Chapter I
Prologue
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Garfield Logan's POV
Right now I'm at Jump City High School library with my friends Richard "Dick" Grayson, Victor Stone and Kory Anders. Kory's real name is Koriand'r.
To me, reading's nothing but plain boring but I'm here because I don't want to go home yet. I don't want to go home only to find a long line of people outside because they believe my mom's some kind of fortune teller and stuff. She's like that because my father's death and my Sakutia disease just made her mind snap.
Good thing my friends always understood me. I've been friends with Dick and Vic since sixth grade. We met Kory two years ago when she crashed down to Earth from Tamaran, her home planet. The Citadel guys tried to kidnap her, and of course, we saved her. We taught her a lot of things about Earth (more like me and Victor taught her because Dick was too busy staring at her tits and ass). Ok, enough flashbacks.
I continue to walk around until I come across a small shelf that says "Mystic Places and Unknown Worlds". I noticed an old and weird looking book. Its title says Azarath. I start to think about Rachel, a girl a met in my dreams. I'm not really into books but the book really caught my attention because of her. I read through it for hours until the clock stroke six. Its past curfew. I realize my friends left a few hours ago when I was so busy reading about Azarath. I went home as soon as I can, cause no matter how unstable my mom is, she still worries about me and is still my mom.
By dinner, My mom noticed that I've been acting weird. She asked me if anything was wrong. I asked her, "Mom, do you know anything about an inter dimensional place called Azarath?"
My mother answered, "Gar, when your father had his...accident, I began to read and study different things. One of them is Azarath. I found lots of books about it and one of them told of how to create a portal to go there. Of course I didn't go. You were seven years old back then and I couldn't leave you. I still had the books, though. Would you like to read them?"
"Really, mom? That would be great!" I replied enthusiastically.
I finished dinner then she led me to a room in the house where there are lots of books about Azarath then discussed them to me.
-Three Days Later-
I told my friends everything. They were all shocked at first but it was Vic who spoke up
Victor asked me, "So, dude what's your plan? Going to Azarath and disappearing from the face of the earth?"
I didn't know what to answer. Before I had the chance to, Robin cut me off, "Garfield, are you sure this is what you want? Once you go there, there'll be no coming back"
But before I could answer Dick's question, Victor interrupted me with another question ,"If you want to leave, B, we respect that. But we wanna know why"
I answered, my emotions evident as i spoke, "Because I'm a freak, Vic. I don't belong here. Every time I walk at the city, children would look at me with either fear or disgust in their eyes. I wanted to be somewhere where I wouldn't be a freak among perfects. Also, after what happened with Terra, I don't think I could ever face a blonde girl without remembering her."
Terra was my ex-girlfriend. She played me. She and I were together for a time until one day I caught her cheating on me. That day, I thought I'd give her a surprise at our favorite café. When I arrived, I saw her making out with Luke Castellan at her apartment, the stupid bully at Jump City High who thinks he's the most handsome guy in the world and always called me freak.
"And, remember when I told you guys about that girl I always dreamed about?"
They all nodded.
"Every dream, she told me to find her and Azarath. What if she does exist? This is my chance to see her! I wanna find her, Vic!"
Victor replied, "If that's your reason, B, Then I'll come with you. All the kids who ever looked at me ever since the accident look at me like I'm a monster. I'm tired of having to stick up for that for seven years. Sides, if Rachel really does exist, I wanna see your future girlfriend."
We all laughed at that comment
Kori added, "Friend Garfield, If you wish to journey to Azarath to perhaps have a new life, we want to come with you".
I finally relented,"Well, guys, I guess were going there together
Vic turned serious again, "ok then. We're going to an inter-dimensional place called Azarath, forget about all that happened in Jump and start a new life. When do we leave, B?"
I thought about it, then replied,"I was thinking about next week since the ritual to summon the portal has a few requirements. The requirements are nothin much. Just a black curtain, purple chalk and purple candles. My mom has to buy those in Steel city, though. Which is why my mom said Friday next week at 3 pm would be best"
They all nodded in agreement.
Then Dick spoke up, "Ok, guys. We have one week to pack up, get our things and in a week, we go to Azarath.". Then his brows furrowed in confusion, "Why 3 pm again?"
I replied, "cause 3 pm for the catholic church is Witching hour, and Witching hour is when magic is more powerful. So,Witching hour is most perfect."
"Whoa guys! B's a smarty ass ",Vic said jokingly.
We all laughed at that comment. After that discussion, we left and went on our days like normal.
Every night, I kept on hoping. Hoping that I'll see Rachel. Hoping that I'll see her not only in my dreams but for real.
See, when it started, I was 12. Every once in a while, I would dream about a girl about the same as my age. She's a few inches taller than me. She has purple irises and rose red lips. She had short purple hair that reaches till the end of her shoulders. She has an Ajna Chakra just in the middle of her forehead. Whenever I see her in my dreams, she often wears a dark blue ballgown and a dark blue tiara so I figured she was a princess.
In my dreams, we talk and we have fun, like real friends. One time, I asked her if she's real and not just my imagination.
She answered as softly as possible,"Of course, Garfield. We're just in different places".
When I ask her where she is, she only says a word, "Azarath".
Then hew gaze would turn sad and she would suddenly change the subject.
* The Friday they leave*
After school, we went to Dick's house to pick up his and Kory's things. Kory didn't own a house or an apartment so she lives with Dick. Then we came to Vic's. Afterwards we went to my mom's house. I'm so nervous. What if we don't succeed? What if she isn't there? What if we don't make it to Azarath and we die? My mom told me there were risks and we might not even get there alive. Vic keeps on driving and soon enough, we're at my mom's house. We hesitate the Vic rang the doorbell.
Marie Logan's POV
I'm cleaning at the library when I heard knocking. When I open the door, I see my son with his friends. Don't screw this up, Marie. This is the last time you can do something good for Gar. Don't screw this up. They slowly greet me and Richard goes back to the car to get their things. I led them inside the house and they help me set up. Once I finish writing the inscriptions, I called them in.
I said,"Ok, This is the sensitive part. Everyone, sit in a circle around me.
They did as I told. Once they die, I gave instuctions for all of them, "all of you, take a seat at the ground. Then, hold hands. I'll chant the spell.
Again, they did as I told.
I instructed calmly,"I'll start chanting the spell. Everybody try and stay calm and still, okay?"
Without waiting for a response, I took a deep breath and started to chant, "Azarath Metrion Zinthos...Carazon Rakashas Enderez...Vaserix Endrien Azararth...Azarath, AZARATH!"
I felt the air tense.
I shouted, Hold on! Everyone, I can feel the portal's existence in this room. Everyone, hold hands and don't let go. Soon, you'll be transported to Azarath. Garfield, Get ready!"
Garfield tried to argue, "But mom-"
I argues back, even though my eyes held unshed tears,"Garfield, listen to me! The portal is already sucking you! Just hold on to your friends and you'll be at Azarath in a few moments. Just hold on!"
Garfield looked at me with pleading eyes, but I remained unwavering. After a few seconds, he just looked at me with sad eyes, "I love you, mom. Goodbye."
I smiles sadly and said, "I love you, too, Garfield. Good luck."
With that, the portal closed. They left forever into Azarath, never to return again.