Timeless Memories

As he struck rapidly at the walls hiding the Evolutionary Capital's further interior, Alex felt the energy reflect onto his arm, sending his muscles to burn.

Seething through clenched teeth, the Judge pondered, 'Why the hell won't this damn thing come down already? I've hit it a thousand times, and even jumping or phasing doesn't do anything! Did June enhance her defense spells or something?'

Stepping back, he bumped into a tree, now holding his arm.

"Shit…" moaned Alexander, 'My arm's probably broken. I can't do anymore.'

And so, he quickly descended upon the wooden stump, plopping to his bottom, slowing his rapid breaths. Eventually, no matter how long it took, or how much time was spent, he would reach an end. A simple exhale was all it took, and before he knew it—like he'd been chopped at the neck—he fell over into an enhanced slumber unlike any seen before.

…

Where he'd awaken seemed to be reality. The irritating sand scratched at his attire even while clothing, crunching a grain that unknowingly slipped between his teeth, he started to rise. Rubbing his eyes, he stepped closer, and unusually, over his feet, he felt it wash over him. An abnormal coolness unique to only that of water's liquid state—what else could it be? But why was he here?

Beneath this dimly-light starry sky, there he stood, an ant to those flashing lights thousands of light-years away from his sight. What laid above, that beautiful scenery, he seemed entranced by it? To think such wondrous sights still existed in a world such as this one, at this time, he forgot of the cruelty the humans held- before he stared ahead.

'Haven't I been here before?' Alex asked with muted thoughts, 'I have. This is…'

What lay at the end of the sea was a clock, hovering amongst the horizon, reflecting in the water. How long had it been counting? What exactly was the symbolism behind the water he stood in? As he marinated longer in its wetness, he found himself unconsciously screaming. He ran from the seas and onto the beach, mindlessly staring at the far clock chiming screeching audio.

'The Seas of Time,' he thought, 'This can't be a single experience—for this place to be as vast as it is, I can't be the only one capable of experiencing this, right? Either way, who made this? And if it was Dad, then why? Why perpetuate your bloodline when you wanted to eradicate it… why give us a way to talk to you when you want to be at peace?'

His hand reached a wave splashing onto the shore. As it shone against the moonlight, it reflected a timeless memory.

'Could it be…' His finger inched closer to submerging, 'you're calling for me?'

It all came flowing within, an overwhelming amount of information he was startled by. However, the more seconds he spent enduring this, the duller he became, motionless to the plentiful experiences occurring before his Requiem eyes. It was incomprehensible, they were like glass shards scattering around his mind. Suddenly, for the final second, he was only left with a cassette-like memory replaying within his subconscious.

"That's... Death."

He returned to consciousness with a gasp, not to mention the exorbitant sweaty droplets drenching his face. Immediately, he slouched himself upward, back straight as it rested against the stump. A hand now against his temples, his white eyes rapidly darted. The confines of the eyeball weren't enough to contain how rapidly his retinas were moving—it was starting hurting. Then, he stopped. A single breath, one exhalation, however deep he could muster, and it was enough to return everything to normalcy. Finally, he could focus on the forest's natural audio and not just that incessant ringing that plagued his ears just seconds prior.

After splashing some water in his face, he gazed at his fuzzy reflection, then sighed. Stripping the dirty jumpsuit from his flesh, he stepped across the grass field and felt the chilly water seethe against his skin. No matter who was watching or whatever was happening, Alex bathed, stark naked, in the natural chill of the forest's downstream river. Away from the situational injustice plaguing the insides of the walls, he enjoyed his blissful ignorance with a content smile and closed eyes... or at least, what remained of it.

'That's... Death.'

'The hell does that even mean?' Alex thought to himself.

While admiring the multiple stars' shapes as they glimmered in nighttime's darkened sky, Al suddenly cringed then snapped his head away.

'I can't get that memory out of my head. Death. The best thing I can think of that reminds me of Death is August. But, that can't be, right? The Reaper moniker isn't meant for anyone else besides his enemies. As ruthless as August is, he's more selfless than even I am. But, if it's not him, then...'

That image--no, rather, that FACE appeared in his mind's eye. Just then, his head shook violently. Some of the waves guiding him were abruptly raptured as more thoughts came crashing through his mind,

'There's no way THAT can happen! After everything we've done, after everything I've tried, for us to resort to that end then... we exhausted every other option? I can't say I'm surprised, but really? To think the end would be something so terrible...'

Alex grit his teeth, situating himself abruptly, affixing his bottom to the river's depths. Gradually raising with water dripping off his every corner, Amara scratched his nape. He'd soaked long enough. Hopping out of the river, he started walking alongside the water, strutting upstream. After some time mindlessly marching, there were his clothes, plopped against the grassy ground, bundled in ounces upon ounces of dirt.

Instead of donning the unclean garments, he decided to rush them in the running water, cleansing the multiple stains embedded into the design easily. He stepped into the leggings, shoved his arms into the sleeves, then pulled out the hood from a crevice within his nape. Finally, he was clothed after a well-deserved bath and some contemplating. However, the thoughts didn't halt just because he'd emerge, no.

'The Founder obtained the Requiem Artifact. Or more specifically, he was destined to obtain it, so that's why he saw the future. The reason he was shown the future wasn't that he was going to change it, but to watch the Founder and ensure he didn't deviate from his fate. The future forms the past, all that mixed-up time travel shit. But now he has the full power of the Artifact in his hand, meaning he can see everything.'

The Judge couldn't submerge the urge. Who composed the grand symphony of the Universe? Could it truly have been that ruthless man, the man he'd grow to know as his father, the unwavering Requiem Emperor of Time? To think his uncontrollable hatred would lead to this present predicament. Was it all set in stone from the start, no matter which World, Old or Now?

'It doesn't matter, though. Whether everything was set in stone from the start, whether we were already fated to make the choices we already made or are bound to make, I don't care. I wanted this. Ace wants what he wants. June wants what she wants. And Katie-? Katie... she, too, has her right to whatever she desires. She wanted this, no matter what. But does it all have to culminate-'

"In that horrific scenery?"

To Be Continued.