Chapter 13: Sweet Dreams

Asher was slowly making his way through the snowy streets, going in the direction of his home. Even though it hadn't been that long since he'd last been at his home it felt like a lifetime ago. He felt as though his whole life before the veil surrounded them was just an afterthought at this point and why wouldn't he feel that way? All the things that seemed important back then really had no bearing on his current predicament. The only constant was that his mother was by his side. He could hardly believe how trivial all the things he once did on a daily basis felt now in comparison. He was covered in mud, blood and snow from the chase he had somehow managed to survive. He wasn't out of breath now since it had been some time since he had escaped, however while his breathing was back to normal both his body and mind were exhausted. Asher had never before in his life felt such a level of exhaustion, it was really eye opening if he was being honest. He never would have believed he was capable of pushing his body and mind so far for the sake of his own survival. The thought of leaving his mother alone in this place spurred him on but that wasn't all, deep down Asher knew that more than that he simply did not want to die. It was strange for him, he never placed much value on his life yet he had fought and clawed as hard as he could to preserve it. Shaking his head not wanting to think about it any longer he looked up to see his old home. 

"Home sweet home." Asher muttered to himself as he dragged his battered body forward. He got closer and closer and as he did he became more and more anxious. Where were Sarah and Elise? They should have gotten here before him, he was certain that he had drawn the majority of those bastards towards him so why couldn't he hear or see them? He hurriedly made his way to his house, trying his best not to imagine the worst. He got to the door and flung it open only to see that his old home had been ransacked. The small dining room table had been flipped over, all the drawers and cupboards were either open or torn off entirely and the fridge door was wide open revealing its empty innards but none of this worried Asher. What worried him was that there was no sign of Sarah or Elise. 

"Mam? Mam are you there?" Asher asked but there was no answer. "Mam answer me!" To Asher's dismay he was met with nothing but silence. He felt as though he would get sick again but not from fear, no this time from worry. He began frantically searching his old home for any signs that they had been here. He barged into his and his mothers rooms but nothing. They really hadn't been here. Asher try as he might, couldn't help but fear the worst. He ran back outside unsure of where to look or what direction to go. Maybe they're just not here yet, or maybe they had to hide out somewhere else to avoid some stragglers from the hoard. Asher was trying to be hopeful given the situation but it wasn't working. He feared that they were either dead or had become a part of the hoard of lunatics. What the hell had he fought so hard for if this was the result? No now was not a time for pity, he knew that. He had to find them but to do that he knew that he would need to rest and recover. He would be of no use to any of them if his body could hardly move, plus he had told them to meet him here. If they were still alive then this is where they would come so straying from here would not be wise, especially so soon after they had parted ways, only a few hours at most. So staying here was the best course of action for now. Asher let out a deep sigh and sluggishly turned back to his home and walked back inside. He stumbled his way through the ransacked kitchen and into his old room. It was similar enough to how he had left it, aside from the fact that all his drawers were wide open and his clothes were all gone. His alarm was still sitting on his countertop just like it had been the day all of this madness had started. He felt strangely out of place being back here, even though it was where he had spent the majority of his life. It was a bit nostalgic being back after all the things he had gone through since leaving his home. Looking at his bed he flopped down onto it, he was so unbelievably tired, there was nothing he wanted more than sleep except for finding his mother but that was going to have to wait because as soon as his head hit his pillow he was asleep.

Asher slowly opened his eyes. He wondered how long he had been asleep, he sat up from his bed and glanced around his room. He yawned and blinked and as his eyes opened the room was gone. He was in a seemingly endless void of darkness, replacing the familiar scenery of his bedroom. Asher was so shocked he didn't even register anything for a few more seconds, standing there in awe but then he felt a cold chill flow through him. What was this place? Where had his room gone? After allowing himself some time to try and think of anything that could explain where he was he gave up, there was simply no logical explanation that would explain what had just happened. He had not dared to move a muscle for almost a minute now but reluctantly looked down at where the floor once was but… nothing. It was the same black void that surrounded him in all directions. What was he even standing on, he wondered, it felt as though he was standing on solid ground while at the same time he felt as though his feet were dangling over a cliff. 

 This doesn't make any sense. He thought and as he did he could hear his own thoughts echo through the lightless abyss that surrounded him. He grew more and more uneasy each passing moment as his thoughts continued to bounce around the void. That wasn't what was making him anxious though, ever since he had woken up he had felt as though he was being watched. He was sweating now even though he felt no hint of warmth in this eerie place. Asher had made sure not to blink again, not wanting to be blind to his surroundings for even a millisecond but he was at his limit and he blinked once more and as his eyes opened he made direct eye contact with another. It was just a few metres ahead of him, being the only thing not shrouded in absolute darkness it was easy to make out. There were a pair of hollow eyes, pupils as big as saucers. Asher knew those eyes well, they were the same as those that had chased him down relentlessly that very same day and then there were more all appearing from the darkness as if they had been there all along. There were hundreds, then thousands and they continued to appear all around him, seemingly never ending. Worst of all however was that they were all looking directly at him, not taking their lifeless eyes off of him for a moment. Asher stood frozen in fear for what felt like an eternity, he couldn't bring his body to move no matter how hard he tried to will himself to. He didn't dare hold eye contact and stared directly at the floor, trying not to let his thoughts escape his mind but it was of no use. All of his thoughts continued to echo all around, revealing how terrified he was to all those that watched. 

Tears began to swell in his eyes. "What do you want! What the fuck do you want from me!" He screamed as he began hyperventilating. As soon as he spoke all his thoughts stopped echoing around him and he looked up where all the eyes that were looking at him were now looking past him. Then he felt it, something vast moved through the abyss behind him. Asher did not know why he felt this thing's presence but he did, it was not human, no it was something different entirely. Whatever fear he had felt before now seemed frivolous as it was replaced by such an overwhelming and indescribable dread that Asher's mind was simply unable to handle. He knew that if he so much as glimpsed at this thing it would be the end for him. He felt it grow closer and closer to him while his body still refused to move even an inch, he closed his eyes but it was no use he could still feel its presence as it approached. Asher began to sob now, unable to keep his tears at bay and then the presence stopped. Suddenly Asher could move again and he fell to his knees as he began to break down, his breathing becoming faster and faster as well as his heart beat beating unnaturally fast. He felt as though his chest would explode but he was so frightened he welcomed the thought, he would rather die from a heart attack than have to be in this creature's presence a moment longer. Asher was pretty sure he was experiencing a panic attack as he began to feel dizzy and all of his muscles were tensing up. The creature did not move any closer but Asher knew it was watching him, it was as if his very soul was being gazed upon. "Stop please, please… please, please." He whimpered as he curled up into a ball on the invisible floor that held him up. 

The creature did not do anything though it just continued to look at him, it was unrelenting primal fear that filled him… he had only felt something similar once before and it was the very first day the veil had appeared. Ash remembered it all too well. When he and Sarah had sat under the table of their dining room he heard that unhuman shriek from outside and his mind felt as though it was being torn apart. This was the same feeling only this time it was so much worse and was lasting much longer. Asher continued helplessly begging into the void for it to stop but it didn't. Then after almost an hour of Asher pleading he stopped and just lay there, an empty husk not even having the strength to cry anymore. A few more minutes passed until footsteps began to approach him until they stopped just above him. It was staring down at him but thankfully it was not the creature that still hovered from behind. Then the person in front of him hunkered down and lifted Asher's head up to look at him. It was the same man who had told him that he'd 'See him soon', his eyes were as dead and dull as they had been earlier. Asher didn't resist and just looked at the man who had a blank expression across his face. The man's lips curled as he smirked at Asher and then that same unsettling smile formed on his gaunt face. The man leaned in close to Asher and whispered in his ear "See you soon." 

Just as soon as the words escaped the man's lips Asher was back in his room, that overwhelming primal fear slowly dissipating. Asher stared blankly at the ceiling for a moment until he heard his door creak and looked up to see beautiful emerald green eyes meet his. Elise entered and Asher heard Sarah outside calling his name. 

"Found him." Elise shouted back into the kitchen. She walked over to his bed while Asher just lay there motionlessly as she approached. "Well don't overwhelm me now, I know you're happy to see me but no need to make such a fuss." She said in jest as she gave him a smirk. She stopped by his bedside and her face grew a little concerned. "Hey are you alr…" but before she could finish Asher shot up and embraced her, his body shaking as he did. Elise didn't move for a moment taken aback by his actions but then she relaxed and allowed him to hold onto her. Sarah then burst into the room, her face filled with worry. Seeing Asher hugging Elise made her eyes widen for a moment but she was too worried to care, she darted over to his side and Elise moved aside allowing Sarah to embrace her son. Asher, Sarah or Elise didn't say anything but their presence made him feel much more at ease. Looking over Sarah's shoulder at Elise and then at the door he noticed two other figures standing at it. He did not know them nor did he care at the moment so he ignored them and stayed in his mothers embrace. Elise left and closed the door behind her leaving Sarah and Asher alone.