Broken Soul
As the dawning rays pierced through the mountain peaks surrounding the city, the central tower emitted a soft gentle breeze to simulate an early spring morning. A ray of light shined aggressively into Theodore's eyes, forcing him awake from his peaceful slumber. Under the presumption that he was still a horse, he attempted to stand up. However, he soon found out that he was unable to feel his limbs as he had none. His large, strong, well-built horse body had changed into a jet black serpent. He had a distinct crimson pattern that was shaped as scars across his scaly body. His eyes were a dark red color that resembled dried blood.
"Huh?" He spoke out loud, as he did he noticed that he felt the vibration of his voice reverberate through his jaw. After that, he soon realized that he had been instinctively sticking out his tongue from time to time. Fearing the worst, he moved towards the bottom of the porch. However, within seconds of moving a large brown hawk swooped down and grabbed him with its talons. Theodore tried to scream out, however, it was far too late as was very high up in the sky. Coming to accept the reality that he had become a snake, he frantically struggled to free himself from the talons of his predator. However, he was unable to free himself from the death grip. The bird gave a mocking squawk as it felt him struggle. Irritated, Theodore altered his strategy and aggressively hissed as his body tightened up. He bared his long, sharp, silver fangs that secreted a white translucent liquid. His eyes stared at the top of the hawk's legs that bore a small amount of flesh. He then carefully extended his body and struck the spot three times in rapid succession.
The hawk squawked in pain and released Theodore down into a rocky death that was the center of an old weathered mountain. As he was free-falling, a chilling wind blew that impeded his vision, preventing him from seeing the bottom. Acknowledging that he was screwed, he slowly closed his eyes and began praying.
As he prayed, a blinding light erupted over the area and a large pair of crimson angel wings materialized and embraced Theodore. The rocky death pit below began to transform as the wings slowly descended. The snow and jagged rocks below disappeared and a grassy flower meadow took its place. A large marble temple stood in ruins in the center of the field. Its pillars were overgrown with bright green vines that bore a yellow flower. Water flowed from the base of the temple, towards a large lake that surrounded the flowery field. The morning sun couldn't reach over the mountain, but the area had a warm light that shined gently above, giving the meadow a feeling of the dream-perfect summer afternoon. A mild wind blew, dispersing multi-colored petals as the crimson wings landed on a damaged marble pillar that was carefully engraved with pictures of angel children blowing a trumpet. The wings released Theodore and dissolved into the wind.
Theodore reopened his eyes and found himself near the entrance of the ruined temple. "I guess Heaven does exist." He then moaned and slithered down the pillar. "This place is too much for me…" He made his way towards the mini river that streamed down from the temple. The water was crystal clear with no impurities to be seen. The riverbed was made of smooth marble that appeared to be undamaged by the water flowing on top of it. Theodore then extended his body and began to drink from the river. As his forked tongue touched the water, he noticed that the water gave off a nostalgic smell of smoke and gunpowder that reminded him of the day he met his lover.
Years ago in the ruins of a major city stood a woman dressed in an all-black business suit. Her blue hair swayed in the wind, with an old rifle strapped to her back. Sensing a presence behind her, she turned to face a young man. He wore a white combat uniform with dirt and blood staining it. A large collection of dog tags hung from his neck as his face was stained with blood and tears. His brown eyes stared down the woman through the iron sights of a damaged pistol aimed at her head. The front of her suit was in tatters as blood dripped down her body. With a satisfied look on her face, she called out to the young man as she closed her eyes.
"A world painted in black and white, or a world painted in color. Which do you prefer?" Without responding, a gunshot reverberated throughout the area. After a few moments of silence, the woman reopened her eyes with a bewildered look. The man's hands were covered in blood as he held nothing but the grip of his pistol. The rest of the gun lay before him, scattered, and he fell to his knees. The woman attempted to open her mouth but the man began to cry out, spilling his heart towards the woman. An endless stream of tears flowed as he caved in to his emotions. She patiently listened as she walked up and hugged the man that stood before her. Her gentle embrace calmed the man down and once he finished weeping, she spoke once more. "You and I are living in a dark world. But I still believe that it's not too late to see the color of our futures." She smiled softly and stood up with her hand extended to the man before her.
Theodore then spat out the water. "How can you have beautifully clear water, but have it taste like ass and sorrow?" he called out. He then looked down back at the water, "Evelyn…" After a moment in silence, he slithers his way to the temple. The front of the temple was damaged beyond repair with thick vines covering the cracks of the marble, keeping the building from collapsing. As he climbed the steps, he felt a strange vibration that seemed to calm him. Once he reached the top, he found a person dressed in a long white robe with a green reef around their head. They had long blonde hair that gently glistened in the light as they played a large golden harp. Theodore was unable to hear their music but he could feel light vibrations that seemed to ease his soul.
"Hey! Are you the God around here?" Theodore shouted, causing the figure to stop. "I think you made a mistake by sending me here. You see, I'm pretty sure a man like me is supposed to be in the deepest parts of hell." Theodore resumed his rude outburst as the figure gave a sigh and shrugged its shoulders. The figure then turned around and sent Theodore into a slight state of shock. The figure's face resembled that of the woman he had once loved, however, its body had a neutral shape, neither resembling man nor woman. It had blue eyes that shined like sapphire and its hair flowed behind it as if there was a constant wind blowing from in front of the being. The being then began to move its mouth as if it were speaking to Theodore, but due to his snake body, he was unable to hear the figure's words. "What?" Theodore rudely shouted once more, "I'm a snake, I can't really hear. I shouldn't be able to speak either but that's a different can of worms." The figure then shook its head in an unenthused manner towards its guest and raised its hand. A marble table and chair, with small vines growing around them, materialized out of nowhere and the figure pointed to the table as it sat down in the chair. Theodore slithered towards the figure and it gently picked him up and placed him on the table.
The figure then took a seat and rapidly tapped the table in a rhythmic motion that resembled Morse code: "Welcome to my domain." The figure then smiled softly, "I have summoned you here because I can help you."
Theodore's body stiffened as he gave a small hiss, "I'm not naive, but keep talking."
The figure then resumed tapping, "I can give you the strength you desire that will allow you to protect those you hold precious." The figure's face changed to a more serious expression as they gazed straight into Theodore's soul. Seeing that the being bore the face of someone he once knew, Theodore hissed a little irritation, "If you agree to free me, I will bestow you with 'useful' powers instead of that useless metamorphic power you've got there. This would allow you to save that child you hold dear." Theodore twitched, "So what will it be?" The figure then smiled once more, but this time its eyes did not match the friendly smile. It gave him a cold stare as if Theodore had no other option.
"No," Theodore shouted without hesitance. The figure's friendly smile grew into a devilish grin and their blue eyes changed to crimson red. This sudden change did not faze Theodore and he continued his statement. "I'm not accepting help from anybody, not even from your typical 'Demon' saving me from death."
The figure then began to laugh uncontrollably as a familiar hawk flew down and landed next to Theodore. It stared at him with a death stare as it stood composed. The figure then stood up, still laughing. The hawk then began to peck the table in Morse code as the figure's mouth moved.
"A demon!? That's the funniest thing I've heard in eons. Especially from a man whose kill count rivals that of one." Theodore's expression darken as he unconsciously hissed and bared his fangs. He gave the figure a death stare as he continued to laugh. The hawk standing beside him backed up a little at the sight of the fangs as it rubbed its leg awkwardly.
"What wrong bird?" Theodore glared at the hawk and spoke with a merciless tone, "What happened to that death stare you gave me a few moments ago? Don't tell me a mighty predator such as yourself is scared of a little snake?" Theodore's attempt to provoke the hawk failed as it pecked at the table as if it didn't hear him. But as the hawk pecked in Morse code, its eyes were fixated on his fangs.
"Now Theodore, don't get so worked up. All humans sin, some just more severe than others. But I can help your soul redeem itself, all you gotta do is free me." The figure walked back to the table and extended its hand. Theodore instantaneously sprung forward and sunk his fangs into the being's flesh. As he pulled out, a golden liquid dripped from its hand. The holes that he made quickly closed and Theodore felt a burning sensation in his fangs. Despite the pain, Theodore stood in a defensive position and hissed excessively as he prepared to strike again. "Heh…heh…heh…" The soundless mouth of the figure moved as the hawk pecked the table, "Does pain not affect you? Or have you hardened yourself so much that nothing can harm you anymore? The loss of a loved one can do wonders to a man I suppose, or was it because of your sin?" The figure's body then began to glisten as the area around them started to fade. "Out of time…such a shame." The figure shrugged its shoulders as a large pair of crimson angel wings sprouted from its body. "What will you choose I wonder, color or black and white? Will you be able to find the truth within the lies you built up or will your past control your judgment?"
"Don't act like her!" Theodore hissed as he slithered across the table and leaped off the table to coil around the being's arm in order to sink his fangs once more. The being was unfazed as it gently patted his head. The golden blood burned Theodore's mouth, however, he did not release his fangs. Then without warning the being's physical form dissipated leaving nothing behind. The flowery meadow that he was once in had reverted back into the same mountain he had once fallen into. Looking around, he found himself on top of a large dull rock that stood in between a few jagged ones. Theodore hissed in frustration as a chilling wind aggressively blew a ton of snow in his face. Then within seconds, the hawk that had kidnapped him before reappeared and grabbed him with its talons. This time the hawk made sure to grab him near the head to prevent the chances of it getting bitten again. Theodore did not struggle and gave up. His body went limp as the hawk soared towards the large dome that rested over Cloud Mountain City.