The boy continued to
stare out the window, as if he was memorized by the storm. Thunder boomed
overhead, shaking the inn with it's awsome power. He sighed heavily as
lightning flashed across the darkened sky.
"More rain." he uttered
under his breath. He fell back into his bed as he listened to the sound
of rain drops hitting the window.
"I thought you 'liked' storms,
Ivan."
Ivan whirled around to face
the leader of their group, "Isaac," he Acknowledged him. "What brings you
here this early in the morning?"
"The storm woke me up."
Isaac replied.
"You too?"
"Yeah. Everyone else is
still sleeping though."
"I'm not surprised." Ivan
smiled. "Garet sleeps like a log, and Mia just ignores everything around
her. She claims she needs her 'beauty' sleep and demands her own room."
Isaac chuckled softly. "At
least we can afford it. I'm surprised how cheap the rooms were for such
a small town. I didn't want to share a room with Garet anyway, he snores
really loud."
"Yep, I've heard him. I
don't blame you." Ivan grinned. "So, how long are we stuck here?"
"Until the storm passes.
I'm glad we managed to pull of the ocean before it got any worse. The last
thing we need is to be sailing in this weather."
Ivan sighed. "There's nothing
to do here though. We've been stranded here for nearly two days in this
boring, little town." he complained.
"It could be worse, we could
be outside in this." Isaac pointed out. "I'd rather be bored then fight
in this weather."
"I guess your right." Ivan
said quietly as he turned towards back towards the window again.
"Besides, we've been traveling
hard, we deserve a break." Isaac walked over to his younger friend. "Is
something bothering you Ivan?"
Ivan turned back towards
Isaac. "Why would you say that?"
"Well, you just haven't
been your normal self lately." Isaac began as he sat next to him. "We've
been worried about you, that's all."
"My 'normal' self?"
Isaac paused for a moment,
as if he was thinking about how he was going to word what he wanted to
say. "Well, you've just seem so distant."
Ivan cocked an eyebrow.
"What are you talking about?"
"Well, you seem like your
a thousand miles away at times. You're always so quiet."
Ivan blinked. "I've always
been quiet. I never had any real friends before this journey. I usually
don't talk much around people. I mean, not having anyone my age to talk
with."
Isaac smiled. "I doubt that's
it, you communicate fine with people. So, you're sure you're all right?"
he questioned again, Isaac waited for Ivan's nod. "You don't have to be
afraid to talk to any of us."
"I know that," Ivan returned
the smile. "Maybe I've just been tired lately."
"Maybe, all of us are."
Isaac's eyes trailed off, as if he didn't believe him. It was true though.
He and Garet had been traveling since Jenna and Kraden were kidnapped.
They had quickly joined Ivan in Vault and Mia in Imil. They had all become
fast friends fighting Saturos and Menardi, along with their childhood friend,
Felix. "Want to join me for some breakfast?" he asked curiously, changing
the subject.
"Sure, I was getting hungry
anyway." Ivan said as he began to stand. "I'll be down in a few moments."
"Alright, I'll find us a
table. If we're lucky, Garet and Mia are up to join us." Isaac began walking
over to the door.
Ivan let out a small laugh.
"Yeah, as if, Isaac."
He waited for Isaac to leave,
and sighed heavily as he leaned against the wall. *Why do they always have
to look after me?* he thought bitterly to himself. *Just because I'm the
youngest doesn't mean that I can't take care of myself once in a while*
he let his mind trail off.
Ivan opened his eyes to find
himself in a labyrinth of shadows. How he got there or where he was, he
didn't know. "Isaac...Mia...Garet...?" he called out to his friends. The
only thing that answered back was his echo.
He began to run, continuing
to call out their names. The shadow went on for forever.
*Your friends are of no
help here.*
Ivan froze. Someone or something
had entered his mind.
*Give up.* the voice echoed.
*you are lost to darkness.* Nearly panicked, Ivan somehow managed to gather
the courage to speak. "Who are you?"
*That is of no importance.*
Ivan screamed as he felt
something pierce his skin. He collapsed onto one knee. "What do you want...?"
*You will obey me.* It answered.
Ivan felt himself go numb.
He gasped his last breath before he collapsed into shadow.
Next