Just to let you know, all my chapters are relatively short. Enjoy!
Alex opened his eyes. He was panicking. After he calmed down, he looked around. He didn't know where he was. The area was a purplish color. He sure wasn't in the cart anymore. Then he saw Wild Alex approach him. "Where am I?" He said. Wild Alex responded, "I brought you here. Into your mind." Alex looked around. "My mind?" He echoed. Now that he thought about it, the area did look familiar, in a strange, déjà-vu kind of way. "What happened?" Alex asked. Wild Alex drew nearer. "Well, in reality, you're unconscious. I brought you here so we could talk." Alex began to gat annoyed. "What makes you think I'd want to talk to you?" Wild Alex shrugged. "You know you're different, Alex. Not like other cats. If you were, I'd be gone right now. Face it. You're destined to be a killer." Alex was angry now. "SHUT UP! I'm not a monster and never will be!" Wild Alex chuckled. The chuckle became a cackle. "You're funny! Even when you're denying your fate!" Alex was horrified that this monster was a part of him. Wild Alex began to fade away. "You can't hide from the truth..." He said before he disappeared.
Alex's eyes snapped open. The whole world was hazy. When it came into focus, he could see Gia and Vitaly standing over him, both with worried looks on their faces. Alex didn't say anything as Vitaly helped him up and Gia hugged him. Alex held his head. "What happened?" He asked. "You fell unconscious. I couldn't tell if you fainted or were hurt." Vitaly explained. Gia looked up at Alex. "You were murmuring to yourself. I thought you'd gone insane!" She said. Alex was sad that he'd worried them. "How long was I out?" Gia bit her lip. "An hour and a half." "WHAT?!" Alex yelled. It only seemed like a minute to him! "I...need to be alone." He said and he walked out of the cart.
Alex sighed and let the breeze cool his fur. Why is this happening to me? How am I different? Who am I? The last question he thought triggered an idea. He rushed over to the front of the train and saw the penguins. "What do you want, lion? Can't you see we're busy?" Skipper snapped. Alex ignored his comment. "Our next stop is going to be Africa, so get moving!" "AFRICA?! What makes you think we're gonna drive this train all the way to Africa? I am NOT making another plane!" Skipper exclaimed. Alex sighed. "Look, I don't know, just think of something! We need to get there ASAP!" Skipper glared at Alex. "Why?" He asked. "None of your business" Alex scoffed. Finally, Skipper decided he'd find out how they would get to Africa. Alex had a big reason to want to go there. He needed to have a little talk with his parents.
It seemed like forever (and it kinda was) but finally skipper said over the new intercom that he made. "Ok, we're in Africa now." Alex jumped out of his cart and dashed into the reserve. He'd gotten used to the area and knew where he was going since he was stuck on Africa for so long. He stopped running when he got to the watering hole. There they were. Zuba and Florrie.
"Mom! Dad!" Alex shouted. Zuba looked over. "Alakay?" Alex walked up to them. "Yeah, I'm back." To Alex it wasn't much but his parents were worried sick. "Oh, Alakay, we were so worried!" Florrie said, hugging Alex. After some greeting, talking, merf, Alex finally told why he had to come back.
Alex told them all about his nightmares, symptoms, and hallucinations. Most importantly, he told them that he'd already gotten rid of this, and that it's back. "Back?" Zuba asked. "How can it-" Zuba paused and looked at Florrie. "Dad? Is there something I should know?" Alex asked, suspicious. Zuba sighed. "Come with me, Alakay. I need to tell you something alone." Alex hesitated, then walked with his dad.
"Is there something I should know?" Alex repeated. Zuba sighed again. "Alakay, your grandfather, my father, was a killer. He was insane. He didn't fight with his evil side and let it get stronger. He killed innocent lions and didn't care. That evil side must have passed onto you." Alex tried not to believe those words. "D-dad. There has to be a way to stop this. I can't be a killer. I won't!" He sat on a rock so he could process through his brain what he had just heard. Zuba sat beside him. "Listen, son. That...thing is strong, and it ain't going away" Alex was shocked at these words. "You mean I'll have to live like this forever?!" Zuba stopped him. "Let me finish. It ain't going away unless we fight back." Alex glared at his dad. "What do you think I've been trying to do, dad? This monster is always trying to take over my mind! I don't know how I got rid of it last time, so how am I supposed to get rid of it now?" Zuba stood up. "We can talk later. The sun is setting, and by the looking at the state you're in, you need sleep." It was true. Alex hadn't slept in two days. He was exhausted.
Alex chose to sleep out in his old "bedroom" that night. He looked at the childish toys and decorations. He touched the spot he had made as a cub. Man, he was really tiny then! Alex got himself comfortable on his bed, and tried to sleep. He gripped his "Foofie" and thought about what would happen if he didn't control the monster living inside of him. He shook his head and gripped the old blanket tighter. He thought of happy feelings so he could wash away the horrific thoughts. Eventually, Alex fell asleep.