Ep. 4 Don't say it gets better –

I had so many things on my mind all at once, and my ultimate goal was to find this strange old man again. Hopefully, I would get the chance to ask him about this seven he kept talking about, though, I expected to gain nothing but more riddles. I had no clue of where to find him either. Instead of hanging out with my friends, like I usually do, I wandered around the campus courtyard on my own. The air seems colder as a first sign of autumn and the trees have started to turn orange and red. Suddenly, a crow lands on the branch of an old oak cawing loudly at me fluffing up his feathers. Before I could get a good look he flies away at the ring of the school bells.

After school, Sebastian decides to walk with me once we get off the bus. Usually he gets off the bus a few blocks further down.

"I know it's only been a couple of days since that fire," he starts, "but have you found anything out Liz? About this thing...whatever is happening to us?"

"No," I admit, "The news doesn't help either... someone caught me on camera saving that kid and now rumors are flying around that some Zelda fanatic is running around saving people... So far nobody really suspects anyone."

"This is a small town. Things spread fast especially with IPhone and other kinds of technology, but it sounds as if people really thought your ears were fake."

I breath in relief, "That's good I hope. Maybe with any luck we will be able to get this all figured out before next weekend. Still have no clue how to find that old man..."

I freeze as a crow suddenly caws at us from out of nowhere. He swoops down right over our heads, landing on the open gate of a graveyard across the street. He continues to caw rather loudly and insistently, flapping his wings. Sebastian runs up towards the crow and it flies in through the gate. I follow them, getting a knotted feeling in my gut. The crow seems to vanish from sight leaving us in the middle of the graveyard.

Sebastian looks at me, "That crow was really annoying..."

I look around warily, "Normally I am not this creeped out at being in a graveyard, but considering this whole dimensional twist thing...we don't know what sorts of monsters will appear."

"Come on nothing's going to happen you big baby."

The old man pops up from behind a tall grave stone laughing hoarsely and I jump. He grins toothlessly, approaching as Sebastian glares.

The crow lands on the old man's shoulder as he cackles, "So, you've found War? Interesting how things seem to be coming together and falling apart at the same time."

"You," Sebastian growls, "You're that stranger Liz keeps talking about. What do you want with us? Why is this happening?"

The old man's eyes narrow, "Do you blame me horseman? I am not responsible for the twisting of space and time. Things are only to get worse till reality and fiction blend into a mess. The prophecy speaks of the seven who are to combat the unspeakable. Though none will remember the seven once the final battle ends and the hole in the veil closed. The question remaining is for you: who will lead, and who will be led?"

"Enough with your riddles," Sebastian snorts changing to War uncontrollably, "I want answers. Real answers."

I grab his arm roughly, but am no match compared to his armor and strength. He lifts me up slightly, than thankfully realizes I am there and sets me down.

He huffs, "How am I supposed to control this?"

The old man lifts a finger, "Watch your temper first. Both of you and the others will learn how to control themselves over time."

Sebastian growls softly and I pull on him again, "I need to ask some questions... his answers may be in riddles most of the time, but perhaps I can figure them out with time."

Sebastian nods backing off as the old man motions for me to come closer, "Least you have the mind to closely pay attention to a wise man's words. Ask."

I swallow thinking carefully, "I want to talk about this seven you keep mentioning. Seven like us? Like we are all game characters?"

"This is no game girl," the old man's face grows serious; "you're the hero. Can't you feel the madness? It seeps through the hole in the veil, widening the gap further until it will all break loose. Don't let that happen hero. Close the gap before more than mere monsters gets out; before even your own blade can't save you."

I think on his words a bit, "So...I am the hero...Sebastian's the horseman... who else could there be..."

The old man shrugs, "That's for you to find out. Often the keys to the future lie in shadows of things yet to come and illusions of the mind."

"Dreams..." I mumble and when I glance back up he had disappeared.

Sebastian growls frustratingly, but doesn't say a word. Once he is able to return to normal, we leave the graveyard. Both of us are silent and lost in thought for a long while.

"Well," Sebastian says after a while, "I still couldn't get most of what he said..."

"I'll have to think on it," I say, "It's definitely a puzzle. While, I am trying to figure it out, I'll have to keep an eye out for the other seven. He said something about dreams...and Roy dreamed about Mario once...maybe he's Mario?"

"No way to find out for sure, but it makes sense."

I listen to the birds in the fading light, "My mom will be wondering where I've been all after school...it's going to be hard to make up an excuse this time."

He shrugs, "Say you were walking a friend home or something."

I nod, "Yeah something like that. See ya tomorrow."

We part our ways and I return home still with a lot on my mind. I couldn't help but feel as if something was coming. Deep in my gut, I knew that this 'hole' the old man had talked about was getting worse. If only he had hinted on how exactly to defeat it...