Dododex

ARK: Survival Evolved & Ascended Companion

The Riddles of the Phoenixes Series

The Lost Soul

Chapter four: An old friend

They came to a hall with photos hanging on the wall. Tom zoned back into focus and looked at the photos, boredly.

Whitney mistook it for interest. “Ah these are our family photos, see?” She said. “Yes I can see that..” Tom said drily. “Pretty obvious since y’all’s faces are all over the photos..” He thought. “There’s me, Mom and my Dad.” Lucas said pointing to a picture of a younger Whitney and Lucas. Whitney was standing, smiling, beside a man with dark colored hair and greyish eyes. On his shoulders sat a seven year oldish Lucas, laughing.

Tom hid a yawn. “So where is he now?” Tom asked. A cloud filled Whitney’s cheerful eyes. “He died. Several years back. When Lucas was just turning eleven. He fought in the war.” She whispered. “What war? Against what?” Tom asked, a uneasy feeling creeping upon him.

Whitney laughed darkly and Lucas lowered his head sadly. “Oh no one told us. It was some kind of battle against “monsters”. Apparently everyone’s help was needed. My husband was one of the men who was sent into battle. He never came back. They wouldn’t tell us how he died or anything.

We didn’t even get to bury his body. Apparently there was none to be found. Isn’t that crazy?” Tears gathered at the edges of her eyes. Lucas put a arm around her shoulders, supporting her. Tom swallowed, a million thoughts running through his head.

He already knew what the “monster” was that killed them. And he was staying in their hotel.

Finally they finished with the long boring(In Tom’s opinion) tour and Tom left to inspect his room. He decided to skip dinner, vetoing spending time with the family that he had killed the father of. Once in there, he locked the door behind him and drew the curtains. He unpacked his belongings which were the same as none and collapsed into the bed.

His forehead throbbed with a incoming headache which was normal…as always. Maybe sleep would wash it away. Maybe. Just maybe…

~

Running, always running. From what? He was never quite sure. As he ran tree branches snapped upon impact with his body and his feet trampled loudly through the leaves.

“TOOOOMMM….” A dark deep voice called. “Come to me.”

“Accept your fate.” He pushed on, trying to ignore it.

But it was hard. With every trip, every fall, he felt more frustrated. More likely to give in. “Toooommm…” The voice boomed. Tom gritted his teeth and pushed on.

On and on and on and on he went until finally…

He saw it. The light breaking through the dark forest, hitting the edge of the forest in its bright colors. Tom ran even faster.

Almost there. Almost away from his “fate”. “You can’t run from meee..” The dark voice growled. Rather strange since he was running…

And then Tom was there, panting heavily. The sunshine blinded him momentarily so he didn’t see it at first. He didn’t see her at first. Her. A woman. Her long blonde hair fell to her waist and her smile shone brighter than the sunshine itself.

That part of him that’d he’d lost long ago. Her blue eyes glittered with mischief. “Thomas.” She whispered. Tom broke through the daze and began to run toward her. “Leah!!” He called. She smiled. “Tom.”

It was like a dream. A little distance sat between them and yet the more Tom ran the farther away she seemed.

He tripped. A black vine was wrapped around his foot. Tom tried to pull away. The vine didn’t budge. “Leah!” Tom called. Two more vines wrapped around his other leg. He could still see her, still feel her. She smiled sadly. “I still love you.” She whispered. And then more vines began to climb all over him, writhing and squirming like snakes, choking him and holding him tightly in their grasp.

“Leah!!” Tom called desperately. She was so far away now that he barely heard her last words. “Remember me. Remember the way. The light always shines even when the darkness closes in, Tom. You hear me? Remember that. I love you.”

And then she was gone. Tom was swallowed up by blackness, swirling whirling darkness. Overwhelming darkness.

“You cannot run from me..” The dark voice called. “I’ve always been here and I’ll NEVER EVER LEAVE!!!”

~

Tom sat up abruptly, sweat dripping from his face. He wiped it away. Thump thump, thump thump. His headache pounded unmercifully at his brain. The sun shone in through the curtains and Tom slowly rose, dressed into day clothes, and pulled the curtains back.

The sun was indeed rising, the skies glowing vibrant shades of crimson and orange. Tom cracked his neck and sighed softly. Today was going to be a terrible day. Guaranteed.

Carefully he made his way out of the room silently, down the hall and downstairs.

Lucas popped up out of nowhere, startling Tom. “Ugh!” Tom exclaimed, almost tripping down the last stair. Lucas caught his arm, keeping him from falling.

Tom stood up, pulled away and nodded his thanks grimly.

“Sorry sir. Didn’t mean to scare ya.” Lucas said brightly. “Will you eat breakfast with us?” Tom shook his head slowly. “I’m sorry no. I must…tend to some business. I don’t know how long I’ll be staying here so I need to make some arrangements.” Tom said.

“Oh. Do you need my assistance getting around town?” Lucas asked. Tom raised a eyebrow. “No. Why?”

“Well…you’re a little old right? And you don’t know the town well..” Lucas trailed off. Tom sighed. “I’m sure I’ll be fine. I’ve made it this far in life I think I can make it a little longer…”

Lucas grinned. Tom did not. “Okay! If you say so!”

Moments later Tom was walking through the town square. People passed by, pulling wagons and working and chatting and smiling. He headed to the hill over looking the city and stood on top of it.

Then sat down. The wind blew warmly, making his cloak float slightly. Tom pulled it close around him. From up here the town seemed quieter. Almost…the same as it had been years earlier. Tom could almost see it as it used to be. He closed his eyes, enjoying the silence.

It was so silent almost like….when he was with her. He could almost feel her beside him.

Breathing, smiling, laughing—

*SNAP* A twig suddenly cracked and Tom leapt to his feet. “Who’s there?!” He called loudly. Shadowed eyes watched him from the forest.

Tom swallowed. “I’m warning you—show yourself!” Tom said. His hand went to his belt, a small dagger hid in the folds of his clothing. “Who’s the-” A black blurry object leapt forward and landed on his chest, knocking the breath out of Tom’s lungs.

Something was digging into Tom’s hand, keeping him from drawing his dagger. He looked up and blinked. The thing had one blue and one brown eyes. “Bella?!” Tom coughed. It was a dog. It was a Australian shepherd with dark and light brown and white fur. It’s tail wagged wearily and it gave Tom a nice long lick on the face.

Tom gagged. “Ugh. Bella get off me!” He coughed. She happily did so. Tom stood up, brushing dirt from his clothes.

He stared bewildered at his brother’s dog. “How in the world are you still alive?”

-SunnyFox57