Chapter II - A Dream of Emotions

The next thing I remember was a white roof. Although I'd never been in one before, I knew I was in an ambulance. I couldn't open my eyes. I couldn't hear anything, smell anything, taste anything. I couldn't feel my arms and legs either. I couldn't even feel my body. I wasn't even sure if I was breathing or not. No, nothing gave me the assurance that I was really alive. Even so, it was as certain to me as sand on the beach that I was in an ambulance.

It had to be this mysterious power that gave me this impression. That power that gave me superhuman abilities. That power that allowed me to run as fast as the wind or to break doors in two with simple kicks. That power that allowed me to change my destiny.

But my consciousness returned only for a brief moment. When I woke up, I knew I must be dreaming. I didn't see much, but the bed and the alphabet wallpaper looked very familiar.

It was my room. Everything else in the room was blacked out. Nevertheless, the homely atmosphere gave me the feeling of being in my own bedchamber. Suddenly, out of nowhere, a person completely dressed in white appeared next to me. Although her sight unsettled me, I recognized her immediately.

"Gran...ny! How ...?" I whimpered into myself. I felt my eyes begin to swell. How was that possible? I couldn't believe it. My grandmother has been dead for years. How can that be? How can she be standing in front of me? So alive. So real. This must be a dream. It can't be otherwise.

"I'm ... I glad so see to you!" I smiled at her. Only whisked stammer came out of my mouth. I didn't know how to react to such a situation. You don't expect when you get up in the morning that you will speak to the realm of the dead today.

My tears slowly covered my whole face. I couldn't believe it made me cry. But to be honest, I didn't care. I've had enough of today.

"I have so much to tell you!"

Grandma: "I'm sorry Alex. We don't have that much time. "

It really was her. Until now I hadn't been sure because everything seemed so absurd to me, but her voice was as I had remembered it. There was no doubt about it. At least not for me.

"Yeah, right, why are you here?" I tried wiping the salty eye water off my face, but it had no effect as the flood didn't stop. Her gaze turned serious and she began to lift three fingers with her hand.

Grandma: "Three people in total will be waiting for you here. Alex, you are currently in a very unstable situation that can be dangerous for you and the whole world. I was called by you to prevent a possible disaster.

"I do not understand. What's wrong with me? What's happening to me right now?"

Grandma: "To explain that would take too much time. The second person you meet will be able to tell you more. But it's important that you calm down, Alex."

"I feel pretty calm. A lot of thoughts are buzzing through my head, but otherwise I'm fine. Especially since you've been here. "

Grandma: "That's good. Alex, you have to try holding on to this feeling. Understand?"

"Yes, I do. I will keep this feeling close to my heart. But one thing worries me. Who else will come here? "

Grandma: "You'll find that out for yourself, Alex. Each of these people has a strong connection to you, be it in the past, the present or the future. And each of these people represents a fear that you carry around with you."

"Fear? And which?"

Grandma: "Alex, you can only answer that yourself."

Actually, I wondered why all this was happening, but then I didn't care. In any case, the whole thing is pretty crazy. But I'm not complaining.

It is not every day that your deceased grandmother shows up in your dream like an old sage from some fairy tale.

Grandma: "You can ask me one more question, Alex, before I leave."

"Hmm... I don't know. What question should I ask you now? I'm not prepared for this. Hmm... Sorry, I can't think of anything."

Grandma: "Zounds, Alex! ... Uff, so be it. "

She turned around as if she wanted to leave.

"Wait! I do have a question. " I took a short breath. "How are you?"

Grandma: "Huh ... Me ..."

I couldn't see her face anymore, but I knew she was smiling.

Grandma: "... fine." Then she disappeared.

"Who's expecting me next? And what's the meaning of what Granny said?" I wondered.

Mysterious voice: "Hahaha Alex, was it? What a heroic act you performed to awaken the power within you. How dare you threaten my sister! Ha, what a clichéd example of sibling love. I'm crying, I really am!"

A figure whose face was wrapped in a cloak appeared before me. But wait a minute, this voice! It's the unknown voice from before. The one I had heard just before I lost control of my body. "Who are you and what do you want from me?"

Mysterious voice: "Who am I? Haha, what a silly question. In the many years that I've wandering around here, I've been known by a number of names that I call my own. But the one who has proven itself over time would be the Chosen one. "

"The Chosen... What?"

Chosen One: "The Chosen One! It's means the one who's chosen! Do it wrong again and you will regret it! But it's you wants something from me, not me! You should know that by now. " Wow, so much for the Chosen One, more like giant cu..! I thought to myself at first.

"May I then ask what makes you so chosen?"

Chosen One: "Hihi! We'll tell my backstory another time, for now it's about you. Oh, don't look at me so grimly ... or is it possible that you're trying to analyze me? "

How does he know about that? Nobody knows about it but me. Okay, maybe not nobody, but still. Who is he and why does he seem so familiar to me?

Chosen One: "You're probably wondering how I know about that, right? There's a lot you don't understand, my boy. So I allow you to ask a single question and I will answer it 100% honestly!"

Only one? That's not nearly enough information to read anything. Could it be that he's testing me?

"Just one question? No, not necessary! I'm planning on skipping all this anyway?

Chosen One: "Huh?"

"What do I want to know about some stuck-up, arrogant frippery who doesn't even dare to show his face?"

Chosen One: "Ah, I see you are interested in my current appearance. Well, if you don't want to take part, then so be it. I'm not forcing you to do anything. But boy, you ought to know your place in all this!"

"My place in what, please? Maybe you'd be willing to make a deal with me?"

Chosen One: "A deal?"

"Yes, I can ask you not one, but three questions, with the twist that they're only yes/no questions."

He thought for a moment.

Chosen One: Ha, you think I'm stupid? First you say you want to skip the question and now you want three? Hmm... but I'm interested. What's in it for me?"

"You want to see what I can do with the info, otherwise you would never have made me the offer in the first place, right? Take the offer and I'll tell you who you really are."

Chosen One: Boy, you seem to have nerves of steel. You'll never find that out by just asking yes/no questions! Ok, ask your first question. "

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

To be honest, I didn't really care for his costume play. I just wanted to get as much information as possible. Something happened in the real world that made me have this weird dream and I had to find out what.

"Do I know your current identity?"

Chosen One: "Yes." He answered in an angry voice.

The question was just bait, since it was obvious, if he's trying to test me, that he was taking the form of someone I know. Otherwise he wouldn't care so much about staying incognito.

"Are you responsible for this mysterious force that's spreading within me?"

Chosen One: "Among others..." this time with a touch of pride in his voice.

That was important to know. This dream is directly connected with this power and to him. Should this power have continued to riot in the outside world even after I lost my consciousness, I can't even imagine what could happen right now.

"When was it that you became such a wimp?" He needed a moment before he realized, what I had just asked him.

Chosen One: "Um, I see ... wait a minute, that's not even a yes/no question. Oh, you cheeky bastard! You weren't even looking to find out my identity. You just tricked me into your deal and I blindly walked into your trap."

"Why would I find out something I already know, let alone care as who the Chosens Gone is dressing up for Mardi Gras."

Chosen One: "It's called the Chosen One! Grr ... I'm actually pissed off, but I have neither the strength nor the time to get upset about mosquito bites now. You have a lot of guts in your position to stand against me, the Chosen One. But let me say one thing, you will regret the day you made fun of my name."

Then he dissolved. "I already regret the day!" I groaned.

"What's next? Can't this nightmare just end? "

On each of these visits I was confronted with one of my deepest fears. Though it seemed that I survived this illusion well, my stay here tore me internally more and more apart.

The first encounter was with my grandmother, whose young death subconsciously besets me even many years later. It is my fear of loss that she represents. Losing what you learned to love is cruel. I have come to know that only too well in my short life. The reunion brought out suppressed feelings to the fore in me, which erupted again like an active volcano after a long time.

The conversation with the Chosen One also let me fall into a role that belongs to me like any other of my personas. It is my fear of the unknown. Not knowing can be painful in some cases, be it now or afterwards. It makes me feel loneliness and arrogance spreads within me. I hate that side of me all too much.

But much worse than not knowing is being wrong. The pursuit of what is wrong. The fear of realizing one day that what you fought for with all your will was just a cheap facade. It's the constant question in me. Is what I stand for right or not?

But who even decides what is right and what is wrong? Society? The law? God? No, everyone decides that for themselves. And that's what I'm afraid of. It's my fear of change. But I've been living with this my whole life, as if I were constantly telling myself that it doesn't matter, no, that it's normal. To err is human. That's why I'm afraid of it.

The next voice I heard was all too familiar to me.

"Idiot! Why do you want this to end if you haven't seen the best part yet! Me!"

"Tetra!" She appeared in front of me and posed in the most typical Tetra pose imaginable.

I was confused. What is she doing here? How is it possible that she represents one of my fears?

I don't even really have a connection with her. Sure she's my sister. But that's really it.

Tetra: "Otherwise you never want to get up, sleepyhead! But when I appear in your dreams it's immediately a nightmare. I'll remember that, idiot!" There was no doubt about it. It was Tetra through and through.

But then I noticed something. At least I now had a hunch what this odyssey in my subconscious was all about. It had to be this force that wanted to test me. It showed me my true feelings to confront me with myself.

This test was supposed to bring me to the limit of my mental stability and admittedly it did managed to do so with great success. But for what purpose? I figured that this mysterious force might want to find out if I'm strong enough to tame it or if sooner or later it will sizzle my mind away.

Tetra: "I ha--"

I put my finger on her lips.

"Don't say anything. I just want to know one thing. OK?"

She nodded. I had to make sure what happened during the time when my memory was failing. Could I save her from the attacker, from misfortune, from fate? That's all I cared about.

"Where are you?"

Suddenly her face took on a very sad shape. I didn't even recognize this Tetra. Until she looked so sad that I got the feeling that not a second has passed since this morning.

"I don't know ..." And then she vanished before my eyes, as if I'd lost her forever.

I knew it was just a trick. I knew it was all going to come down to this. I knew it was all meant to destroy me. Even so, the feelings I was experiencing were real. More real than the reality I was living in. For a moment I thought the whole world turned around, showed me its back and told me to disappear, forever.

I started to get angry.

"Tetra... Tetra! TETRA!"

I shouted her name louder and louder. The fear of having lost her. The fear of not knowing what happened to her. The fear of being mistaken, of having the hope to escape fate. Even if this was to be a dream, the fear I felt was real and mine.

I've been weak my whole life. Be it physically or mentally, in every aspect this was nothing new for me. To be honest, I had no great expectations in me to pass this test. I didn't really care either.

I just wanted to make sure Tetra was okay. No, I wanted to make sure that I hadn't made a mistake. The power in me had also noticed that and was ready to take more drastic measures.

-Meanwhile in His World-

Well-sounding voice: "You are an interesting little fellow. Even though your body is so upset, you don't seem to be bothered at all. You sleep peacefully as if nothing had ever happened. Hmm... or as if you weren't with us anymore. "

"Teeeeetraaaaa!"

Well-sounding voice: "Or not!"

My theory that this state in which I found myself had an influence on the outside world was confirmed in retrospect. This dream felt to me, despite the short conversations, several hours long, although in reality no more than a few seconds should have passed. My vehement screams were later reported before everyone fled the scene.

Suddenly the ambulance started to sway. All the equipment started shaking. My gurney was rocking from side to side. The quake seemed to have no end. The driver could barely stop the car without causing an accident.

"TEEEEEEEETRAAAA!"

Well-sounding voice: "What is happening to you right now?"

A bright blue light formed around me that began to shine more and more. It looked as if a swarm of blue glowing fireflies were magically attracted to me and slowly sat down on me. But they weren't fireflies. It was something mystical coming out of my body. Something so fundamentally important that it was impossible to imagine life without it.

Well-sounding voice: "What is that?"

The voice approached me. I could feel it. She wanted to touch it. Why does she want to touch it? No! She mustn't touch it! It's mine!

The light charged until I was completely enveloped in it. Suddenly it shot up into the sky like a gigantic laser beam. It was gigantic, reaching right into the stratosphere. It also seemed to be growing. More and more was being absorbed by it.

The boy's soul sprang from his body searching for the person he longed for so much. It rose along the beam of light, crying out for the boy's sister.Slowly but surely the laser captured not only the vehicle, but the entire intersection. It seemed as if the boy's aura wanted to devour everything.

Well-sounding voice: "Why? ... Why do I see ... my life ... passing by ..." The voice disappeared.

Of course this was noticed by many people in the area. I even got attention from the helpers in blue, who were already on alert because of the incident at school. They cordoned off the scene in no time at all.

The laser developed into a violent whirlwind. Everything in the area, be it cars, traffic lights or trees flew through the air. The windows of the houses gave way. No one had any idea how to stop the phenomenon. My screaming didn't make it easy to think about it either. I don't even want to imagine what could have happened if he hadn't come.

Alex: "What the fuck is this shit! It looks like a rad video game."

It was Alex. After the incident at school, he got wind of the situation and went after the ambulance I was in.

Alex: "Well, time to raid the loot." He crept past the barricades and ran as fast as he could to the eye of the storm. This was easier than he thought because all the people that were fleeing their homes turned this into a big commotion. Normally nothing unsettles him, but this moment was different.

Alex: "Is that Alex up there? Argh! Man, that's loud! Hmph! Get a grip." He had to cover his ears from the screaming. He saw my soul slowly rise up the beam.

Alex: "Damn it! I have to hurry. I can't stop now! I have to get closer! " He ran into the nearest building and kicked the door in. Everything in the house was shaking from the quake. The walls and stairs began to crumble. The rails of the stairs broke. But that didn't intimidate him, but rather encouraged him to hurry up the floors faster.

Alex: "Phew! That was more than just close. I gotta watch out." It seemed like the house was about to collapse any moment.

Alex: "Today I seem to be in top shape. Nothing can stop me..." Fortunately, access to the roof was not blocked.

Alex: "Alex, what are you doing, dude? I knew you're strange, but that goes too far! You can't create a huge laser right in the middle of the city and not expect consequences. Not everything is always about you, you know? Everyone has to go their own way! In this world one is all, you understand?"

He saw my screaming soul howling and croaking after Tetra. I didn't know what got into him. Why would he put himself in such danger?

Alex: "I already knew this morning that something was wrong. But no matter what the reason for this shit is ... What kind of a baby are you crying in public like that ...

YOU IDIOT! YOU JUST DON'T DO THAT!

He jumped. From the roof into the laser. I had no idea why he did that. What was he thinking? Of course he was gonna fall. What else should happen? Why would he do something so crazy?

I couldn't let him fall. I just couldn't. I had to do something. I had to catch him. Nothing else mattered now!

The boy's soul came to its senses after realizing the damage it had done. It disappeared again into the body of the boy, who now used the new power for the first time willingly to save his friend.

The fall would have killed him. I knew that for sure. Even if he had been caught, he would never have survived from that height. But this power made it possible. And so I saw the positive side of this power for the first time.

"You, old fool! You call me strange, but you're at least as crazy! You didn't even hesitate and look back! You weren't afraid of the fall! What if there hadn't been a net, I... I would have lost you..."

Alex: "It doesn't make sense... I know... But didn't it help...? ...then just take it." I cried again. I couldn't be mad at him for what he'd done. Not after he saved me.

"Thank you! Thank you for being there for me! Thank you for keeping your promise! Thank you for putting me in my place when I overdo it! Thank you for being my friend!"

He lied unconscious in my arms. I looked around me and saw the damage I had done. Then I looked up into sky and saw the clouds grow dark. With the first drop on my nose I fell to the ground.

"Gee, it looks like a goddess let out her wrath here. Ha! I'm finished!"