Chapter 97

VAST.

Dark.

Terrifying.

Alone inside time.

Not a dream. Not life. A dreaming half life, perhaps.

No. No, that wasn't right. A not-life.

Nothing.

'I think there's so much more that if you're not very careful in how you use it, you could lose yourself.'

He was lost, that was it. In a place with no color, no patterns, no path--

'She fears for you, for your path has only just begun, and you refuse Her gift.'

Path.... gift... he saw neither, and he didn't know who "She" was, but the thought made him want to weep, so he pushed it away. She should be here, damn it, should be... should be--

'She is not my mother, and I want nothing from her.'

It was so full of anger and betrayal, hurt and grief. It made his throat clog up, made his heart thud heavily, and he turned his face away. Sent his gaze out into eternal night.