Chapter 8: Nightmares into Reality

Sam took us to a room that had beds made up for us

we said our goodnight's then went to bed

30 minutes later, everyone was fast asleep

They were all so tired, and they should be after the day we had

I was tired too but I couldn't sleep

I couldn't stop thinking

Too many different scenarios and outcomes filled my head

I kept replaying that night in my head

Was it really meant for us to get these powers

Was it dumb luck or was God punishing us

Either way, I couldn't help but take the blame for everything

If we had have just went home that night, would we be here

I know I need to trust in God and stop worrying so much, but I just can't help it

Maybe a little fresh air would help

To take my mind off things I got out of bed and took a walk

Whispers: Eddie

As I walked in the hallway I heard a familiar voice

Whispers: This way

I was drawn to her voice again like a moth to flame

Eddie: Amber!?

Whispers: Over here

This time she led me to a large pond outside the temple

In it I saw her insignia once again, the glowing pink A with angel wings

I leaned over and touched it and her face appeared

Amber: EDDIE WAKE UP!!

Eddie: NO, WAIT, AMBER

Her face want away and mine appeared

Eddie: Wait, what

I was stunned by my reflections appearance

I mean it was me but, it wasn't

His hair was braided to the back and had a slit over his right eyebrow

While I had a fade with twist that came down past my eyebrows but no slit

He resembled my expression for a second then made one all on his own

As he now had a deranged smile on his face

Eddie: What the Hell

AHHH

Before I could even react

I was pulled into the water by my own reflection

It felt like I was falling out of the sky until my body slammed against the ground

I landed in the middle of an empty parking lot

I slowly got to my feet to see the same movie theater me and my friends had went to

A few working street lights and the theater's red glowing letters were the only thing illuminating the vacant parking lot that was literd with abandoned vehicles

Voice: Pathetic

I slowly turned around to see myself

Eddie: How is this even possible

E: Look at you, standing there feeling sorry for yourself

Instead of cutting off the dead and taking what you deserve

Eddie: You're not real, just my imagination from the stress

E: You still don't get it do you

It's time you wake up and face the truth

Eddie: Oh yeah, and what's that

E: That I am the person you are destined to become

The devil on your shoulder

Your redemption towards salvation

The answers to your prayers

Eidde: What, you think you can do better

E: Oh, I know I can

Just look at where your actions have brought you

Allowing people to come into your life

Giving them

Your time

Your energy, your love

All in vain

In return you received NOTHING WORTH YOUR SACRIFICE

NOTHING BUT PAIN AND SUFFERING

LOSING YOURSELF IN THE PROCESS OF SAVING OTHERS

But yet, still, you're so eager to help

So quick to be someone's safety net

When some days you can't even help yourself

Eddie: Are you done

E: Not even close

Eddie: What do you want

E: I want, what we want

To not feel last

To not feel like they only like us because of what we can do

To not be afraid of letting people walk out of your life

Let me fix your mistakes

Let me heal what is broken

And afflict pain on those who cross us

God is giving us a chance to change

Let's not waste it

Eddie: Thanks for the offer but, I'm Fine

E: Of course you are

E: Yeah, But, this time I'm not asking

No

Been there

Done that

E: Let's try something different

The ground began rumbling

E's Eyes became purple as a flaming purple aura seeped out from his body

E: See, I understand now, we can not coexist

No longer will good versus intrusive thoughts fight for a solution

Only me

As E levitated off the ground, he slowly motioned his hands above his waist, then vehicles around us rose as well

E: In order for us to be successful, YOU HAVE TO DIE

One by one each vehicle was thrown towards me

Eddie: GAUNTLETS

As I ran towards E I punched each vehicle out of my way

E went higher into the sky

He tour the theater apart and surrounded himself with it

I made my way up to him by smashing through debri and climbing over incoming obstacles

I jumped above him then he threw a bus at me

I slammed all of my weight on it and it hurled itself back at him

The bus was deconstructed as E moved through it

I slammed my hands together and gained speed as the momentum of the shock wave propelled me in E's direction

Our fist's collided and everything around us dispersed

My right gauntlet shattered on impact

E took the chance to grab my wrist and threw me towards the ground

As I spiraled out of control, I smashed through everything on the way down

E: Chaos

SLASH!!!

Eddie: Gasp

SPLASH

Befor I could hit the ground E teleported beneath me and plunged a huge divine weapon of an axe deep into my torso

Blood flowed like a river down the blade as it dripped to the ground

E rased me and the axe over his head

E: Explosive

BOOOM!!!

He slammed me on the ground and the axe exploded creating a huge crater in the earth

E: Ha Ha Ha

E laughed and marveled at his own power

Rain started pouring down from the heaven's

The axe reformed in his hand

He looked over to see my motionless body

E: What a shame

Eddie: Uhh

E: What's this

E stabbed his axe in the ground and walked over to me

He squatted next to me and spoke

E: Look at you, still alive

Now why do you think that is, hmm

Eddie: G..God

E: GOD, Ha Ha Ha

E got up and laughed hysterically

E: LOOK AROUND YOU, GOD HAS FORSAKEN YOU

WHY DO YOU THINK I'M HERE

YOU THINK YOU DESERVE TO BE FORGIVEN?

NO

NO ONE DOES

YOU SEE, YOU GOT SOMETHING DARK INSIDE YOU AND I WANNA SET IT FREE

SOMETHING THAT WON'T LET YOU DIE

POWER I PLAN TO TAKE FOR MYSELF

E walked over and grabbed his axe

E: Luckily I got to you before it could manifest

So right now it shouldn't be too hard to kill you

You then everyone else

Eddie: E..Everyone?

E: Oh, Yeah, Everyone

In order to achieve greatness you have to cut ties with everyone who is distracting you

Anyone you care about

Anyone you have love for

Friends

Family

And yes, Amber too

I think especially her

E rased his axe

I could hear chains radiling in my head as my heart begin beating rapidly

E: I'll make it quick, Goodbye old friend

And then, Silence

(CHAINS) SNAP!

Beast: RAAAAAR!!!

The ground began rumbling as an eruption of power burst out of my body

E: YES, I KNEW IT

When I stood up my body rapidly healed itself until there wasn't a scratch on me

Dark purple aura surrounded me

Ancient markings appeared all over my body

I had razor sharp claws

Chained cuffs dangled from my arms and wrists as shackles dragged across the ground with every step I took

Beast: BURN

E: SHIT

The whole crater became engulfed in raging purple flames that disintegrated anything it came in contact with

When the flames died out there was nothing but me left standing

E: That was close, too close

I looked up to see E standing at the top of the ledge

I fell to my knees as my appearance went back to normal

But not before I caught a glimpse of myself in a puddle the rain had made

I watched as my purple eyes faded back to brown

Amber: WAKE UP

Amber's face appeared in the puddle

E: I guess our times up

until next time

E said with a sinister smile on his face

In a split second another set of hands pulled me in the puddle and I came out through the timples pond on the other side

Chris: KID, KID SPEAK TO ME

YOU OK

I coughed up water than responded

Eddie: Yeah