Week Eight: Unhinged: Fhei III

 One moment, she was speaking to ‘Gale’ but not Gale. The next moment, she was cold, then- her breath was short and she was here. Surrounding Fhei was a house. There was a set of stairs to her left, meaning there was more to the house. She stood in the living room in front of the fireplace. There was a rug under her feet, two coaches squaring the area, and a recliner. On the floor at her feet were colored papers. Colored pencils, markers, and crayons sprawled across the floor. Ahead, was a door to the kitchen, and at the end of where she stood she could see another, leading to the garage. To her left were the stairs, in front of those was the door to the outside world. Running down the stairs were two boys and a girl, her age. Hearing the laughter between the trio, Fhei covered her mouth as she gasped.

 The little girl was her and the two boys were her brothers. But she was younger. Why was she seeing this memory? She smiled as the three dove into the colors with their coloring books, hardly getting in the lines. The three seemed to not have a care in the world. Looking up, Fhei watched as her mother and father stepped through the garage door. How she remembered any of this, she didn’t know. All she knew was that she was processing it.

 “I understand that it’s for the better, Honey.” Exclaimed her mother. “But that is your child you’re talking about. You want to any of them to go from ‘son’ or ‘daughter’ to ‘experiment’?”! She hissed.

 “That’s not what I’m saying!” Her father argued.

 “That.” Her mother retorted. “Is exactly what you’re saying!” She spat.

 “If we take them into quarantine then they’ll be safe. Say that one of them is a mythic!” Her father raised in hands in a way or glory. “Then we’d be doing them a favor and placing them in an environment with other mythics!”

 “And if they’re not?” Her mother glared, standing on the other side of the table, Fhei stood in the archway, forgetting about the children behind her.

 “Then they’d learn how to treat mythics as if they were normal people too!” Fhei’s father remarked. “See, it’s a win either way!” He exclaimed in excitement.

 “I married you because I thought one day, you’d be able to keep your work separate from your family but it seems that ‘science’ has become more of a priority than treating your children like their children instead of a variable.” Her mother frowned, glancing over at her clueless children, now decorating themselves with marker.

 “And I married you because you said you were willing to work with me on this!” Her father argued. ‘You said you didn’t mind that I was obsessed with mythics and their value to society, Love. What makes this any different?” Her father asked, sincerely.

 “What makes this different is that it’s your family you’re putting under the microscope now, .Gideon!” She exclaimed. “We’re not lab rats!” She raised her voice in annoyance. “And if you’re not willing to allow us to be ‘normal’ than I’ll have to see about raising these three on my own.”

 “I. Am your source.. Of income!” Fhei’s father exclaimed. “I am in high doubts that you’d be able to raise all three of them on their on. Nevertheless if any of our children are mythics!” Her father inhaled in attempt to tone his voice down.

 “I want to make sure that these three are in the best environment possible to grow up in, Love. How can you not see that?”

 “Mythics aren’t genetic.” Fhei’s mother glared. “How are you or anyone tell if any of our children are mythics?” She growled.

 “Test!” Fhei’s father exclaimed. “It’s all in the blood!” Fhei’s father shrugged. “It may not be genetic or it may be.” Fhei’s father shrugged. “At least allow me to see if our children need more education on these ‘Mythics’, Love. Please.” He begged.

 “You hurt any of my children and this will be the last time I trust you with them. You understand?” Fhei’s mother scowled. “If any of them tell me that you or any of your scientist buddied hurt my child, I will personally destroy something important to you.” She paused to allow her husband to meet her eyes. “Our family.”

--

 A blurr of scene adapted around Fhei, pulling back from leaning on the door frame, she watched as her and her brothers entered a room with many computer screens and a seat. Her father lead the way into the room, followed by a colleague of his. Once the last brother walked in, the colleague shut the door.

 “Where are we?” One of Fhei’s brothers asked in awe. “Is this where you work, daddy?” He questioned.

 “Yes and no.” Fhei’s father smiled. “This is only part of where I work, this is where we’re going to run some test on all of you to see if you’re a mythic!” He explained.

 “A mythic…?” Little Fhei asked, staring at the chair. “And how are you going to do that?” She wondered.

 “There are many different ways to test if any of you are mythics.” Her father smiled. “The first way is that we are going to put you into an illusion and if you react we’ll know that you’re a mythic.” He grinned. “Don’t worry. It won’t hurt!” He assured.

 “It may be frightening at first.” The colleague warned, “But that’s okay.” He quickly added. “Let the fear, guild you.”

 “Yes!” Her father exclaimed. “Let it allow you to see what you truly can be!” He said as he gestured towards the chair. “Now which one of you is itching to find out if you’re a mythic.”

 Blankly and baffled, the three children exchanged looks. After a moment of silence, Fhei stepped forward. “I’ll do it, daddy.” She said with a smile. “But you have to promise me that you won’t hurt me. Mommy said if you hurt any of us, we’re supposed to let her know.”

 “Of course, love.” Her father nodded. “If it hurt tell me and I’ll let you all go home okay?”

 Fhei nodded, then allowed her father to strap her down and put the weird looking headset on her. Fhei watched as little Fhei’s curiosity spun. There wasn’t much she understood about these flash backs. Sitting patiently in one of the rollie chairs, Fhei watched as her father’s colleague pressed a couple of buttons and typed in a few commands. She had a feeling that this wasn’t going to please her father in a way he thought it would.

Week Seven: Unhinged: Dax III

 Wake up call wasn’t exactly what Dax was used to. An alarm, that he could destroy and replace every morning but in this case, the sirens vibrated the trees he took shelter in. Gripping one of the branches, Dax concentrated on focused on being one with the shadows. He knew his fire breathing wouldn’t help him now. Especially against a team of trained killers.

 “Eighteen hours and thirty minutes.” A computerized voice announced from the city.

 Closing his eyes, Dax tightened his grip on the branch. A few feet away from him stood one of the task force members. He stood, tall and built. Down his back were triangle shaped scales. He wasn’t a flyer, but there was no doubt that the earth was his terrain.

 “Dax Rye,” The member began in his gargle like voice. “You do know that after the time is up, we’re allowed to kill you in the next twenty four?” He laughed. “So, in reality.” He shouted. “You have to run for seventy-two hours!”

 Seventy-two… Dax sighed. Staying in one place couldn’t be the answer to this. These the task force consisted of the strongest, however, so Dax couldn’t see how he could take even one of them down. Sniffing the air, the task force member growled.

 “You’re here somewhere, Rye!” He shouted. “And I’ll be the one to turn you in.” He laughed. “Or maybe I won’t turn you in.”

 A chill ran up Dax’s spine. This mythic wasn’t planning on turning him in which meant only one thing. Eyeing his surroundings, he calculated the distance between the two of them. He couldn’t outrun him. He could out fly him but if he went into the air, he’d have to worry about the other flyers and even thought he was able to put himself on the board for a recording time, Dax knew good and well that the top three flyers, which doubled his time, were able to make the task force.

 Dax held his breath as the monster crept towards his direction. “I can smell you, Dax.” He boomed.

 Above him, a voice chitted. “We can smell you.” Dax assumed that there was a flyer above him which meant that he couldn’t fly to escape. There had to be another way. But something was off about the two’s precision. If two of the task force members could smell him then why couldn’t they find him? He had done everything he could to stay still, but his curiosity was getting the best of him.

 “Croxis.” The flyer boomed. “He’s here, directly under me.” He growled. “Find the boy.”

 “Even if he was in his dragon form…” The one name Croxis snarled.”Then why am I not seeing him?”! He snapped back.

 “Because you’re blind!” Argued the flyer.

 “Croxis is not blind!” He shouted. “Garum is blind!” HE spat.

 The one Dax assumed to be named Garum screeched in annoyance, making Dax grip the branch even tighter, at this point, he wasn’t sure how the branch was holding.

 “Garum!” Croxis snapped as he threw a tree trunk at his peer. “You know I hate it when you do that.”

 “It’ll bring out the boy!” argued, Garum. “The ears of any creature can only handle so much of my screech.”

 “That goes for me and the other members too, you idiot!” He shouted, more in a way of not being able to hear himself.

 “Like I care about your ears!” He laughed, and screeched once more. This time, he held it, while Croxis burried his head in the dirt.

 This was it. Dax had to move now or it would be too late. Yes, there were other members, but there had to be a reason why they couldn’t seem him, so he had to take advantage of it and the foolishness of Garum. Jolting forward, Dax ran past Croxis, glancing up to see Garum, a fellow flyer but more from the bird species. Running, Dax didn’t think to look back until the screeching subsided, then, he paused to take a short break.

 His ears bled, and for a moment, all he could hear was a ringing sound. How, Garum didn’t see him, he didn’t understand. All he knew, was that he was lucky. Overhead, two other flyers on the team darted towards Garum’s location. In front of him, what seemed to be a form of a rhino slammed their horn into the trees, tearing them out of their way. In his surprised, a female voice emerged from the monster.

 “I hate it when Garum makes a scene.” She shouted to herself. “But that boy isn’t getting away. Not on my watch.” She snarled, leaving a path behind her as she tore down the forest.

 It was impossible. How could she not see him? He was standing in clear view at that point, that or she was so narrow minded that she missed him. Taking in a breath, Dax began to walk

--

Week Six: Unhinged: Fhei II

 Around her, the peaceful waterfall rushed and the grass rustled. It was as if she was mirror to the area she was physically in… Although, she knew something was altered. Looking up, she met eyes with the sky where it reflected a purple and black mixture. It made her think of night, when looking up at the stars. In this case though, it wasn’t night. It was broad daylight and the sun had turned a negative look. Where was she?

 Looking down at herself, Fhei lifted her hand. As she did this, Fhei moved her fingers, confused as to how she could see where her hand was but could also see where her hand wasn’t. Standing up, Fhei stood in front of herself. Deer pranced around her, rabbits continued to eat their fill but Fhei was now able to stare at her body from a third person perspective. The whole world that she seemed to be able to move in was a negative color versus what she knew was the color.

 Experimentally, she turned away from her body and walked. Instantly, she looked down to see that her leg was no longer in pain. That, or she wasn’t feeling what pain there was. She wore the clothing that she had on before the fire. How she knew that, she didn’t know. The memories flowed to her like oxygen.

 Wandering around, Fhei came to the place she had spawned. Stepping towards it, she watched as a memory replayed. For a moment, there was nothing. In the next, a portal opened and deposited her, with the stranger’s long sleeve, onto the plains. Thinking of what had happened, the scene happened again, but in slow motion. Even after seeing it the first time, Fhei still couldn’t understand what had happened.

 Why was she deposited? Who had saved her? She was unconscious so whoever that was didn’t knock her out. Why this place specifically? And how was she able to see this all in third person? Was this what happened when one’s mind was cleared?

 The world around her seemed lighter, as if she had no body weight. Jumping up, she fell back down but with no force. Then a thought occurred to her, what if there wasn’t a person who saved her? If she was able to clear her mind and open up to another world mentally, then would physically opening up a portal to another physical world be possible? There was no one around to guild her. Shouting, Fhei called out for any other human that might be able to hear her. Hearing nothing in response after the third call, Fhei returned to her body.

 Staring at herself, she reached out and touched her own face. As she did so, a voice emerged. “Odd to learn how fragile a vessel is.” A gentle voice spoke from afar. “However, you’re not advanced enough to know how to fix anything physically yet, young Guardian.”

 There it was again. Guardian. Fhei spun around to see the absence of a body to the voice. “What is a Guardian?” She asked, watching for any movement. “And who are you?”

 Silence echoed, spinning around, Fhei continued to look for the voice. “My name is Fhei, not Guardian. I’m sure you are mistaking me for someone else.”  

 Again, silence. “The plains are sacred you know…” The voice commented, “Only those who are chosen can come to this dimension.”

 “Dimension?” Fhei questioned, still unable to find a body.

 “Do you have a physical form?” Fhei finally asked, baffled by the voice’s occurrence.

 “That is a question only you can answer.” The voice replied. “For I am what you believe me to be.”

 “Are you the Guardian?” She questioned.

 The voice chuckled. “No deary.” It paused. “What would calm you if you were to lay eyes on it?” It asked. “If I took the form of your mother would you be comfortable?”

 “No.” Fhei said, quickly assuring herself that this was the correct decision. “I want you to take form of a person I know from my life in Colorado Springs but not a family member.” She said, waiting for a person to appear.

 “You have many people that I could be in that case.” The voice replied lightly. “Would a male or female be preferable to your eyes?”

 “Do I have any…” Fhei glanced over at the doe chewing away on the pasture. “Pets..?” She questioned, not sure why she asked it in the first place.

 “Ah.” The voice spoke. “Would a talking animal bring you fear?” It asked.

 “If I did have a pet…” Fhei thought for a moment. “No, I wouldn’t be afraid but I have a feeling that I didn’t.”

 “You didn’t.” The voice replied. “But that can change.”

 “A friend.” Fhei said as the voice finished. “If I have a friend…” She shrugged. “Be one of them…”

 There were no memories for her to base the questions off of, only words that came together as she tried to think of what to say. A friend, she believed was someone that would bring her comfort, not allude her that they were around because of the blood they share, but would simply be there because they wanted to be.

 “Fair enough.” Said the voice. In the distance a swirl, similar to a portal conjured, bringing a female dressed in t-shirt and jeans into view. She was young, and Fhei’s memories fuzzed, but she knew that the girl in front of her was important.

 “I am impersonating your friend ‘Gale’.” The voice spoke from the body, then changed into the voice of the girl. “Although I am not the Gale you know, does this help you conversate with me?”

 Fhei nodded. “She’s pretty.” She said, meeting the hazel eyes of the girl before her. “We’re friends?”

 “Best friends, in fact.” Gale said with a smile.

 “Gale…” Fhei said, looking back at her body. “You only exist in here then…” She thought aloud. “Where my body is…” She muttered. “You don’t exist there.. Do you?”

 The impersonator looked into Fhei’s eyes as if trying to decipher her thoughts. “No, I don’t it said. But, for now, let me enlighten you on what this world is.”   

Week Five: Unhinged: Nightmare I

 A breath of life surfaces, suddenly, life itself plays out its role. A warrior kisses his wife their last kiss, gives his child their last hug, and makes an unfulfillable promise. This, is where it begins. As a death await one man, a war takes to the skies.

 One of the luckier times about dying first in battle is the fact that it is over quickly. One spear through the heart, one magical blast seering through the body…one moment is all it takes to relive a life well spent. Becoming one with nature gives the brethren a boost. Filling them with hope, with a purpose.

 Sadly, despite all efforts, there are no survivors, However, it all starts with one. Then the next. Odd how death has no enemy, how it brings a restful peace. Yet, it can muster a vendetta. All in all, the breath of the first deaths channel through years, inspiring the next generation to do different, or end up the same.

 Holding back the string to a bow, the archer stands tall next to his assigned lined. Not all are men, some are woman, others... are neither. For the first time in history do orcs, goblins, dragons, spellcasters, warriors, orcs, and mythical creatures of all kinds, have come together due to a common enemy.

 What the war was about? No one will know. However, what the future withholds is every death, every breath taken, every screech, all of it.... Shall be played individually. As if it were a song set on repeat. One breath in, the other, gone.

 This condition later became knowns as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Although, there was only one issue that came to this specific set of nightmares. Most, if not all, did not experience their traumas first hand. The victims held by these nightmares were mythical creatures and humans of all age, shape, size, and form.

 With the bow tense between the archer’s fingers, the signal echoed across the land and all together, as if one body, and one mind, the line of archer’s fired. Then, they continued to fire. Adrenaline rushes to the host’s body as the archer continues to fly through their arrows. Around them, their brothers and sisters fall. Screams of war ripple through the air. Roars of mythical creatures overlap one another, men and women scream as they feel their life’s being sucked away by spellcaster’s summons.

 Cold sweat trickles down the host’s face. The warmth of the room meaning nothing to their bodies experience this war. If anything, some mumble, or groan. Others move as they feel their minds focus in on the experience. Suddenly, the first choking breath enters the mind of the host. The archer has been pierced by another arrow, then another. The chest begins to beat, wanting to release air but cannot.

 In this way, some host die in their first as well as last encounter with the nightmare. Others, awaken in shock and a cold sweat, running to their loved ones to tell the tale. Some, cannot express the experience with words. In reaction, victims draw terrifyingly accurate scenes of the war. Others spread tales of these nightmares to take the pressure off their chest. A few, hide it, and pretend that the nightmares do not occur.

 Had they known, ignoring the nightmare would only make it ten times worse on their end then they’d open up and share the tale with others. This allowed the nightmare to spread, through word of mouth, then, eventually, through genetics. What time period the war was actually fought seems to be a mystery. What doesn’t remain a mystery is the nightmare’s existence.

 Those who die due to stress on their unconscious bodies are considered lucky. Each night that a victim can withstand the fight on their vessel proves that the victim is one step closer to being able to end the nightmares for good. So far, no one has lived since the three hundredth encounter. Meaning, either they were lucky and died before then… Or, each passing day they pushed through, knowing that it was a nightmare, that at moment… They would wake up.

 Only one has made it to the three hundredth encounter. Surprisingly, and horrifyingly, this victim is a child. A fifteen year old mythic who lives under the surveillance of scientist. She would like to believe that the scientist were doing everything they could to keep her alive (and at times this is true). Deep down inside, she knew the truth, they couldn’t keep her alive with their power alone/ She had to do something to stop the nightmares for good.

 Vali’s eyes open, reviewing a world she knew too well. Some of the other mythics had the same condition as she did, but none of them had lived through their fifth encounter. This, would be her three hundred and sixtieth. For almost a year now, Vali’s mind would wander into this dark place where mythical creatures or all kinds died different deaths.

 The first one would be simple. It was a warrior, an honorable one, jumping in front of his brother to save him, for only a moment. In the next moment after, she would breath the life of the brother, watching his fellow war buddy breath his last breath. From behind, would spawn a witch, zapping him with lightning, frying everything up to his brain, where he would slowly feel the burn throughout his body, and see only one detail of the witch, her ring.

 After his last breath, she would become the witch, would send a cold chill down her spine. Feeling the heartless wench sould first hand determined that pain was nothing but a cake walk. Instead, an orc’s club would slam through the witch’s side, allowing her to scream and place a curse on the club. Once the witch’s breath ceased, the orc would stumble and fall, not sure why he felt ill and could not let go of his club. As the thought occurred to him that he had been curse, the orc fell, face hitting the dry earth, the orc watched as a mother gave birth to a child, her dead body shielding the child from harm. Vali always woke up in tears if this was the scene she would be allowed to wake up to.

 Tonight, she would not be waking up, instead, she would see through the child’s eyes, how death came upon it.