Chapter Eight

Richard was back in eternity.

It wasn't quite as comforting as it had been before. Something was off, the darkness was more real, and he knew he was awake. This eternity felt man-made. There was pain everywhere. It was a tingling sensation on his skin, and he knew that if he moved at all, the pain would rush into him.

He felt a familiar presence behind him, but the pain created a barrier and he couldn't tell whom it was. He wanted to turn and look, but he wouldn't be able to see in the darkness, and the pain would rush into him.

Richard saw a pinpoint of light before it streamed over him, blinding his eyes. The pain, still tingling across his skin, seemed to intensify. He heard a voice, but didn't recognize it. It was distorted by the presence of the pain, like a thick wall.

"Will you come to fight me, Richard?" the voice asked. "Do you think you can win?"

Richard wanted to tell the voice that he didn't know who he was, that he wasn't the Richard that the voice was looking for.

"Do you wish to go back to your own world, Richard?" Maybe he was the right Richard.

"I've left you the message that will help you find me. If you think you are ready." The voice seemed to laugh at him, but it was a rasping sound that made the hairs on the back of Richard's neck stand up.

"Come, Richard." The voice seemed to be taunting him. "Come find me, right now."

Richard's anger had grown to such an extreme that he wasn't seeing clearly. This was a message from Shota. Shota had sent him to this world where his wife and friends hated him. He had to go home. He didn't want to be here anymore. Richard was filled with a sudden need to attack the voice.

He moved.

The pain charged into him. He couldn't feel anything. The voice was laughing at him; it's raspy quality making him angry. His anger didn't last long. He soon forgot everything but the pain.

It was like fire in his veins, but ice in his arteries. His body felt like it was tearing itself apart. It was worse than an Agiel.

He saw a shadow in the light, but couldn't tell what it was. He felt nothing but the pain. The voice whispered in his ear.

"Goodbye, bringer of death."

Author's Note: Sorry about how short this chapter is, but does anyone have an idea on who the voice is?