32 Chapter 31

A/N: there will be some disturbing stuff, so be ready.

Damnation!

Sunny's lips broke into a silent curse, the dark orbs of his being overwhelmed by the sight in front of him. The grey, stone floor had turned dark red in various directions. The very source. Ariel, whose body was frozen in place. His body's posture seemed just like a nightmare, unnatural and unsightly. Sending a silver of uneasiness down anyone's back who stared at it for too long. Nephis. With one foot missing was dangerously near the edge of the platform. Her face ashy. Her eyes closed tightly in what Sunny assumed to be fear. An emotion that had never graced itself onto her features. He had guessed before that he won't ever see such an expression on her face, after all. He wasn't even sure she knew what fear was.

Sunny then whipped his head around to look at Cassie, seeing that she looked fine beside the fear etched onto her very being. A sigh of relief left his lips for once.

At least she seems to be in good condition.

Sunny then walked off towards Nephis, in the way. Sending his shadow out to scout the surroundings for any danger, he was sure he won't meet with the thing that made him blackout again, not yet at least. He made sure to instruct it, to warn him of any movement it perceives. However, the shadow had its eyes on Ariel, unmoving in its place. Its head cocked to the side in what appeared to be confusion to Sunny's understanding, bringing forth a heavy frown onto his face.

The shadow then pointed behind Ariel's back with its finger that flowed through the marble floor just like water. Innocent in its display.

"What is it now?"

Sunny not in a very good mood, grunted.

"We don't have time for this, so go do your damn job."

The shadow didn't move, it didn't even seem to be listening, it was stuck in its place. Finger still pointing behind Ariel.

Sunny looked at his shadow with slight shock. It was the first time it had completely ignored him, sure it sometimes mocked him with its sulking behaviour, but that was it, it never went against his orders once. So it just brushing him off didn't seem normal to him.

Sunny pressed down his growing impatience and decided to comply, rearing his head to look behind Ariel.

Then he froze.

His eyes widened.

His attention stolen by the horrifying looking Ariel and the situation at hand, he didn't even notice the difference in him. Why his body gave of such an unnerving feeling. Why just eying him felt wrong.

Now he knew.

Ariel...

No longer had a shadow.

What did it mean? He had no answer to that question, this was the first time he had seen someone or something without a shadow.

He glanced at his back just to make sure. And he was relieved to see a shadow.

Sunny then turned back his eyes onto Ariel, his face contorting into a grimace by the second.

He didn't know why, but Ariel not having a shadow felt wrong.

It felt very wrong.

It was just his instinct.

I mean what did he know about shadows? They were shapeless, they had an attitude, specifically his shadow. He could augment himself with it to be a bit stronger. They were immune to physical attacks, except taking damage from other shadows or soul attacks.

During the month up to the winter solstice, he had been researching about shadows, where did they come from, how they came about into the world. After all, it is better to know what his powers are in its very essence. How he can control them more efficiently. To use them in multiple ways. And what he found out so far was….

Shadows are the absence of darkness and light, of course with darkness being the antithesis of light. The bond between them weren't so strong. Sure his aspect allowed him to see in darkness. Normal darkness, not magical or unnatural darkness, the reason for that was when he first awakened in the dream realm, he was drowning in the Black Sea, his eyes couldn't see anything. Literally nothing. Even sending out his shadow into the sea didn't send back any signal. Just darkness that he couldn't pierce through. Opposite of that, shadows and light shared a deep connection. Where there is light, there is shadows. Like reflections. The mirror is the light and the reflection is the shadows.

So Ariel not having a shadow means he is transparent, if there is no reflection then it means there's no mirror to show it. His second best guess, which he was unsure about. Was that Ariel is dead.

Deeply in thought, hesitant and afraid of what to expect, Sunny made a choice. He decided to investigate. But first of all, he commanded his shadow to keep watch on Ariel, just in case something unexpected happened. His shadow still motionless, deep in a trance. Nodded very slowly. Prompting a scoff out of Sunny.

With that taken care of, Sunny hurriedly ran, his speed not that much impressive compared to Ariel. His destination a passed out Nephis. He even noted to himself that his speed was lackluster, his physical strength wasn't much to be desired, that's why he focused only on studying methods of survival in the academy. He knew he had a lot to experience and learn to be truly considered a veteran. Once he is out of this region, once he is evolved into an awakened. His goal was to train, train, and to train a bit more. And also learn about the two worlds as much as he can.

Reaching Nephis, he held up a patch of her long coat, ripped it off, and wrapped it around her wound, it wasn't much. But it was enough to at least put pressure on it. The stump looked hours old, hinted by the pool of dried blood staining the floor. Surprisingly, the foot was sliced of now that he took a good look at it. Too cleanly at that.

Sunny eyes narrowed, he was certain Ariel was the cause of it. No nightmare creature could do this, normally. It would just rip it of by force. They aren't creatures of violence for naught. And this was done by the hands of someone skilled, no. Someone very skilled with the sword. However, Sunny didn't let his thoughts stray too much.

I'm sure he had a reason.

Done tending the wound of the injured girl, Sunny heaved her body up into his arms, carrying her easily. He dropped her gently next to Cassie.

He then turned his attention back to Ariel, trying hard to think of some way. A way to get him out of that cursed state. His shadow still seemed entranced. 

Sunny went near Ariel and placed his palm against his chest. For a few moments, silence ensued. A grim realization began settling in his mind. But then he felt it.

A pulse, a very weak one, but nonetheless a pulse. A small seed of hope replaced the grim darkness in his mind. The pulse was static, never rising nor lowering. Just beating at the same wavelength. 

Sunny let out a deep breath.

Good, he's not dead at least. Let's hope he doesn't kick the bucket, I need him for my survival.

...

...

...

Whiteness.

That was all he could see.

His body already cold thoroughly.

His hands no longer visible, no longer sending him feedback.

His legs went out of fuel ages ago.

Only his thoughts remained.

He lost track of time a long while ago.

His name.....What was his name?

Did he have one to begin with?

No, he did have one.

Honoured One.....

Honoured One.....

Honoured One.....

Faint whispers rang out in his mind.

They seemed awfully familiar yet strange.

They seemed infinitely close yet distant.

But they brought him one thing.

A feeling that he could not remember.

Warmth.

The whispers continued, deep and echoing. frightening yet warming.

The whiteness coalesced into a room. 

As he watched, hazy illusory figures started appearing in the room.

One of them was a woman holding a baby in her hands gently. She raised the baby to her face. Her face captivating, Her eyes a gentle brown. her luscious black hair spread on the bed. Her smile reminded him of a person. A person he couldn't remember.

She rubbed her nose with the baby's. Happiness glowing from her.

Then her eyes met his.

Her smile widened further, mesmerizing him completely.

Her lips moved, he heard nothing. Yet he could understand her.

"Don't you want to welcome our child to the world?"

She held up the baby out in his direction, urging him to hold it.

"Look little Noah, its your papa."

He moved his hands without hesitation, carefully bringing the baby up to his face.

How beautiful. He thought. His eyes locked on the baby's face.

His hands felt very warm. 

He felt as if the world was his hands.

He felt pressured and nervous but he didn't let go.

A smile crept up his face unknowingly. 

"You two look perfect together."

He heard a giggle from the woman. 

A giggle that made his stomach fluttery.

His smile still up, he stared back into her eyes. brown orbs full of love gazed back at him.

I like this. He thought.

The scenery suddenly changed, giving him a sense of deep lose and disappointment.

Then came another one. 

The family of three were standing outside of a house. the house, although small. Gave of a very warm tone. bringing out smiles of happiness from the due of man and woman.

The woman with the baby in her hands leaned her head on his shoulder.

"Thank you."

"For what?"

"For putting up with me, and giving me strength."

"you're already as strong as a gorilla."

A gentle headbutt hit his shoulder.

"I'm serious."

"I know."

The woman then closed her eyes in bliss, taking in the scent of the man she would give up the world to. This was perfect. A perfect ending for their family.

"I love you."

"I love you too."

The scenery continued shaping into different scenarios, Happy ones, wholesome ones. Some unfortunately sad ones. He watched as the baby grew up, He watched as he took his first steps, He watched as they celebrated the one year old Noah's birthday. His smile was infectious to whoever witnessed it.

The scenery changed again, this time he was heading home, humming excitedly. His steps was hurried, an obvious sign of impatience.

I finally got my promotion! we're gonna drink till we're out cold.

With a bottle of pol roger in his hands, he opened the door to his wonderful home full of memories.

The lights were out, a testament to how late he was because of his work. But he didn't really care, he will wake her up forcefully if he had to. First he went into the kitchen, grabbing two glass cups. filling them up with a bit of the champagne that smelled amazing. Then, he took out multiple candles, their scent incredible to revitalize the spirit. He lit them up one by one with a match before hurrying upstairs to announce his promotion.

He opened the door to their bedroom slowly, Where the love of his life and his whole world was sleeping in without a care in the world.

His eyes full of joy, he let his hand wander to his side, sliding against the smooth wall to turn on the lights.

Then his fingers grasped something, it was sticky and wet to the touch.

Confused, his eyes trailed down to his hand, a rounded object came into view. Its shape irregular. it was stuck to the wall. he squinted his eyes in the darkness, but he could only see an outline of it.

Is Noah up to his little pranks again?

His fingers finally found the switch, and with a click. The lights brightened the room.

Let's see what that little fucker is up to now. 

His eyes trailed down once again.

A head pierced into the wall by a machete. It was small, tufts of curly black hair on it. It was dyed in blood. The eyes no longer in place, only two gaping holes left. The mouth was stretched to unnatural degrees, As if a smile was carved onto the face violently. There was blood slowly dripping down the wall. The body nowhere to be seen.

His breath hitched, a shiver went down his spine. Cold sweat instantly covered his whole body. He refused to believe it. His eyes hurriedly looked away. Scared and lost, he searched for the woman that lightened up his life everyday with her smile and mirthful eyes. 

However, what met him, was her head. It too was rigid against the wall. Hanging up by the machete. Her beautiful brown orbs was nowhere to be seen, only deep abysses left in their place. Her mouth stretched into a smile as well. Her long black hair seemed to have been ripped off, her bald head leaking out blood nonstop.

His meals of the day rushed out of his mouth aggressively. Snot, tears and barf all flowing out without stop for a while. 

He then sat up, his hands digging into the the mix of everything he let out, he walked past the heads, both of them still eyeing him with their black holes. As if judging him.

He closed the door to his bedroom. Put his hands in his pocket and brought up his phone. Dialing 911, He waited as the phone ringed loudly throughout the silent house.

"911, what's your emergency?"

"Hello, I'm calling to report two heads I found in my home."

"...I'm sorry sir, did you say heads?"

"Yes, the heads of my wife and son."

"....Alright sir, please give us your address. We will immediately send a unit there."

He gave the dispatcher his address before hanging up the call quickly. 

During the conversation, His voice never wavered once. His hands weren't shaking like he would expect them to.

The feeling of emptiness that he had forgotten came back. Filling out throughout his body.

The coldness started spreading once again.

Dread spread through him once again.

He rushed downstairs, frantically searching for something he could feel warm with.

After a while of going through every cabinet. He found it. Something that'll definitely give him warmth. Something he had hidden from his wife, something his wife didn't even know he had bought.

A revolver.

A Colt Python to be exact, it was a double action revolver.

A beauty of it's own.

There was already bullets loaded in the gun. All it needed was to be used.

He brought the revolver to his mouth, his eyes was void of emotion, his hands weren't trembling, he didn't feel fear. He felt relived he found warmth again.

He pulled the trigger. A bang resounded, his brain splattering against the wall rang out through the house. Blood covered his vision, he was smiling happily as he breathed his last breath. Then darkness consumed him.

Ah...Such warmth. 

A/N: oof, that one took a lot out of me. As you can guess this is the mcs backstory, how he ended up in the place he is right now. I hope you like it. And thank you for your support,