Aster's back hit the wall of his bedroom hard. Eathan had shoved him against the wall out of no where. Eathan was standing on the other side of the room, looking out of breath and frightened. When Aster's back hit the wall it pushed the air from lungs. He was kneeling on the ground out of breath and staring at Eathan. As he stared he noticed Eathan had a long dark, almost black gash down his preciously uninjured forearm.
When Aster soon caught his breath he spoke, "What the hell?!", still kneeling, he stood and took a firm stance, "What happened?!" His voice had a slight tone of fear, not just for himself, but for Eathan as well.
Eathan stood still, eyes wide, afraid. His arm was dripping blood onto Aster's floor. Aster looked down onto the ground, watching the small puddle of blood getting bigger with every drip. Aster started to walk over towards Eathan, only to stop when Eathan took a step back in return.
"Listen mate, I'm not 'bout ta go back ta the hospital anytime soon." Aster raised his hands in innocence, "Just come in ta bathroom, so I can take a bettah' look at ya arm." He said with a hint of command in his tone.
Eathan shook his head, "No. I'm not leaving this spot."
Aster sighed, "A'right," Aster heard the stubbornness in Eathan's voice, "I'll bring mah stuff to ya then."
Aster returned in a few short moments with a large first-aid kit and a small flashlight, and waited for Eathan to lift his arm so he could take a look at how bad the wound was. Eathan lifted his forearm to Aster, and turned it so the wound was closer to Aster. Aster clicked on the small flashlight and inspected Eathan's cut.
Aster hummed as he got a sterile wet cloth and wiped away the excess blood around the slash. As he cleaned the around the wound he had noticed it was no longer bleeding.
"Strange." Aster said quietly as moved the cloth closer to where the opening had been.
"What's strange?" Eathan asked worried.
"Nothin', just that your wound is gone." Aster said nonchalantly.
"Wait," Eathan pulled his arm away to see himself, "what? How?"
Although Aster had a sneaking suspicion of how, he decided for a less dramatic answer, "I dunno, but, how's 'bout we get hold a'Jack." He said as he looked away from Eathan's vanished wound to his eyes.
Eathan nodded without question, "Okay, if you say so."
"A'right then, lemme just get mah phone ta give him a call."
Jack had just finished paying for his bed when he felt his phone vibrate in his back pocket. He walked away from the salesman at the register when the caller I.D. showed it was Aster.
"Hello there, Handsome, and how are you today?" Jack said happily after he picked up the phone.
Aster had talked so fast Jack was almost unable to understand what he was saying. The only part he was sure he heard was that Aster and Eathan were headed to his house. He almost let Aster hang up before he remembered he had to give him his new address.
Jack walked back over to the register where the salesman was waiting to hear how or when Jack wanted them, "Sorry, about that, important stuff I guess."
The salesman scoffed quietly, "Sir, would you like the bed delivered to your house today or tomorrow?"
Jack ignored the scoff from the man, "Non-sense, help me load it in my truck, and I'll be on my way!" Jack's voice cheerful despite the displeased salesman.
The salesman held out his hand, "That'll cost extra." He gave Jack an implying look.
Jack nodded that he understood and began to fish around in his pocket, "Here ya go." He pulled three one dollar bills from his pocket and handed them to the man, "That should be enough, right? I'd hate to involve your boss, who just so happens to like my business."
The man gave a disgusted look towards Jack and took the minimal amount of money before answering, "Very well, Sir, If you'd just pull around to the back into Bay 3."
"You got it!" Jack said merrily, excitement now brimming from the thought of seeing Aster.
-One Hour Later-
Jack pulled up in his driveway, to see Aster sitting down on the front step. He shut off his truck and ran over to give Aster a hug.
Aster stood and accepted the running hug from Jack, lifting him off the ground in a tight hug.
Jack buried his face into the crook of Aster's neck, and whispered, "I missed you so much, Aster."
Aster whispered back with a smile, "Even though last time we talked we had a fight?"
Jack shook his head, "I don't even care about that anymore. I'm just so glad to see you."
Aster lightly laughed in reply and set Jack back down the ground. Their faces were mere inches apart when Aster leaned in and gave Jack a kiss. Jack kissed back, hard.
"Hey now," A voice spoke up from the front step.
Jack pulled away from Aster's lips, startled, he asked Aster, "Who'd you bring with you again?"
Aster shook his head at how unbelievable he was going to sound, "Eathan. Eathan is here."
Jack laughed, "The only Eathan I know is my brother. And I don't think he'd come all this way just to visit."
"I didn't. It is really me though, your brother." Eathan said as he walked toward the two.
Jack's smile had vanished, "And what brings you to this lovely city on an evening such as this?" Jack asked, genuinely curious.
"I wish I knew." Eathan said while he shrugged his shoulders.
"That reminds me," Aster spoke up, "I need ya ta have a look at somethin'."
Jack gave them both a curious look before leading them inside.
As they walk through the threshold Jack spreads his arms, "Well, this is my new home! The only furniture I bought today was my bed. And I still have to go super-center for groceries and bed sheets."
Eathan and Aster looked around themselves in awe at how large the house was. Once they had walked through the front door, a spacious dining room branched off to the left and to the right was a rather large family room. Jack led them through a short hallway which lead to the kitchen. The kitchen was at the very least twice as big as Jack's old one. With an island in center of it and an open area where a large dinner table could fit.
Jack smiled at their expressions, and continued the tour. He led them to the living room that was separated from the kitchen by a half wall. The living room had more space than either Aster or Eathan knew what to do with. Jack walked them down the hall that was connected to the living room, where a small bathroom, two well-sized bedrooms were and a third enormous bedroom was.
"And this is going to the master bedroom, or in other words, mine." Jack lightly laughed as Aster and Eathan just stared in amazement at the luxurious amount of space in Jack's house, "And before I forget; what did you want me to look at again, Aster?" Jack asked with a tone of interest.
"Ah! Right!" Aster snapped his fingers as he spoke, "Let's head ta the bathroom ta get bettah light."
Its teeth grinded together in fury. It stared on at the swirling vortex in front of it. Anger seethed from its body in an ooze of black metallic sweat. Its fist clenched together so tight it was tearing its own flesh. As its dark eyes furiously gazed into the quickly shrinking vortex, it caught a glimpse of an empty bed just before the vortex completely closed.
The creature's disturbance had been felt by all whose body still had the sensation of touch. So overwhelmed with wrath, its movements became sloth-like. It swayed to and fro as it took steps toward where the vortex had been. Its slick oily flesh writhed around its body, never settling for where it belonged. The constant pain of nerves tearing and scraping around its deformed body only fueled its anger more. As it unsteadily moved forward, it was ripped away from its position by an arm too long to be one of its own.
As it thrashed about in the hand that held its torso a deep archaic voice was heard within its head, "Do you know what you have done Uphir?!" The voice was echoing inside its skull.
Uphir looked down in shame, when he heard the voice, "Yes." Uphir said softly.
The Elder tightened its grip around Uphir's torso, "I have told you before not to stray from the path!" the Elder's voice booming within Uphir's mind.
"I did not this time!" Uphir snarled at the Elder.
The Elder slammed Uphir onto the ground, "You transported a non-chosen!" It was practically screaming inside Uphir's head now.
"I was trying to help him…" Uphir's voice was hoarse from the continuing vice-grip around his lungs.
"You have only caused more harm!" the Elder spoke condemningly, "They all will find him now. He can feel them and now they can harm him."
Uphir's pained expression turned into a weak smile, "Now he can help Jack." he said with a sarcastic tone.
"Fool!" The Elder threw Uphir Across the abyssal plain of rock, "He can't help Jack anymore!"
Uphir gave a confused look towards the far away Elder, "Why?!" He shouted hatefully at the Elder.
The elder teleported next to Uphir and forcefully grabbed him by the waist and pinned him to the ground, "He's lost his ability to paint because of you!" the Elder brought their faces mere millimeters from each other, "He'll start remembering!" the Elders voice vibrating Uphir's very core, "We can't have that! And its all because of your foolishness!" The Elder lifted Uphir from the ground, high up into the air. The Elder's voice quiet now, "Unfortunately, I had expected this from anyone, but you."
Uphir squirmed in the grip of the Elder, "The all knowing Elder didn't account for everything I see."
The Elder audibly growled at Uphir, causing Uphir to visibly quiver, "Your arrogance has cost too much for our tribe! It pains me to see the one healer in this tribe go, but it must happen. Traitors are not allowed here."
The Elder still holding tight to Uphir disappeared into the ground like sand, and Uphir along with him.
Jack hummed in thought as he sat on the floor of his living room. Eathan and Aster sitting in silence across from Jack. Jack looked towards Eathan's arm every-so-often, thinking of the right words to put his thoughts into. Jack wasn't sure whether or not he should tell Eathan, or to blatantly lie to him and tell him he knew nothing.
He opted for the former, "You're gonna think I'm insane for telling you this, but the creatures that have chosen me, have finally found a way to get to you."
Eathan gave Jack a perplexed look, "What do you mean 'finally'? What creatures?" Eathan looked to Aster for support of his confusion, yet Aster was stoic.
Jack had a concerned expression, "We all know about the ring on my back, correct?" Jack received two curt nods from Aster and Eathan, "Well, when I was twelve, I had asked my mother if I could go up to the river we lived nearby. In retrospect, I realize now that it was an awful idea. Anyway," Jack continued, looking only towards Eathan, "It was night-time and I had just reached the river when I got really scared," Jack skipped the part about being saved by the creature, "I started sprinting home when I thought something was following me. Well, turns out I had gone in a curve while running and hit the only part of the hill that had a drop off." Jack stopped to make sure Eathan was paying attention, "I got cut up by thorns the whole way down. So, there I am, laying in a deep ditch scared, hurt and, alone." He paused and laughed to himself at how ridiculous the next part is going to sound to Eathan, "Then, as I recall, a terribly frightening monster was on top me, with its fingers digging into my back. He called me 'prey' and told me I 'was theirs now'. That's all remember, after that I woke up in my mother's bed, her wide awake beside me." Jack concluded his story and waited for a response from Eathan.
Eathan was silent for a long while before he finally spoke, "That doesn't explain anything for me." He said matter-of-factly.
Jack perked up, "Oh right, about that, I honestly have no idea about that. The weeks ago you were here, they couldn't even touch you. You hadn't felt their presence either. So about your situation, did you do anything new or different recently?"
Eathan put his hand under his chin in thought, "Not that I can think of…Wait, I did paint a picture of your house torn apart in an earthquake." Eathan said as he tried to think of more things.
Jack was shocked into silence. His mouth agape at a loss for words. He wasn't sure what to even make of that statement. So overwhelmed with thoughts he lunged at Eathan.
Jack pinned Eathan to ground and set off shouting at him, "You! You destroyed my home! I worked for that home!"
Jack raised a fist, ready to strike a blow to Eathan, when Aster pulled Jack off of him, "Jack," Aster had to use a lot of strength to hold Jack back, "It isn't his fault, he didn't know." Aster's voice was calming for Jack, though not nearly enough for his state of anger. Eathan had backed away from Jack when Aster pulled him off.
"Let go of me!" Jack struggled in Aster's hold, "He's gonna find out what he did to my life!"
Aster tightened his arms around Jack, "Jack, it's done!" Aster's voice was stern, "Hurtin' him will change nothing'!"
Jack stopped resisting in Aster's hold, "It'll make me feel better." Jack said with contempt.
"No, it wouldn't." Aster said quietly, "It really wouldn't."
Jack was scowling at Eathan as he spoke, "We could find out."
"No, Jack. Just calm down." Aster loosened his grip just slightly.
Jack took a deep breath, "I'm not calm, but let me go. Now." His voice was angry. Aster complied with Jack's demand. Jack turned to look at Aster, "I have to get out of here." Jack was at the front door when he spoke again, "Lock the door when you leave." He slammed the door behind him as he left.
Jack had sprinted away from his house, fueled by adrenaline he didn't stop until he was at the city square a few miles away. He stopped by the large fountain in the center of the square. The sun had fallen under the horizon moments ago and the sky still retained an orange glow. He sat on the edge of fountain and began to cry softly to himself. Passerby's paid no mind to him as they went about their day.
He looked up when he noticed a pair of feet facing him. As he stared in to the face of the stranger he had this faint feeling that he knew the man that stood in front of him.
With a bewildered tone, "Do I know you?"
The man nodded, "I believe you do, you're Jack, right?"
Jack nodded his head, "I am, and who are you?" Jack asked inquisitively.
"I can't believe you don't remember me, we grew up together, Jack! It's me, Liam!" He said enthusiastically with his arms spread wide.
Jack stood abruptly and hugged the man before him, "I can't believe you're even here!"
Liam hugged back, "Well, here I am! I can't believe I even found you here!" His voice joyful.
"The coincidences life brings us! I missed you!" Jack held tight to Liam, he didn't care how awkward Liam felt.
Liam held Jack like the long lost friend he was, "Don't lie, you didn't even think about me." He laughed as he spoke, "I'm more surprised we made it to the same city."
They let each other go before Jack spoke again, "It's crazy really. Especially with how faraway our home-town is."
Liam nodded, "I agree! It's been a long time, what? About nine years now?"
"Yeah, 'cause I left when I was fourteen." Jack said, cheer still in his voice at seeing Liam again.
"Right before my birthday I might add!" Liam said jokingly as he lightly shoved Jack in the shoulder.
"Hey man, nothing personal, but your parties weren't always the paramount of fun for me." Jack spoke with a smirk.
"Whoa, my parties were the best." Liam said sarcastically.
A comfortable silence fell between them, and they decided to sit on the edge of the pond.
After a few relaxed moments, Liam spoke up, "So, what brings you to Lexium Square tonight? I noticed you looked kinda down in the dumps when I walked over."
"Ha, it's a really long story actually." Jack said, hoping to deter Liam from wanting to hear it.
"Well, I just got off, and I have no one to go home too, so what's up?"
As Jack told Liam about what had happened today, and of what Eathan revealed to him, he felt that Liam was intently listening to Jack. Jack found comfort in the noticeable ear he confided in. When Jack finished telling Liam about what had happened he looked into the sky, and found that night had fallen. He pulled out his phone to check the time, his phone read '01:12 am'.
"What time is it?" Liam asked.
"My phone says its one-in-the-morning." Jack stated.
"Well, like I said, I have nowhere to be and no-one to see." He paused for thought, "I must say, that is the craziest thing I've ever heard." Liam voiced, "Interesting to say the least, but not surprising considering what we all saw around you as kids."
Jack laughed, "Oh that's right! I remember everyone of our parents thought we were so obnoxious when we told them about it!"
Liam laughed with Jack as he talked, "Except your mother, she was the only one who believed us."
Jack's laugh died down, "That she was! Oh gosh I remember the look on her face when you walked in my house and asked what was standing next to me."
Liam smirked, "She was practically scared for me!"
Jack smiled wide, "She was! I mean do you remember what stood next to me!"
Liam laughed, "I still have nightmares about it!" His laughed subsided, "So, about Eathan?"
Jack's smile faded quickly, "Yeah, paintings that force the future. I sound mad."
Liam considered what Jack said, "Well, maybe they predict, not force."
Jack tilted his head, "Maybe, I didn't think about it like that."
"We'll never know, I guess." Liam shrugged his shoulders.
"I intend to find out." Jack voice was full of conviction.
"Maybe it's best if you don't?"
Jack shrugged his shoulders, "Something knows, that I'm sure of."
"Are those under-the-bed monsters still after you?" Liam asked interestedly.
Jack nodded with fear, "Oh yes. They never stopped." Jack looked around the seemingly empty square, "There's one standing over there," Jack pointed near a tree in the distance, "By that tree over there."
"Where?" Liam tried to see where Jack was pointing.
"Well, it's over here now." Jack said as it stood in front of Liam.
"I still don't see it." He squinted his eyes to get a better look around his surroundings.
"It's literally standing right in front of you." Jack paused for a moment, "Look at me."
Liam turned his head to look at Jack. When he made eye contact with Jack, his peripherals caught a glimpse of being demonic in nature, right next to him. The sudden sight startled him and he fell back into the pond. Jack laughed as Liam stood up, soaking.
His face full of fear, "Holy fuck, Jack!" Liam shouted terrified.
Jack waved his hand dismissedly, "Don't worry, You'll be fine."
"Well," Liam stepped out of the water, "it certainly is more frightening then I recollect! And now I'm soaking wet."
Jack smiled, "Wanna go get cleaned up at your place?"
"Yeah, wanna spend the night? Its late and I don't feel like either of us getting mugged."
Jack laughed, "Of all the years, I've lived here, I've never been mugged."
"Well, I have. Care to walk with me?" Liam said as he looked towards the direction of his home.
"Sure. I hope you live closer than I do. I assume so, since you walk to work?"
"Yeah, it's a few blocks from here. How far away do you live?"
"A few miles," Jack pointed a finger, "That way!"
"Yeah, come over, spend the night, and we can catch up while we're there."
Jack nodded, "Sounds like a good plan to me!"
Guess What! I updated super early! I was house sitting at my friends, and they didn't have internet, I wrote. I wrote ALOT! And I really like how this turning out. Quite the ride is it not? It's like a roller coaster. Sometimes its really exciting other times its fun, and sometimes its scary as hell! It's very interesting isn't it? To see things unfold? To have things you question. I hope you liked the new view point of the creatures. Can you believe that we've come so far? And We're even done yet! Oh gosh! I'm excited to see where this is going! I have no idea! I can only answer questions that pertain to what I've already written. If you ask about the future, its hopeless because I won't be able to answer you at all, you'll just get a "uhhhhh" From me. So review please, any grammar mistakes, let me know, any other mistakes, is it moving too quick? too slow? repeat of words too much? I don't know, or you could just let me know you like it and what you like about it.
ALSO, IF ANY OF YOU WANT TO THINK OF A NAME FOR THE CREATURES, TELL ME YOUR IDEAS, AND IT WILL BE HEAVILY CONSIDERED. I CAN'T, SO YOUR HELP WOULD BE APPRECIATED.