Dark Matrix

Prologue

            When machines started to murmur silently, Sydney raised his head and turned to black screen.

            "Lady, are you here?"

            "I'm always here, my Prophet." With the quiet woman's voice green letters appeared on the monitor. Sydney smiled. "I found next One. He might be more of challenge to you, my Child."

            "Aren't they always…?" Little chuckle escaped young man's lips. Something stirred in his grayish blue eyes. "Is he special?"

            "It's yours to decide. I trust in you. But there is more to it…" The voice fell silent, then again picked up, with a tone of uncertainty to it. "Iocus is after you, my Prophet, and Dark in any of my Children. They deployed their best, Crimson Blades. They want the Gran Grimore."

            Blonde laughed, throwing his head back. He moved one of hands to his lips. There was a glint of metal in greenish light.

            "It might be the last thing I ask from you."

            "I'm not afraid, my dear Lady. Maybe it's my time to join you?" No response came. "Fear not, Lady, they will never find the truth. And they will not learn it from me, that's for sure."

            "Thank you, my Prophet."

            "Lady, how will I know that's him? Will it be Him?"

            "Take care of Gran Grimore and you will know. Goodbye, Sydney."

            Man nodded and slumped in his chair, thinking. Computer screen went black again.

            "Goodbye, Lady." He whispered, sliding his artificial fingers over cold glass.

It was always the same, again and again. No matter much he wanted to stop, to alter it, it always went the same way.

            It begun with happiness, ended with a soul wrenching sorrow. And there was nothing he could do.

            The same nightmare, over and over, without end, breaking his mind, every time a little more. He knew he was going to shatter one day, to crumble under all the grief and rage. He didn't care really.

            All that was left was sole purpose – self-destruction. Committing suicide without truly doing this. He wouldn't be the one to pull the trigger or press key, but it would happen anyway. He just had to wait.

He prayed it was close future as he lay in his bed, unable to sleep in fear of repeating the worst moment of his life. Unable to even close his eyes for images appeared without hesitation.

Maybe tomorrow was the day he was waiting for.

Maybe tomorrow he would die.

Happy with every R&R…