-One Day Left-

The Chief Elder stood tall above each of his charges and he spoke with his vocals, "I am impatient! We go today to collect our sweet prey! We go now!" the Elder shouted at his twelve charges who in turn, yelled back wicked cheers.

The chief Elder raised his black arms high above his head, when he dropped them each one of his charges was gone. My sweet prey, how excited you make us. You're going to be just what I've been hoping for. Nothing will stop us from getting a prey we so rightly deserve.

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Rick had just got off the phone with Eathan, telling him that the doctors had moved Jack into the coma wing. Rick sat beside Jack, gently combing his finger's through Jack's hair. Jack looks so peaceful. Rick sighed and leaned back in his chair. He stared up at the ceiling, hoping for a miracle that Jack would wake up soon. Rick was soon lulled into sleep by the consistent beeping of the heart monitor.

Rick wasn't sure what had initially woke him, but he was sure that something was wrong. Jack's heart monitor was going crazy and a nurse shoved Rick out of the way. Rick stood on the sidelines while he watched a nurse administer a morphine shot.

The morphine didn't help, something was happening to Jack's body that caused more than pain. Rick stood nervously as he was helpless to do anything. Rick felt eyes watching him, he looked to the door to see Eathan standing there.

Eathan stared at Rick, wide-eyed and speechless. Rick was shocked to see Eathan and didn't notice the nurse direct him toward the door to leave and moving both himself and Eathan into the hall. The nurse slammed the door closed, leaving Eathan and Rick helpless in the hallway.

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Jack's smile had faded long ago, time seemed to pass differently now, a day was here and gone in a matter of minutes. Jack hadn't seen Liam in a few months. The days went by so fast he wasn't sure if he was making any progress. By the looks of it though, maybe three weeks away from the top. With any luck that is.

"Hey, Jack." A familiar voice spoke behind him.

Jack stopped and turned around, "Oh, hey Liam, where've you been?"

Liam indicated for Jack to keep walking, "Just around, the days here go by really fast."

Jack nodded, "Yeah, they do."

Liam stayed close behind Jack, "Can't you just slow them down?"

Jack shrugged, "I guess so, but I like how many sunrises and sunsets I get to see."

Liam nodded curtly, "Would you like to hear more of my knowledge?"

Jack paused and turned around, "Yes, I would. Can we sit and do it?"

Liam shook his head, "No, you need to reach the top."

Jack tilted his head, "Why are you so adamant about me getting there?"

Liam shrugged, "Just impatient is all."

Jack sighed with a smile, "Very well, onwards we go," Jack started to walk up the steps, a bit faster than his pace before, "So, what do you have to share today?"

Liam smiled, "Quite a bit, so I hope you can multi-task," Jack nodded, "Good. Where did we leave off last time?"

Jack was silent for a few moments while they hiked up the stairs, "I think something about your world was corrupted and a queen created Amari and the ruler of Stream, who by-the-way you never said the name of, created you. You were killed by a demon who is somehow more righteous than you. And some-"

"Right, right. Okay I remember now," Liam said, interrupting Jack, "Okay, we'll start off now with the name of my creator, the ruler of Stream's name is unknown to me, I was never told and I never asked, I must call him 'Ruler' when in his presence."

Jack laughed, "That's ridiculous, can we just make up a name for him then?"

Liam chuckled, "If you wish, what would you like to call him?"

Jack hummed in thought before answering, "Richard."

Liam laughed loudly, "Very well. Now that that's out of the way, my world has been corrupted. Most by lust and greed for power. When the Queen created Amari, she had never suspected Amari would have a run-in with a mortal. The Queen was blindsided when she discovered that her creation was with a race that was never meant to survive."

Jack raised his hand to stop Liam, "Wait a moment, you mean to tell me, humans weren't supposed to live?"

Liam shook his head, "No. When the Queen made the deal with Richard, she had thought she gathered every last remaining human. She left the barren wasteland that was caused by the Grand Elder to live in Stream with Richard and never looked back to the earth realm."

Jack huffed as he took a taller than average step, "So the human's are alive because she neglected to check for each one?"

Liam nodded, "Basically. Now back to the story…" Liam trailed off as he collected his thoughts, "So Amari fell in love with the mortal. When the Queen eventually found out, she was infuriated to see that her most powerful creation was weak of heart. And so, the Queen did the only she knew how, transported the mortal to the Grand Elder," Liam took several quiet moments before he continued, "The Grand Elder, most of this is just stories, Jack, remember that," Jack nodded in response, "The Grand Elder then decided that one of his charges was becoming weak. And sent the mortal man to take his place."

Jack stopped his trek up the steps and turned around, "Which is what the Elder wants with me now."

Liam nodded with a frown, "Yes, Jack. Do not worry though, you have just enough things in your corner to help assuage that," Liam looked toward the top of the mountain, "You're very close, Jack." Jack nodded and turned back around to carry on his walk up the grueling flight of stairs, "The mortal to replace the old charge though, was weak and succumbed to the want of power. Amari, as strong and stubborn as she is, gave up on them being together to keep war at bay."

Jack tilted his head as he took another step, "You know, I hear an awful lot about this so-called war, yet I have no idea the premise of why it's going happen."

Liam smirked, "The most important question, 'why'!" Liam laughed lightly, "I don't rightly know, Jack." Liam sighed and picked up his pace to stay closer to Jack, "Sorry, you thought I knew didn't you?" Jack nodded his head while he stepped, "Besides trying to keep war at bay, Amari never thought her mortal love would grow to be so grotesque. I don't think It ever bothered her though. She loves him regardless of what he looks like. And the Elder loves her, so much so, he searched for a replacement, you, so he could transcend to Stream to be with her."

"So, my soul replaces his. The Elder goes to Amari, and then what?" Jack sighed and hummed, "Assuming I succeed in his place."

"I can't see the future, so I couldn't tell you. I can tell you that no matter what happens, you won't have to replace him. Amari will not succeed either. Jack, you've made your own option, one in favor of yourself."

Jack shrugged his shoulders, "I'm not even sure what it means to have a strong soul, so whether this option is good enough to do anything, we'll see."

Liam laughed quietly, "Jack, a strong soul means exactly that; strong, unwavering in your determination, an unbreakable will, you can not be broken by mere pressure or force."

Jack smiled wide, "That's comforting despite my opposition."

Liam chortled, "Good."

Jack clasped his hands together, "More story?"

"Sure," Liam held a small grin, "Well, the reason that Amari wants you is for when this war supposedly happens, she has an ace up her sleeve," Liam shook his head, "And if you succumb to the Elder, there will be no war, Amari and the Elder will be together so it won't matter."

Jack tilted his head, "Amari doesn't want a war, but will wage one if it means her love stays where he was put?"

"Yes," Liam said.

"That's so stupid. Why do I need to fight in it?" Jack asked.

"I don't know, Jack. Probably because it's Amari versus an entire tribe, which is roughly a group of ten to fourteen. Unless you only have one charge as Elder, which has only happened once and the charge had long disappeared for many centuries. Until recently." Liam stated with a placid tone.

"Who?" Jack asked.

"Who, who?" Liam retorted.

Jack paused in his hike up the steps and turned to face Liam, "You know what I mean, who was the single charge of the Elder that was gone for so long?"

Liam smirked, "His name was Amon, the Elder had sent him to earth far ahead of the Chief Elder."

"Why?" Jack asked with a raised eyebrow.

Liam leered, "To not be discovered, Jack."

Jack turned back to the raising stairs and resumed his walk, "Do I know them?" When silenced followed Jack's question. He turned around to face Liam, only find Liam was gone, "Of course you're gone!" Jack shouted into the air.

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A tornado was tearing through Jack's hospital room. Medical instruments were being whipped about the air. Jack's body was raised high above the bed. Eathan and Rick tried to get in, but the door was jammed shut from inside the room. The two men banged and pushed the door with all their might, but it was in vain as the door wasn't budging an inch. The doctors and nurses were either unconscious or killed by a whirling machine, Rick couldn't tell which through the small door window.

Rick and Eathan were only able to watch in awe as Jack was moved away from the bed. He remained elevated above the ground several feet away from his resting place, now in the epicenter of the invisible force ravaging the room.

"Move!" a loud Australian voice spoke, Aster was sprinting towards Rick and Eathan.

Rick and Eathan quickly sidestepped away from the door. Aster bolted between the two, and slammed his shoulder into the door. With seemingly little effort the door burst open and shoved the object blocking the door across the room.

To Eathan and Rick, Aster looked like a madman, swinging and grabbing at nothing. That is until, when it looked like Aster grabbed the air and threw nothing toward the window, it shattered.

Aster huffed out his breaths when he turned to Rick and Eathan, "Go, now!" Eathan wasted no time in running back into the hall.

Rick stayed and stared at Aster, "What can I do?!" Rick had to shout, when he realized that the wind was roaring inside the room.

Aster shook his head and swung his arm behind himself, "Get Jack back to the bed!" Rick rushed over to Jack, the wind fighting his every move.

When Rick touched Jack, he saw what was really happening. The room was swarming with a mass of black deformed nightmares. Rick bit his tongue to keep the scream he felt in throat from escaping. Across from Rick was a creature with a long sharp misshapen teeth that dripped a black liquid as it screamed in Rick's face. Its eyes were hollow sockets. Its skin ripped and contorted around the beast's form.

Rick let the scream escape his throat and he let it out as a roar of adrenaline. Rick used every muscle he could to get a firm hold on Jack. He widened his stance, turned his body and, wrapped both arms around Jack's chest.

The monster across from Rick yelled out in anger and grabbed Rick's forearms, digging its ling fingers inside Rick's skin. Tears rolled down Rick's face as the immediate pain swarmed throughout his body. Rick felt like he was being crushed in a vice like a twig.

The creature screeched in Rick's face, drawing the attention of the other monstrosities in the room.

"No!" Aster yelled and fought his way over to Rick.

Aster shoved and bowled over everything in his way to get to Rick. Aster punched the creature that was hurting Rick, square in the jaw. The creature went flying through the air and slammed into the wall next to Jack's bed. Aster rushed Rick who was now holding Jack and trying to move him over to the bed.

Aster helped Rick position Jack on the bed, "Hold him down here!" Aster yelled and ran back over to stop the other beasts from getting close to Jack, "Whatever you do, Rick, don't look over here!"

Rick nodded and shut his eyes tight while he held Jack down on the bed. Rick kept his arms protectively over Jack as a shrieking sound filled the room.

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Eathan had ran to the children's wing of the hospital and had found a room specifically for the healthy-enough patients to paint. Eathan ran in the room with tears streaming down his cheeks. He grabbed all the tubes of pain the could, he shoved one of the small tables to the side and set the paints down on it. He uncapped the green and spread it across his finger.

Eathan was met with an expected force, stopping his hand from touching the wall. Eathan yelled as he pushed his one hand with the other. It felt like he was being repelled by the wall, but he fought through it. He pushed harder, his yell getting louder.

Eathan cried harder when his hand finally managed to touch the wall, it was as if the entire force that was holding him back finally gave way when he touched the wall with green paint. He smiled and began to paint with one thing in his mind. Jack.

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"Hey, Liam? You there?" Jack asked the air in front of him loudly.

"What's up, friend?" Liam asked behind Jack.

"I'm still wondering about what I asked before you left earlier." Jack said as he took a step.

"And what's that?" Liam asked.

"Do I know who Amon is?" Jack asked curiously.

"You do. At least, I hope you do, you've been dating him for almost a year." Liam said nonchalantly.

Jack paused in his steps, "Aster?" Jack spun on the steps to look Liam in the eye.

Liam nodded, "Yes, Jack. Aster."

Jack laughed, "As much I love him, there is something oddly suspicious with how perfect he is."

"Everything you wanted?" Liam asked with a suggestive smirk.

Jack smiled back just as suggestively, "And more. I'll love him, no matter what happens or what he is."

Liam shook his head, "Even though he's apart of one of the tribes?"

Jack put a hand to his chin and looked up in thought, "I suppose that would dampen the relationship and I'd break up with him when I see him. Doesn't mean I wouldn't love what I knew him to be. He never caused me harm that I know of. I don't appreciate the enormous centuries old lie he was hiding from me."

Liam nodded offhandedly, "Fair point. So, only about ten steps away from the top, want to finish this already?"

Jack nodded enthusiastically, "Damn right I do!"

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Eathan spread the purple across the top of the wall near the ceiling. He nodded to himself as he stepped down from the small chair. He stepped back and marveled at his work.

On the wall was Jack, standing at the top of a lush green mountain, watching a calming sunrise. The entirety of the scene did nothing except bring a sense of peace and happiness to the onlooker. Eathan was very pleased with himself. He gave his new favorite painting a smile before darting out of the room.

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Rick felt a piercing pain erupting in his back and worm its way to his heart. Rick gasped out breaths as he used the last of his strength to hold Jack to the bed as several creatures assembled around the two. Rick looked over to where Aster was and saw a large looming creature, more nightmarish than any other monster in the room. It took one step and was at Jack's feet. Rick shouted at it to go away, but it did something that surprised Rick.

The disturbing creature swung its massively distorted arms over Rick and Jack, propelling the other beasts away from them. The ominous creature grew more arms and grabbed each one of the monsters by the throat and thrust them out the door with such a tremendous force they flew down the hall, knocking over the onlookers too afraid to come near Jack's room.

Amon looked over to Rick. He gasped when he saw that Rick was laying on the floor, in a puddle of blood. Amon wasted no time in throwing one of the spare sheets over Rick's body. Amon wasn't sure what to think about Rick's sudden death, but he knew Jack wouldn't want him to be desecrated by one the foul creatures he had thrown out of the room. As swift as the wind, Amon changed back into his mortal form and walked over to the doorway.

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Eathan was on his way back to Jack's room. Eathan was sprinting through the halls of the hospital, running down everyone that stepped into his path. Eathan paused when he saw the hallway to Jack's room was littered with people on the floor.

Eathan saw Aster standing in the threshold of Jack's door, breathing heavily. Eathan wasn't sure what to do, he just stared at Aster. Eathan began to feel panic when he noticed that Aster's eyes went wide with fear. Eathan heard a faded shout before he felt a plethora of arms wrap around him. Eathan felt a pain course through his body like he had never felt before. Eathan saw Aster running down the hall toward him, yelling at nothing. Eathan was unsure what was happening as his feet began to sink into the floor. All Eathan could feel was an overwhelming amount of fear and pain. Eathan could hear an excess amount of whispers that made them too shrouded by each other to understand any single voice.

As Eathan sunk deeper into the floor, a single voice spoke within his mind. If we can't have the one we truly want. We'll take you in his place.

Aster couldn't reach Eathan in time, and watched with sad eyes as Eathan was taken away, forever trapped in the other realm to serve as its Chief Elder. Aster shouted out in anger and soon he as well, disappeared into the floor. I need to speak my Elder.

Amon walked over to his Elder, "Why did they take him?"

The Elder of Sight sighed, "You and the mortal Rick, fought so hard to keep Jack alive and on earth, they settled for an easier target."

Amon shouted at his Elder, "He did nothing wrong!"

The Elder shook its head, "I know. Do not worry though, you kept Jack safe and stopped him from becoming the Chief Elder."

Amon huffed, "What about Eathan!?"

The Elder of Sight walked past Amon, "He will be fine as the Chief Elder. This realm will survive as will the other realms."

Amon turned to his Elder, "That's not good enough!"

The Elder placed a long, bony hand on Amon's shoulder, "Unfortunately my charge, it has to be." Amon radiated anger as he settled for his Elder's answer.

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Jack smiled wide as he stood on the top of his mountain. He spread his arms wide and spun in circles until he was dizzy.

"I really made it! I really fucking did!" Jack shouted out and stopped spinning.

Liam smiled back at Jack, "You did it Jack. Now, guess what you really did?"

Jack cocked his head to the side, "What?"

Liam's smile grew, "You won Jack, you escaped replacing the Elder and you won't be taken by Amari."

Jack sat down, "Really?" Jack let out a relieved sigh and laid back, "How, I never left my mind."

Liam shook his head and looked at Jack with a frown, "I'm sorry Jack, but you never will."

"Excuse me?" Jack stood abruptly, "What did you say?"

Liam put a hand on Jack's shoulder and gave him a sorrowful expression, "Jack, you won't ever be able to leave this place, until death that is."

Jack took a large gait back, "What?!" Jack shouted at Liam, "I can't be stuck here!" Jack walked to the edge of the mountain, "Why?!" Jack screamed into the sky.

Liam didn't move towards Jack, "I don't know. I'm sorry, Jack."

Jack waved his hand dismissedly, "Go. Leave."

Liam took a step toward Jack, "Jack, please."

Jack turned quickly and yelled at Liam, "LEAVE MY MIND!" a tear rolled down Jack's cheek.

Liam nodded, "Very well, Jack. I'll not be gone forever though," and with those words, Liam disappeared from Jack's mind.

Jack wiped the stray tear from his face and walked back toward the stairs. He turned around to see a sunrise. It was beautiful, so many mixtures of calming hues, purple blended into green and the orange melded into blue. The picture perfect scene left Jack feeling at peace. He smiled sadly at the sunrise and knew that his days here were going to the most peaceful he was ever going to have. Jack was tired of feeling frightened and angry. He let out a contented breath as he took the first of many steps down the mountain and into his mindscape. A serene air blew around the mountain, calming Jack and reminding him that he won't ever have to be afraid again.

THE END

A/N

Okay, everyone. Thank you so much for sticking with me for the year and a half it took to write this novel. It's finally finished. there will be no epilogue, as I feel things are tied up very well. I appreciate all of you who have followed, favorited and, reviewed. I'd like to especially thank user God of Spirits-Spirit Black for helping shape this story and being all around an amazing help and letting me bounce ideas off them. Now, if you would please recommend this story to everyone you know. that'd be amazing. I'll continue to leave this up here for a while, until I get closer to publishing(By the end of the year). So enjoy it while you can! And Please for me, review this, review the story as a whole or just this chapter. please review!

Have an amazing whatever-the-hell-time-it-is-when-you-read-this!