THE SPIRIT REALM

CHAPTER 2

 Even though it all just started, things were about to change. People didn't know if it were for good or bad, they just continued their normal lifestyle. Of course some lifestyles were bad and disappointing. The world seemed to be coming to an end. Evil seemed to have prevailed.

 Scott, a native of Binas, and an aspiring singer was seen roaming the street, drunk and tattered. He swerved left and right and fell to the ground. People walking around the street watched him and continued to their destination. Robots were also roaming the streets. One of the robots scanned Scott's body and detected fatigue. He was picked up by other robots into a bus. They were to take him home. Meanwhile, Jfaz, a renowned pop star was busy watching the incident in his Rolls Royce car. Glasses on, and suit neatly ironed, he got down from his car, accompanied by three body guards and stopped the robots' car. After discussing with the robots, the body guards carried Scott and dropped him in the Rolls Royce. They drove off.

 Scott opened his eyes slowly and groaned. He came to his senses immediately and got up swiftly. He turned right and saw the picture of Jfaz on the wall. Was he in his house? He thought. No, of course not. Almost everyone has his pictures on their walls at home. He must be in one of his fan's house. Thoughts were flowing through his mind like electrons and moving fast like whirlwind. His heart felt it too; it began to beat very fast. His heart almost popped out when he heard footsteps coming from upstairs. A big man came down and walked towards him without saying a word. He followed the man with his eyes and that was when he knew he was in the studio room. "Where am I really?" he asked himself.

 "You're in Jfaz's home studio", the bouncer said. "It's your lucky day boy".

 Scott was surprised, for he didn't know the bouncer heard him. In Jfaz's studio? Was this a dream?

 Scott had always wanted to be a popular singer. He was born in Binas 20 years ago. He sang in local and home parties. He opened accounts on music apps and also on social media, but he seemed not to be getting the recognition he wanted. His father died when he was 10. His mother was a government employee who worked in a broadcasting station. He had almost everything he wanted, but he just needed more money…and most importantly, the recognition. His mother, Fiona Jackson secretly disliked the idea of her son pursuing the dreams of becoming a pop star. She once advised him to be a gospel singer if he insisted on becoming one, but he said no. Scott was also bright in school. His mother always pictured him in an engineer outfit. Later, he made his mother believe he wasn't interested in anything music anymore, which made her very happy. Of course, he didn't stop. He composed songs secretly in his room and sneaked out of the house into nearby studios to record few songs. Now, his dream is about to come true. I thank God for making me drunk today. He thought.

 Jfaz stepped into the studio and sat in his chair. "You're welcome bro. Found you drunk in the street. You really should be careful next time. All thanks to the robots".

 "Robots carried me?" Scott asked and Jfaz nodded in response. "Oh…where are my manners? My name's Scott and I am so glad you helped me".

 "Do you sing?"

 "Yes…ye…yes…of course. I sing. And I'm your biggest fan"

 "Well, let's make this quick and see what you can do", Jfaz said and put on a headphone. His engineers and producers also turned on the speakers and the computers and the mics.

 Scott was nervous at first, but felt confident as he mumbled the first word. His song went thus:

 Stumbling in the dark…yeah yeah

 I will never stop

 You let me walk away

 But I'm so glad

 I'm breaking off my limits

 You all pushed me to the edge

 You think I'm alone, just wait till the end…

 Chorus: I'm walking through 2x

 I know I ain't passing by  

 It's just part of life, we all know that

 Two ways, five ways, baby girl, I'm now rich

 You left me cos you thought I won't make it

 Someone call the police, or the cops, anyhow you call it

 My ex is coming back

 Take her

 Beat her

 Break her

 But don't kill her

 Cos u know I ain't a killer

 BACK TO CHORUS.

 The crew loved the song and his voice. They applauded him and whispered to one another. Jfaz was not too surprised, though he was impressed. He folded his arms and stood up. The rest left the studio one after the other; they knew what was next. Jfaz and Scott were the only ones that remained.

 "You are amazing, to be honest", Jfaz said and brushed his neatly trimmed side beard.

 "Thank you sir"

 "Becoming some one popular isn't an easy thing. Are you ready to take risks?" Jfaz asked.

 "Of course. As long as I don't have to kill anyone", Scott said. He was now scared. He heard how musicians sold their souls to the devil to become famous. Though it was just a speculation to most people, some insisted they showed it every day through their lifestyles and signs they make on occasions and award ceremonies.

 Jfaz burst into loud laughter and said: "Of course, you ain't killing no one kid". He saw how Scott breathed slowly and felt comfortable. "At least not yet", he said slowly and Scott didn't hear. "Apart from killing, are you sure you can do anything to become famous?"

 "Of course, sir. I want to be known. I don't care what I need to do. But death must not be involved".

 "Come back tomorrow then".

 Scott refused to tell his mum what happened the previous day. He felt she needed not know. He got up very early in the morning and made up excuses about leaving very early. He was allowed later allowed to leave. He boarded a flying car taxi to make his trip faster. He reached Jfaz's house in no time and he was allowed to enter without delay. To his surprise, Jfaz didn't lead him into his house, but another place which seemed to be a very big hall. The outside was very beautiful. It was painted in brown and it glittered from a distance. They both entered and everything changed in a nick of time. The inside was surrounded with fire and men in black appeared. Scott fell to the ground and held Jfaz's legs, and began to plead.

 "Please where am I?" he asked while on his knees. "I want to leave".

 "You are not killing any one Scotty", Jfaz replied with a smile and Scott let go. "Good".

 Scott was put in the middle and a voice said from the black men: "Do you want to be rich and famous?"

 "Yes, I want to be rich", Scott said while turning around every second to make sure he wasn't going to be stabbed from behind…or anything worse. "But who are you people?"

 "You don't need to know who we are. We are asking for the last time. Do you want to be rich and famous?"

 "Yes"

 The one who seemed to be the leader gave a sign and one of them went to Scott, brought out a knife, drew a circle around him and slit his palm with the knife, causing blood to flow out. Scott didn't understand what was happening. The man in black made sure there was a drop of blood in the circle. They started moving round Scott and were mumbling some strange words. He tried to find out what kind of language they were speaking, so as to find out the translation later, but he could not detect. They danced around him and flames rose from the circle. The tempo of their words began to rise. Scott fell to the ground and felt something move out of his body. After few minutes, he also felt something come into his body.

 "The ritual is complete", the leader said. "You are now rich and will be famous soon".

 "Thank you", said Scott in a trembling voice.

 "Now…you must follow anything we tell you to do"

 "And what is that?"

 "You must be a gay"

 One part of Scott regretted what he did, while the other part praised him and told him he was now free. "And what again?" he asked, while staring at Jfaz.

 "You will also change your style of music. Encourage lesbianism, appreciate gays and bi sexual. They also have a place in the world and anyone can choose what they want to become", the leader in black explained.

 "Yes. I understand. No one should be controlled. They should do things freely", Scott replied.

 The men disappeared and everywhere became normal again.

 "Are you gay?" Scott asked Jfaz.

 "No. We all have different roles to play. They give us the roles", Jfaz said and began walking out of the building.

 "Did you and the rest of the singers pass through what I passed through today?"

 "If I didn't, I wouldn't have brought you here", Jfaz said and opened the door of his car and entered. "Make cool music bro. The number of gays increase everyday bro. You're going to have lots of fans". He drove off.

 Guardian Varys opened the door of the library and out of surprise, he found Smith meditating. Not only was he just meditating…he was already in the spirit world. Varys decided not to join him. He wanted him to explore all by himself. After all, if he needed him, he would have waited for him. He stood alert, ready to counter any force that would approach his student.

 Smith opened his eyes in the spirit world and began to move around. He saw the gate of dreams and opened it slowly. There, he saw people he knew, involved in different activities. Jones, one of his closest friends was seen running around with a big apple in his hands. Suddenly, a horse appeared out of nowhere and stared at the apple in Jones' hands.

 "He must not give it to that horse", a voice said and Smith looked right and found a young man in purple clothing.

 "May I know you sir?" Smith asked.

 "I am the lord of dreams"

 "Wow"

 "You know it's very dangerous walking around here when you're not really dreaming. I don't think your master told you that", the lord of dreams explained.

 "No", answered Smith. "You said something about the horse".

 "The apple you see in your friend's hands is his blessing and breakthrough. With that in his hands, he will achieve great things", the lord of dreams said.

 "What about the horse?"

 "The white horse appears neat and friendly. But what do you think would happen to that apple once your friend gives it away as an act of kindness?" the lord of dreams asked.

 "The horse would definitely eat it", Smith said. He paused for a while and his heart raised. "When the horse eats the apple…it means his blessings will be gone".

 The lord of dreams nodded and they both watched. Jones held the apple in his hands. He looked pitifully at the horse and noticed it was hungry. He stretched the apple towards the horse's mouth.

 "No!" Smith yelled.

 "Quiet. Let what will happen, happen"

 "No!" Smith said and began to run. He watched as the horse ate the apple. It was then he noticed he was not running. He was just swinging his arms and legs which made it look like he was running. His targets also appeared larger and bigger with each swing. It must be the power of the lord of dreams. He thought. He stopped and the lord of dreams touched his forehead.

 Smith opened his eyes to the real world…legs crossed and seated on the floor.

 "Welcome back", said Guardian Varys with a smile. "I know what happened. Don't be surprised. You still have much to learn".

 Smith sat comfortably and began to wonder, throwing himself into the abyss of confusion.