…a tale of Shattered Dreams
The world is often confusing when you first wake up. Shattered dreams blend into the day leaving traces of fantasy behind. Joshua felt it strange that he could still clearly remember the dream he was having that day. He was walking through a dark forest that wasn’t a forest. Everything bent and changed around him, forming into something new; something that was somehow still surrounded by trees but on the edge of being something else. A figure began forming out of the darkness. He could almost make out the wavy face when the dream shattered.
“Wake up Joshua. It’s time.” At first he thought it was the dark figure who said it, and sometimes, looking back, he thinks it might have been. As the world began to refocus, Joshua saw his father standing in his bedroom doorway. Whatever piece of the dream world that still had him washed away when he saw his father’s face. His eyes were red and puffy like he’d been crying, but the expression on his face was emotionless.
“What is it? What’s wrong? Time for what?” he asked as he frantically got up from bed.
“Just get dressed and meet me out back.” His voice held the same emotion his face did: none. In 11 years of life, Joshua had never heard his father talk that way. It frightened him in a way he’d never experienced since. With that his father turned and walked away, leaving him in confusion and fear.
Joshua got dressed as fast as he could, afraid to leave the man waiting too long. He had always been stern, but something about the way he was acting made him believe the consequences would be great if he wasn’t prompt. As he headed through the house to the back door he noticed Abigail’s door was open. She wasn’t in her room, which, normally, wouldn’t be strange all on its own, but with their father acting like he was he began to wonder. Joshua stopped in the hall and listened for signs of life. Their house was small enough and old enough that just about any movement made some sort of noise. He strained his ears, but there was nothing. As far as he could tell no one was home. Maybe she was outside too.
It was strange to him now to remember that he wasn’t the least bit concerned about where his mom was. For some reason it didn’t seem out of place even though it was as well. His only thoughts were of Abigail and his father’s strange mood. Joshua hurried toward the backdoor with renewed apprehension. Maybe the answers were outside too.
Their house sat nearly hidden in what passed for a forest in the mountains of Southern Nevada. Their backyard wasn’t much more than a small clearing. As Joshua emerged from the back door he nearly fell, struggling to comprehend what he was seeing. His father stood in the middle of the clearing, head down, arms clutched behind his back. There were a series of strange symbols burned into the ground around him forming a wide circle. Joshua stopped, mouth gaping open. If he wasn’t confused before, he was now.
When his eyes could finally stop to focus on one thing, what they chose was his father’s eyes. His head was still down, but his eyes were turned up to Joshua, piercing. His gaze was like a weight or maybe gravity. Joshua suddenly felt separated from his body and he had a sense that he was taking a step forward. Even now he didn’t know why he resisted it, but he did. In his mind he fought for control and, as if a fog lifted, his senses rushed back into his body. Joshua took the step back, fear dancing through every inch of his nerves.
“Come to me Joshua.” He felt the sensation try at him again. It was like an invisible force was trying to push him aside. Joshua braced himself, stood his metaphysical ground, and felt the force wash over him and recede. His father’s facial expression never changed, but he raised his head and gave a small nod, “Very good. Now, please, enter the circle and stand before me.”
Maybe it was the please, or that he was able to consciously resist the second wave, but Joshua did as he asked. He slowly walked forward and crossed over the symbols etched in the earth. As soon as he was across he felt something break over him. A sensation unlike anything he’d ever felt before surged through him, and he felt within him a spark spread to meet the growing energy. When the initial rush faded Joshua was left breathless, but felt energized, like he could do anything.
“This is a training circle and has been used for a thousand generations to hone the skills of our people. It is designed to amplify the Shine around you.” He spoke as a lecturer does to his class. The words seemed official and bland, as if he’d said them a million times.
Joshua knew he shouldn’t ask, but the words formed before he could stop them, “What’s the Shine?”
Anger flashed on his father’s face for only the briefest of moments before returning to its emotionless mask, “The Shine is a powerful energy. It illuminates the spirit web; allows us to see it, to feel it. We use the Shine to help us bend and shape reality. When you are skilled enough you will be able to use it to manifest your will.”
“Manifest my will?”
“Yes.” He seemed sad when he said it though his voice and expression hadn’t changed. Joshua realized with a shock that he could actually feel his sorrow coming off him in waves.
“Father, where’s Abigail?” There, just for a flash, the sadness filled his eyes, then gone. He felt his father draw back his emotions, felt a barrier crash into place blocking him out. His eyes went cold and distant, even more so then before.
“Abigail’s gone.” He continued on like the question was never asked or that the answer was sufficient, “You’ve already had a taste of the first lesson, but let’s explore further.” Joshua felt his father’s essence crash into him. He tried to resist, but it was stronger this time. “You must first learn to protect yourself. Block me out, push me aside!”
Joshua felt his mind open to him, felt the walls that held him together crumble away. He knew, without knowing how or why, that he had him. Every thought he ever had was laid bare. Joshua knew his father could destroy his mind, or even rebuild it if he wished. He screamed wordlessly and fell to his knees gripping his head, as if it would help. He felt everything wash away, and was left floating in blackness. Then there was nothing and he was gone.
After what seemed like an eternity, Joshua came back to himself. He was floating in blackness, surrounded by a strange web of purple energy. His father’s voice came out of the darkness, “This is the spirit web. It binds all things together.” As he spoke pieces of the world began forming in the web. Even now, he wasn’t sure how he knew, but Joshua could tell that each particle of reality was attached to the web. He could see almost without seeing as the threads intertwined and connected the trees, their house, even him. “The Shine allows us to see the web,” and as he said it Joshua could see the Shine as well.
The light of it seemed to fill every space on and between the web. The sheer magnitude of it was overwhelming. It filled him and seemed to burst from his pores. The feeling was too much. He screamed again, trying to push it all aside when suddenly it was gone. Joshua was left panting on the ground inside the training circle, the web and the Shine seemed to disappear, but he knew they were still there.
“Very good,” his father said with a strange smile on his face, “there may be hope for you yet.”
End
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