Night-Echoes (solo)

Terror gripped his heart and held him fast. His chest tightened and the breaths he drew were shallow and ragged. He inhaled, trying to get control over his breathing and hence, his mind. Smoke filled his lungs making him cough. The air was think and hot, much too hot even for a summer's day when the sun beamed down most directly.

He turned this way and that, trying to get a grip on his surroundings. Where was he? A lone house plant wilted in the corner of the otherwise unremarkable room he was standing in. There were no doors, no windows. The heat was stifling.

An explosion rocked the building he was in, sending him flying towards the wall next to the plant. Sheet rock and other debris also accompanied him on the journey. He picked himself up, feeling a little bruised and battered, but relatively unhurt. The opposite wall had been blown in. The plant sensed his nearness and waved at him feebly. It had been alive and thriving only moments ago. Before the heat had flared up suddenly. With its last reserves of strength, it reached out to him with one leave, trying to touch him.

Fire roared like a jaguar through the opening in the wall. Flames climbed in and around and up the walls to blanket them and the ceiling. They cared not what they fed on, only that they were fed.

He was paralyzed. Mesmerized as he watched the flames lap hungrily at the beams. They extended a tendril out to the plant, feasting on the dry material as though it was tinder. That particular flame burned white and flared up for a moment. Tears stung his eyes for his comrade, consumed by the flames. He needed to move before he met the same fate. The smoke made it impossible for the tears to stop coming and he coughed again, hunching over because of the ferocity with which they wracked his chest.

Scrambling, stumbling, half crawling, he made his way to the opening in the wall. It was the only possible means of escape. His only hope. The gate was wreathed in fire, but the initial wall of flames had gone down. He hurtled himself into the unknown. He could feel the heat on his skin and then he was falling, falling down a flight of stairs that seemed to last forever until they deposited him in front of a door filled with clear, blue, openness. Still, and calm.

He gathered himself up. Slowly, he drew his lanky body in and up as he stood. Power gathered around him like a cloak. Hundreds of voices in his head clamored for his attention. Some cried for help, some yelled in defiance at the flames, some quietly offered themselves to him. He drunk in their cool green energy. Gulping in more and more until the voices stopped and he shone with their internal light. Each step he took grew more confident. He walked the few paces to safety, exiting the building only to find that he was not alone.

A crowd turned to greet him, their arms open and outstretched. Chief among them were Amber, Katrina, and Carrick. The winged boy took a step back when he got a good look at him. The girls stared, then opened their mouths and wailed. Someone screamed, another threw something which shattered near him.

He ducked and shrank back, raising his hands to his face to protect him from the onslaught. They hit something unexpected and explored his unfamiliar face further. His skin was leathery, thorns protruding from his cheeks. He pulled his hands away to see that they were clawed and gnarled. The skin was a brilliant emerald green, but was riddled with rough gray patches. He stared at them in horror, imagining what monster the rest of his body must have been transformed into to spark such fear, anger, and hatred in the people. One by one, the people turned and departed, some running as though terrified, until only Katrina remained. Her face was turned upward, flames reflected in her eyes. She slowly lowered her head until her gaze was directed at him once more. Her expression was grim yet resolute, small mouth turned down in a frown. “A pity,” her voice rang out like a bell. Slowly, ever so slowly, she turned her back and vanished into a growing light.

In her place, there was a mirror. He was drawn towards it, compelled to look upon the sniveling, pitiful creature reflected there. A skinny teenage boy blinked back him. Kai fell forward against the glass and wept.

He woke with a start and barely made it to the bathroom before he surrendered the contents of his stomach to the night. Returning to his room, Kai shuddered at the thought of returning to his bed. He crossed the room and opened the window. Inside it was stuffy, but outside the night beckoned him. He stepped out onto the branch growing sooo close to the window and climbed until he could see the stars. Then he lay down on the bed of soft leaves and stared at the black sky. The maple wrapped a few small branches around him but said nothing.