Vlad cringed and pressed his hands against his ears. It was so loud, roaring, flashes of light, memories, screams, and blood. It was horrible, he felt sick and confused and stressed. There was something pulling him in both directions; one to his memories and the other to somewhere beyond, somewhere dark. The pictures of a life gone passed through and jumbled around. He was unable to get a hold of it and the comfort of dark silence beckoned him onwards. A cold hand gripped him. A deep voice called him.
Don't give up now. Be strong.
A voice much clearer, somehow crisp and clean through the roaring mess, hit like an arrow.
"Vlad! Haha come Vlad don't you think it looks great?"
Vladimir spun around against and with the spinning mass of sounds and snippets of memories trying to find it.
Don't be distracted. You have no need for those memories.
"Hey come on! What's taking you so long? The movie's gonna be over by the time you get ready!"
Where. Where. Where is it? Vlad began to move into the hoarding mass. It was like moving through a swamp; his feet stuck in an invisible muck. He pushed and stumbled and the memories seemed to get more and more chaotic whipping around and around circling back just to center him.
You are not safe here! Go back! Get back now!
The hand came back again stretching out impossibly and snatching his arm. The gripe was ice cold and the nails were sharp and digging into his skin. Vlad pulled away fiercely and felt the hand move with him. He saw the arm that it was connected to and the grey skin that covered it. With his own hand trembling Vladimir gripped the arm and yanked. Finally the voice had a face. His throat went dry. A cold chill passed through his body and his heart lurched and he was afraid. He could hear his heartbeat. Loudly it sounded through the whirlwind and with that first beat everything was mute and time slowed down. Da-dum.
"Vlad!"
Da-dum.
The face opened its mouth and let out a soundless scream. It snarled and the holes that were supposed to be eyes seemed to become blacker. They seemed to be a void trying to suck away all the memories. Vlad could feel panic rising in his heart and he dug his nails into the monster's arm.
Da-dum da-dum.
Its grip was loosened and Vlad threw himself at the hoard of memories breaking free, even if only for a second. Time slowed.
Da-dum da-dum.
"Vladimir!"
Vlad lifted his head; once and he saw the nightmare stretching towards him, twice and silence was cracked, the mess was cleared. In front of him he saw a young boy, black hair, pale skin, sunken but happy eyes, and a slightly annoyed look on his face.
"What Henry? Why do you keep yelling at me? I'm right here."
The memory seemed to panel out and another boy could be seen. He had golden hair, tan skin, bright eyes, and a goofy look on his face. The boy smiled really big and took out a party favor that he blew into the other's face. "Happy Birthday!"
The silly noise that it made and the goofy look made it too difficult for the other boy to remain annoyed and he broke out into a smile and a small chuckle, "Alright then where's my present?"
The golden boy seemed to pretend to think and then pulled the pale boy into a hug, "Its my love! I love you Vladimir Tod!" He continued to blow the party favor into the pale boy's face as the boy amusingly demanded that he have a real present.
The memory began to merge into the hoard as time moved faster. The laughter of the two boys faded into the roar and the icy chill of the hand promised a quick encounter. Vladimir breathed in and swore he could feel the warmth of another's body leaving with the memory.
Okay so I know I haven't posted in forever but I've been sooooooo busy with school its unreal (I'm supposed to be doing homework but yeh) So I decided I would just post this little snippet of the next chapter. I hope you enjoy it!