Worries and Memories

"Where's Akiol?"

Yielya looked up from her phone, "Out for a walk."

Wrock frowned, "Since when?"

"Four in the morning."

"It's been six hours?!"

Yielya shrugged, "I guess."

"What do you mean 'I guess'?! He should be home by now."

"He might have found something interesting. Perhaps it has kept him occupied."

"You're not worried something happened?"

"This is Akiol we are talking about."

Wrock sighed, he doubted there was much that could trouble Akiol. Yet he still had a feeling something wasn't right, "Did he text anyone?"

Yielya pointed at a table with her thumb, "Left his phone here."

Wrock sighed again, "This man is far too careless."

"He is like that sometimes."

Wrock looked towards the door, if it was Akiol nothing bad would happen. . .

Right?

~ ~ ~

Akiol lay flat on the ground. He looked at the sky and groaned, "This sucks!"

His body hurt, the soreness from his injured muscle was really annoying. His arm was constantly throbbing, and a headache pestered him.

He had no idea where he was, he had forgotten his phone. Though it would have most likely been taken by the kidnappers. He wished for the earth to swallow him, so he may rest in its cool embrace. A sigh escaped, no point in resting here. It would be best to find someone who's willing to help. So he should get up.

. . .

Any minute now. . .

. . .

Akiol grit his teeth and stood up, his headache increased in pain. His muscles cried in protest, his arm sent constant signals of pain. A painful laugh escaped his lips, this was ridiculous. Taking a moment to brace himself he started walking in a direction, hoping to come across anything.

Every step caused his headache to pulse with pain. He supported his arm to prevent it from aimlessly swinging by his side, but it still hurt with his steps as well.

'When's the last time I felt like this?'

He lost track of how far he went, his steps became subconscious at one point. The sun was especially glaring today, the heat caused Akiol to sweat. His breathing became more labored, every step took more and more effort. Akiol's throat felt dry, his vision felt off. He stumbled and fell onto the ground. He struggled to stand up, like his limbs were refusing to work.

'This. . . isn't great.'

Akiol needed water, but he couldn't find any. The place he was in was nothing but dead grass and dust. It was like a desert.

His consciousness faded in and out. Occasionally he would find himself somewhere else, unaware of when he moved.

'How long has it been?'

Akiol had this thought before he blacked out.

~ ~ ~

Wrock sat on the couch, his knee jumping up and down nervously. His feeling was growing worse and Akiol hadn't returned. A day and a half had passed, the party was growing restless.

Yielya walked over, "I'm ready."

Wrock stood up, since they only had a single vehicle it was decided that he and Yielya would go. Wrock would drive, and Yielya would tag along in case Akiol was harmed. Even though she couldn't heal using magic, she held basic knowledge of the healthcare in this world.

"Let's go."

~ ~ ~

"Hey, you should go back to sleep."

A silver haired woman caressed Akiol's hair. A lovely smile on her face. Akiol knew who this was, so he nodded and closed his eyes.

. . .

Akiol walked through a village, scornful looks were tossed towards him occasionally. He looked down and walked silently.

. . .

"Monsters!"

Screams were heard, several men rushed carrying weapons of various kinds.

"Protect the children! Escape to the east!"

Various people began carrying their children and ushering them to safety. Akiol ran with them, confused on what was going on.

They were all inside a barn, the doors closed and locked. Many were crying and calling for their parents. Others were shaking in fear. Yet Akiol stood there, staring at a wall.

Crck!

The barn wall cracked an a monster smashed through the wall. The children screamed in terror.

"They're after the children! Stop it!"

The monster and Akiol locked eyes. The monster crackled, "Why aren't you afraid?"

The monster was irked by the calmness of the child. The unwavering silver eyes seemed to stare through its soul.

The monster shrieked, one of the villagers stabbed it with a sword.

. . . 

Akiol walked through a gathering of people. Many mourning the loss of loved ones. He didn't understand, why were they crying?

A man pushed Akiol, he was obviously drunk. Most likely to drown his sorrows. He yelled in Akiol's face, "You brat! Your existence is a curse! Look at what you did! If it weren't for you my daughter wouldn't have died!"

Akiol was punched, he fell to the ground. It hurt, but he felt no anger, sadness, or fear.

Some of the villagers held back the drunken man. Yet they also glared at Akiol, they also believed that it was his fault.

. . .

He was awoken by the silver haired woman, "We have to go!"

Akiol felt sluggish, this was different than he remembered.

He stepped up to the window, something was off. . .

A giant rock smashed through it, the glass shattered and the rock hit Akiol. He stumbled back and was caught by the silver haired woman.

"It's okay! You're going to be okay!"

She picked him up and ran out of the building. It was a cabin, though Akiol could have sworn it looked different.

She ran through the trees, only to stumble into a group of villagers.

"Stop right their Silena."

"What do you plan to do?"

"You should be aware of what that accursed child had brought to our village. His very existence brings nothing but trouble!"

Some villagers came marching up, "You monster! This happened because of you!"

The silver haired woman clutched Akiol closer, "Leave my child alone! He never caused this!"

One of the villagers spat, "You're at fault as well! If you hadn't birthed this monster, our village would have been fine!"

"You can't blame us for something out of our control!"

The villager looked at Akiol, "If you die then everything will go back to normal!"

They fought the silver haired woman for Akiol. As strong as she wanted to be, she could not fight against several hands. Akiol was wrenched free and tossed to the ground.

He looked up to see a man pointed a sword at him, "This is for our village. Don't blame us, blame the fate that made you like so."

The villager felt unnerved by the lack of fear in the child's eyes. He didn't wish to see the kid scared, but the lack of emotion made it seem alien.

The sword thrust forward and pierced Akiol's stomach.

The silver haired woman shouted, "No-!"

The man slid the sword free, Akiol crumpled to the ground. The silver haired woman was let go and she rushed to Akiol.

The man dropped the sword, "I'm sorry."

She looked at him hatefully, "He did nothing wrong! Why?! Why would you all go so far?!"

"It was for the village, peace needed to be returned."

"Peace?! He was supposed to bring that! If he dies then all that will be left is tyranny and pain!"

"His birth brought this, if he wasn't born then none of this would have happened."

"He was born to stop it!"

Akiol felt his consciousness start to fade, the silver haired woman clutched his hand, "Hey, talk to me Akiol. Tell me about what you saw again, you're going to be fine alright?"

Akiol uncontrollably closed his eyes, he felt cold. So. . . cold.

A voice was heard, "Wake up, please wake up! Akiol!"

A sea of darkness surrounded him. A voice called out, "Will you fall like this?"

Akiol murmured, "Why is it my job? Why me?"

"The line of fate is cruel, some are unable to be free."

"I don't want to do this."

"You do not have a choice."

"I just want to sleep."

"Will you let everyone suffer? Let the people die in fear?"

Akiol remained silent, he didn't understand.

The voice spoke, "The world needs you."

". . ."

"So wake up."

Akiol's eyes opened, he saw light in front of him. He closed his eyes, why must he be flashed again?

His eyes slowly adjusted and he found himself in a hospital. Various tubes hooked up to him. It took him a moment to realize he had awoken from a dream. These dreams were getting out of hand. Why must he experience such events again?

He examined the room, the sheer whiteness hurt his eyes. As he read the writing on various packets of liquids he found he couldn't understand it. Though he didn't care much, for he didn't need to know what was being sent into him via tube. It shouldn't be as terrible as the drug his kidnappers used.

He eyed the ceiling, a thought passed to when he awoke after his short coma. He sighed to himself.

"This better not be a reoccurring thing."