Kingdom Come

Lies

~*~*~*~

Hallo, everyone. ^^ I do hope you're feeling well.

And may I wish you a happy 2010, everyone! Let's welcome in the New Year with a new chapter of Kingdom Come…which I still don't know about the title….

How did I get it, again…? I really ought to have gone with The Graveyard of The Fireflies…..but noooo, I had to find the most random and vague segment I could configurate.

Danny's going to be in for some serious pain later….and I'm not quite sure how I plan to end this. Still, it will end when it does, and I can only hope it will be a momentous one.

I FINALLY saw TUE…and it wasn't that bad. Not my favorite one, but the parts with Vlad and Danny were rather touching. Poor Danny.

Sheesh, are my author notes always this long? More like a paragraph….~

Quote:

~*~*~

"Hope abides; therefore I abide.
Countless frustrations have not cowed me.
I am still alive, vibrant with life.
The black cloud will disappear,
The morning sun will appear once again
In all its supernal glory."

It hurt.

And the pained struggle of exhaling and inhalation was making it all the more so as a pale, trembling hand struggled to remove the suffocating appendage currently covering his mouth and nose.

…..?

Why wouldn't the…thing-probably a breather mask, judging by the slight, timed beeps he could hear faintly in the background….

It was too dark to make out anything from under his eyelids. No flash of light-and no familiar hue or color to give Danny even a fevered distinction of where he might be.

He struggled to open his eyes-and, on the third attempt, succeeded in parting them for a fraction of a second.

Fortunately, the boy could see quite a bit in the split second he had to discern anything.

Unfortunately, all he could discern was one thing:

He COULD see. A whole lot of dark.

…..and that pretty much covered it, though he thought he might have seen the occasional hint of a small, emerald light beside him…as well as an unfamiliar, faint beeping sound.

At first, the young boy, still slightly groggy under the morphine and other sedater medication that Vlad had injected into his bloodstream, wasn't very aware of anything in the surrounding area, other then….

…..?

Again, Danny felt slightly confused. Check that, his own thoughts were only vaguely coherent, and he couldn't even tell where he was resting. His bed?

….speaking of which, where did he usually sleep?

For a moment or two, Danny lay there, a small, troubled frown beginning to formulate underneath his breather.

Surely, there was a reason why he was here. His eternally aching body had to be proof of that. Perhaps he was in a hospital?

The thought was a little, oddly as it sounded, comforting. There was one clue on his whereabouts-and it seemed quite likely, seeing as how there seemed to be a slight soreness to his wrist that suggested a needle had been injected. Perhaps an IV stand?

But that still didn't cover the entire story for him. He still wanted to learn more.

He still HAD to learn more.

What had happened to him? Had he been in an accident? An operation?

Danny winced as he attempted to tug his ankle back underneath the covers. It was really rather hot in here-and someone had heaped either quite a few thick covers over him, or forgot the boy was there, and threw another mattress on him.

Every particle and atom of his flesh was slightly achy-and perhaps a bit achy, as if he'd pulled something ever so slightly. Sore though they were, they didn't quite sting.

Maybe he'd been….in an accident. Yes, that sounded likely. But why couldn't he remember a thing about it?

If it had been an operation….maybe it was the anesthetic that kept him from remembering anything. But it was beginning to wear off-uncomfortable awareness of the twanging stiffness of his body was becoming more and more evident with each passing second. He must have been still for what felt like some period of time.

Accident sounded more likely. Maybe he'd had a small concussion or head trauma-and that was why only the vaguest memories were slipping through his memory, like those through a siege.

He could remember his name was Daniel. Someone had said that not too long ago. It was a rich, debonair….though frantic tone. Danny faintly pondered the identity of the man, a small scowl finding his features again.

…..too hard to recall who the man was. He'd come back to that later.

He could remember making a gooey, glue covered collage in second grade-and he could remember walking down a sidewalk.

He could remember a paper cut he had gotten surely not so long ago….and he could remember looking up at a star strewn, dark skyline, alone, on a small hill.

For some reason, he could remember that a bully that had been tormenting him since grade school….and he could recall sitting on a swing, feeling slightly bored.

Only the most random bits of information-such as the multiplication table and where some place named Brazil was-were currently scattered in the bewildered child's mind.

Like that of a bad slideshow-completely disheveled and out of order, the images flowed.

Searching across the broken tangents of though, Danny pondered, looking for a good place to start. At last, he found something fairly feasible, and settled upon "remembering…"

Someone was calling his name.

Danny had looked up in surprise from where he had been perched in a sandbox, a goofy smile beginning to grace his small, rather petite figure.

Someone was waving at him. Who it was-Danny couldn't tell-for the far off figure was somewhat….

Faceless. The voice was feminine-and faintly familiar, but the person calling to him had no face….

….nor any tangible features at all, save for a walking shadow.

"Danny!"

The little boy laughed.

"Hullo, Ja-"

And the memory abruptly cut itself off.

~*~*~*~

Danny simply lay there for a minute or two, feeling extremely lost.

As well as very frightened, by this point.

What had happened?

It was like a scene from a storybook-and one completely tarnished, at that.

For one of the character's faces had been completely torn out.

He shuddered in discomfort, heartbeats beginning to pick up once more.

As if that weren't disturbing enough, what was wrong with him? That memory had to be at least eight years or so. Surely he had many-or at least a fair few-memories before he was six years old?

But no….although Danny strained, biting his lip in sheer concentration, much to his misery, he couldn't recall too many things other then a few faint tangents of childish dream and babble.

Ink hadn't made its blemish very well on the pages….if at all.

Vague, bleached white hues. Everywhere.

Danny stirred slightly, a distressed whimper tearing from himself, in spite of the fiery pang shooting up his thin spine.

Maybe, if he'd just fall back asleep, this nightmare would pass.

As well as the other, rather more whole one currently shifting in the outskirts of his subconscious.

~*~*~*~

Terror. Bafflement . Disorientation.

But, curious a boy Danny could faintly recall himself to be, the urge to receive answers to his questions didn't seem to apply itself very much when fleeing from an unholy terror took root.

He remembered running, lungs aching, heart racing as he continued to sprint down unfamiliar hallway after unfamiliar stone hallway.

"DANIEL!"

Someone was screaming his name. A sudden urge overtook him to glance backwards-but he obviously wasn't about to-

Why was he running?

He didn't know, and didn't care. All that mattered at the present moment was the all too simple action of putting one foot in front of the other.

As rapidly as he could.

His thoughts were cut off and brief, but desperation had been in perfect clarity:

Get out, get out, get out....

Get away....

A monster-a monster posing as a human one minute, seizing him and transfiguring into a wraith the next…and DRIFTING THROUGH LAYERS OF foundation….

He could faintly recall falling onto the floor structure after violently struggling-

Then, the thing with sad, red eyes….

Sad?

Danny had almost forgotten. The creature HAD certainly looked distressed enough, and, in the boy's still waking confusion at the strange face and terrain, he HAD felt sorry for the…phantom-human-whatchamacallit.

….until, of course, he dreamt that said ghost had decided to tranquilize Danny.

Down he'd fallen, straight into the pit of darkness, mind and body numb.

Down….

Down….

Down.

There was nothing to remember after that, but the oblivion that had closed over his mind.

~*~*~

But that hadn't happened. Surely, it was just a dream.

Danny tried to remember if he had liked watching bad horror films before this…development.

That was yet another factor he couldn't remember. The boy's fingers began to clench in frustration.

Enough was enough.

With the smallest grunt of effort, Danny strained against the heaviness against his eyelids.

And, managed to break through this time, eyelids fluttering, but managing to hold them open, all the same.

~*~*~

He blinked.

Maybe this WAS a hospital. The room was simple enough-bed, bedside table, rug, what looked like an IV, a heart monitor, and a glass window leading to a viewing chamber.

…viewing chamber….?

Didn't interns use those to get a better idea on how to properly observe professionals at work? Yes, that had to be it.

Well, Danny was awake, and, in spite of the circumstances, found that he was a bit satisfied with the results.

It wasn't so bad. Once he found one of the physicians here, he could at least inquire how long this brain…hemorrhage….thing was going to last.

Or, if he had any friends or family waiting for him. He hoped this was so.

Feeling the slightest bit emboldened, and a small smile on his face, began to make his way out of bed, wincing slightly. It certainly beat waiting around for someone who may or may not show up.

A nearby clock chimed the hour, and Danny gave it a slight, curious glance as he squinted at the small hands in the darkness. He raised an eyebrow slightly.

Sheesh. It was either very late or very, very early. Hard to say which.

Danny's foot had already reached the floor, and he'd been contemplating how to summon the energy to walk properly before something cold touched his arm.

The boy started slightly. Maybe he'd brushed against the metal framing of the infirmary bed?

But casually glancing behind himself, the young hybrid found that no, it was not.

As a pair of uncertain, slightly skeptical eyes bored into his own…which happened to be scarlet, a cold, hard, bitter sense of dread drove itself over the panicking teen again after a dim assessment passed through his mind again:

No.

No, it was not.

~*~*~

The cold hand had tentatively touched Danny's shoulder, and had now tugged the boy back with a slight-"No you don't."

The boy had frozen, quite rigid in Vlad's grip.

And then, much to the man's distress, Danny let out a startled yelp and began to desperately tug at himself, clearly intentional on fleeing one again.

Vlad tightened his grip, a worried gasp escaping slightly.

"Daniel-please-"

Danny's heartrate had shot up magnificently, according to the nearby machinery still hooked to the child. The boy ignored him, tugs becoming all the more frantic.

"Eeergh-it's…it's YOU again-let go…let go!"

The boy shot a fierce glance at the man, continuing to wildly strain for freedom.

Vladimir was already beginning to lose patience. Forcing himself to calm, if only inwardly, he decided to try once again.

"Daniel, my boy-do not make me sedate you once again, please, just-Daniel-stop it!"

Whoops.

He'd made the mistake of yelling, and now, while the boy had halted, he'd also gone pale. Pinching the bridge of his nose, he forced his voice down a notch or two.

"I'm not here to hurt you, my boy-but mark my words, you'll hurt YOURSELF if you don't-stop-THRASHING!"

The words were pleading…as well as berating. The guy was irritated, that was for certain.

How had he gotten in here? Danny certainly didn't notice.

Had he…phased through the….?

No. No….he wasn't going to go down THAT particular avenue again.

Danny closed his eyes, took a quick, shuddering breath, and held it for ten seconds in the deathly silence.

Releasing it in a puff, the boy slightly turned back to the anxious ghost still watching him, face creased in obvious concern. He hadn't released the boy's arms, yet.

Finally, Danny spoke, fighting tremendously to keep his voice steady.

"….you're the….same one from before, aren't you? That…man….who turned into a…?"

Okay, maybe he WAS in a hospital. A mental hospital. Maybe the reason why he could hardly recall a single whole memory from his broken mind was that he'd finally gone nuts, lost it, and had ended up in a place where strait coats were dress code.

But now wasn't the time to worry about it.

His voice from below was uncertain, but soft and slow. Vlad's forehead creased slightly before the man sighed himself.

"….if you mean the one who you invoked in that charming little game of "chicken," then yes, I suppose I am."

Surprisingly enough, Danny blushed. Biting back a smirk, and realizing this was a delicate situation, Vlad turned to face the boy once again, mouth open.

But, then he closed it, feeling somewhat awkward.

The boy had passed the first step by somewhat accepting the man's ghoulish counterpart. Now, for the second test….

A pair of black rings materialized themselves around the man's waist. Danny started in surprise, mouth sliding open ever so slightly.

The converged rings began to silently split away from the ghost's sober form, quietly transfiguring white into black, pallow flesh to alabaster….

Red orbs to midnight blue….

In spite of the newly developed madness, Danny began to laugh slightly, half relieved, half hysterical expression on his face.

"Oh….oh, man….you….you really had me going for a second!"

Vlad cast him a puzzled look, but said nothing. A grin had found Danny's face, and a delighted one at that.

"So-how'd you do that? I guess I was just hallucinating from before-but how'd you make THAT look convincing?"

The older hybrid simply stared at him, dumbfounded.

The boy….believed it to be a trick?

Well, no point in bringing up those matters now. He'd already "freaked", if that was what young people insisted on saying, these days-the boy out quite a bit. No use in making the child faint.

Those could easily wait till later…..

After his nervous chuckle, Danny cast the man a wondering glance.

How DID he do that? Well…judging from the suit, the man could most likely afford such an odd…er…special effect.

Speaking of which…

The man looked to be in his late thirties-fairly tall. His eyes were cobalt, and, while he didn't seem to bear much resemblance to himself, maybe….

Danny took a quick, involuntary glance at his palms.

"So, um…."

Danny paused, looking curious as he took in the man, a small, curious smile on his face.

He certainly didn't look like a doctor, in any case, but…..

Perhaps a relative? Danny wasn't sure. The man clearly hadn't answered him last time.

Time to try once again.

"Do I…know you….sir?" He added anxiously, watching the man's face blanch for whatever reason. Danny flushed, slightly. Obviously, the man thought it very odd to be called "sir"….at least by the boy.

Vlad said nothing as he uncertainly sank onto the corner of the bed, Danny still peering at him thoughtfully.

He really didn't think he could bear himself to look at those pale eyes. Not now.

Not when he was about to do what he was about to do….

There'd be no turning back after he'd fulfilled what he sent out to accomplish this night. A side of Daniel was going to be lost and chained forever-especially after the little…"special delivery" he was to receive from Axion labs fairly soon was….completed.

And by "completed", he meant, "improved."

He took a deep breath.

Calm yourself, Masters, it's for the greater good….

Daniel had to face horrors grown men would shrink from-on a regular basis. Now, he had descended upon an especially dark road-but who could see the darkness if one was carefully blindfolded?

The darkness there was…different. Safer. And it would overtake the boy to light. It could.

It had to.

Finally, Vlad released the breath he'd been holding, feeling slightly ill.

It was for his own sanity as well as the boy. Mouth suddenly dry, he nonetheless cleared his throat, another worried, uncertain expression touching his eyes as he turned to face an expectant little hybrid.

"Son….do you really not remember what happened….?"

~*~*~*~

Yes, Vlad is going to go through with it. D: The poor fool.

Numbing the pain is just going to make it all the more potent for Danny later. Just…mentally give him a hug or a clap on the shoulder, okay?

Happy New Years, everybody! *Faints.*