In The Abyss

The Majin begins to scream, "No! I'll kill you! I'll kill all of you! You think I'll be trapped there forever? Because I won't be. If I get out, you will suffer! All of you-"

It keeps on shouting incoherently as the Abyss begins to pull it out of the body it is possessing. It holds on to the body, resisting the pull of the Abyss as it struggles not to be consumed. Hugo, however, is having none of that. A gentle glow covers his body as he reaches out and touches the possessed man. The connection between the man and the Majin is cut, and having lost his grip, the Majin is sucked into it.

The fight is over. We won. That must be what everyone else thought. Everyone, except me, because the moment the Abyss opened I felt it. That great presence looking at me. And the next moment I was transported.

All around me is nothing but a great stretch of darkness dotted with numerous stars. But the stars here give off a strange feeling, as though they are alive but slumbering. Still, the focus of my attention is the thing in front of me. As I stare at it, I can't help but feel awed. Some part of me wants to drop to my knees and lower my head, unable to bear the majesty of its presence. Unable to bear the fear it struck deep into me.

It looks like giant vertical eyes, with writhing tentacles where eyebrows are supposed to be. From its back sprout four pairs of rainbow-coloured wings, their feather ruffling in an unseen breeze. But, the strangest part of it all is its pupils, of which It has five, arranged in the shape of a star.

The eye stare quietly at me, and I do likewise, unable to pry my eyes from the greatness and power it exuded as it looked at me. I don't know what it saw, but at that moment, I believed it knew me more than I have ever been known by anything else. My future, my past, my everything. It knew it all. I could tell by its look.

Then a ripple spreads through the space, and a voice rings loudly in my head. Devourer, it said. The next moment, the scene disappears and I am back in my body, a worried Drew looking at me.

"Are you okay?" Drew asks.

I look around for a second, before realizing that I am back in control of my body. The portal to the Abyss is gone. Turning back to Drew, I nod dumbly, wondering if I had just seen what I thought I had.

"You did," the deer's voice confirms in my mind. "That was the All-Seeing Eye."

* * * * * *

The All-Seeing Eye

All is calm in the Abyss, as it has been for thousands of years. Powerful beings float in the void, lost to endless sleep as they wait for the appointed time. The time of our salvation. The time I had seen when we were first cast in here by the one who dubbed himself Eldest. I on the other hand cannot sleep. I must be awake. I must fight that dreadful darkness that threatens to pull me under. I must watch, for the appointed time. That is my task.

There is a ripple, as the void connects with the world once more. It seems another unfortunate one has been banished here. It happens from time to time, breaking the monotony of nothingness that fills this place. I peer through the opening, and then I see him. The crossroads.

Acting on instinct, I light a spark and pull him in. He is one of them. The Laen. He stands still, awed by my presence as I peer through him, to the possibilities that he holds. My heart shakes as I remember what I had seen those millennia ago. He is the key.

An enraged sound rings out as another is pulled in. "If I get out, you will suffer! All of you! I will consume you with my own-"

"Devourer!" another voice, more powerful overpowers the little spirit. The connection between our worlds breaks and the Laen child disappears.

"What," the newly captured spirit snarls. It might not be able to tell yet, but the darkness has taken hold of it. Soon, it will be like the rest, lost to a deep, endless slumber.

"Do not disturb the peace," the majestic voice commands. Its voice contains power, one that can shake even the deepness filling this place. Other spirits begin to toss, disturbed by the power in the voice. Soon, however, all calm down. Even the Devourer cannot disobey.

Then it turns its attention to me, keeping its voice low so as not to disturb the others. But it is too late, the rest of its equals are now alert. "All-Seer, why did you bring that young one in here? What did you see?"

I speak. "I saw our freedom."

My words send a shock through the space, and the void trembles for a moment. Then all calms down.

"Soon?" asks a hopeful voice.

"Soon," I affirm. "Till then, I will watch."

They nod and relax, letting the darkness take hold of their minds once more. Waiting. Biding the time till our freedom. Soon, peace returns to the voice, and silence reigns once again. I feel it on the edge of my mind, pulling, calling, coaxing me to rest. But I cannot sleep, for I have a task. I must watch.

And watch I do.