Title Track: Breaking Inside - Shinedown

These songs relate to the chapter, and just generally set the mood. You don't have to listen, obviously,  but I find that it makes the experience better. Plus, don't you guys wanna know what I listen to, and possibly find more music you like?

PROLOGUE

August 13, 2008

3:18 PM

“I’ve been…afraid…afraid of what I’m becoming—what I see…” A boy explained, lying on a couch. Wiping the sweat from his brow, the boy let his arm drape down the side of the furniture, grimacing as it moved. “I walk down the same street I’ve been on hundreds of times, and sometimes, it twists, darkens, and the buildings around me transform. The sky turns a pinkish-crimson, and everything else is inverted, and washed out. People’s shadows rise from the ground, like someone played a tape of them melting, in reverse. The shadows run some kind of spike through the people, killing them in a spray of blood. Next, they turn to me and charge. I close my eyes, embracing my fate and…everything’s normal when I open them…”

            “From what you’ve said, Noah, I can only conclude that you are beyond my help. Your case is extraordinarily unique. You almost seem…conscious of the shift between reality and your hallucinations.” As if I didn’t already know that… Noah thought dryly, sitting up.

            “Thanks for your help, anyways, Doctor.” The psychiatrist finished writing his notes down on the notepad he seemed to always have, standing up and leaving the house, nodding to Noah and bowing graciously to Noah’s parents. The boy sat up silently, and stalked into his bedroom, leaning on the closed door.

Noah threw off the long-sleeved shirt he had been wearing, staring down at his right arm. No matter what those ‘psychiatrists’ say…no matter what anyone says…this place…is real. He gazed blankly at the lacerations on his forearm, subconsciously clutching his head with his left hand. I don’t want to see there! This world is all I want!  Slowly, the world dimmed, and everything contorted, appearing to be trying to defy the laws of physics. No! Stop! I don’t want to see it! Noah screamed in agony, falling forward, hitting the wooden floor with a hard thump. A soft, harsh voice beckoned from the depths of Noah’s mind, bringing with it, the abyss. “Let me in…only then can we judge…”

“Noah!”

“Son!” Noah’s parents shrieked, slamming open the door, witnessing the teenage boy lying facedown in a pool of ruby liquid.

The darkness gave way to light, as Noah blinked open his eyes, staring up at the aqua ceiling of his bedroom.

“What happened?” He asked aloud, waves of pain radiating from his right arm.

“You had another attack.” A cheerful voice answered. Noah looked over at its owner, smiling at the girl.

“Sorry for worrying you, Soleil.” He said, pushing himself upright. The girl plucked her tan coat from the closet, slipping it over her purple top, brushing invisible dust from her white pants.

“Not a problem, Noah.” Soleil answered, squeezing Noah in a tight hug. “I can only imagine how tough it must be; you can always talk to me if you need too.” Noah nodded. I’m trying my damnedest to stay in this world, so there’s no chance in hell I would ever want to visit the other, just so I can talk about it… Soleil was the only person that Noah thought might actually care about him, without obligation, so, naturally, he didn’t voice his thoughts.

“Unfortunately, though, I have to run.” The girl said brushing some of her long, black hair from her brown eyes. “Math homework doesn’t write itself…and if it did, I’d be out a lot of fun!”

“I couldn’t keep you from your precious equations.” Noah replied, laughing. “I think I’ll sleep some more anyway.” Soleil slid through the doorway, waving goodbye, shutting the door. The moment she left, any trace of happiness left Noah. He stared straight ahead, truly afraid of letting his mind wander. I just want to live normally… Distant sounds called to Noah, so faint that he couldn’t decipher what they might say. “Tick tock, Noah…time’s a wasting, and there are Shadows to bring to light…”

“Why can’t that strange place and those voices just…go away?” As he asked himself the question, Noah watched as everything around him accepted the darkness. Terror running through him, Noah backed into a corner, huddled in the fetal position. It’s okay, it’ll go away…it’ll go away… He convinced himself, watching as his room moaned, changing. Please…stop… A pool of black, opened in the side of the room, opposite Noah. Stop! A figure rose from the puddle, bearing serrated fangs, and crimson eyes. Aside from those two characteristics, the figure looked a lot like Soleil, shrouded in black mist. It snarled, its expression contorting into a sadistic grin. Noah brought both trembling arms to either side of his head, as if to shake away the chance that this was real. Blurriness edged through his vision, most likely from frightened tears, though possibly from the onset of a sudden migraine. Why won’t you go away!? The creature extended an arm, sharp barbs poking from the flesh. With a quick exhale of breath that sounded much like a hiss, it charged, barbed-arm going straight for Noah’s heart. I’m going to die… Unlike every time before, Noah didn’t close his eyes. They were wide open, watching as his personal reaper drew closer. Why was I doomed to go like this? The offending arm an inch away from penetration, time skipped for a fraction of a second. Along with the phenomenon, a single phrase echoed through Noah’s head. “Accept this reality and let your strength flourish…or continue to flee and eventually condemn yourself to a meaningless death.” Instantly, the beast exploded into a cloud of mist, and the world returned to normal.

“W-What…in God’s name…” Looking down, Noah’s emerald orbs settled on a large gash, just below the heart, bleeding profusely, his left arm already covered in blood and traces of black. Being diagnosed with CIPA (Congenital Insensitivity to Pain), he easily brushed off the wound, terror worming through his system. “I’ll make this ‘other world’ go away. Just let me in, Noah!”

Having cleaned and bandaged his chest, Noah put on an ash shirt, and threw on a black jacket, zipping it up to the top of his chest. It had been at least twenty minutes judging by Noah’s internal clock, and he could barely contain himself. Spasms still raced through his body, so Noah had decided on going for a run to both relieve anxiety and give him some time to think.

“I’m going now!” Noah called behind him as he left, letting the sound of instrumental music in his ears soothe. He dove off the staircase in front of his door, falling into a roll as he landed. Keeping up his momentum, Noah dashed down the street, hopping, sliding, and avoiding all obstacles in his way. As he ran, townspeople greeted him with upbeat auras and emotion. Stupid people… Noah thought angrily. They all know who I am, and know my problem, so they pretend to care…damn them… In a flurry of emotion, Noah headed for the forest in his local park, just to escape the people’s prying stares. Ripping the headphones off his head, Noah flopped onto the ground, pushing ragged, dark-grey hair from his face. Noah shoved a hand into his pocket, retrieving the painkillers he always took with him when he went out, should he suffer the usual migraine. Christ, I hate this… He thought, swallowing a pill. After a few moments of rest, the troubled teen stood up, using a tree to brace himself.

“Night’s coming awful fast…” He mumbled, consciousness leaving him. Just before the darkness fully consumed his mind, Noah barely made out the landscape shifting, blackening. Damnit…why…now? He thought finally, his mind succumbing to the abyss. “Good lord, finally! Sit back, Noah, and watch the master work his trade…”

11:49 PM

Shrouded in darkness, a terrified man tore down the streets as silently as he could, dodging around any and all sources of light. I have to get the hell out of here! He screamed mentally, frantically searching for a place to hide. The only conceivable place was a nearby alley. However, the man hesitated, shortly wondering if it was a dead-end. The rhythmic sound of shoes hitting pavement shooed away any doubts, and he dived into the alley. Damnit, a dead-end! He thought, looking at a stone wall. Instantly, he whipped around, desperate to find another place. Anything to stay away from that black, demonic, figure. The man only managed to take a step before a hand slammed into his throat, pinning him against the cold stone. Oh god…I’m dead…I’m dead!

“You’ve been a bad person…” The hand’s owner hissed, bearing a toothy snarl, fangs glinting in the moonlight.

“I-I haven’t done anything! I swear!” The man protested, trembling.

“Maybe not you, per say, but someone very close…” The figure insisted, twirling a dagger in its free hand.

“So kill them!” The figure cocked its head in confusion, and the dagger stopped, blade angled at the man’s jugular vein.

“Why waste the effort, when I could just kill you and get the same result?” Before the man had another chance to speak, blood sprayed in front of his eyes, his jugular slashed. The figure watched the man fall, running a hand through blood-speckled, azure hair.

“You have the right to know the name of your killer, I suppose…” The figure said, locking eyes with the fallen man, watching the life drain. “Chronoa will do just fine; however, I’ll have to attribute this unfortunate event to Noah…” Grinning in delight, Chronoa drew a finger across fresh blood of the now deceased man, and began to write on the alley wall.

He read aloud, deciding it sounded exactly right.

Chronoa paced down the empty city streets, bored. What to do…what to do… He wondered idly, observing the twisted black buildings. He sat down on the sidewalk, sharpening the ebony katana he had found lying around the local forest he awoke in. Giving it a few test swings to gauge the cutting power, Chronoa slid it into the rope loop he had prepared, tying it around his waist so that the sword was horizontal across the small of his back.

“Hey!” A distorted voice shouted, a man rising from the ground, black mist encircling him. Just after him, three other men of great physical ability, judging by their looks, rose. “That’s my sword! You’d better give it back, boy, or be ready to die!”  Chronoa eyed him darkly. Disgusting creatures…all they are, is evil. Nothing can come from their existence… The blue-haired teen stood up, brushing invisible dust from his jacket.

“Get off it!” Chronoa barked angrily. “There are no laws in Siphous; I can have it if I want it!” In response, one of the bulkier men lunged at Chronoa, jabbing with a spear. Chronoa glanced at the spear impaled in his side, uncaring.

“Oh right, I’m supposed to be in pain!” He laughed, drawing his sword. His laughing stopped the instant his attacker was beheaded. “Let me do my work…” He mumbled, ripping the spear from his flesh, suddenly all business. The other two men rushed forward, one wielding an axe, the other a katana. Chronoa, holding both the spear and katana, span in place, lashing out with the spear, catching the axe-wielding man in the arm. Just as the other man swung his sword, Chronoa brought his own katana in place, knocking the man’s sword back. Next, the lone warrior hopped over a horizontally swung axe, burying a sidekick into the sword-bearing man’s gut. Still in the air, Chronoa brought his blade around, driving it into the owner if the axe’s heart. A short burst of fire confirmed the death of the Shadow.

“You guys aren’t any fun.” Chronoa complained, mocking a pout.

“Die!” The remaining opponent cried, wildly slashing his blade. The azure-haired teen nimbly dodged each attack, but the assailant proved just as proficient at not being hit. Chronoa stabbed, only to have his sword knocked away. The man brought his blade downwards, aiming for Chronoa’s head, but the boy easily blocked, backhanding the man with the same arm.

“Okay!” Chronoa sighed, annoyed. “This has gone on long enough.” As each word passed his lips, Chronoa’s skin grew darker and darker, more black mist swirling around his figure, markings etching themselves in his skin. Finally, crimson eyes glowed ominously, hinting at the eternal darkness in his opponent’s future.

“Welcome to hell…” Chronoa hissed, elongated fangs poking out from his closed lips.

“Oh lord…a Siphous Knight…” The bulky man said under his breath, but one thought racing through his mind. Run! Complying, he threw down his weapon, turning and ran as fast as he could. The black-shrouded teen chuckled and dashed after him. You can never run from me! Quickly, Chronoa caught up, leaping on to the man’s back, tackling him to the ground. He landed on his back, Chronoa sitting on top of his chest, pinning his arms under his knees. Then, the maniacal teen hammered fists into the assailant’s face, laughing all the while. After a few blows, Chronoa raised his katana, bringing it down, using both hands, onto and through the man’s skull, flames engulfing the body.

“Well, that was certainly fun.” The boy commented, standing up with a satisfied grin and turning to face the only person left, already yards away, running for dear life. Chronoa frowned momentarily, his grin quickly returning, taking off.

After only a few moments, Chronoa’s speed allowed him to catch up to the runner.

“Hello there…” He greeted with a cherry voice, tripping the man. “What’s your name again?”

“U-Uhh…N-N-Neir, sir…” He stuttered, backing away slowly. Chronoa paused, his blood-colored orbs observing Neir curiously.

“You can go, Neir.” He said soon, a smile worming onto his features.

“I-I can!?” Neir cried happily, but confused.

“Sure.” Chronoa affirmed, gesturing to go. “I killed you fifteen minutes ago, why go through the effort to do it again?” Neir froze, wide-eyed. He killed me? “Surely you know that when your human ‘Mirror’ dies, you go too?” Chronoa explained, quizzically, wondering if a Shadow could not know that fact.

“I did—“As if fate was attempting to spite the man’s plight, he burst into a cloud of flames. Chronoa watched the embers slowly dissipate, a dark snarl on his face. ‘Chronoa’ will do just fine… He thought, his mind relapsing to the murder in the alley fifteen minutes prior.

A short sprint later, and Chronoa was back at the alley. Nodding absentmindedly at the corpse, he sat down, resting against the cold concrete. His appearance falling back to a regular teen, Chronoa drifted off to sleep, letting the other presence in his mind take dominance for when he woke up. Surprise, surprise, Noah…

People describe reality as something tangible. However, with millions of different perceptions, all without common factors, reality is lost. The truth? “Reality” fails to exist…

How was that? All my stories have slow starts, but it gets interesting soon, I promise! I appreciate any and all feedback, positive and negative. It helps me get better, and I write faster when I have an audience to write for (proven fact. I've written 4 chapters of Reality's Fangs, already, and it took me a month (being lazy and having other stuff to do, didn't help). I've written multiple chapters to The Archangel Legacy in a week, before, but I had an audience of about 6 to write for). Viva la internet! G'night folks, I'm off to play some Persona 3 FES!

*I don't own any of the "Title Tracks" songs, I'm just linking to them for you to hear.