(A/N): Hello! It's been a while since I've updated... I'm a slow writer that's why the updated are slow… Heheh… Anyway, Please Read and Review..
ANGUISH
"Misha…"
I heard a voice whisper my name. The call echoed hollowly in my mind. Where is it coming from? I could not tell where…
"Misha…"
The voice… It was becoming louder yet still so distant. Like when someone is calling you when you're submerged in the water.
Was the person coming nearer? Will she help me?
I tried to open my eyes; it wouldn't budge. I tried again then gasped agonizingly. All I could see was darkness. Fear began to seep into my chest.
Where… am I!
A miserable burden was weighing down on my shoulders. My throat was constricting painfully and my chest, too. I was slowly becoming aware of my inability to breathe.
"Misha…"
I turned my head in the dark…
Where are you?
There was no one…
Please…
I lifted my hands, gesturing for help…
Help me…
My lungs were losing air and I was feeling dizzy. I had to breathe… I just had to…
The feminine voice called out to me again. Her voice… a goddess' voice… It sounded so familiar. A voice I've heard somewhere before…
It was then that I saw her… the one that I have been looking for ever since I understood the meaning of the word death. She was coming towards me, reaching to me with the same gentleness I remembered so long ago…
Liza… Liza… You came… You finally realized who I am…
I could feel the hot tears falling down my cheek, mingling with the coolness on my skin. The sorrow came again… The anguish that I had buried that time long ago… when everything I held dear was stripped from me in a snap of a finger…
She held out her hand to me… "Come, Misha."
I moved to clasp her hand. It was a moment I have been dreaming of for so long a time. Finally, it came true.
But as I was supposed to be touching skin, I felt nothing. I could not make contact. I stared stupidly at her hand and then tried to touch her again… but I could not… She wasn't tangible. She wasn't real…!
The water rushed into my mouth, filling my lungs. The water was drowning me, cutting of my air supply. It flooded my body and senses. Instinctively, I pushed myself up to take a deep breath. My feet came in contact with a rock and I hoisted myself above water. Dizzily, I looked around for the land and then trudged weakly towards it, trying desperately not to be swept back into the water by the strong current. Landing on all fours, I coughed the water out while taking deep gulps of much needed air.
My head felt like it was being pounded by a hammer. I tried to stand up and managed to do so. But when I tried to take a step, I fell down again. There was not much energy left in my body. I felt so weak… My body and mind felt raped…
And so I lay there on the river bank of an unknown place and letting the dreams consume me as I waited for my mind and body to recover enough strength for me to think and be able to move…
Looks like I won't be going anywhere anytime soon…
oooOOOooo
In my unconsciousness, I was dreaming. Mingled with the dreams were thoughts… thoughts and questions about my being and the forsaken life I was bound to.
I was like very fragile china that would break if pressure was applied. One touch and I come back to my usual companion in the sixteen years that I was 'alive'… back into the darkness of the mental abyss. It really is a wonder that what should have been lifeless a long time ago still moves and feels pain like a normal body. That I was still alive after going through countless mental and physical raping by the philanthropist of death is indeed a marvel. Maybe I should be feeling good that my body was able to withstand the repeated calling of the Lord of Death, but I did not feel blessed… I felt damned…
"We're going to a trip to a very fascinating place, Arthel. Wouldn't that be great?"
The woman smiled at me with tenderness in her violet eyes. She is so beautiful and so poignantly… familiar. I could feel my heart crying. She was someone important… I should recognize her, but I can't… Who is she?
Did I do something horribly bad in my past life for me to deserve such repeated exploitation? Did I kill anybody? Was I someone who worshipped the evil and its dark arts and that had wielded it to cause great harm to the world? Do I deserve this? Almighty Odin… Why…? Why was I condemned to this pit of hell that was known a town and to the horrors that it brings to life? Why did it have to be me…?
"This would be a great adventure, Arthel."
She looks like a younger version of the woman earlier… Who is she? Why is she in my dreams?
Is there hope for me…? Will I be able to escape this world and live in normality…? Will I be able to live a day wherein I wouldn't worry whether it would be my last? Will I be able to watch the dusk come without having to fearfully anticipate the arrival of the dark haze?
My existence was damned from the start. I know I wasn't meant to live and I know I do not want to go on like this. The limits and capacities of my being are yet to be seen and I know it would never bring any good. For death would be a much better state of existence than this immortality that had yet to be put to the ultimate test… And death is supposed to be the worst thing in this world…
Blinding light met my eyes when I opened them. I turned to the side to prevent the light from directly hitting my eyes. Desolation was bearing down on me. I felt as though tomorrow would never bring anything good for me.
I noticed a very peculiar feeling. There seemed to be something that was enveloping my skin. I raised my right hand to my eyes and scrutinizes. It was paler than usual and it looked brittle crunchy! lolz. I tried to close it. The movement didn't go smoothly as it normally would.
"What happened to me?" I asked softly.
I could feel fear creeping into my chest. There was something wrong with my body. The creature with the sneering face had done something ghastly to me. I could feel the change all over my body.
Imare… Imare would know…
I sat up and scanned the room. Imare was no where in sight. Puzzled, I got off the bed and searched the room for the possessed toy. No sign of him. I looked out the window, still no sign of Imare. I moved towards the door, intending to see if Imare was outside, and then I stopped. I was consumed in hesitation. What if Imare kills me if he finds out I've been out. I looked back at the desk where Imare was earlier. The parchments were still lying cluttered on top of the desk.
"Imare had never left any of his writings here," I muttered, feeling puzzled by this unusual behavior.
I walked over to the desk. Maybe Imare left a note about his whereabouts. As soon as the thought came, I laughed. Imare had never told me about his whereabouts. He said it wouldn't matter if I know or not since I am not allowed out.
The parchments were arranged in a neat stack as opposed to what I had thought earlier. I picked up the parchment on top and began to read. The ink on it was still fresh. It read:
Arthel… You are in grave danger. You must leave the city immediately. Follow my instructions carefully.. It's the only thing that could save you.
As you read, I am now in a gathering called upon by the great masters. A fake angel that had wandered into our realm had mentioned that there are humans amidst their dungeons. It had been a while since humans had come. The ones that wondered here into our midst were lost adventures of the dungeon below. Now it seems that they are destined for this town. An expedition, like what we, my son, were involved sixteen years ago.
Yes Arthel, you are my son. I would have liked to tell you all about our past personally but the circumstances would not permit it. Good thing I had written about it. Before you go, pass by my dwelling and bring all that you could --- books, weapons, armors, potions, and maps --- but especially the book of your past, more appropriately, our past. They would be a big help to you.
Why had I written them? Contrary to what you may think, I intended to help you get out of this town. I had prepared those things for them to aid you on your journey in Rune Midgard. I just didn't plan it to happen so soon…
Moving on, read the next scroll for the instruction.
Take care now… I would have liked to accompany you but it would seem I cannot do so.
Imare
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To Be Continued…
