Chapter Thirty-Seven

As Orion watched Vince and Mykella vanish from this dream world in disappointment, he pondered his alternatives and came up with one and smiled beneath his hood.

“Cease!” he called to the remaining Dreamkiller, who halted any further advances and turned to look at his master. Orion walked over to them and almost laughed when he saw Chris and Karl lift their swords.

“That won’t be necessary,” Orion said and lifted his hand.

They had no strength to keep their weapons in their hands. All they could do was watch as their swords flew across the room and hit the wall next to the door.

“You must understand that there is absolutely no way you could stop me; let alone kill me,” said Orion as he addressed his frightened audience. “My powers are beyond your physical definitions.” He reached up and then lowered his hood so all could see him. “Are you so prepared to die?”

“For Mykella,” said Chris as she glared at Orion. “Yes.”

“And Vincent?” Orion said with a smile. “The one who abandoned you? Again?”

Krieger took her hand and felt her shaking. He knew she was battling past feelings of Vince breaking up with her. He had known the two of them to have dated for a while during the school year.

Orion could see it in her eyes as well. And in those eyes he had glimpsed her past. He saw how, on that rainy afternoon – he wasn’t sure if it was summer; a fan was going and the window was ajar – she and Vince were in a heated argument. They were about the same age as now; so he knew this must have recently happened. He saw Chris’ angered tears as Vince tried to tell her that he didn’t think it – they – would work out. He had plans for his future (he was lying of course; Orion could see it in his eyes as well) and he didn’t think she would be satisfied in their relationship. She had almost begged, but he wouldn’t budge.

Orion smiled as he looked at Chris. He saw the mental anguish she was now suffering. “He’s left you now as he left you then. Join me and you shall never be alone again,” he said and held out his hand.

Chris stared at the inviting hand and felt Krieger’s grip tighten. She closed her eyes for a moment and then opened them as she looked Orion in the face. “No. He had his reasons, but he’s still my friend,” she said then added, “I’ll fight with him and Mykella because we’re fighting extinction.”

“Well put,” whispered Krieger.

He paused and then Orion laughed again. “Doesn’t anybody here realize I can kill you with just the thought?”

“Don’t you realize we don’t care?” Karl asked behind sarcasm.

As if he did not hear that statement, Orion turned and opened his mind. Silent. He saw a jungle – the jungle. He chuckled and then looked back at them. “If you’ll excuse me,” he said and then began to vanish. “I’ll see you all later.” And then he disappeared.

“Why did you bring us here, Mykella?”

She began walking the same worn path as always. “This is the only home I’ve known for the past few months.”

Vince understood what she meant and nodded as he followed her.

They walked in silence for a while. “Do you think I’ll figure this puzzle out before I’m born?” she asked as she glanced behind her.

“What?” he said and looked around. “This place?”

She nodded with a smile. This was the smile he had fallen in love with. He could remember the first time he met her. He knew it was strange at first talking to his friend’s unborn child. But now, it was almost second nature.

He stopped walking and sat down beside the stream. “I didn’t want the job at first,” he said as he looked into the clear water.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

She looked back and went over to him and sat down next to him. “What job?”

“When my mother came to me and told me about this girl who needed to be watched over, that she was to become this spiritual Dream Crusader, I thought she was nuts. I fought her on it. I mean, I wasn’t too sure that it was really my Mom after all. And then I found the sacred book that you helped unscramble. That’s when I understood my place in the world.” He looked at her with tears in his eyes. “I hate myself for even doubting you.”

“You’re only human,” she said and smiled.

“What would happen if Orion enters Eden and there is an angered angel running loose with equal powers?”

She looked at him with a confused expression.

“The other night, Beth told me the Tale of the Oracles and I think you would find it rather useful,” he explained and then began what he had learned and repeated to Krieger and his friends.

When he concluded his retelling, he didn’t feel any better as he watched her contemplative silence. He wondered what kind of feelings she had toward him now that she knew that he had doubted his mother at the beginning. She told him that he was just human, but what did she really think under all of that politeness?

She looked at him and smiled warmly at Vince, as if she could read his thoughts. “I probably would have done the same thing,” she said.

It wasn’t enough to lessen the guilt he was feeling. He had just sent his friends into a battle and he didn’t stay around long enough to see if anyone of them survived. How was he to survive in the future world?

“It’s all right, Vince.” She stood up and held out her hand. He looked up into her green eyes and saw Samantha smiling through them. “God has chosen a path for you. It may not be easy, but all of your guilt will be gone soon.”

He stood up and no sooner had they agreed to walk on, a disturbance in the water occurred; it was a whirlpool spiraling heavenward. But as the whirlpool subsided, it was no angel who stood in the stream.

Vince jumped in front of Mykella as Orion turned and looked upon them with satisfaction. “I don’t know what the end of the world will look like for you, but this is very amusing,” he said.

“I will not let you hurt her!” Vince was defenseless, but he felt a power surging through his being nonetheless.

“How many times do I have to say it?” cried Orion. “It’s not her I want, it’s you.”

Mykella closed her eyes and envisioned a dagger into Vince’s hand.

He looked down and was shocked to see it materialize in his clenched fist.

“If you hurt him,” she called out and threw herself in front of Vince. “I’ll kill myself now.”

Orion stared at her angered face. The prophecy. He was supposed to fight her in the end. “What kind of bluff is this?” he asked in a cautioned tone.

She turned to face Vince. “Forgive me,” she whispered and then pushed herself at him. She winced as the blade entered her side, just above the hip bone.

Orion made no further advances and spoke no further, but he vanished just as suddenly as he had appeared.

Mykella fell to the ground and Vince caught her. “It was the only way,” she said and closed her eyes.

When Vince looked up, he was being watched by his friends who hovered over him and Mykella. There were gasps and gawks all around and he looked down and saw his bloodied hand lying on her side.

Tears were running down his face but he knew that she would not die now – the prophecy foretells it, but he couldn’t help feeling the sorrow and guilt. Mykella had made her first sacrifice.

Mykella opened her eyes and took a deep breath. She looked up into Vince’s face and when she exhaled, she whispered the word, “Go.”

“I love you,” he whispered to her and she smiled. He stood up and faced his friends.

“Karl, Chris,” he paused and studied his hands, his bloody hands. “I need you guys to go with me to the gate. It’s the only chance we have to save my mother.”

They had pledged their lives for this mission. Their only response was but a nod in agreement.

He turned and looked at Krieger. “I’d like you to stay with Mykella for as long as possible.”

“It’ll be an honor.” Krieger glanced down and saw Mykella with her eyes closed. He could have sworn he saw a dim light surrounding her as if she were being protected from death by the divine.

“Well,” Vince straightened up and looked at Chris and Karl. “Are we ready to wake up?”

Karl hesitated, a look of concern on his face. “You had months to understand your destiny,” he said. Everyone knew what he was trying to say.

“It’s all right, Karl. You’ll have a day or two until we reach the gate. Then it won’t matter anymore.” Vince tried to grin, but he found it impossible to be sarcastic.

They all looked at Mykella once more, Vince said a silent prayer, and one at a time the three of them woke up.