18 Firuz - Price of Freedom

Firuz stared at the thing that stood before him. It was made up of long, purple flourishes weaved together in a human form. Breathing in and out the green mist.

'Hello friend!' a voice appeared in his head, silent as a whisper, and gentle as a mother's embrace.

'Who are you?' Firuz stared at the strange being with curiosity. Never in his visions had someone spoken to him. His journeys were always alone, taking him to distant lands with strange flora and fauna.

'You forgot your friends… Well I look quite different from before I will give you a hint. It's about an adventure. ' The strange being once again spoke, but this time, Firuz could detect a slight anxiousness from the voice.

'Adventure?' Firuz racked his brain and suddenly an image of a carefree boy flashed before his eyes. 'Azad?' he asked.

'So you do remember me...' Azad replied with the same gentle whisper.

'Why do you look like this? Who are you? Is this a dream? It's real isn't it. I knew it. I knew it but he never listened. He never did.' Firuz trembled in joy. 'It is true"'

'Not everyone can see the truth of things… You have a powerful soul. Most can't comprehend the truth of things without the true sight. You have been blessed in that regard...' Azad let out a long mournful sigh. '...But my friend, you have also been unfortunate.'

'Unfortunate?' Firuz asked in apprehension. 'How am I unfortunate?' he asked this question but the answer came to him as soon as he said the words.

'Galvi have taken you as a host. They have leached onto your soul, feeding off your mental energy to live… You soul is riddled with them.' Azad stared at the countless grey worms latched onto Firuz's soul.

'Am I going to die?' Firuz asked flatly. Surprised by his own apathy, but a part of him had always known. These visions of his weren't always so frustrating, the restrictions weren't there before, nor the voices.

'Souls can't be destroyed or harmed. They are protected by the mysteries of the world. But they will eventually envelop you whole soul and you would be trapped under them. You won't be able to control your soul at first, and then you will lose control of your body.'

Firuz's heart chilled at the thought of being a prisoner in his own body. The walls had previously confined him to his small world, and now what little freedom he had would also be taken from him. Dark thoughts crept into his heart as he found himself wanting of death. He looked at the strange world around him, tiny little creatures sailing through the air, everything alive and free. Suddenly, a long silver ribbon flashed past him; he tried to follow the strange being, but his restrictions made it impossible. 'No one will care about a boy, a cripple in bed. It's hard as it is for Arash to care of you, but he won't be around every single moment. It will start with him coming home late, and one day you would find yourself alone, hungry and immobile. Death will take its time... Taking pleasure in the misery of a boy.' The darkness inside him spoke. He wanted to deny the words, but he knew the truth.

Arash used to be home a lot more, but when he felt sick Arash spent more time outside then in the home. His brother had changed and Firuz had seen the way he looked at him. Suddenly, the world seemed a lot more colder than he thought. Its colors dark, dreary and taunting. Silence pierced right through his heart as he stared at his friend; glowing purple ribbons interlaced in a unique pattern that formed a human body. Azad stared back at him with his pupil-less eyes.

'...Friend.' Azad said his voice tinged with uncertainty. 'There is a way--'

All the sounds faded after Firuz heard the word "way" He stared dumbly at his purple friend. 'Tell, anything. I will do anything.'

'Friend choose your words carefully, They are sacred to our kinds and hold power in them. Vows are not to be taken lightly. I will tell you of a way which might be able to help. But my favor comes with a price.'

'Price? I will do anything just to be free of this ' Firuz struggled for his body to move. 'I can't do anything, soon I will lose control over my body. I just want to be able to walk and not get tired.'

Azad stared impassively, his thoughts hidden deep beneath the purple woven mask he wore.

'What's wrong?' Firuz asked fearfully.

'My kind suffers from a calamity… We are dying. Our world is dying.' Azad sighed in his gentle voice. 'I will help you, but you must help me in return and this the price you must pay.'

'Help you?' Firuz uttered in disbelief. 'I have no control over my body. I am weak… I can't even leave the house without Arash. Whenever I walk, it feels like someone is hammering nails in my body. I... I... How can I help you?'

'Firuz, this is the price you must pay.' Azad said, his voice cold and grating. 'Are you willing?'

'...I am'