Bright light, pure light. Shining in aluminum, warm embrace flooded his body, heating the most coldest of places making him feel light, numb even. As waves of nostalgia blew against him. Clouds upon clouds set an endless sea of sky, whispers quietly guided him across the horizon. A distant figure loomed just behind the clear clouds, as he got closer the voices pushed him along bringing him closer to his destination.
The sound of something metallic hit the floor, though it was distant and very faint. The voices grew louder, tuning the sound out. It bounced and slowly began to fade in the back of his mind as the melody of the wind carried him closer and closer till. The figure became clear.
" D-Dad..?" His voice quivered, more quiet and weak.
Standing right in front of him was his father, arms stretched wide waiting for his son to join him. It felt as if this was a dream. Everything fell to perfect, and yet, even if it was all a dream he wouldn't care for, the outer sound became so far that it didn't feel real, quiet calls of names reached recognition but as the melody played its song he became transfixed.
That isn't real.. keep walking.. keep going.
Light much, much more light blinded him but instead of Shielding his eyes he embraced it, he let his mind be consumed by the warmth and the sweet sound of its voice. A bright smile waited for him, he took two steps at a time taking in this moment. Things are becoming clear. Learning farther in the world around became numb, the nerves in his body stopped working piece by piece. Shoulders grew heavy as legs stood weak, his torso arched, knees bending. He could feel every joint and nerve grow numb. Each step felt like a daunting task. But he still pressed on, nothing's more important than this moment.
Sweet songs sung loud, calling his name blissfully. Even with his body shutting down his eyes grow wider with each sway, the hand that belongs to his own reaches out to the light.
We missed you.. keep going.
The farther he reaches the more his hand shakes.
He's close.
He's so close.
His dad is waiting for him..
He wants to join him..
He needs to join him.
Closer..closer you almost got it.
Light shines so bright.. it binds the young soul in warmth and light.
The mind grows dim.. the body grows cold.
One.
Last.
Step.
A lazy smile creeps up his lips as his arms are wrapped tightly in a warm embrace. Safe, he felt safe. He doesn't want to let go, he never wants to let go. Sweet words coux him deeper as his dad whispers cherry songs to him. Sending him into a deep sleep.
He can't leave.
He won't leave.
He will stay.
He can't leave.
He won't leave.
He will stay.
He- can't leav-
He -on't sta-
He.
-ill
sta-
…
Mallock is cunning. He had them at their backs, literally. Clutch was brave enough to take the golden sword with his own hands, changing ready for an attack. It never happened.. instead of him running full speed at the evil wizard, he was walking towards him?
Varen's mind instantly had paused as he watched the explorer take slow steps toward Mallock.
" Clutch! What are you doing?!" He called, he didn't understand why but something wasn't right with this, he didn't even answer him when he yelled his name. He looked completely zoned in, clattering off to the side is where the sword is. Varen flinched from the metal blade, sounding way too loud and forbidding in the underground chamber.
Shining way too brightly, the crystal ball sat on top of its own throne, Clutch walking directly to it. That's when he realized.. " Oh no.." the prince muttered, panic rising in his voice " Clutch! Clutch! Don't listen to him, whatever he's saying is not true!" All his calls came fruitless in return, Clearly under a spell he could hear him say something. Eyes darting from Clutch to the aluminum ball he could see his reflection inside of it, Clutch's eyes glowed a light purple as his walking became sloppy, he started to slowly sway from lazy steps taken.
He had to get Clutch away from that ball! With each passing second his eyes were glowing brighter and his mind was losing. Varen started to run one hand, reaching for the exporter; he was so close but as he looked up Mallock growled, pointing his staff he shot the young prince back slamming him into the cave wall. Clutch never even noticed as the purple hue swirled around him blocking anymore from getting even an inch closer, soon purple fog filled the room, little mixes of pinkish colors with little sparkles.
" Stop! You don't know what you're doing!" He yelled, there was no response. Only the sound of his delusional murmurs hung inside the swirling vortex, eyes now glistening in vibrant purple; he was completely under the control of the wizard. He watched in horror as his hand reached forward, weak and shaking hands grazed across the reflective soft surface. It looked as if his body would give out at any second, but he held this smile on his face.
Clutch was completely out of it.
Body swaying from side to side the only thing keeping him up was the magic around him, his words were slurring as he repeated random sentences, the smile on his face sent chills up his spine. There was too much light in those eyes, wide and bright they were now a harsh purple. They glowed so vividly that it reflected off the ball, that smile.. lazy delusional happiness. Still held a form of certainty, a fake certainty that'll lead to his demise.
Clutch moved like a moth attracted to light, to which it burned.
"CLUTCH NO!" Without any time, Varen got back to his feet grabbing the gold sword ready to swing, his arms hung to the side, the blade collided with the magical force field sliding clean in half. Mallock snarled " Foolish boy! Just give up!" He shouted, pointing his staff again he shot a powerful blast to which Varen blocked, strong waves of magic repelled of the golden blade. Teeth bared, he gripped the sword tightly, holding his ground, his feet dug deep into the stone ground.
There was a standoff, one of them had to fall. It was the wizard. Being shot from his own blast he flew back crashing into the wall, his staff had fallen from his grasp. Varen saw this as his only chance to rescue him, running to Clutch's side, his hands already holding the sides of the magic ball.
Grabbing his shoulders he gave him a firm squeeze " Hey come on," he said, shaking them "wake up!" Nothing went in, his mind had completely submitted to the spell. Clutch didn't acknowledge the word around him as his eyes glowed violently, his smile dazed in deep bliss. He had to take him away from this magic, looking at his hands they slowly began to fade, panicking every passing minute. He tried to pull him away but he didn't budge, thinking fast his eyes closed in on the magic ball. Lifting his sword he swung directly on the ball breaking into a million pieces, glass shattered as a shock wave hit both of them sending their backs against the ground.
The others ran as fast as they could, hearing the strong blast from outside the castle sent all the skeletons and monsters back to dust. All the royal guards and soldiers cheered victory as their foe had been beaten, although the Lego building team not seeing their team leader and the Varen not yet leave the castle yet, worry set in. Running inside, the sheer destruction of the blast showed as everything had been destroyed or knocked down. The lower levels weren't any better and that's where they found them.
Sounds where fuzzy vision was blurred, but as his consciousness grew aware he began to hear voices, voices growing louder by the minute. Footsteps surrounded them as his head pondered from the shock blast. But he wasn't the top priority
" C-Clutch.. He's.. he's..." He choked out, throat dry his mind hadn't fully processed his arms being raised up with the rest of his body.
Brick held Varen by the shoulders propping most of his weight against his body as he struggled to keep himself together " Woah! Now slow down, take it easy" bricks gruff voice said, holding the weak prince in his hands, " There.. there's something wrong with him!"
Eyes were now drawn to the explorer slumped against the wall, Peg was the first to come to his aid. He hadn't moved this entire time they were here, this was worrying Clutch would have been the first one up but he wasn't.
" Clutch.." Peg called "love.. are you alright?" Reaching behind his back she lifted him up a little, the room was filled with nothing but gasps. One world lifeless he looked completely lifeless.. his eyes were hollow as his dark black eye color was bright grey, yellow skin now a faded pale. His face stagnated in an emotionless gaze into a land far from here. She would have already assumed he was dead if not for the slow beating of his heart and breathing.
Everyone looked on in horror as their team leader laid motionless, now propped against the wall.
" Oh no..." Varen whispered, voice visibly shaking " they got him."
It's been a whole week since they had captured Mallock. Kel had praised their performance on the mission but after the news dropped about Clutch, everyone grew silent.
Artie had spent several days trying to get an ounce or just a slice out of Clutch, everything seemed useless. He just wouldn't speak or react to anything around him, his face never changed from that blank expression, his eyes were a blinding grey as when you looked in nothing looked out. Clutch had to be fed and taken care of now as he couldn't himself, so many times.. so many days had Peg brick and Bernie tried to wake him from whatever curse he was under but nothing never seemed to work.
All was set in stone; they had to go on without him, Clutch had been removed from the team by Kel's orders until they found a solution to help him. The Brick building team had to continue on their quest to find the other criminals who had escaped from prison.
Days passed into weeks and before they knew it, everyone had given hope that he'll ever be the same again, but Artie never gave up. He knew somewhere deep down inside his mind there was a lock.. a lock that just needed a key to be opened.
And that key would be found very soon…
Voices quiet voices still, the man was stranded. Clear in a blank world. His calls drew thin, each time echoed back. Walking for days there was no noise.
No life..
No air..
Till, a song.. a familiar melody blew in the wind, wind was new.. new like a sky. Body laying stiff his head against something soft, the distant ticking made a rhythm out of the breeze. Songs.. he wants more songs.. they make him feel things.. They help him stay awake. Reaching out he finally feels his hands, his cold body slowly grows warm. The singers are dancing around him taunting him.. he wants the music back, he needs the sound back. Songs get slightly more clearer, worlds become blue, skies turned into clouds, he's back.
But this time the song was different.. more like a calling. He ran towards it fearing if he didn't follow it would disappear leaving him in silence again. Instead of the joyful nostalgia there was a dark cloud, a feeling of dread flushed over him. His father wasn't here.. yet his voice was.
" S- son.." his dad called " son…" he wanted to answer but his mouth wouldn't open, he fought everything in his power to at least tell him he was okay or where he was.
" Son.. I'm trapped.."
" I need.. you to rescue me.."
" I need you to rescue us…"
Body twitching he rose slowly, as the blankets crumbled from him failing to the side. Now sitting upright, room near pitch black his throat croaked and it was beginning to warm.
" I.." was the first word he heard from his voice for a long while, he wanted to try again " I-i.." his throat cracked as words came weak and quiet.
" I.. I need.. to.." he coughed " I need to save.. dad" he repeated " I need to save.. dad from.. prison.."
Grey eyes flickering, they glowed pure Scarlet, lighting up the whole room In its hue. His voice started to sound monotone.
" I need.. to save.. dad… I need to save dad.."
" from.. prison…"
" I need to save Mallock.. I need to save..dad" eyes glowing more, it was filled with nothing but pure control as he endlessly repeated over and over.. at this point his voice had become completely lifeless without any emotion whatsoever.
" I need to save Mallock from prison.."
You need to break Mallock out of prison..
" I need to break Mallock out of prison…"
I need you to break me out of prison..
" I need to.. break Mallock.. out.."
You need me out..
" I obey.. Mallock.. I need him out.. he needs to be freed I obey.. only to Mallock.. he needs to be freed" just like a robot he obeyed his orders, slowly he slid right out of bed. Each step jerking and swayed, shoulders hung as he repeated endlessly, " Mallock needs to be freed.. Mallock needs to be freed.." his voice hung devoted of any humility, eyes glistening strongly under the magic spell. Like a puppet on strings, he dragged his body outside towards the Lego organization.
Relaying the same words he was told.. You need to break Mallock out of prison.. you only obey, you need him out for he needs to be freed..
The Brick building team was in for a long ride.