Into the Void

We need help

“Why are you doing this? What do you want from me?!” I screamed in anger and frustration.

 “Why?” His face contorted with rage, red and blue echoes of him shouting in his anger. “You want to know why I’m doing this? You promised you’d let me in! I waited patiently, but nothing happened! You shut me out, cast me away. Well, I’m tired of giving people a choice!”

The color drained from my face when I realized that all this might have been my fault from the very beginning. “I didn’t start this Dark. I thought you were a dream when I said that. I...I didn’t know that you really existed until later on. How was I supposed to know that some character my fans created was real? I didn’t know! I refuse to accept the blame for something I never did to you. I didn’t do anything to any of you except make a few videos!”

Dark snorted, actually snorted, and put his hands behind his back. The echoes occasionally shouted or grabbed their head. He had a calm demeanor, but those glimpses showed just how bad he was starting to crack. I was almost afraid to know what would happen when he lost all control. 

“If it hadn’t been for you, I wouldn’t be like this. WE wouldn’t be like this! You are the reason we are in this accursed state of existence. I am tired of living in your shadow. I am tired of being trapped in a world that caters to the whims of others. I will no longer be held back, and I will destroy anyone in my way.” Staring into Dark’s eyes, I could see the madness taking hold. I don’t think there was any reasoning with him in this state, and if I wanted to survive whatever was coming next, I needed to wake up now.

 “I...I don’t know what you want me to say.” I was at a loss for words, but it didn’t matter. Dark wasn’t listening to what I was saying anymore. Not truly anyway. 

Dark opened his mouth, and then his expression changed. It went from enraged to confused, with him cocking his head as though he was listening to something. I looked around and caught Bri’s eyes. She looked just as confused as Dark. She shook her head at me and shrugged. 

There was tension as we waited for Dark’s next move, and then the world started to shake. I stumbled as I tried to keep my balance on the moving ground. 

“NO!” The rage in Dark’s voice had me jerking my head in his direction. He looked furious, and I could see multiples of him all shouting almost a few seconds behind. “You can’t chase me out as though I’m a mongrel stealing a scrap of food. HE IS MINE!”

Swirls of darkness thicker and darker than I thought black could ever get started reaching out for me. I turned and ran, not entirely sure where I was going to run to get away. I didn’t make it very far before multiple strands of the darkness shot out and wrapped around my entire body. I screamed out, fear and panic making me struggle. I was being dragged back to Dark, the last thing I wanted.

A bright light started shining in the distance and getting closer every second. It burned away the darkness as it rushed towards us. I had no clue what this was, but if it helped me escape, then it must be good. Right? I heard Dark scream in pain and anger as that light washed over me in a wave of heat.

I shot up, a scream bursting out of my throat. The first thing I saw was Matt’s concerned face staring at me from a chair at the foot of my bed. I was breathing heavily, trying to get my bearings from that nightmare, when Matt started talking. Except it didn’t sound like he was talking to me. 

“Is he going to be okay?” Matt asked.

A sigh to my left had me jerking in surprise. I hadn’t expected anyone else to be in the room with us. The lights in the room were on and let me see the figure standing next to me. My eyes landed on the green hair and mask first.

“Marvin?” I wasn’t sure what was happening right now. He shouldn’t be here yet. 

 Marvin ignored me and answered Matt’s question. “I’m not sure. I cleansed his mind and chased Dark out, but his aura is still darker than it should be. I don’t know if it’s because of the connection between the two of them. I’d have ta run a few tests, but we don’t have the time right now.” His crystal blue eyes met mine with a frown.

“Marvin?” I said again. “What are you doing here? You said it would take a few days to get ready.” 

He turned his crystal blue eyes to me, a piteous look on his face. “Mark, ye’ve been asleep fer over a day. Dark had ye trapped in yer dreams. If I hadn’t gotten ye out, ye might have been trapped there forever.”

I looked at Matt with disbelief. He shrugged his shoulders. “I didn’t know what to do. I tried everything, and I still couldn’t wake you up. You were quiet most of the time. Then you started screaming for Bri. The little coin started glowing, and I figured that was the only way to help you.” His voice was unsure like I was going to be furious at him for trying to help.

“Thanks, Matt. Dark… He showed me Bri. I think she’s being held prisoner in her mind. She was chained and in a cage. I couldn’t get to her. I tried. I tried so hard. If it wasn’t for you, I think Dark would have kept me just as locked up until they could find us.” I gave Matt a weak smile, trying to reassure him.

He gave me a small smile in return before looking at Marvin. “What do we do now?”

Marvin grimaced and rubbed his hands together. “Now, we get ta work.”