Here we go, the next chapter!

Just to remind you, if you want to see Mnem, his model is in the photobucket album. Check chapter seven for the link~

Edit: I fixed a couple of the errors I found. If you see any others could you let me know? Thanks!

EDIT EDIT: Changed from the original! Nothing major here, guys, so it isn't going to completely screw you up.

Ari sighed, leaning back and looking at the sky. She had been unable to sleep since she'd spoken to that man, Mnem. Her thoughts had bounced within her skull for the two months since then, her lack of sleep showing by crankiness and the dark circles under her eyes. The few moments of sleep she managed to catch were filled with nightmares, images of screaming and wailing faces, a man standing amidst the pain, a sick smile on his face. A child stood next to him, face filled with horror, tugging at the man's arm as if begging them to leave. Every time she had the dream she woke up with a strange pain in her chest, a sense of longing or perhaps empathy for the child.

The morning was fast approaching and she knew it by Duck's increasing restlessness. She looked over at the chicken and chuckled, patting his head. Sitting up and stretching, she barely caught the sound of footsteps before Vreagon opened the door to her home, grinning at her.

"Good morning." He spoke smoothly, but noting her face, he frowned. "…you didn't get much sleep, did you?"

"Not a wink."

Vreagon sighed and moved to her bed, sitting on it as the girl swung her legs over the edge of the bed. "I'm sorry. Is there anything I can do…?"

"…Doubtful." She squeezed her eyes closed, yawning dramatically.

She had to see him again. She had to or she was going to go crazy.

"Hey, I'm going to go for a swim, alright? Maybe I can wear myself out enough to get some sleep."

Vreagon nodded slowly, watching the girl disappear.

Something was going on here, he could feel it.

Ari swam quickly, spotting the cave. She moved even faster, reaching it just in time before her lungs decided to give out. She burst through the surface and the raven haired male on the bed, holding a book and reading silently, jumped and looked over at her. "What- What are you doing here!"

Ari climbed out of the water, sputtering and looking at him. "…I needed to speak with you."

"Why?" He snapped, closing the book and giving her his full attention, despite his angry eyes. "What could be so important that you had to come here?"

Ari shifted, frowning and closing her eyes tightly, clenching her teeth. "I keep having these… these… dreams. Of a man standing in the middle of a screaming village. Everything's on fire and people are crying, begging, pleading, and… and… and there's this child, he's screaming for this man to stop, pulling on him…" She felt the tears burning, her fingers slowly rising to cover her mouth. "What the fuck did you do to me?" She screamed, staring at the man.

Mnem looked down, his chest heaving faster and faster before he stood. "…we should get you out of those clothes."

"Excuse me?" Ari started dangerously, tilting her head in warning.

"You'll get sick if you stand there in wet clothes like that."

She couldn't argue when he brought out a pair of soft pants and an equally soft shirt. She sighed, crossing her arms. "Don't look."

Mnem was already turned.

Ari slid off the shirt, blushing and covering herself with a huff. "I don't suppose you have towelssomewhere?"

"I…No. Normally it's just me, I didn't see the need."

"Well you should make some, when you have the chance. You never know when you'll have company."

Mnem groaned. "Don't tell me you're going to keep showing up?"

"I am."

Mnem listened to the girl as she slid the rest of her clothes off and he gulped slightly, running a hand through his hair. So much for appropriate.

At least you are giving her a little privacy, even if it is not much.

"Okay." Ari spoke so suddenly, Mnem jumped, turning quickly. He resisted the chuckle. The clothes were too big for her, baggy and the bottoms threatening to fall. He noticed her bitter stare and was able to keep it back, motioning for her to sit. She brought her wet clothes with her, and he took them carefully, hanging them up. "Well? What's going on?"

Mnem shrugged. "I was just wondering the same thing. I will be honest with you, miss, I haven't the slightest clue as to what's happening with your dreams, but I do know that it's very familiar."

"It is?" Ari asked hopefully, her eyes wide as she smiled happily. "What is it?"

"…It's… complicated to explain. And most of it I cannot tell you-"

"Please!" Ari cried, her eyes piercing through Mnem's own. The man bit his lip, sighing. "…fine. We will stay here for a while longer before I will show you what is going on. But I must warn you, this will not be pretty and it will not be to your liking, I can assure you."

"I'm a grown woman, Mnem, I can handle it."

Mnem nodded, sighing. "…milk?"

"Please."

The two spoke quietly, and Mnem couldn't help but smile at every word the girl said. If this was what he was missing in life since he made this choice, he may just give it up-

No. You can not do that. Ari is only one reason for you to remain here. If you give up, all will burn.

Ari drank the rest of her milk and smiled, offering to take Mnem's little cup. The man shook his head, "No, you are the guest," He set them on the table beside his bed, opting to simply take care of the mess later. "…Let's go. You may as well put your other clothes back on; there is no point in wearing dry clothes."

She nodded, and they repeated the ritual: he turned and she dressed quickly, speaking when she finished and jumping in the water. Mnem followed silently, slipping into the water easily and taking the lead.

"…where… where are we?" Ari asked, her voice echoing in the cave. Light from the water shined on the ceiling and walls and Mnem appeared next to her, sighing.

"This… this shouldn't be seen by any other eyes than my own, but it seems you've already been chosen."

"Chosen?"

Mnem cleared his throat. "It's confusing, even for me, and I was raised with it."

"Try me."

He took a breath, sitting against the wall. Ari sat next to him, listening carefully.

"This world was once inhabited by people just like you and I. Huge cities, beautiful landmarks, bustling towns, skyscrapers that you could never believe that humans built on their own. There was even a system of machines that they used to connect with other humans around the world. They had been on this planet for a long time, but they weren't alone."

Ari frowned, opening her mouth to speak before stopping.

"…there were these… creatures. Elongated limbs, tall, shrouded in darkness. They remained a secret, far beneath Earth's surface, residing in the deepest, darkest caves. They were always waiting for the perfect time to strike, the perfect moment to show their true power. Every miner that managed to get that deep, that far into the caves and mines, disappeared without a trace. The cause was never found, but the rumors began. Tales began of a long-armed creature, one of demonic origins. Widespread fear started on that web of connections, from machine to machine. By the time they were discovered as a real creature, the damage had long been done. You see, there were blocks that were used in the creation of these creatures' portal to their home. These blocks were spread all over the planet, and it was more difficult to recreate that portal. They searched for centuries.

"Then it happened. Every rock came in contact with another, creating a portal known now as 'The Void'. The Void was a space deep beneath the surface, far too deep for humans to survive without this portal. But what horrors behind that portal would immediately persuade the human from going through it at all. It was later dubbed 'The End', cold and dark. These creatures, they originated here. They are born here. They wanted to go home, but She had better ideas."

"She?" Ari interrupted, and Mnem nodded slowly, gulping dryly.

"Yes. 'She'. She was – well, still is, as far as I know – the guardian of The End. She despised the human race, planned for their destruction. And then the portal was reconstructed…"

"She stepped through it?"

"Oh, no. She did not step through. She flew through. She is not humanoid, nor does She look like the shadows in the caves. She was what we would call a Dragon."

"…You're kidding."

"…I wish I was, Ari. I really do."

Ari searched the man's face, frowning deeply. He brought her all the way here, enraptured her with these tales of human success, only to tell her some bullshit about a dragon?

But his face was serious. His eyes were dark.

He isn't kidding.

"…What happened?"

"The world you know today was created. When she came through that portal, the 'Earth's' fate was sealed. Humankind was almost wiped out completely, had it not been for a few brave men and women who stepped up to the plate, found the portal, and destroyed it. She was forced to go back and the portal became sort of a… prison. There were rituals to send one to The End forever, should the portal remain closed. Those people were my ancestors. From then on, they protected the stones, keeping watch, making certain that what had happened then could never repeat itself. So far we've been doing well, but there was an… incident, when I was but a child. My father went utterly mad, scouring every cave in existence for those stones. He tried to bring Her back, to finish off the human race in hopes that he could reign. A silly thought, you know, reigning over a world that had no subjects.

"Anyhow, he went raving mad and set fire to village after village. He discovered how to bring forth the dead, and Skeletons and Zombies soon took over in the night."

Ari felt the hatred spreading through her. That bastard… He took away her family! Even if it wasn't directly, it was... "And?"

"The few humans alive began to panic. I was a child, like I said. I didn't understand what was happening until he murdered a pregnant woman before me. I realized then what a… what a monster he was. I tried to stop him, I really did, but… but I couldn't. I was too small, too weak.

"Finally, when I got home, I contacted my grandfather, the previous protector. He assisted me in a ritual to send him to The End, to make him suffer for his wrongdoings. He could do no damage there, as the stones were out here, in this world, this realm. He could not reach them here.

"When we locked him up, I became the protector alongside my mother. She's still alive, somewhere. When I became of age she bid me farewell and left in the night, promising that she'd return when the time was right. I still do not have any idea what she had meant by that, but I can only hope that she will come back. Over time I suppose my family gained these… 'Powers' of a sort. Not exactly powers, but abilities. We were extra perceptive, quick on our feet. We are able to tap into our true potential. You would have the ability too, should you try hard enough. So could your friends."

Ari sat in silence, staring at the wall. "…this… this makes no sense."

"It makes perfect sense and you know that."

"Doesn't mean I have to like it."

"True enough."

The two sat in silence for nearly fifteen minutes, the female nibbling on her lip and sighing heavily. "…so… Mnem…"

"Yes?"

"…where do I come in, in all of this?"

Mnem shrugged, "I don't know. This has never happened, to my knowledge."

"Why do you live alone? Don't you need someone to continue your 'legacy'?"

Mnem stiffened, gulping and coughing, looking away. "…I am still young. That is not important, right now, and so I do not see the point in thinking about it."

Ari nodded slowly, looking down. She unconsciously leaned against Mnem, the exhaustion finally taking its hold. The raven haired man jumped, looking down at her with wide eyes. "What-"

"I'm so tired…" Ari murmured, her voice slurred. Mnem knew he should push her away, remove his attachment to her, and just take her home…

But he hadn't the heart. He chuckled and nodded softly, wrapping one arm around her shoulders nervously as she slumped into his lap, eyes slipping closed.

Oh, Mnem… what have you gotten yourself into…?