First Trials

Light faded and dimmed over his eye lids, and he took a few moments to try to remember where he was... not to mention who he was. The information, though there, was jumbled haphazardly in his mind. He relaxed when the details came to him, and shifted his conscious to feel the textures of light on his skin.

They weren't there.

Panic didn't describe what he was feeling; the last bits of information slipped into place reluctantly, coupled with sickening horror as he opened his eyes to be blinded by the early morning sun. He was fading. Soon enough he would be gone from this world, and he had two weeks to figure out what he apparently knew what to do. Then do it.

He sat up, looking at his surroundings and trying to decide when he'd fallen asleep. Or maybe collapsed; one way or another, he'd spent the night in a deserted University Courtyard, and his back was paying for it.

"Hey Bubba!" his heart raced at the unexpected voice, and he looked up to see an old bag lady wheeling a shopping cart towards him. "What're you doin' here, Bub? The world s'not 'bout to end anytime soon… not unless these ignorant people stop being so damn picky!"

"I… you…" Evan blinked at her, something distinctly familiar about her… something that reminded him about Rebecca. "I've met you before, haven't I?"

"What an observation!" she snorted. "Oh course you've met me, Bubba! Now, go get some damn food in you; you're too skinny. Take a shower too."

"Who are you..?" he asked bluntly, blushing when he'd realized how rude he was sounding.

"Bah!" she frowned with a glare. "I knew ya wouldn't remember everything, but this little..? Do ya remember why you were invited last time?"

"Yeah," he blinked again. "I was invited to banish an Adept of Darkness; and I did that… what does this have to do with the last time I was here?"

"Don't cha remember who you were with?" she chuckled lightly when he shook his head. "If I didn't know any better, I'd think that they'd sent you here to see the death of you; much too late in the game, and I doubt you'll find what you're after… do ya at least know what your supposed ta be doing? And how long you've got?"

"Two weeks," he realized he was still sitting down, and pulled himself to tower over her.

"Two weeks?" she frowned again. "Nuh uh… s'no way I'm gonna go around wastin' my time on a lousy two weeks. I'll set ya on the right track and nothin' else. Go find that busy body that helped Rebecca all the time; she can help ya find him."

"Who's him?" he wanted to pull his hair out in his confusion, but settled with sending her a puzzled look… it was then that something finally clicked in his brain. "Mrs Ruth?"

"About damn time!" she scolded him. "And it's your own fault if you can't remember him… but he sure the hell remembers you. Comes here at least once a week and sings damn ballets; disruptin' the peace and makin' all the Grey Folk and dead folk muck about. Got two more years, and he still don't wanna listen to my advice! Don't get cocky I tell him; what does he do? Starts thinking he can just spout music and everyone will instantly either see the light or be doomed to darkness, then harps at old ladies about it! He's learnin' though…"

"Mrs Ruth, please…" Evan sighed. "Please don't be so vague..? You're a wise woman; one of the wisest. What am I supposed to do?"

"What have I been telling ya?" she seemed to grow ten feet call, and he cowered away from her. "Go find him!" She turned around, pushing her shopping cart in front of her, and walked away from him. He stared after her, seemingly frozen to the spot, before he remembered that he had to be doing something… finding this 'busy body' that used to help Rebecca…

He slowly started to follow Mrs Ruth's path, making his way out of the University Courtyard. He would spy a Little every now and then, staring out at him with bug eyes and pink tongues. Some would sneer at him, others would laugh; none of them tried to get closer to him, as if they were afraid… he didn't try to get closer to them either.

He'd woken up less then ten minute ago, and already he was exhausted. He'd forgotten how much energy it took just to survive on this plane.

The main street was only so much better, people pressing in on all sides, suffocating him. He hadn't taken two steps and he'd received several flirtatious looks, and a phone number.

Some how he made it to the street corner, the flirtatious looks dying down. He crossed when the light turned, breathing out a silent prayer when he made it to the other side.

How was he supposed to do this..?

It seemed that luck was on his side when after three or four more street corners and turning lights, he overheard a bruised teenager complaining about his father; Evan had stopped for a moment, this information troubling him, even though he knew he had no control over such affairs… he was too weak to put up any fight against Darkness. But the information slid another clue into place. A clue about a woman who fought against Darkness daily and never gave up… a Maiden and a Warrior.

"…who are you..?" he asked himself; a name eluded him, but the steps he took seemed more confident, and at the next street corner he didn't cross, but turned instead.

He didn't acknowledge the fear creeping into his mind; every turn, every crossing, and every step took him closer to a place where Darkness pressed in on him from all sides. He didn't flinch when he heard the first words of harassment. Not towards him, but it cut into his heart anyways. He didn't even look up until he heard music.

He stopped. The music wasn't anything special; a young girl strummed at a guitar thoughtlessly, muttering mesmerized words… but hidden just beneath the lyrics and cords was a familiar feeling… something he couldn't remember feeling in a long, long time. If ever.

"And I, never again can be free…" the girl sang; Evan's heart skipped jump rope against his ribs. "For you are in my music… and the music's, all of me…"

He didn't realize until she looked up at him, fright shining in her brilliant eyes, that he'd walked over to her; he smiled at her, and her fear melted into an instant affection. "Hello."

"Hi," he nodded at her, watching her fingers as they drifted into another tune; it was the same as the last. Amateur. Without thought. And hauntingly familiar… "I couldn't help but admire you're music… where did you learn?"

"I've been playing for years," she smiled up at him. "But it's my room mate who really got me passionate for it… ya know?"

"Yeah," he nodded again before he could comprehend the question. "Yeah, I think I do… have a nice day."

"You too," she sent him a sly wink before he turned away.

Shaking his head, he let his steps take him farther and farther away from her… only that they weren't as confident as they had been moments before; had something in the music shook his nerve..? But that was impossible! He didn't even know why he'd been confident in the first place, so how could he lose that confidence?

It was nothing…Evan shook his head. He breathed as he stepped away from the pressing of Darkness… And even if it was anything, it would have only been the Darkness affecting me. Why would I react that much to a song I had never heard before..?

He crossed at the next three street corners, then turned. At the next street corner, he turned again; this carried on, crossing here, turning there, well past every time of day… but he didn't pause, not even when his feet started to hurt.

And I never again can be free…

The girl's lyrics sang through his memory the entire time, trying to rouse something within him… but he didn't listen. Wouldn't listen. Wouldn't, that is, until the music started.

He caught a few bars, drifting out from the horizon. They were sad and wistful, and glued him to the spot; the only thing that he could do was sit down, right where he was.

There was a tree there, and he leaned against it as the music wrapped around him; there was more of it this time, now that he was willing to listen…. But it wouldn't stop. It kept coming, washing him with endless emotions and fears, until Evan realized that tears were streaking down his cheeks.

He wiped them away hastily, and looked around for something to distract him from the bothersome chords; he looked at the apartment just across the street from him, scanned the windows for anything that would make the music go away, but it only grew louder.

It seemed to get worse, too. As the music progressed, Littles came out of their hiding places and moved towards him slowly, encircling him with bug eyes and pink tongues… the boldest of them reached out as the music picked up a frantic D Major, and tugged on the hem of his faded jeans. This encouraged the rest of them, and soon enough he had little Littles pulling on hair and earrings and clothing and bangles…

"Go away…" he muttered weakly. He pulled himself to a stand, and leaned against the tree; a Little fell off his shoulder, only to grab the bottom of his shirt.

He took one shaky step, and then another, breaking the circle of Littles. They followed his movements, taking the opportunity to undo his shoe laces and sneak into his socks.

He moved down the sidewalk, breaking out into a run as soon as he reached the street corner. The Littles took a tighter hold on him, only one or two falling back to the ground.

"Let go of me!" the tears came back, and he realized after a moment that the music was growing dimmer… but the Littles didn't let go of him. "Go away!"

His feet guided him through old routes that seemed familiar to them, even if he couldn't remember ever walking – or running – the same path before. They took him to a park, similar to the University Courtyard he had spent his last night in, but very different as well; he collapsed onto the first bench he crossed.

The tears over took him, and Evan cried. The Littles had no mercy on him, tugging on his hair and pulling at his earrings until one of them ripped out. He cried harder, blood dripping down one cheek.

"Leave," he pushed the nearest Little away with a force that surprised himself. "Me. Alone!"

And they left. After a few moments, he released a breath he hadn't realized he held, and lay down on the uncomfortable bench. He closed his eyes against the Darkness, but felt hollow inside as he felt a part of himself slip out of his grasp.

The music started playing again as his conscious faded out of the living world, and into one of the deepest dreams...