Book 3: Hunter

This was not the Seknium as I knew it.

Rather than just the tree on a hill, the shattered landscapes of many places stretched out unto infinity. The hill was present, but the tree stopped just past the stump; a pillar of steel rising from it, and connecting to an odd, mechanical land just above me. I recognized a few of the landscapes; the streets of Saltmoore, the woods near Tomo, and... is that what Trixie calls a "McDonalds"?

The voice that greeted me spoke once more; the voice of Mortigan, the Godhunter. "Beautiful, isn't it? So many little worlds, so little time to explore them."

"What do you want?" I ask, looking around for the source of the voice. "It had better be some damned good news..."

The spaces between the dreams stretch into a spiral far up above the hill; darkening into a single mass that descended upon me. The form of the pale-faced Demi-Goddess emerged from this shadow, a grim look etched on her ivory features. There were differences from her last meeting; ones that put a shudder down my spine. One of her eyes was bruised, and swollen, with small cuts across her face and hands. Her dark clothes were tattered and dirtied with blood; possibly her own, given her current condition. She glared at me; whether in disgust, or concern, I could not tell.

"I've met your brothers." She says, landing onto the hill.

I wince at her words. "Are you alright?"

"Could be better, could be worse." She cracks her neck and knuckles; at the snap of her fingers, a seat not unlike her carriage appearing from thin air. "But, I still got what I wanted; a look at their cores... it's given me cause for concern. The kind of concern that gets me to sharpen my scythe."

The Reaper-To-Be leans in closer to me, squinting her good eye; her stare burning a hole straight through my nerves. "Now, this will be a lot easier if you don't resist."

"Resist what?"

I stagger back a step, only to find thin air underneath my feet; twisting me through the air as I fall. I land face first onto an odd, pale ground, that hums with a beating pulse, five pillars rising around me; each closing in. Looking up, I see that those are no pillars at all... but fingers. There I am, in the palm of Mortigan's hand. She stands as a titan, the infinite expanse of dreams swirling in her one good eye.

"I'm going to need a look in that head of yours."

...

I wonder what those are; those spinning things above me. Mom comes to spin them every now and then... but never Dad. The bars of the crib had never felt his touch. Does he hate me? What did I do?

...

School is the worst! All of those bullies picking on me for my hair... why is it so red!? Everyone keeps asking if I dye it. I'm seven, I don't even know what dye is! Ugh... I wish my big brother was with me at school.

...

She seems nice, if a little rough around the edges. She seemed to like my playing at the school play, at least. That name sounds like something I heard about in Sunday-school... Lilith. Kinda cute, honestly. Maybe I should ask her to prom?

...

Why... why does she hurt me? I try my best to love her, and she just keep making me feel awful. "You could be making better money if you actually tried." "Maybe I should date your brother instead." "You should dye your hair something... normal." Over and over. All the yelling. All the hitting.

Do I deserve it?

...

"Stop it!"

I grasp the hand that holds me, pushing apart the fingers in a fit of rage. My heart feels as if its about to burst, and my head aches as if it were in a tightening vice. The memories, they were too much. Every instance of anxiety, doubt, pain, fear, and anger; all at once. I felt my body shudder in the Seknium as it changed back and forth between many, many faces. From that of Damian Walker, to Monster, to each of my "Brothers." The memories made my sense of self loosen as they poured forth more and more despair to drown in. An ocean of regrets; an abyss of shattered egos.

"Stop resisting!" Mortigan demanded, her grip tightening. "This is more important than your little fractured mind, Walker. The balance is at risk because of you... I must know why."

The hand clasps once more.

...

Fuck... arms aren't supposed to bend like that. How did I just do that!? I'm so dead when I get home. I was just so sick of the fucking hair shit! Red this, red that! Now that dickhead's fucking face is red; piece of shit... fuck, there was so much blood.

...

She really was fucking him. I get out of juvie, and the first thing I see is my brother and my girlfriend fucking on the couch. I don't even know how to feel... God, I hope she hurts him.

...

This therapist has to be lying. No god-damned-way am I joining up on some '****-victim' dating site. That can't be a thing... even if it is, all I'm going to find are worthless mistakes like me. God. Why am I still alive.

...

"Enough!"

The sound of bones cracking rang through the realm of dreams as I ripped the clenched fist wide open. Mortigan reeled back in surprise, her other hand quickly grasping at her freshly-broken pinky. My mind felt near-broken, just as it had when I first awoke on Ruyanei. Every inch of my body was burning in shame and anger.

"Try that again, and you'll lose a finger or two." I glare up at the giant form of the demi-goddess.

She stared down at me in confused anger; clearly still having questions unanswered. "What are you..."

I feel myself drifting back to the waking world as the words escape my lips; words carried by a voice as grim as **** itself.

"An accident."