Part 1:
Jake was never actually sure what woke him up first the feeling of the cold stone on his face, or the sunlight that burned at his eyes. God what the hell am I doing here? His mind screamed as finally got to his feet, and stood face to face with an altar. What the hell was I doing that I ended up in a church? His mind was racing with thoughts so he didn't notice the sound of a person coming up from behind him.
"Excuse me are you alright?" Jake spun around, and found himself staring at a priest whose face seemed all too familiar. The closely cropped hair and angular face seemed to hold wisdom beyond the man's years. His presence resumed the flood of images, and sounds. The priest said as he reached out catching Jake as once more the flashes overwhelmed him. Then it all stopped the maddening confusion of his mind ended in as he heard a single word screamed above the madness, DARIUS.
"I said are you alright? Do you need help?"
"I don't know. I have to go now," Jake said in a rush as started toward the door. The priest reached out grabbing Jake's arm.
"You do not need to be afraid. I will not harm you," the priest said softly.
"Let me go Darius!" Jake snapped back as the confusion of his mind making his body react on instinct. The use of his name caused just as much confusion in the priest.
"How do you know my name?" Darius asked as he examined the youth more closely.
"I don't.God not again!" Jake broke past Darius in a dead sprint before the priest could stop him again. Fleeing from the church before the flood of images overwhelmed him once more.
"Waite!" Darius called out to the fleeing man, but it was already too late. I wonder why he reacted like that, Darius thought, and how did he know my name? He seemed confused, uncertain, and like so many out there he ran. I hope he returns maybe I can help him. Darius's thoughts on the young man drifted off as he began fixing the chairs the man had knocked over as he got up from the floor. Darius finished, and headed for his room turning his thoughts once more to the recent dream of his about Damian Thackery.
Outside Jake ran down the sidewalk, and turned the corner just as a sliver mini-van turned the corner parking in front of Darius's church.
It is still early in the morning, and the streets of Paris are not as filled with people so it is several blocks before Jake is forced to slow down. His mind feels detached as he is running at several different speeds, and his mind is caught between them. Across the street is one of Paris's parks, and immediately he heads for it. He has not reached the point where he will question how it is that he knows that this is Paris. His instincts are still in control, and he is searching for an area of peace where he can collect his thoughts. In response his mind asks, "If I wanted peace why did I run from the church? The priest would not have harmed me I know that, but how? I know it has to be more then the Priest words. And more importantly how do I know my name is Jake? Ever since I have been I awake I have called myself that, but I can't remember anything else. How do I know this is really my name, why can't I remember?"
As he entered the park Jake felt his temples begin throbbing a symptom of what he had come to know as a precursor to the blinding flashes. He made it to the nearest park bench before the flashes caused him to slip into unconsciousness.
Jake was never actually sure what woke him up first the feeling of the cold stone on his face, or the sunlight that burned at his eyes. God what the hell am I doing here? His mind screamed as finally got to his feet, and stood face to face with an altar. What the hell was I doing that I ended up in a church? His mind was racing with thoughts so he didn't notice the sound of a person coming up from behind him.
"Excuse me are you alright?" Jake spun around, and found himself staring at a priest whose face seemed all too familiar. The closely cropped hair and angular face seemed to hold wisdom beyond the man's years. His presence resumed the flood of images, and sounds. The priest said as he reached out catching Jake as once more the flashes overwhelmed him. Then it all stopped the maddening confusion of his mind ended in as he heard a single word screamed above the madness, DARIUS.
"I said are you alright? Do you need help?"
"I don't know. I have to go now," Jake said in a rush as started toward the door. The priest reached out grabbing Jake's arm.
"You do not need to be afraid. I will not harm you," the priest said softly.
"Let me go Darius!" Jake snapped back as the confusion of his mind making his body react on instinct. The use of his name caused just as much confusion in the priest.
"How do you know my name?" Darius asked as he examined the youth more closely.
"I don't.God not again!" Jake broke past Darius in a dead sprint before the priest could stop him again. Fleeing from the church before the flood of images overwhelmed him once more.
"Waite!" Darius called out to the fleeing man, but it was already too late. I wonder why he reacted like that, Darius thought, and how did he know my name? He seemed confused, uncertain, and like so many out there he ran. I hope he returns maybe I can help him. Darius's thoughts on the young man drifted off as he began fixing the chairs the man had knocked over as he got up from the floor. Darius finished, and headed for his room turning his thoughts once more to the recent dream of his about Damian Thackery.
Outside Jake ran down the sidewalk, and turned the corner just as a sliver mini-van turned the corner parking in front of Darius's church.
It is still early in the morning, and the streets of Paris are not as filled with people so it is several blocks before Jake is forced to slow down. His mind feels detached as he is running at several different speeds, and his mind is caught between them. Across the street is one of Paris's parks, and immediately he heads for it. He has not reached the point where he will question how it is that he knows that this is Paris. His instincts are still in control, and he is searching for an area of peace where he can collect his thoughts. In response his mind asks, "If I wanted peace why did I run from the church? The priest would not have harmed me I know that, but how? I know it has to be more then the Priest words. And more importantly how do I know my name is Jake? Ever since I have been I awake I have called myself that, but I can't remember anything else. How do I know this is really my name, why can't I remember?"
As he entered the park Jake felt his temples begin throbbing a symptom of what he had come to know as a precursor to the blinding flashes. He made it to the nearest park bench before the flashes caused him to slip into unconsciousness.