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Previously on Listening For That Sweet Tune:
Whatever his name was, that man that was
boarding with me, he was something else. At times I thought that he couldn't
even be real. He couldn't be. He had a likeness of me on almost every way it
was disturbing and I couldn't help but think 'Am I seeing myself in this man?'.
I keep calling him a man, he's far from it—but what could he be? He could even
be The Wretched in human form. Swaying me to change my thoughts, to change my
steps—I need to get out of here. I looked around the lighthouse to pack my
things but I realized that I had nothing of my own.
The days began to blend in with each
other as the hours past. I couldn't even remember how long it has been since I
last fell asleep; days, weeks? I was tired but if it kept my evil away then it
was well worth it, i had no intention to hurt another being ever again. I had
no money to my name not even any luggage other than the clothes on my back, a
memento from Moony and a small key that goes to god knows what. I haven't eaten
for what seems like weeks--I have to get out of this. My wounds were all healed
now and there was no complications of infection to my surprise along with scar
tissue little to none. Me and that man never talked, he was always outside on
the roofed porch watching the waves or counting his toes--though I did the
same--we were always a few worlds apart.
At times I ventured through the house to
see the strange things that were within the walls that covered all that lies
within. Pictures of a happy family littered the walls and a bedroom that
belonged to an infant gave chills down my spine—this room was covered in blood
before. In the top room of the lighthouse lies a map with a view that
overlooked the bay and within the map are various landmarks that I have seen
and am yet to see but no names of the places were legible. To the East of this
building is another city much like the one I was in before but it was alongside
the ocean. In bold red letters on the map it reads 'Ride your way along the
waves to paradise'. This was where I was going to go to find the visionary that
claims to know so much. I packed the map to go with me and I set off along the
coast, there was no need for a goodbye.
I was quiet on my way out but soon as the
door closed to the house it felt like the house went through its hell again. I
walked away while keeping my eye on the house and before I knew it, hands were
placed on the windows again, watching, waiting, but I'm not going back to that
grave. Crashing of glass and screaming echoed through the thin windows. Whoever
really lived there was well aware of the happenings in this home and oddly
enough I'm sure the family welcomed it with their open arms. I walked down to
the beach and started to head east, the city looked to be a few days walk but
I'm sure the time would go by fast.
You
don't think about how much you live on your sight till it leaves you. The fog
grew thicker than the days in the past resulting for me to grow forever
confused but I knew I was heading the right direction and that's what mattered
the most to me. Walking along the ocean I could swear that I could hear marine
life but as I looked out to the ocean I could only think that everything was
dead. The gaze that the man gave me kept reflecting in my mind as I continued
to walk forward. It would be best that he wouldn't know where I was
going.
The stars were something that I missed
but then again could I miss what I haven't seen? I know I've heard about them
and I remember seeing them before I woke up in Serenity's midst but I never
have actually seen them since. Like I was trapped on another world, one without
stars and the comfort of a home. The sun seemed smaller than what I remembered
like I was further away from it but in order to tell in actuality you wouldn't
be a few feet away but hundred thousands of feet away because of the colossal
size of celestial bodies—wherever I was, it was no longer my home. I
constantly looked behind me along my way to make sure I wasn't followed—I
wasn't—but no matter what I did I was sure that The Wretched was only a few
steps behind me. It was quiet and since this whole thing started I never once
felt peace in my soul as I continued forward on my ever-changing path. It was
the calm before the storm; I knew it for a fact. An underlying feeling beneath
my skin pulsed in wait for the new events that was going to happen before me. I
knew I haven't seen anything yet; The Wretched wanted me to suffer and it
hadn't even started yet.
Something big sounded from behind me when
I was taking a rest from walking, as if it was crashing through the trees.
Crackling and popping sounded above me as I looked up all I could see was fog.
Then growling echoed in the distance from a large predator; roars and screams
of many things at once from animals and maybe even a woman. I shivered to the
thought of what it could be so I began to hasten my pace and before to long I
began to enter the city limits. I didn't think it would follow me but who's to
tell? I'm sure there are no rules for the daemons that follow me.
To contrary to the city I was in before,
the buildings here were smaller all being one to two story buildings as the
buildings in the latter were mansions and skyscrapers. Everything was built to
withstand large waves and other natural disasters as all the windows and doors
were boarded for there own safety but just as before, it was deserted with the
exception of daytime hallucinations. I could hear the rumbling of a crowd in
what appeared to be an open marketplace but only sound appeared to me;
everything was run down and broken into a ruin.
'Hey! Over here!' I heard in the
distance. 'Follow the sound of my voice!' I turned around a few times
occasionally pausing trying to determine the sound through the thickness of the
fog. I began to walk forward hoping the sound would get louder—gradually, it
did. I began to see a small dark figure waving its arms at me in the distance
towards one of the docks. 'Right here! I'm right here!' As soon as I was
able to make out his face his expression towards me changed. 'Who are you? You
aren't who I was looking for.'
'I'm sorry to disappoint I was just walking along the road till you
flagged me down.' I said. 'Where am I?' The old mans eyes widened after I asked
my question.
'Your in the throat of evil my boy and
its best that you get out while you still can, reckoning is upon us!'
'What’s happened here? What's going on?'
I was hoping to finally get some answers.
'You're in the land known as Belle's Dawn
my friend but I'm sure you already knew that! Tragedy took over this place not
to long ago and now were facing the repercussions of our actions. We didn't
believe when we were warned and now we have to pay! Me and my son, we were
gathering our supplies to make it across the ocean to join the others but my
son, he never returned! Help me find my son!' I was in over my head but for the
first time I felt I knew what to do.
'I need to cross as well, I will find
your son if you let me join you.'
'Of course, of course!' He shook my hand
frantically. 'But
if he's dead, please bring me something that I can remember him by, I'm afraid
he's already gone.'
'What’s here? What could have killed
him?' I asked.
'Odious my friend, the evil that surrounds
this place.'
'Who is Odious?' I asked.
'Please hurry, please find what's left of
my son before its to late.'
'Who is Odious?' I asked again.
'He's one of The Wretched! Like Fey or
Bale who came before him or Malicious or Anathema or—.' I stopped him before he
could continue.
'I met Anathema not to long ago, he had
no desire to kill me.'
'Then there is a special place reserved
in Hell just for you my friend.' He turned around to walk towards his boat
leaving me in the fog. 'Head down that road till you reach the cities center,
from there take Willow to Concord Manor, my son should be there gathering the
last of our things. Please be careful!'
Anathema wanted me to understand,
something I would not expect the likes of him to do. Why? Was there something
he saw in me, if I can even call him a he? If so then where does that put me?
Some locker in the fifth circle of Hell? Either way I didn't fear Odious,
whatever he was--sounds like some big bully.
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