. Her voice had changed too, for she sounded like a banshee.
"Terry. I've been waiting for you." Lori said. "Why don't you come closer? Come and save me. Vladimir has killed me Terry, he has."
"Lori, this can't be you. This can't be what's left of the beautiful girl I last saw on the bus stop. The Lori I knew can look at me deeply and melt my heart and soul. She -." Terry was interrupted by the annoyed voice of Vladimir.
"Shut your mouth Terry! Your efforts are futile!" Vladimir yelled.
"I don't think so!" Terry answered back. "I don't know what you did to her Vladimir! But Lori does not give in easily! And Lori will not start giving in to YOU! Lori, listen to me! It's me. Terry! Forget everything that this twisted person ever told you. Whatever they are I know one thing is a lie. He has not killed you. You are the strongest person I know! Fight him! Whatever he's doing to you. You've got to hang on. I'm here to help." Terry pushed.
"Lori DO NOT listen to him. Just imagine how happy you and I could be!" Vladimir defended.
"Oh is that what you promised her, Vladimir? Happiness? That's all you can do? Well she doesn't look very happy to me. You can't even keep your word. I -." Terry was interrupted by his own thoughts. "I what? I haven't been much of anything either for Lori. I'm the reason that she's in this situation in the first place. But I'm here right now. Doing the best I can to save her. I can provide her everything she wants. Right? I'll do my best."
"You what? Terry. You think you can do better than me?" Vladimir laughed.
"Actually I know that I can do much better than you. I always have been. I've been there for Lori as much as I possibly can. Did you know that I am her source of power? And that she is my source? Vladimir! You're going to be sorry! I've answered one part of my destiny!" Terry announced.
Terry started to walk closer to the figure that seemed to be a dilapidation of his loved one. He was no longer afraid of her looks. Her distant voice was now soothing to his ears. He knows that she will come back. Terry transformed back into his human form. He stood right in front of Lori, who was looking right through him. Terry grabbed her shivering hands and felt and old woman. He stood there and stared deeply into her eyes. Then, instantly, Lori's eyes focused on Terry's. Vladimir has now shown himself. He too has turned into his Core. The shadow that cast darkness and fed on people's fears has taken on three dimensions. Vladimir lunged toward to Terry, attempting to attack. But Terry laughed at his face and gave a smirk.
"Shadows can't appear if light is not blocked." Terry concluded.
A great ball of fire surrounded Terry and Lori and a separate ball surrounded Vladimir. Terry closed his eyes and remembered envisioned the black ball floating in space, surrounded by a bright glow. The first image he saw before he entered Trance for the first time, and suddenly, the ball around Vladimir started to shrink. It seemed to collapse into itself just like the final moments of a dying star. It became smaller and smaller and finally disappeared through a great explosion. Terry still stood there in his bubble of fire with his hands on Lori's.
"Lori, I know I've kept many things from you and I know that I'm not always your first priority. But I want you to know that you are to me. There's not a day that I don't picture your face, your smile, or hear you voice in my head. I can only imagine the pain you're going through but don't waste your perfectly imperfect life for a life in darkness and fear. I used to fear that if I ever came too close to you, I might end up hurting you. But things have changed with me. I'm no longer afraid because all that you can ever bring me is happiness. Remember? You are my source of power too. So snap out of it." Terry pleaded. "Vladimir is gone. He can't hurt you anymore. He fed off all your fears. They should be gone by now. Come on Lori. I'm here. I can help you through whatever you're going through. I love you Lori and I don't want to lose you. I already know how that can feel."
Right at that moment, Terry started to feel Lori's hands get smooth. Her face became plump again and most importantly her eyes were full of life. She looked directly into Terry's eyes and threw her arms around him. Then, Lori started to freeze. Her body became a statue of ice around Terry's neck. Terry thought that this was the moment of truth. He set his body on fire and surrounded his and Lori's body in flames. Lori did not melt. She returned back to her normal self. But now she started to glow. She grew feathered wings on her back and suddenly she looked like an angel. She flew high into the sky and spread light throughout the reaches of Trance. Terry's fire melted the giant glacier and flooded the surroundings, purifying it in the process.
Lori landed softly by Terry's side.
"Thank you Terry. I love you too." Lori acknowledged.
Chapter 12: Laughter
"Terry we need to wake up again." said Lori.
"Together this time ok?" Terry made sure. "Let's make it a nice one."
"Ok. Let's have penguins chase us." Lori advised.
"I'm so glad you're back. All right. Close your eyes." Terry ordered.
Lori and Terry both closed their eyes and visualized a stampede of baby penguins. They opened their eyes and heard a loud, approaching rumble. They looked at each other and smiled. They started to run, laughing their heads off.
Chapter 13: Awakening
"Terry! Oh my god! Terry! Are you ok?" Jim asked him as he pushed through a crowd that surrounded Terry.
"Pa? What is all this?" Terry asked as Jim lifted him up. "Ok people, I was just sleeping. No need to crowd."
"But you were on fire." someone from the posse exclaimed.
Terry then realized that his dreams could enter reality. Then he saw Carlos ahead of him, smiling. Suddenly, the crowd grew silent with blank stares in their eyes. Carlos started to walk toward Terry.
"I know everything Terry. I was part of the experiment. Mine went ballistic just last night." Carlos explained.
Just then, a red car arrived in front of them. The back doors opened and from them stepped out Kathleen and Lori.
"I take it that Kathleen's in it too?" Terry asked Carlos.
"Yep, all four of us." Carlos answered.
Terry ran towards Lori and they gave each other a great big hug.
"So, did your family see wings?" Terry asked Lori.
"No, but they said that I was so cold that I froze their tears." Lori joked.
The group of four enjoyed their reunion. They realized that Jim was still behind them, looking out into the sea. Jim noticed the sudden silence.
"So it's begun." Jim stated. "You four have grown. Who would have thought that the four most important people of the prophecy would all go to the same high school? But I'm afraid that you guys are not alone. More will come. Be prepared."
"Pa I -." Terry started to say.
"Son, I know what your thinking. Seriously, I do. I'm proud of you. I never prepared you for this and I'm sorry." Jim apologized. "But I saw that you didn't need any preparations. But all four of you will need our guidance."
"Our. Who's -." Again, Terry was interrupted.
"You mother will be here tomorrow. I saw that you two have much catching up to do and so does your sisters and so do I." Jim explained.
"Thanks pa." Terry said as he realized that his father also overcame one of his fears.
"Well, it's been a long forty-eight hours for all of you. But I'm afraid that you'll have to go to school."
"Aww!" all whined unanimously, except Terry, who had something else to say.
"All right, finally, something normal for a change. So did you guys do your homework?" Terry laughed. "I did. Luckily. I did them all before all this Trance stuff came."
"Well that's you Terry. You have too much time on your hands." Carlos mentioned.
The sun started to rise. Terry watched it and looked at Lori, who was also watching it, rise.
"Are you still cold?" Terry asked.
"No, I'm pretty warm now. Thank you." Lori repeated for the hundredth time.
"Stop thanking me. Thank yourself. You overcame your own fear. Besides what I did wasn't an obligation. I wanted to have you back." Terry explained. "And you're not pretty warm. You're pretty hot! If you know what I mean." Terry teased.
"Look! They're ahead of us!" Lori said as she changed the subject.
Lori chased after Kathleen and Carlos and Terry took a moment with his Jim.
"Pa. I know that you know what I'm thinking. But let me say it." Terry requested. "I know that you weren't the best decision maker back then. But don't beat yourself up for it. Self-pity never gets a person anywhere. All you will do is fall into a dark hole. Besides. Knights turned out to be okay. Don't worry. We'll get those who will stand in our way. And whatever it is that you and Ma are still quarreling about, I wish it would end tomorrow when she comes." Terry concluded.
Jim did not say a word. He remained, staring at the vast ocean. Terry patted Jim on the back and started running towards Carlos, Kathleen, and Lori. They walked in silence for a period of time until Carlos heard birds singing.
"It's the stupid birds again." Carlos complained. "Stop singing!"
Just then, Terry started to sing.
Why do birds,
Suddenly appear?
Every time,
You are near.
Terry skipped a thousand lines. Then he continued with what he knew. The other three joined in with the song.
His name was Terry and like most young men his age, he had dreams. He wished for the storybook life and searched for the perfect girl. He tried his best to fit in with his friends while retaining his unique personality. He struggled with his grades and puberty. He was just... normal.
But how normal could he really be? Each person had had traits that separated him or her from the rest. Each had something unique inside that no one else had. Terry would soon find out that even his birth was unique. The nature of his birth would be his salvation but also his own undoing. Soon the time came. That night that would change Terry's life forever.
Chapter 2: Friends
"Thank you." Terry said to the bus driver as he exited the bus.
"All right." the bus driver acknowledged.
Another day of school started with the ordinary routine.
"Oooh! Football!" Terry thought in his head as he saw Carlos, one of his best friends, throwing a football to Aaron, who threw it back to Carlos sloppily.
"Carlos!" Terry yelled as he dropped his backpack on a corner while running towards the direction Carlos was facing, indicating that he wanted Carlos to throw the ball to him.
"Go far!" Carlos yelled.
Everyone was playing catch with the football Carlos would yell "Go far!" to Terry. Of course Terry would follow Carlos's directions and end up being a fool.
Carlos would wait until Terry was far enough and pretended to throw the ball, but he never would. Today, he did. Terry was surprised. Nevertheless, Terry ran forward anticipating the football's trajectory. Terry kept running as he simultaneously looked up and saw the ball in the sky. Terry bent his knees like a tiger getting ready to pounce on its prey. He jumped as high as his legs could take him and raised both of his arms. The football was near and Terry started to clasp his hands. The football stroked Terry's hands with tremendous force due to Carlos's powerful throw. Terry continued to close his hands on the football and was certain he had caught it. Then, as always, the ball slipped out of Terry's hands. Terry felt gravity pulling him back down. The ball landed on the ground before Terry did and as he expected, Carlos made another crude remark about Terry's catching skills.
"Pffft! Hahaha!" Carlos cried like a monkey.
"Wups... Oh well." Terry whispered under his breath. He was used to dropping the ball. He wasn't embarrassed easily.
"Man! Catch the ball!" Carlos yelled from afar.
Terry ignored Carlos's statement and threw the football back. Passing was Terry's forte. However, Carlos passed more elegantly than Terry. The great distance of Terry's throw surprised everyone. Even though Carlos caught the ball with ease, Terry was still proud of his perfect spiral. Suddenly, out of the corner of Terry's eye, he saw the vice principal. Terry made the sign of a knife cutting his throat using his hands, which signaled everyone to stop throwing the football.
Luckily, Carlos got the signal and held onto the football. Terry walked over to Carlos and started a conversation.
"What's up with you?" Terry asked as he noticed Carlos rub his head.
"My head hurts." complained Carlos.
"From throwing the ball?" Terry said sarcastically.
"No!" Carlos responded. "I accidentally woke up too early this morning..."
"Ha!" Terry laughed.
"...And I couldn't go back to sleep. So I went to take a shower and I turned on the water. Then I hit the freakin' shower head with my head." Carlos concluded.
"Haha! Stupid! Haha!" Terry teased.
"It's not funny. OW! It still hurts." Carlos said painfully as he rubbed his head again.
"You always hurt yourself." Terry pointed out.
"Yeah!" Carlos agreed.
Another school bus arrived carrying what seemed like a million kids. One by one they exited the bus door and walked to their designated "groups" of people. Terry scanned the bus for a particular someone, slowly realizing that the person wasn't there. So, Terry walked over to Kathleen, Carlos remained to talk to their other friends.
"Hey stupid." Kathleen teased.
"Fine then." Terry said as he pretended that he was hurt by Kathleen's statement.
"I'm just kidding" Kathleen apologized.
"I know. Haha!" Terry teased as he walked back towards Kathleen.
"Leave-me-a-lone-man, leave-me-a-lone." Kathleen chanted as she danced with her arms swinging erratically.
A moment of silence came over Terry and Kathleen. Suddenly, Terry started to laugh. Another friend of theirs, Reuben, arrived.
"Haha! It's Reubenish!" Terry said, adding I-S-H at the end of Reuben's name.
"Ooo-k," Reuben, responded, obviously annoyed. "Guess what?" He prompted.
"What?" Terry asked anxiously.
"I don't know." Reuben said, confused.
Another bus arrived. Again, Terry searched for a particular person exiting the bus but was disappointed once again.
"Who you lookin' for?" Reuben asked, smiling.
"Who else?" Terry replied.
"Looori?" Kathleen mocked.
"No." Terry said sarcastically.
"How did I know that?" Reuben asked rhetorically.
"You didn't say anything!" Terry yelled.
"I said it in my head. 'Cause I'm psychic like that." Reuben said. Playfully.
"Uhuh." Terry replied.
Terry kept glancing at the bus stop. He wished that Lori would come soon. He had so many things to say to her. Things that he meant to say a long time ago.
"Anybody know what time it is?" Carlos asked the crowd.
"Time to go!" Aaron replied.
Aaron's words seemed to be magic words because right when he yelled, "It's time to go!" everyone who was sitting stood up. Everyone who was standing grabbed his or her backpack and started to walk to class, everyone but Terry. Terry always liked to be last. He thought that it was like making a grand entrance to a party. But today, he wanted to stay for Lori.
He was listening for the rumbling of the late bus's engine. He started to think that Lori might not come and that he might not get to say the things he needed to tell her. Suddenly, his wishes were answered. A large yellow bus pulled up to the bus stop. Terry peered into the bus full of students.
"This has got to be Lori's bus." Terry thought.
One by one, the boys and girls exited the bus. Terry waited anxiously to see Lori's face, impatient to see her big smile. Time seemed to have stood still. Terry spotted Lori's beautiful body. He was across the field but he could see every detail. Her glasses glinted against the rising sun. Every movement from her body seemed to flow so naturally like an iceberg adrift on the ocean's surface. Her body seemed to be cold like a glacier. Lori needed something to keep her warm. Terry believed that he was the fire that could give her the warmth she needed but he was always afraid to get closer. He might melt her away and cause a tremendous flood of destruction. He was thinking this just as Lori noticed him waiting for her. Lori approached Terry and greeted him. Together they walked side by side to class.
"So, what did you do this weekend?" Terry asked.
"A lot!" Lori replied and gave a sigh of relief.
Lori described all the volunteer work that she did during the weekend and how she also managed to complete all the school projects. In a way, Terry envied Lori because of all the extra work that she could fit into her schedule. At the same time, he was proud of her.
"Geez. You work too hard." Terry said, unsure if that was the right statement.
"Sometimes." Lori agreed.
The two met up with Kathleen and Carlos.
"Hi Lori!" Carlos greeted.
"Hey Carlos!" Lori responded.
Terry and Kathleen looked at each other and started to laugh as they all entered their first period class.
The day went by quickly. Suddenly, it was the time of dismissal and Terry had not said a single thing to Lori about his feelings. The buses waited at their stations. At four o'clock, they would start their engines. Without warning, Terry heard one of them rumble.
"Bus!" Terry informed everyone around him.
Everyone started to walk to his or her designated bus. Terry started running to his bus knowing that his will be the farthest to get to. He passed all the other buses and waved goodbye to his friends. This was the worst part of Terry's day for he hated to leave school. Many of his friends thought that he was bizarre because of it, but he still admitted that he loved school more than anything. Terry walked into his bus and sitting on the left, front row he saw his friend and counselor, Kathleen, again. Jay, her boyfriend sat by her left, a position that Terry would've wished for two years ago. But now, Terry and Kathleen are just great friends, almost like siblings. They share a lot of their problems with each other, but not that day, since Jay was there.
"Hey Tehree!" Jay greeted.
"Hmm." Terry replied.
"How was your day?" Kathleen asked.
"Like the usual." Terry answered.
"You wanna buy some candy?" Kathleen offered, as she changed the subject.
"No money." Terry declined.
"Aww." Kathleen said disappointed.
The bus was loud with so many people talking at the same time. It seemed that everybody was talking gibberish. Then the bus driver entered the bus, late as usual. She started the bus's engine and altogether, everyone made shuffling noises as they made themselves comfortable for the long ride home. However, the presence of the bus driver did not lower the noise level, for the bus driver was also talking to the other bus drivers on her walkie-talkie. Terry was starting to get exasperated, for he had a very short temper. Then, he saw Lori outside the window, facing away from him and talking to her friends. Her bus was late and she was still waiting on the bus stop along with her bus friends. Suddenly, as if she knew that Terry was looking at her, Lori turned around and looked directly at his eyes. At that moment Terry saw everything in Lori's mind and Lori saw into Terry's mind.
"Bye." Terry breathed.
"Bye." Lori said in the same fashion.
As the bus moved, further away from the bus stop, the two gazed at each other for what seemed like an eternity. An eternity that would only last until the bus turned on the first corner. The gaze between the Lori and Terry was disrupted and it would be long until Terry would ever see Lori awake again.
The bus finally arrived at Terry's bus stop. The time-consuming ride home made Terry fall asleep.
"Wake up Terry!" Jay yelled.
"Huh? Oh, oops, sorry." Terry mumbled bewilderedly.
Terry quickly stood up and exited the bus along with Kathleen and Jay. After they all accredited the bus driver for the ride home, they started walking away, headed to the same direction. They took a short cut through a middle school to quickly get home. The long walk was at first quiet, until Terry started singing.
Lone-lee.
I'm so lone-lee.
I have no-boh-dee.
To call my ooown!
Oooh lo -.
"Shut up Terry!" Jay interrupted.I'm so lone-lee.
I have no-boh-dee.
To call my ooown!
Oooh lo -.
Kathleen was laughing her head off.
"I didn't know the rest anyway." Terry apologized.
They finally reached the corner where they would separate to go home. They all said goodbye to each other. Kathleen was still giggling.
Chapter 3: Home
Terry finally arrived at his apartment. He reached into his pocket for his keys and unlocked the door. He was greeted by his cat, Baby, with a loud purr. Baby rubbed his body against Terry's leg affectionately. Once Terry was settled, he greeted Baby back with a bear hug. Then, Terry realized that his father, Jim, was asleep. Terry decided to walk quietly to his own room in order to not wake his father. He changed into his house clothes, ate dinner, took a shower and started doing his homework. The clock hit seven and he heard his father's alarm clock go off. Terry felt a chill pass through his body. Any second, his father would wake up and call him. Surely, Jim did.
"Ter!" Jim called Terry by his nickname.
"Coming!" Terry called out.
Terry stepped out of his room and took two extra steps to his father's room. He opened the door and asked Jim what he wanted.
"What time did you get home?" Jim asked.
"Four thirty." Terry said.
"What are you doing now?" Jim continued.
"My homework." Terry replied respectfully.
"Did anyone call?" Jim went on.
"No." Terry answered.
Jim rattled on with his unlimited questions. Finally, he ended the interrogation by telling Terry to go back to what he was doing. Jim went back to sleep. Terry was glad to have finally sat back on his chair. He continued with his homework until ten o'clock. Then he heard Jim's alarm clock go off again. Once more, Jim called out to Terry.
"Are you still doing your homework?"
"Yeah!"
"Hurry up so you can get some sleep!" yelled Terry's dad.
"All right, Pa! I'm almost done!" Terry yelled back.
Terry wasn't doing his homework anymore. He was drawing one of his characters again. It was a tiger but with a longer snout. It was in an attacking position and seemed to be roaring. The creature's eyes were gold like the sun. Its fur was coated with an indescribable red shine. But the most distinctive feature of this bizarre creature was the beautiful flame that surrounded its whole body. When Terry put the finishing touches on the red tiger, he decided that it was one of his greatest creations.
"Good night Pa!" Terry yelled to his father as he got off his chair.
"Yeah! Good night!" Terry's father responded.
Terry placed the paper with his new character drawn on it inside his drawer. Terry jumped onto his bed and put his blanket on. He thought about his room.
Terry had a small room since he lived in an apartment. He barely had any space to walk because of all his belongings. On the wall by the door, he had a wooden entertainment center. It had a black TV/VCR that he used to record his Saturday morning cartoons, a stereo with two big speakers, his small Hot Wheels collection on top, an old Sega Genesis game system that he rarely used, and a Playstation game system with about fifty games. He had a big bass speaker by his door with an angel statue surrounded by his two leis.
In front of Terry's entertainment center was a huge dresser the length of his bed. It had many drawers where he placed his everyday items in and on top he placed his phone, his alarm clock, his angle statue, and his red piggy bank. There was a two-door cabinet in the center of the dresser, where he stored his clothes in. By the dresser, he had a lamp and a computer desk. He had the computer essentials: a CPU, a monitor, a keyboard, a mouse, and speakers. On the side of his desk was his brand new printer.
His window was on the right of the computer desk. He could no longer open it since there was an air conditioner installed in it. On the left of his computer desk was his closet. He stored old toys and books in there. Finally, there was his bed, which took up most of the area in his room. It was a bunk bed with a full size mattress on the bottom and a twin size on top. He thought about all these things while he started to fall asleep. He felt comfortable in his room; it would be a long time until he would feel that way again.
Terry finally fell asleep and was about to have another dream. Then something started to happen. Various scenes started to flash in his mind. They seemed to be memories. They flashed like TV shows showing scenes from every episode for the season final‚ special. It always ends in the same fashion: a black ball floating in space, surrounded by a bright glow like the sun's corona. This was the introduction his mind received preceding his new dream. But this time it was not another ordinary dream. This time, it was real.
Chapter 4: Sleep
Ancient cultures believed that dreams were spiritual in origin, often foretelling the future. Aristotle believed that dreams originated from within the dreamer, arising from the heart. Modern dream research has focused on two general interpretations of dream content. In one view, dreams have no inherent meaning but are simply a process by which the brain integrates new information into memories. In the other view, dreams contain real meaning symbolized in a picture language that is distinct from conscious logical thought.
"Terry, help me!" Lori screamed.
"Terry, please help me!" Lori screamed again.
Terry was far away from Lori but just close enough to hear her muffled voice. He tried to find the direction the voice was coming from when he heard Lori again.
"Terry! AAAAHHH!" Lori screamed in horror.
Terry started running towards her. He was in a jungle. A tropical jungle, he thought. He was running through what seemed like blades of grass, except they were larger than his own body. He was being cut on almost every part of his body, but he did not care. He was focused on finding Lori, but how could he. He still heard her cries but he was in the middle of nowhere. There was no road to take and no horizon to see. He tried desperately to get free from the gigantic grass and then suddenly he just stopped. He was on his knees with tears in his eyes.
"Somebody please give me strength. Somebody please help me! I need to help her!" he cried.
Then everything was silent. Everything was inert. Lori's yelling had ceased and all he could hear is his heart pounding and his hard breathing. Then something behind him shook the earth. Something inside him knew what it was. He felt in his blood that it was there to help him. His cries have been answered. He turned around and there he saw the most amazing thing he had ever seen in his whole life.
Chapter 5: Scarlet
"Hello Terry. I am glad to have finally met you," said the mysterious creature.
"It's you! It's really you!" Terry said in amazement. "I've always dreamed of you coming to life, and now it's really you!" Terry repeated as he stared at a giant, red tiger.
"Yes it is me, but there is no time for explanations now. Lori is not the only person we have to find. My Time Stopper will not last for long. So, let us proceed," the creature, explained.
Something in Terry's instinct made him hop onto the creatures back. The creature was huge and it ran swiftly through the jungle. As they were racing across the jungle, the creatures so called Time Stopper seemed to be fading away. The silence was now covered by Lori's cries again. The brushing of the grass against Terry's new friend could now be heard and the size of the creature now enabled Terry to see further ahead. He could now finally see where Lori was. She was being chased by a dark two-dimensional shadow. Terry and his new friend were closing in on her. Finally, they were right behind the shadow. Terry's friend pounced on the dark shadow's head and stopped it from chasing Lori. They were now after Lori who was afraid of Terry's newly found friend.
"Lori! It's me Terry! Don't be scared! I'm here to help you! Just like you wanted!" Terry hollered.
"Terry?" Lori yelled out.
"Yeah, it's me. Now stop running away and give me your hand. Please. Before that shadowy thing gets back up!" Terry pleaded.
Lori was convinced and Terry's friend ran closer to her. Terry then grabbed her hand to pick her up. He explained that the creature was a friend and they ran towards the shadow again.
"Why are you going back? No! Get me away from that thing!" Lori yelled.
"Do not worry young lady I am here to protect both of you and this shadow is a mere pest to me. There will be no problem in destroying him," the creature reassured them.
"Destroying him? I don't want to see killing. I just want him gone!" Lori yelled.
Just like that the creature disappeared and Terry looked at Lori with a puzzled face.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" Lori said, annoyed.
"You just made that thing disappear." Terry pointed out.
"How? How Terry? How did I make that thing disappear?" Lori questioned.
"I believe that he is telling the truth. You, Lori, have some kind of power that made that creature disappear," the creature explained.
Realizing that the creature could talk. Lori jumped off and started running away again. Terry jumped off too and ran after her. Terry finally caught up and stopped her. They sat silently on a field for a couple of minutes and calmed themselves down. Finally, Terry broke the silence with a laugh.
"Why'd you laugh?" Lori asked.
"I don't know. Nothing's funny but I just needed to laugh. I don't know how I got here. The last thing I remembered was that I was in my room and about to fall asleep. Then, suddenly, I was here, hearing you call for me. I followed your voice but I didn't think I'd make it. That's when that big creature appeared. Something in my heart told me he was a friend, so I rode on him to find you. How did you know I was here anyway? Wherever here is..." Terry explained.
"I saw you fall out of the sky. We got here in the same way. Right when we fell asleep. This is our dream. Somehow they are mixed together. I haven't woken up for days. I think. You're the first person I've seen since I got here. I'm sorry for the attitude but I've gone crazy being alone. Well, not all alone. I do have her." Lori explained.
Lori has been carrying a crumpled sweater with her the whole time. She finally opened it and inside was a small, purple, fairy looking creature the size of a hand.
"She's been with me ever since I got here. She appeared to me right when I needed help, just like you... I mean just like your friend did for you." Lori blushed.
"Oh..." Terry stared. "Uhm... Is she okay? What's her name?" Terry asked.
"I named her Angel. Anyway, She got hurt pretty badly. She's still breathing though and she still has her purple glow. That shadowy figure wasn't the first thing that tried to attack me. When Angel first appeared, giant vines were squeezing me. It was so cute how she saved me. She showered the vines with some kind of fairy dust and the vines became limp and we flew away. Yep. She threw some fairy dust on me and I was able to fly. It was amazing Terry. Flying above the world. I felt so free. She took me to her colony. That's where I've been staying. Until that shadow came. It cast itself throughout the colony. It was terrible Terry. The darkness got to them. They became insane and they destroyed themselves." explained Lori as she started to cry.
"It's okay Lori. It'll be all right. We'll find a way to make her better." Terry comforted Lori.
"I'm lucky to have saved her. Her own family attacked her. We managed to get away but the shadow chased us. That's when I saw you fall from the sky. Somehow I just knew it was you. Thank you Terry. Thank you for coming," Lori said with care.
"Maybe it was meant to happen. Maybe we were supposed to come together. I have a feeling more things are coming, or more people. If we really are in both of our dreams, we must also be in other people's dreams. After all we're not the only ones who dream," Terry concluded.
"How is it possible. How is it possible for our dreams to merge and why does it feel so real. And why don't we ever wake up?" Lori thought out loud.
"I think I know someone who'll be able to explain this to us," Terry said. "Scarlet Tiger does."
"Scarlet Tiger? That's a funny name." Lori commented.
"Yeah, I decided to name him Scarlet Tiger. Hey! Scarlet!" Terry called.
The creature sat up realizing that Terry has decided to call him Scarlet. Terry walked to him and gave him a look.
"Tell me everything." Terry requested.
"I am not sure about every single detail but I can explain to you what I know." Scarlet paused. "You and Lori were born on the same day and in the same hospital. The scientists in that hospital conducted experiments on newborn babies. Their technology was advanced and they were able to inject microscopic programmed machines called Knights in the babies' bodies. Those machines merged with the cells in the babies' bodies. With their advanced technology the machines were able to act like cells and therefore were able to multiply just like cells. You and Lori were part of the group of babies. You have grown with organic-machine hybrid cells. You have become just like your modern computers except you are equipped with organic human intelligence. You have become an advanced species. You two were the oldest of the babies and therefore were the first to develop, Trance, the dream world that you are now in. During the development of your adolescence, the program of those machines was told to tap into the subconscious mind. The Knights program was specifically design to work its best when the brain turns to the subconscious mind. The mission of the scientists was to study how human behavior relates to the subconscious mind. Dream analysts have always tried to understand it but it was very hard. So Knights was developed to perform a study on humans. Bases have been built in hospitals around the world to implant Knights in almost every newborn. But controversy aroused and the use of Knights were soon banned. The scientists were hunted down and imprisoned. The ones who escaped have secretly kept track of the entire Knights host. Unfortunately, they did not anticipate that the babies would grow up to be very different types of people. You see the Knights are equipped with a tracking system. That means that they transmit signals and those signals overlap other Knights signals and that is how your dreams have merged. This is a temporary event and is difficult to be accurately predicted. As you know now, there were other babies in the hospital you were born in. They all grew up in different ways with different personalities and therefore different dreams. The shadow creature you just saw is a part of another person's dream. I believe it's from your acquaintance, Vladimir Jackson. He has a rather corrupted mind and it reflects on his subconscious. That shadow is probably his Core. Just like I am your Core and that fairy creature is Lori's Core. Your Core is your subconscious and the Knights program combined. It has a built in memory created by the scientists and that is how I know about your history. The form that I take right now is from your drawing right before you slept and the fairy's form is from Lori's imagination. The scientists have finally developed a program to enhance our performance. We, your Cores, are here to protect your mind and body. There will be more dreams coming in some will be dreams of your friends' and your enemies'. Some will even be of people's you don't even know. There have been incidents when another person's dreams invaded another and put that person into an eternal sleep for they have died in their subconscious. But as long as you are in the Dream World, we, your Core, will have a chance to prevent that from happening again. And your friend Lori there is our best weapon yet." Scarlet concluded.
"Me?" Lori said, surprised.
"Yes, there was a prophecy from the artificial intelligence that Knights have developed. The prophecy said that a young woman would need help and be saved by a young man. She will be the first to refuse a fight and be the first to control the dreams of not just hers but of other people's. This, I believe, is how you made the shadow from Vladimir's dream to disappear. You are the young woman in the prophecy. The young man in the prophecy is the young woman's source of power. So Terry, you have to be careful. Take care of yourself and Lori. With you two here, we might just be able to end this nightmare," Scarlet said.
"So we're here to save the lives and minds of people. That's kind of intense but I'm up for it. I've always felt this would happen someday. So what do we do now?" Terry asked.
"Right now you have to wake up from this dream. Terry, you need to help Lori wake you two up. Don't worry about the other dreams; other good Cores are protecting them. Both of you just focus and wake up. Think of something that will give your conscious mind a shock and make it happen." Scarlet instructed. "And Lori, hand me your fairy. I'll take care of her. She'll be good as a newborn when you get back. Trust me Lori." Scarlet pleaded.
"Okay, Scarlet, I trust you. Here you go. Her name is Angel. Take good care of her okay? She means everything to me. And be careful. Both of you." said Lori.
"We will and I assure you that I will not let anything happen to her." Scarlet said.
Chapter 6: Responsibility
"Uhm... Scarlet here, wear this. This is my prized possession. It's a digital watch. I'm letting you borrow it. That means I'll be back to get it from you okay?" Terry said, mysteriously.
"Thank you, Terry this means a lot to me. I will make sure have it when you get back. It is now time for you to go. I sense and alarm going off in your room. Goodbye for now Terry, you too Lori. I have got to get going myself. We Cores have to rest when you're awake." Scarlet said as he ran away.
"Wait! Scarlet!" Terry called out.
"Yes, Terry!" Scarlet turned.
"I thought I drew you with fire. Where is it?" Terry asked.
"Indeed, you drew me surrounded with fire. However, it was your final addition before ending your artwork. Therefore, it would ignite only during our final meeting." Scarlet explained.
Scarlet started running again. Terry stood there and watched as Scarlet disappeared from the horizon. Lori grabbed Terry's hand and closed her eyes.
"Focus, Terry, focus," Lori whispered. Remember what Scarlet said. "Think of an earthquake, crack the ground, and make us fall in," she instructed. "That should wake us up."
Terry closed his eyes and did what Lori told him to do. Then after a couple of seconds, the ground rumbled. The ground beneath the two saviors opened and slowly they sank to the darkness of their consciousness.
Chapter 7: Reality
BEEP BEEP BEEP. The alarm sounded
"What the!" Terry exclaimed. "Damn I'm late! It's seven o'clock!"
Terry, realizing he was late, quickly got off his bed and tripped over his blanket, which was tangled all over his leg. He hit the carpeted floor violently. Then his dream returned to his memory. He jumped up and looked at himself in the mirror. Suddenly, he raced to his drawers and searched for his digital watch. He could not find it. He started to realize that his dream was truly real.
Chapter 8: Tears
Deja vu. That was how the day seemed like to Terry's eyes. Everything was going, more or less, the way it did the previous day. At least it was until Lori failed to arrive. So Terry walked into class, greatly disappointed. Then a loud beep was heard that signaled to anyone who was not in his or her designated classroom was tardy. The teacher immediately started the roll call.
"Kathleen?" the teacher announced.
"Here!" Kathleen yelled out.
The teacher continued on. She called out Carlos's name and he also said "Here" but with great apathy. Terry waited for Lori's name to be called so that he could announce that she was absent but surprisingly, the teacher skipped her name. Terry was about to say something but the teacher's calls sped up.
"Terry?" the teacher said as she came closer to the end of the list of students' names.
Terry failed to hear the teacher's call for he was staring into space. He felt that there was something terribly wrong around him.
"Terry? Yoo-hoo." the teacher repeated.
"Why did you skip Lori's name?" Terry asked out of the blue.
The teacher's eyes widened and suddenly a tear rolled down her cheek. She took a deep breath and opened her mouth to talk. But Terry had expected the worst. He stood from his seat and ran out of the classroom with his hands covering his ears. The instant the door closed behind him, he let out a great yell.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!! WHY! SHE WAS RIGHT THERE BY MY SIDE! SHE WAS HOLDING MY HAND! WE BOTH FELL IN THE DARKNESS! WE BOTH WOKE UP FROM THAT DREAM! HOW CAN SHE BE GONE NOW! WHY! LORI! WHY!" Terry screamed at the top of his lungs.
Terry fell to the ground, devastated. He felt every function in his body start to fail. His tears were flowing down the concrete like a raging river. He heard people gather around him but he did not care. Then he felt a soft touch on his cheek.
"Terry, hang in there. We don't want to lose you too." Kathleen pleaded as she lifted Terry's head.
"Why? She's gone. What else can I ever look forward too?" Terry sat up.
"Why the sudden pessimism? You're better than that. You can pray that she wakes up soon. Only if you listened to the first few words Terry. She's not dead. She's alive, Terry. Just pray that she wakes up from her sleep." Kathleen explained to Terry.
Terry suddenly found himself standing. He listened to all the words Kathleen said. He found out that Vladimir has been missing for two weeks. He was suddenly filled with hope.
"It's a coma." Terry said aloud.
"Yeah. So don't lose hope." Kathleen implied.
"It's a coma and Vladimir is gone." Terry repeated.
"What are you thinking about?" Kathleen asked curiously, detecting a hint of planning in Terry's voice. The crowd has now lessened to just two people: Kathleen and Carlos.
"Carlos, tell the teacher that I'm going home. Take my backpack home with you. I don't have time to get it." Terry told Carlos.
"Dude. What are you gonna do? I thought Kathleen just explained everything to you. You still don't get it. Don't throw your whole life aw -." Carlos stopped as Terry interrupted him.
"Just do what I say Carlos. I'm fine and I'm not throwing my life away. You two are right, I'm not like that. I'm going to save Lori." Terry explained.
"Wha -." Carlos started to say but Terry started to run away. Carlos ran after him but Kathleen told Carlos to let Terry go.
"Whatever he's planning, we'll find out. Whatever we find out, I hope, will help him." Kathleen said.
Carlos and Kathleen returned to the classroom. Carlos told the teacher what Terry wanted him to say and made up a story that Terry ran to the office to call his father. Kathleen sat down looking up at the ceiling, pondering what she could do to help Terry.
Chapter 9: Smoke
Terry did not really plan on going home. What he did was run. He ran west, to the direction of the beach. He was perfectly fine, he ran as fast as he could. His eyes watered but had a glint of determination. He did not know why he was running toward the beach. But what he did know was that it was his source of peace. He kept running as far as his legs could take him but realized that he wasn't getting anywhere. He stopped running and was out of breath. He wanted to get to the ocean so badly. But how could he? Suddenly, his whole body started to float and become transparent. Slowly, his body developed into smoke. He floated to the sky and the wind blew him westward. Of all the things that had happened the last twenty-four hours, this ability of his was the least surprising. Finally, he saw the ocean and was reminded of its tranquility, just then, his body of smoke lowered down to the shore. He quickly became solid again.
Terry looked out into the endless view of water. He had figured out that if his dream was real, then that was where Lori would be trapped in: a dream. He now knew why he came to the beach for he started to relax. He came there to sleep. He wanted to sleep because that was the only way that he could save Lori.
Chapter 10: Mom
He was awakened by the sound of the ocean's waves. He stood up, searched his surroundings, and was disappointed that he failed to dream. That was until he heard a familiar voice behind him. He looked to the direction voice's source and fell on his knees.
"Anak." - "Son." a woman behind Terry said affectionately.
"Ma?" Terry said with tears in his eyes.
"I'm here babe. It's ok" Terry's mother, Lorilie, comforted him.
"I know you're here. You really are." Terry said as he stood up and hugged his mother.
"Yes, but do you know where here is?" Lorilie asked. "You're dream."
"No." Terry pulled away from his mother. "You can't be fake. Why can't you visit me in real life?"
"I am not fake. But I am not real either. But trust me, all that you hear from me is truly from my real mind, heart, and soul." Lorilie explained. "Please, trust me."
"I know everything about what happened to me. You're my mother. You were there when all implants took place. I've heard it before. But refresh my memory." Terry pleaded for an explanation.
"You're right, I've been part of everything since the very beginning. You may even say that I was the founder. But don't get me wrong, I did not choose for all this to happen. I am a mere disciple of Augur. Augur is a supreme entity. He is a god and what you don't know much about is my place in the world at the time of your birth. Terry, I was a religious leader, the highest ranking of them all. Even the whole world worshiped my faith. Then my whole life changed when Augur talked to me. This god told me that I was to bear a child that would become a savior. But this child would not save in a physical manner. But he would save people from the evil within themselves." Lorilie paused. "Terry, that child was you. The prophecy that you now know was messages from Augur. Terry you have much to accomplish but you seem to have trouble within yourself. You need to find a way to overcome your problems before you take on this great responsibility." Lorilie concluded.
"But how did Knights come to play? And why are others like myself dragged into this situation?" Terry asked impatiently.
"This is the part that I do not yet fully comprehend. I feel that it was fate that brought your father to develop Knights?" Lorilie clarified.
"He what?" Terry questioned surprisingly.
"There was nothing in the prophecy that said you would ever need science to fulfill your destiny. But it turned out that Knights was the only thing that could've brought the prophecy to life." Lorilie said, surprised by her own words. "Your father only wanted to protect you. He also received Augur's messages but he interpreted it as a war that you would end up fighting. Your father has never gotten over his experience in the War and developing Knights was the only way that he felt you could be protected. So far, he's been right." Lorilie stated.
"Still. Why are the others here? And how are you able to communicate with me through my dream?" Terry asked.
"It's all from the prophecy, my son. They need to be here. Somehow, you need them around. Even your enemies." Lorilie explained. "As for me. I am no longer as respected as I used to be. The ethical offenses of the Knights Project brought an end to my leadership and also to the project itself. But before everything was shut down, I injected Knights into myself. I felt that I needed to monitor you first hand."
"Ma. You seem to know everything. But so did Scarlet. His story and your story are a little bit unparallel. How do I know you're telling me the truth?"
"Terry. You must find that out by yourself. Find your own answers. I'll just watch you the whole time. Just remember Terry, I love you." Lorilie concluded as she disappeared into thin air.
Chapter 11: Elements
Terry tried to save his mother but she disappeared before he reached her. Now Terry was left all alone. "Find your own answers." The words of his mother kept repeating in his head. With that statement, he again, turned around to look across the ocean. It has lost its serenity and across the horizon, Terry saw a giant tower of ice. He stepped closer to the edge of shore and soon found himself walking toward the large glacier. It was getting darker and colder. He again wished for help from Scarlet. He waited for him to arrive but never did. Then, Terry started to feel his bones crunch as he saw himself transform. His knees bent as his skin color changed to red. He was then crouching on all fours. His nails shrunk and started to form a sickle shaped object. Then he developed black stripes. He looked at his reflection in the water and saw Scarlet.
Terry had Scarlet's voice in his head. Scarlet said that this would be their last meeting and right then, Terry's new body bursted into flames. The water beneath him started to boil. The vapor collected into a single gaseous mass that lifted Terry to the top of the giant glacier. Before he stepped off of the gaseous mass, he put out his body's fire. He then steeped onto the glacier and heard his foot sizzle.
His new body gave him the ability to run at a tremendous speed and was still able to see everything he passed clearly as if he was walking. The glacier had a dark dome at its peak. Terry raced to reach it, certain that, there, he would find the answers to his questions. He came closer and closer to the dome and saw the entrance. Terry took the first leap into it and felt a great pain pass through his body. He saw nothing but darkness and heard nothing but one voice, the taunting voice of Vladimir.
"Well. If it isn't Mr. Savior guy." Vladimir mocked. "Come to save little Lori?" Suddenly, Vladimir's voice became low in pitch. "Well, you'll have to destroy her first."
Then, everything became bright and in front of him, Terry saw Lori. Her eyes seemed to be focused far, her legs were bent as if she could barely walk, and her arms drooped like a dead flower. Her voice had changed too, for she sounded like a banshee.
"Terry. I've been waiting for you." Lori said. "Why don't you come closer? Come and save me. Vladimir has killed me Terry, he has."
"Lori, this can't be you. This can't be what's left of the beautiful girl I last saw on the bus stop. The Lori I knew can look at me deeply and melt my heart and soul. She -." Terry was interrupted by the annoyed voice of Vladimir.
"Shut your mouth Terry! Your efforts are futile!" Vladimir yelled.
"I don't think so!" Terry answered back. "I don't know what you did to her Vladimir! But Lori does not give in easily! And Lori will not start giving in to YOU! Lori, listen to me! It's me. Terry! Forget everything that this twisted person ever told you. Whatever they are I know one thing is a lie. He has not killed you. You are the strongest person I know! Fight him! Whatever he's doing to you. You've got to hang on. I'm here to help." Terry pushed.
"Lori DO NOT listen to him. Just imagine how happy you and I could be!" Vladimir defended.
"Oh is that what you promised her, Vladimir? Happiness? That's all you can do? Well she doesn't look very happy to me. You can't even keep your word. I -." Terry was interrupted by his own thoughts. "I what? I haven't been much of anything either for Lori. I'm the reason that she's in this situation in the first place. But I'm here right now. Doing the best I can to save her. I can provide her everything she wants. Right? I'll do my best."
"You what? Terry. You think you can do better than me?" Vladimir laughed.
"Actually I know that I can do much better than you. I always have been. I've been there for Lori as much as I possibly can. Did you know that I am her source of power? And that she is my source? Vladimir! You're going to be sorry! I've answered one part of my destiny!" Terry announced.
Terry started to walk closer to the figure that seemed to be a dilapidation of his loved one. He was no longer afraid of her looks. Her distant voice was now soothing to his ears. He knows that she will come back. Terry transformed back into his human form. He stood right in front of Lori, who was looking right through him. Terry grabbed her shivering hands and felt and old woman. He stood there and stared deeply into her eyes. Then, instantly, Lori's eyes focused on Terry's. Vladimir has now shown himself. He too has turned into his Core. The shadow that cast darkness and fed on people's fears has taken on three dimensions. Vladimir lunged toward to Terry, attempting to attack. But Terry laughed at his face and gave a smirk.
"Shadows can't appear if light is not blocked." Terry concluded.
A great ball of fire surrounded Terry and Lori and a separate ball surrounded Vladimir. Terry closed his eyes and remembered envisioned the black ball floating in space, surrounded by a bright glow. The first image he saw before he entered Trance for the first time, and suddenly, the ball around Vladimir started to shrink. It seemed to collapse into itself just like the final moments of a dying star. It became smaller and smaller and finally disappeared through a great explosion. Terry still stood there in his bubble of fire with his hands on Lori's.
"Lori, I know I've kept many things from you and I know that I'm not always your first priority. But I want you to know that you are to me. There's not a day that I don't picture your face, your smile, or hear you voice in my head. I can only imagine the pain you're going through but don't waste your perfectly imperfect life for a life in darkness and fear. I used to fear that if I ever came too close to you, I might end up hurting you. But things have changed with me. I'm no longer afraid because all that you can ever bring me is happiness. Remember? You are my source of power too. So snap out of it." Terry pleaded. "Vladimir is gone. He can't hurt you anymore. He fed off all your fears. They should be gone by now. Come on Lori. I'm here. I can help you through whatever you're going through. I love you Lori and I don't want to lose you. I already know how that can feel."
Right at that moment, Terry started to feel Lori's hands get smooth. Her face became plump again and most importantly her eyes were full of life. She looked directly into Terry's eyes and threw her arms around him. Then, Lori started to freeze. Her body became a statue of ice around Terry's neck. Terry thought that this was the moment of truth. He set his body on fire and surrounded his and Lori's body in flames. Lori did not melt. She returned back to her normal self. But now she started to glow. She grew feathered wings on her back and suddenly she looked like an angel. She flew high into the sky and spread light throughout the reaches of Trance. Terry's fire melted the giant glacier and flooded the surroundings, purifying it in the process.
Lori landed softly by Terry's side.
"Thank you Terry. I love you too." Lori acknowledged.
Chapter 12: Laughter
"Terry we need to wake up again." said Lori.
"Together this time ok?" Terry made sure. "Let's make it a nice one."
"Ok. Let's have penguins chase us." Lori advised.
"I'm so glad you're back. All right. Close your eyes." Terry ordered.
Lori and Terry both closed their eyes and visualized a stampede of baby penguins. They opened their eyes and heard a loud, approaching rumble. They looked at each other and smiled. They started to run, laughing their heads off.
Chapter 13: Awakening
"Terry! Oh my god! Terry! Are you ok?" Jim asked him as he pushed through a crowd that surrounded Terry.
"Pa? What is all this?" Terry asked as Jim lifted him up. "Ok people, I was just sleeping. No need to crowd."
"But you were on fire." someone from the posse exclaimed.
Terry then realized that his dreams could enter reality. Then he saw Carlos ahead of him, smiling. Suddenly, the crowd grew silent with blank stares in their eyes. Carlos started to walk toward Terry.
"I know everything Terry. I was part of the experiment. Mine went ballistic just last night." Carlos explained.
Just then, a red car arrived in front of them. The back doors opened and from them stepped out Kathleen and Lori.
"I take it that Kathleen's in it too?" Terry asked Carlos.
"Yep, all four of us." Carlos answered.
Terry ran towards Lori and they gave each other a great big hug.
"So, did your family see wings?" Terry asked Lori.
"No, but they said that I was so cold that I froze their tears." Lori joked.
The group of four enjoyed their reunion. They realized that Jim was still behind them, looking out into the sea. Jim noticed the sudden silence.
"So it's begun." Jim stated. "You four have grown. Who would have thought that the four most important people of the prophecy would all go to the same high school? But I'm afraid that you guys are not alone. More will come. Be prepared."
"Pa I -." Terry started to say.
"Son, I know what your thinking. Seriously, I do. I'm proud of you. I never prepared you for this and I'm sorry." Jim apologized. "But I saw that you didn't need any preparations. But all four of you will need our guidance."
"Our. Who's -." Again, Terry was interrupted.
"You mother will be here tomorrow. I saw that you two have much catching up to do and so does your sisters and so do I." Jim explained.
"Thanks pa." Terry said as he realized that his father also overcame one of his fears.
"Well, it's been a long forty-eight hours for all of you. But I'm afraid that you'll have to go to school."
"Aww!" all whined unanimously, except Terry, who had something else to say.
"All right, finally, something normal for a change. So did you guys do your homework?" Terry laughed. "I did. Luckily. I did them all before all this Trance stuff came."
"Well that's you Terry. You have too much time on your hands." Carlos mentioned.
The sun started to rise. Terry watched it and looked at Lori, who was also watching it, rise.
"Are you still cold?" Terry asked.
"No, I'm pretty warm now. Thank you." Lori repeated for the hundredth time.
"Stop thanking me. Thank yourself. You overcame your own fear. Besides what I did wasn't an obligation. I wanted to have you back." Terry explained. "And you're not pretty warm. You're pretty hot! If you know what I mean." Terry teased.
"Look! They're ahead of us!" Lori said as she changed the subject.
Lori chased after Kathleen and Carlos and Terry took a moment with his Jim.
"Pa. I know that you know what I'm thinking. But let me say it." Terry requested. "I know that you weren't the best decision maker back then. But don't beat yourself up for it. Self-pity never gets a person anywhere. All you will do is fall into a dark hole. Besides. Knights turned out to be okay. Don't worry. We'll get those who will stand in our way. And whatever it is that you and Ma are still quarreling about, I wish it would end tomorrow when she comes." Terry concluded.
Jim did not say a word. He remained, staring at the vast ocean. Terry patted Jim on the back and started running towards Carlos, Kathleen, and Lori. They walked in silence for a period of time until Carlos heard birds singing.
"It's the stupid birds again." Carlos complained. "Stop singing!"
Just then, Terry started to sing.
Why do birds,
Suddenly appear?
Every time,
You are near.
Terry skipped a thousand lines. Then he continued with what he knew. The other three joined in with the song.
What the world,
Needs now.
Is love,
Sweet love.
It's the only thing,
That we'll ever,
Dream of.
Needs now.
Is love,
Sweet love.
It's the only thing,
That we'll ever,
Dream of.
posted by Unknown at 4:40 AM
0 comments
Wednesday, February 08, 2006
May
June 11, 2005
Here I am writing about myself. I guess this can be called a diary, but I think it's kind of too late for me to start one of those. Actually, maybe it is a diary. There's no age limit for these things. Well, anyway, I'm feeling extremely sad. Like fallen-into-a-depression kind of sad. When I'm depressed, I clean things like a maniac, or more like, organize things like a maniac. Lately, I've been organizing everything in my roommate's room. I'll wake up in the morning, find the smallest bit of something off and fix it. How did I get into a big hole as this? Well, I think I can explain. It all started in the month of May.
June 13, 2005
Actually, I can only remember things that happened in the last two weeks of May. But now, I don't feel like writing.
Here I am writing about myself. I guess this can be called a diary, but I think it's kind of too late for me to start one of those. Actually, maybe it is a diary. There's no age limit for these things. Well, anyway, I'm feeling extremely sad. Like fallen-into-a-depression kind of sad. When I'm depressed, I clean things like a maniac, or more like, organize things like a maniac. Lately, I've been organizing everything in my roommate's room. I'll wake up in the morning, find the smallest bit of something off and fix it. How did I get into a big hole as this? Well, I think I can explain. It all started in the month of May.
June 13, 2005
Actually, I can only remember things that happened in the last two weeks of May. But now, I don't feel like writing.
posted by Unknown at 7:32 PM
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Live Each Day in Eight Hour Intervals
He sits alone in front of his computer trying to figure out a name for his main character, who's actually based on himself. He doesn't want to use his own name because it seems conceited, but he decides that that's just his lame justification. He simultaneously listens to two songs on repeat, just for them to keep up with his favorite songs' play count. He heard a noise of something that fell outside, but lets it go. He doesn't really care about his landlord or his landlord's family, despite the fact that they are letting him live in their converted garage for $450 per month. Oh well, he thinks. It's better off this way.
Almost a year ago, he would have never thought he'd be living on his own at the age of 18. Now, he types on his second-hand computer inside his newly redecorated converted garage slash studio of a place. Now that it's winter he's always cold. He even duct taped all of the seep holes, but still needs three blankets and a beanie to sleep comfortably. However, last summer, he would have loved have slept naked. In ten days, he will be 19. In two days, his first own telephone line will be installed. He's not sure if he wants use the connection to finally have internet. He needs the internet to communicate with his family from countries away and to get a job, but he's afraid he would forget about those things and just use it for lesbian pornography instead. So he's not sure, after all, he's never had internet at home before. Whatever, he says to himself. There are bigger things than this.
Like finishing this story that hasn't even begun. Too bad he keeps too many doubts in his mind. He second thinks every step he makes. In the end, most of the things he starts, he quits. However, there's a certain flame for his desire to create a story. He's done it once, a 35-page short story. But he classified it "too immature" and he doesn't count it as one of his life's accomplishments. He wants to tell a story that will touch people's hearts. Something good enough to be made into a movie. But that's just his problem: he loves attention. Why do I love attention so much?
Almost a year ago, he would have never thought he'd be living on his own at the age of 18. Now, he types on his second-hand computer inside his newly redecorated converted garage slash studio of a place. Now that it's winter he's always cold. He even duct taped all of the seep holes, but still needs three blankets and a beanie to sleep comfortably. However, last summer, he would have loved have slept naked. In ten days, he will be 19. In two days, his first own telephone line will be installed. He's not sure if he wants use the connection to finally have internet. He needs the internet to communicate with his family from countries away and to get a job, but he's afraid he would forget about those things and just use it for lesbian pornography instead. So he's not sure, after all, he's never had internet at home before. Whatever, he says to himself. There are bigger things than this.
Like finishing this story that hasn't even begun. Too bad he keeps too many doubts in his mind. He second thinks every step he makes. In the end, most of the things he starts, he quits. However, there's a certain flame for his desire to create a story. He's done it once, a 35-page short story. But he classified it "too immature" and he doesn't count it as one of his life's accomplishments. He wants to tell a story that will touch people's hearts. Something good enough to be made into a movie. But that's just his problem: he loves attention. Why do I love attention so much?
posted by Unknown at 7:28 PM
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Five Years Older the Boy
When he was born, he almost died. Actually, he did die. For just one second. but in that second, he went straight to purgatory. Now, some people think that our present world is the actual purgatory, but it's not true. So you wonder, why a newborn went straight to purgatory , without having commited any sins that would leave consideration for heaven or hell? Well, the sins of the father that's why. You see, the father was dead, but not just physically. He was, in a way too incomprehensible to explain, spiritually dead. No spirit to go to hell, the powers that be needed a balance to this unprecedented event, fortunately, the father's negative energy was still left within those people who he ruined lives with. Those energies were collected and reincarnated into the newborn of discussion. So that second, was a year in purgatory. He grew a year, and returned with the mind of a five year old, in a newborn's body. He did not cry once out of his mother's wound, instead, he opened his eyes and exhaled. His mother died at childbirth. But later, she will resurface. But let us follow the life of this boy. The boy five years older than what he was supposed to be.
posted by Unknown at 7:27 PM
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