MIDNIGHT SHADOWS
Draped over the couch, he hung his head over the armrest. Blood rushed to his brain turning his pale face red. No one was there to see. He slid off the couch and onto the wooden floor. Goose bumps rose throughout his body, giving him chills, yet he lied there till the boards warmed. Then he moved to a new cold spot. This was therapy to him. Like the Blade Breakers thrived in the warm bask of their friendship, he found life in the cold of loneliness.
Kai lifted his head up as he heard keys jingling in front of the door and voices. He rose and smoothed his clothes, fixing his bangs so that they stood up. He leaned against the couch, his back to them; this was how he was when they entered. The cool breeze that followed them in nipped at Kai like a yappy terrier. He ignored the chill racing up his arms and glanced over his shoulder at his team.
The four filed into the room. Each one carried a cheerful face of which Tyson's was the happiest. The dark blue-haired boy turned to Kai, who quickly looked away. "Hey, Kai! Guess what? I got Dragoon back. Rei and Max fought the little twerp who stole him and kicked his butt real good. Isn't that great?" Tyson bent in front of Kai and said, "Oopsy, I forgot Kai-ey- Wai-ey doesn't wike to help his little teamy-weamy, does he now? No. He's to busy crying over wittle nightmares like a baby-waby."
"Leave him alone, Tyson. He's had enough of your talk for one day." Rei stormed over and dragged the boy back to the other side of the room.
Max raised his head above the others and said, "We ran into Mr. Dickenson on the way up. We're all going to this nice restaurant by the ocean a few miles from here. After that, he said we might even go see a movie or check out the nightlife. Just thought you'd like a heads-up, Kai."
"I'm not going." He stated bluntly, much to the surprise of his teammates.
"Why not, Kai? This could be great! How many times have you been to the beach? Huh?"
"Judging by his skin tone.never."
Rei shot daggers at him, becoming fed up with Tyson's criticism. "What about the nightlife? I'm sure you'd like that."
"Sure he would. He's a vampire among-" Max slammed a pillow into Tyson's face, silencing him, all the while smiling innocently.
"I don't need a reason. I'm not going." He crossed his arms defiantly. "And my decision is final."
The Blade Breakers sighed deeply. Nothing they could do would deter him. Once again, Kai would be alone.
*********************
The hand grasped him tightly drawing him into the darkness. "There's no one to save you now, my dear. No one can hear your cries for help. You're mine for good this time."
"No!" Kai shouted defiantly. "Whoever you are, I will never be yours." He struggled harder, desperately trying to free himself from its clutches. The darkness was too strong. It sucked him into its black and dreary world, where he found himself trapped within a cage. Rattling the bars, he searched for a weak spot. When he discovered none, Kai threw himself violently against the metal. Then he heard the laughter.
This time it was louder, closer, clearer than before. The red eyes appeared right in front of him, burning with delight. He could smell its foul breath upon his body, covering him with its disgusting odor. "What wrong, precious? This isn't like you at all. You're acting like a confined animal. You're not a prisoner, my dear." He felt a cold caress on his cheek and drew away.
"What are you? What do you want with me?"
A shady smile penetrated the gloom surrounding the cage, below the red eyes, creating a partial face. Its shifty grin reeked with the stench of pure evil. Suddenly, Kai grew very afraid.
"You know who I am." The voice whispered as the hand reached for him again. "I'm you."
*********************
Kai woke up screaming. He clamped a hand over his mouth to stop himself. Certainly the whole building had heard his outburst nevertheless he could not allow himself a small blush of embarrassment. The vision he had dreamt rattled him greatly. He held his shivering body in an attempt to cease his trembling and moved not an inch from the couch until the Blade Breakers returned to the hotel room.
"Kai, you missed out on a great time! There was an all-you-eat buffet, which Tyson really enjoyed, and there were all kinds of desserts. After that, we walked around the city and saw all the pretty neon signs. And then we went to see." Max's lively voice turned fearful as he took a closer look at his leader. "Kai, are you all right?"
He was still frozen in the position he had awakened in. He relaxed slightly, releasing his death grip on his knees. "Forget about it. Go on." He motioned him to continue talking. At least meaningless chatter about the theater would distract his mind from what had been plaguing it for the last four hours.
Max wouldn't forget about it and neither would the rest of the team representing Japan. "You sure don't look well, Kai. Did you have another bad dream?"
Kai gave no response. They didn't need to know. He would not give in to another display of weakness the way he had that morning. He would be strong and fight his inner battles alone. "It's none of your business."
"Well, since you are our leader, your well being is vital to the accuracy of the groups' performance. Whether you're well or not is essentially important, so it is our business, Kai." Kenny stated matter-of-factly.
"I said 'forget about it.' If I'm your leader, I shouldn't have to say things twice." He jumped over the couch and headed towards the door. Tyson blocked his path. "Get out of my way." Kai commanded him, but he would not budge.
"No way, Mr. Sourpants. Not until you tell us what's wrong."
Kai's hands tightened into fists. "Since when have all you suddenly started caring? I don't need to be cared for. Now get out of my way!" Grabbing Tyson by the shirtfront, Kai saw fear and bewilderment pass through the boy's eyes as he tossed him casually over his shoulder. With his way to freedom from their prying eyes open, he ran out the door and into the quiet night.
Dashing down the streets, weaving in-between the slow traffic, he found himself longing to be as far away from his team as possible. He ducked into dark alleyways until he arrived at an uninhabited sector of the town. No lights appeared in any window. Not a noise could be heard save the serene trickle of a water fountain.
Paper bags, like desert tumbleweeds, skidded along the cobblestone on a gentle breeze as Kai approached the fountain. Water slowly trickled from the vase of a young maiden, down into a small well before her. He reached out a hand to touch her face and found it hard and cold. She looked so real yet all she was made of was stone. He stared at the flowing water being poured continuously into the well. She reminded him so much of himself. All he could ever be was a lone, cold statue against the night, trapped forever within stone eyes that denied emotion.
Kai wondered if he'd ever be real. Real like his teammates. All of them expressed many emotions and shared a special bond with one another, but him, he'd always remain cold and distant.
Why? He asked himself. Why shall I take the path of loneliness forever, cast for eternity to the shadows of solitude? Why shall I always be beside myself, to feel a warm presence near, only to find nothing there? Why shall my tears remain hidden, never to feel the warmth a loving soul can bring? He sighed, feeling as close to tears as he ever thought he would. I know the answer to these questions: "because I say so," the words of my grandfather. Those words I must obey. I will never be free to live as long as he still roams this world, or as long as I do.
He leaned against the fountain. Besides, nothing ties me to this world. The Blade Breakers get along fine without me. When they're together, it's like I'm not even there. I only exist if Tyson feels like messing with me. It would be better if I weren't their leader. He bowed his head at his final thought. It'd be better if I didn't exist.
The soothing sound of falling water ceased and Kai's mind jerked back to reality. The maiden's vase was clean of water and the well empty as if the fountain had been dormant for quite sometime. The phoenix drew closer to it, perplexed. Without warning, a heavy mist blew in and an impenetrable fog surrounded him, swift as lighting. Everything became a blur of grey haze as he groped for the fountain to find his bearings. He grabbed the edge of the well and pulled himself up. As he did so, he felt tiny feet light as a whisper walking across his hands.
Kai sat on the edge of the well, deciding to wait for the fog to clear before leaving. Then he heard it - the chant from his dreams. "Come away, come away, come away with us to the valley beyond. Come away, come away, come away with us you cannot e'er go wrong."
He lifted his feet and saw shadows dancing in and out of the fog, leaving behind ghastly images in the veil of grey mist. The veil soon turned into a curtain of black, as black as a moonless night, while the shadows' chant grew louder, faster. Kai blinked furiously, disbelieving what he perceived as reality.
"I must be dreaming again," muttered he, running his fingers through his pale bangs.
"This isn't a dream, dear one." A whispered voice spoke. "This is all very real."
Kai's fear ignited as he scrambled to get away. "No!" He exclaimed as he fell back into the well. Closing his eyes tightly, he prepared himself for the pain he would receive once he hit the bottom. He never did. Kai continued plummet into the darkness, and he feared he'd never stop. Soon his fears subsided and a small speck of light rose up to greet him. His eyes shut once more as he descended into a world of white and his journey finally ended. The white turned to black as he instantly fell unconscious.
Draped over the couch, he hung his head over the armrest. Blood rushed to his brain turning his pale face red. No one was there to see. He slid off the couch and onto the wooden floor. Goose bumps rose throughout his body, giving him chills, yet he lied there till the boards warmed. Then he moved to a new cold spot. This was therapy to him. Like the Blade Breakers thrived in the warm bask of their friendship, he found life in the cold of loneliness.
Kai lifted his head up as he heard keys jingling in front of the door and voices. He rose and smoothed his clothes, fixing his bangs so that they stood up. He leaned against the couch, his back to them; this was how he was when they entered. The cool breeze that followed them in nipped at Kai like a yappy terrier. He ignored the chill racing up his arms and glanced over his shoulder at his team.
The four filed into the room. Each one carried a cheerful face of which Tyson's was the happiest. The dark blue-haired boy turned to Kai, who quickly looked away. "Hey, Kai! Guess what? I got Dragoon back. Rei and Max fought the little twerp who stole him and kicked his butt real good. Isn't that great?" Tyson bent in front of Kai and said, "Oopsy, I forgot Kai-ey- Wai-ey doesn't wike to help his little teamy-weamy, does he now? No. He's to busy crying over wittle nightmares like a baby-waby."
"Leave him alone, Tyson. He's had enough of your talk for one day." Rei stormed over and dragged the boy back to the other side of the room.
Max raised his head above the others and said, "We ran into Mr. Dickenson on the way up. We're all going to this nice restaurant by the ocean a few miles from here. After that, he said we might even go see a movie or check out the nightlife. Just thought you'd like a heads-up, Kai."
"I'm not going." He stated bluntly, much to the surprise of his teammates.
"Why not, Kai? This could be great! How many times have you been to the beach? Huh?"
"Judging by his skin tone.never."
Rei shot daggers at him, becoming fed up with Tyson's criticism. "What about the nightlife? I'm sure you'd like that."
"Sure he would. He's a vampire among-" Max slammed a pillow into Tyson's face, silencing him, all the while smiling innocently.
"I don't need a reason. I'm not going." He crossed his arms defiantly. "And my decision is final."
The Blade Breakers sighed deeply. Nothing they could do would deter him. Once again, Kai would be alone.
*********************
The hand grasped him tightly drawing him into the darkness. "There's no one to save you now, my dear. No one can hear your cries for help. You're mine for good this time."
"No!" Kai shouted defiantly. "Whoever you are, I will never be yours." He struggled harder, desperately trying to free himself from its clutches. The darkness was too strong. It sucked him into its black and dreary world, where he found himself trapped within a cage. Rattling the bars, he searched for a weak spot. When he discovered none, Kai threw himself violently against the metal. Then he heard the laughter.
This time it was louder, closer, clearer than before. The red eyes appeared right in front of him, burning with delight. He could smell its foul breath upon his body, covering him with its disgusting odor. "What wrong, precious? This isn't like you at all. You're acting like a confined animal. You're not a prisoner, my dear." He felt a cold caress on his cheek and drew away.
"What are you? What do you want with me?"
A shady smile penetrated the gloom surrounding the cage, below the red eyes, creating a partial face. Its shifty grin reeked with the stench of pure evil. Suddenly, Kai grew very afraid.
"You know who I am." The voice whispered as the hand reached for him again. "I'm you."
*********************
Kai woke up screaming. He clamped a hand over his mouth to stop himself. Certainly the whole building had heard his outburst nevertheless he could not allow himself a small blush of embarrassment. The vision he had dreamt rattled him greatly. He held his shivering body in an attempt to cease his trembling and moved not an inch from the couch until the Blade Breakers returned to the hotel room.
"Kai, you missed out on a great time! There was an all-you-eat buffet, which Tyson really enjoyed, and there were all kinds of desserts. After that, we walked around the city and saw all the pretty neon signs. And then we went to see." Max's lively voice turned fearful as he took a closer look at his leader. "Kai, are you all right?"
He was still frozen in the position he had awakened in. He relaxed slightly, releasing his death grip on his knees. "Forget about it. Go on." He motioned him to continue talking. At least meaningless chatter about the theater would distract his mind from what had been plaguing it for the last four hours.
Max wouldn't forget about it and neither would the rest of the team representing Japan. "You sure don't look well, Kai. Did you have another bad dream?"
Kai gave no response. They didn't need to know. He would not give in to another display of weakness the way he had that morning. He would be strong and fight his inner battles alone. "It's none of your business."
"Well, since you are our leader, your well being is vital to the accuracy of the groups' performance. Whether you're well or not is essentially important, so it is our business, Kai." Kenny stated matter-of-factly.
"I said 'forget about it.' If I'm your leader, I shouldn't have to say things twice." He jumped over the couch and headed towards the door. Tyson blocked his path. "Get out of my way." Kai commanded him, but he would not budge.
"No way, Mr. Sourpants. Not until you tell us what's wrong."
Kai's hands tightened into fists. "Since when have all you suddenly started caring? I don't need to be cared for. Now get out of my way!" Grabbing Tyson by the shirtfront, Kai saw fear and bewilderment pass through the boy's eyes as he tossed him casually over his shoulder. With his way to freedom from their prying eyes open, he ran out the door and into the quiet night.
Dashing down the streets, weaving in-between the slow traffic, he found himself longing to be as far away from his team as possible. He ducked into dark alleyways until he arrived at an uninhabited sector of the town. No lights appeared in any window. Not a noise could be heard save the serene trickle of a water fountain.
Paper bags, like desert tumbleweeds, skidded along the cobblestone on a gentle breeze as Kai approached the fountain. Water slowly trickled from the vase of a young maiden, down into a small well before her. He reached out a hand to touch her face and found it hard and cold. She looked so real yet all she was made of was stone. He stared at the flowing water being poured continuously into the well. She reminded him so much of himself. All he could ever be was a lone, cold statue against the night, trapped forever within stone eyes that denied emotion.
Kai wondered if he'd ever be real. Real like his teammates. All of them expressed many emotions and shared a special bond with one another, but him, he'd always remain cold and distant.
Why? He asked himself. Why shall I take the path of loneliness forever, cast for eternity to the shadows of solitude? Why shall I always be beside myself, to feel a warm presence near, only to find nothing there? Why shall my tears remain hidden, never to feel the warmth a loving soul can bring? He sighed, feeling as close to tears as he ever thought he would. I know the answer to these questions: "because I say so," the words of my grandfather. Those words I must obey. I will never be free to live as long as he still roams this world, or as long as I do.
He leaned against the fountain. Besides, nothing ties me to this world. The Blade Breakers get along fine without me. When they're together, it's like I'm not even there. I only exist if Tyson feels like messing with me. It would be better if I weren't their leader. He bowed his head at his final thought. It'd be better if I didn't exist.
The soothing sound of falling water ceased and Kai's mind jerked back to reality. The maiden's vase was clean of water and the well empty as if the fountain had been dormant for quite sometime. The phoenix drew closer to it, perplexed. Without warning, a heavy mist blew in and an impenetrable fog surrounded him, swift as lighting. Everything became a blur of grey haze as he groped for the fountain to find his bearings. He grabbed the edge of the well and pulled himself up. As he did so, he felt tiny feet light as a whisper walking across his hands.
Kai sat on the edge of the well, deciding to wait for the fog to clear before leaving. Then he heard it - the chant from his dreams. "Come away, come away, come away with us to the valley beyond. Come away, come away, come away with us you cannot e'er go wrong."
He lifted his feet and saw shadows dancing in and out of the fog, leaving behind ghastly images in the veil of grey mist. The veil soon turned into a curtain of black, as black as a moonless night, while the shadows' chant grew louder, faster. Kai blinked furiously, disbelieving what he perceived as reality.
"I must be dreaming again," muttered he, running his fingers through his pale bangs.
"This isn't a dream, dear one." A whispered voice spoke. "This is all very real."
Kai's fear ignited as he scrambled to get away. "No!" He exclaimed as he fell back into the well. Closing his eyes tightly, he prepared himself for the pain he would receive once he hit the bottom. He never did. Kai continued plummet into the darkness, and he feared he'd never stop. Soon his fears subsided and a small speck of light rose up to greet him. His eyes shut once more as he descended into a world of white and his journey finally ended. The white turned to black as he instantly fell unconscious.