Dead Time Series

by Jason Wilcox

  There was no hope. He leaned back into the wall and began to give up. It felt as if mind-eating leaches were burrowing into his brain. His mind pounded and memories dissipated.

  A strange, dim light suddenly entered the room, carving out what looked like a door. Light, at last. Caden moved towards the door, but before he made it, the rectangular shape blasted open, flying past him and slamming against the back wall.

  A white-cloaked figure illuminated the doorway, floating a couple inches off the ground. The light that came off the personage burned his eyes, causing him to look away. The soft black matter that covered everything around him slowly dissolved revealing the hard rock that made up the walls.

  “Follow me,” the voice was a female’s, which filled the room and had authority in it. Bridget? It can’t be. Her voice brought strength into his body. Even his heart seemed to beat stronger.

  He quickly looked up to see if it was his wife, but the figure was gone. A dim light could be seen in the hallway, lighting the cavern. He moved to follow, but tripped on the sword. He had forgotten about the sword. As he picked it up, a dark soul ran past the door toward the source of the light. Before he could yell out to warn his rescuer, an explosion shook the floor. The dark soul slammed against the ground, his flesh burning off.

  Caden ran out of the room, his worn shoes scuffed across the rock cave floor. His rescuer was already down the corridor and around a corner. He ran after her, trying to keep up, but as fast as he ran, he couldn’t catch her. She was always one corner ahead.

  The tunnels were enormous and maze like, but Caden didn’t care. He had to reach the person; he had to know if it was Bridget. A noise followed him like water moving down a pipe. The noise grew louder. He turned to see the slimy dark substance returning and covering the walls and floor.

  Finally, Caden saw the end of the tunnel, and for the first time in what felt like years, he could smell fresh air. He felt euphoric. As he exited the large opening to the cave, he saw a bright light on a hill in the thick forest. He veered in that direction, running with a speed he never knew he had.

  The glow came from behind a couple of large trees. The closer he got to the bright light, the more it diminished. He ran faster, straining his muscles, trying to get there before the light completely disappeared. Like a candle being blown out in the wind, it was gone as he dove around one of the large trees.

  His hands smashed into the ground, muddy from a recent rainfall. Mud splattered across his face. He quickly looked around without getting up. Nothing. Was it Bridget or is my mind playing tricks on me?

  Emptiness crawled through his heart, and he let his head fall into the mud. He closed his burning eyes. Is all of this just a trick, a nightmare? Am I going to wake back in the black cell?

  With disgust, he opened his eyes. Cool mud saturated his clothing. I’m still free. Is this real? He looked at his arms for the first time since he had made it outside. His veins were black under his skin. Shocked, he lifted his hand to see his black fingernails and blackness in the lines of his palms. His skin was a pale white.

  Caden sat up and flinched as he grabbed his head. Memories of his past began flooding his mind. Memories of his childhood, of his times with Bridget and Mags; of SDS and his team; but they were choppy and random. Difficult to follow. His head pounded and his vision blurred for a moment.

  Rubbing his head and blinking a couple of times cleared up most of the fuzziness. He shifted his attention to a small puddle, about a foot away. The water was clear and reflected his image as he leaned over it. A couple of black veins ran through his neck and face. The blue color in his eyes was completely gone, replaced by blackness, which seeped into parts of the white. His clothing looked like it had come from a dumpster, ragged and torn.

  “What’s wrong with me?” he spoke softly as he poked at his black veins.

  A scream rang out from the cave, and Caden poked his head around the trees to see what it was. There was nothing; the outside of the cave was vacant.

  “RUN!” The same voice as before filled Caden’s ears, making him jump. He looked around, not knowing from where it had come, but there was no one there. A familiar smell filled the area, a flowery aroma. Bridget’s perfume, but am I imagining it?

  A loud blast from past the trees brought Caden out of his thoughts. A ball of fire blasted through the opening of the cave, launching a dark soul into the ground. The second the fire died, a dragon’s head poked out of the cave, the same dragon that had taken Domblin away, the very same who he had been told was behind Bridget’s death. Anger raged in Caden, his first instinct was to attack, but he swallowed his anger and knew if he attacked now he would die. But a new revitalized energy pulsed through his body as he saw his target.

  With a quick move, the dragon tried to step on the dark soul, but the dark soul quickly vanished and reappeared farther away.

  “Snyp,” the rider of the dragon’s voice thundered. “It’s no use. You might as well accept your fate for betraying me.”

  “Tagen’s lying to you Triaad-” Snyp began but was cut off with a wave of Triaad’s hand.

  Caden raised an eyebrow. Are they fighting one another? I hope they kill each other and save me the effort.

  “Enough, I’m tired of your lies. Tagen is in charge here from now on,” Triaad shouted. The dragon started making a strange vibrating noise and looked as if it were going to sneeze. Its long ears bent back, and it blew fire on top of Snyp, pinning him to the ground. The dirt around Snyp began to turn black, but not from the flames. Blackness spread across the ground at a rapid pace. Suddenly, a black explosion shot out from under the fire, throwing the flames back in the dragon’s face, knocking the beast backward.

  “If you want a fight, then it’s about time you learn the true extent of my power,” Snyp hissed. Black roots spread across the ground. His red eyes flared and let off red smoke. He threw his hands forward, his claws ripping at the air. The blackness tore through the ground, throwing rocks and dirt out of its way. Before the dragon could react, the black roots shot into his legs like worms squirming into their holes. With a screeching roar, the dragon threw Triaad off his back.

  Something tugged at Caden, telling him that he needed to leave, but he ignored the feeling and continued watching the fight. Death was inevitable for one of them, and he wanted to see them die.

  A black oily substance dripped out of the dragon’s nostrils as he turned to Triaad and spewed fire from his mouth, attacking his master. Triaad waved his arm at the flames, and they quickly turned to steam.

  The dragon lowered his head and faced Triaad, growling at him and showing his teeth. Triaad rubbed the ground. Caden felt tremors shaking him and the trees upon which he leaned. Startled he backed up a little, but still kept his attention on the fight. Triaad stood up and backed off. The dragon looked as if it was about to attack, but the ground broke open and a giant worm of water emerged with a deafening high-pitched screech.

  The worm stood about six feet taller than the dragon. Blowing fire, the dragon appeared to hurt the watery worm, and it shrank back into its hole. A high pitch noise rang out again, making Caden cover his ears. Like a geyser, the worm shot out of the ground and slammed against the dragon. Black liquid spilled out from under the dragon’s scales, nose, and eyes as the water poured over and through him.

  Finally, the dragon fell to the ground. Snyp reappeared next to Triaad for an attack, but Triaad grabbed his neck. His movement was so fast, Caden didn’t even see it. The dragon got back on his feet and stepped over to his master. Triaad tossed Snyp to the ground, and with a quick movement of his right hand, a small chain flung out of a saddlebag and wrapped around Snyp. The ends of the chain dug into the ground and Snyp was unable to get up.

  “What is this stuff?” Snyp hissed as he squirmed. Triaad climbed onto the dragon while he chuckled.

  “It’s made of dark matter, the same stuff that created you,” Triaad stated seeming amused with the situation. “It’s one of the few substances yo
u can’t move through.”

  “You’re making…” Snyp wasn’t able to finish what he was saying. Under Triaad’s command, the dragon placed his large claws on top of him. One claw dug sharply into Snyp’s neck.

  “I think your ego got the best of you,” Triaad said while shifting his weight on his mount. “I’ve fought stronger humans than you. You’re corrupt, and I no longer have use for you. Tagen will take over here.” The dragon shifted his claws letting up on Snyp’s neck. “Now I have to decide what I’m going to do to you.” Caden couldn’t wait to see Snyp killed. It would leave just one to fight instead of two. He figured as soon as one was dead, he would attack and avenge Bridget.

  While pinned under the dragon’s claws, Snyp turned his gaze away from Triaad and looked right at Caden.

  “Mauldrin,” Snyp yelled out. Triaad looked in the same direction, but Caden quickly hid behind the trees.

  He was spotted. Stupid, now they might stop fighting and just come after me. Sweat broke out on his forehead as panic ran through his rapidly beating heart. Maybe he should just dive out from behind the tree and attack them. They may not expect it, giving him the advantage.

  “He’s out there. If you let me live, I’ll get him for you,” Snyp pleaded.

  Caden debated if he should run or fight, struggling to decide, knowing he couldn’t out run them.

  “I don’t trust you.” Triaad’s voice echoed through the trees.

  “Trust me or don’t, but he’s there, and if you let me go, I’ll bring him back to you like I should’ve done in the first place. I’ll rectify my wrong.”

  Caden listened intensely, while trying to make up his mind. It could be suicide running down there. If Snyp were going to come after him alone, he would have a better chance of killing him, even though he knew survival was bleak either way.

  Triaad laughed. “Fine, get him and bring him back to me, but I’m going to keep an eye on you.” Triaad cupped his hands together. A red light came from within as Snyp began to scream in pain. A similar red light split through Snyp’s forehead. Pulling his hands apart, Triaad waved them as if they were hot. Left behind was a dark circle that looked like a third eye. “Now I can check up on you whenever I need, and see what you see.” Triaad smiled and turned, looking into the cave. “TAGEN!”

  Caden grew more and more uncomfortable. He knew he needed to get running, but he was hoping to get information that might help him, but thus far, it didn’t look good.

  “Get a couple of younglings to follow Snyp and help him bring back Mauldrin. As soon as they get back, send for me; I don’t have more time to waste here. If Snyp isn’t back by morning, send a messenger to tell me so we can hunt him down and kill him.” There was a pause before he continued, “Snyp, I may spare your life if you bring Mauldrin back to me. Don’t get any stupid ideas of running for it, either. I’ll send a strife out to find and kill you, which as you know, won’t be difficult to do.”

  After hearing that, Caden knew it was time to go. Things were getting more and more complicated, and he still didn’t have anything that might help him get an upper hand. The only thing he learned from staying was that the number of dark souls he was facing had increased, making his situation bleaker. He needed to get as far from that dark soul cave as possible if he wanted to survive this fight.

  Caden ran for it. The sun slowly disappeared as he ran through the trees. Darkness consumed the forest as patches of moonlight pushed through the thick woods.

  As Caden ran, something hit him from the side and knocked him to the ground. As he scrambled to get the thing off him, the creature bit into his back. Caden threw his elbow and knocked the shadow to the ground. He quickly stood up and saw Snyp’s two red eyes glowing in the dark.

  “Nice to see you again, Mauldrin,” Snyp hissed while slowly moving sideways, circling Caden.

  “Who are you?” Caden asked. He searched through the woods, looking for other dark souls that were supposed to follow Snyp.

  “I’m the one who’s going to kill you,” Snyp said. Without further words, Snyp dove at Caden. Moving with incredible speed, Caden, in a moment of haste, reacted out of instinct and moved a hand towards the sword to defend himself. All his trepidation about the vileness of the sword was forgotten as he focused on the creature attacking him. A strange craving, like an addictive need, came over him as his hand drew closer to the sword. Power filled his body as if he had been plugged into an energy source, making it hard to breathe once he grasped the sword handle. An unseen force came from it, blasting Snyp backwards along with the vegetation and trees, as if a strong wind had come off the sword.

  A strange power surged through Caden and he felt invincible, almost god-like. His black veins beat strong and he was filled with confidence. Not knowing why the evil feeling that had stopped him from drawing the sword before had vanished, replaced with this exhilarating energy and power, he felt more than ready to fight. Excited to kill the creature in front of him.

  Snyp quickly picked himself up. Caden looked at him with a sinister smile. The sword’s blade was glassy black with jagged edges. A purple vein ran up the middle of the blade, starting from the handle and up to a small round circle close to the tip. Snyp’s face dropped at the sight of the sword, and he scrambled backward.

  The world seemed to slow as Caden’s adrenaline pounded through his body. Tightening his grip on the sword, Caden prepared to attack. Before he made his move, a sharp pain drove into his back as he was knocked down, but he kept a strong grip on the weapon making sure not to lose it.

  A loud scream rang out from behind him as he rose up out of the foliage. Rustlings moved around him. An unknown number of dark souls were circling him. Another blow hit him in the back, but this time the creature held on. Claws tore into his left shoulder.

  “Enough,” Caden snapped while throwing an elbow upwards. His elbow connected with oily skin as he knocked the dark soul from him. Moving quickly, he braced himself for another attack and was just in time as a black human-like figure dove at him from the right side. Spinning with the sword out, Caden sliced the blade through the creature. Unexpectedly, the dark soul blew into a horrid smelling dust.

  Two more came at him from opposite directions. Swinging the sword, Caden sliced through one of them. While it blew into dust, the other dove into his legs, knocking him to the ground. Leaves crunched underneath him. The dark soul dove at Caden’s face. With deadly skill, Caden pulled the sword up and plunged into the black creature’s carcass. Black dust splattered across him.

  Knowing he needed to stay on his feet, Caden jumped back up, sword in hand. Nothing moved. There were no more dark souls that could be seen, including the one they called Snyp.

  “Where are you, Snyp?” Caden yelled. Hate filled his chest. He was going to kill him, even if it meant his own death. They had to pay, all of them. “Come out, you coward!”

  With a growl, Snyp appeared in front of Caden, centimeters from his face. Startled, Caden jumped back and Snyp clawed into him pushing him backward into a tree. The sword flung out of his hands and stabbed into the ground. Knowing he had to have the sword, Caden dove for it, but was caught by Snyp. Claws drove into his chest and flipped him backward, slamming him into the ground.

  Caden grabbed one of the creature’s arms. The slimy skin was uncomfortable to touch. A terrible cold feeling entered Caden’s heart as if he was touching pure evil. The monster’s arms began to grow longer and bigger. His body grew as well. A black mist began to waft from his skin. The ground turned black and moved under Caden.

  Snyp’s arm somehow went right through Caden’s hand. He was unable to contain him as he screamed again. Snyp bit him and dug his claws into Caden’s chest. Fiery pain shot through his whole body. A black flame ignited on the surface of his skin, but it didn’t ignite his clothing or hair. Paralysis ensued. The greenery around him faded to black and he could feel himself losing control of his limbs.

  Far more powerful than Tagen, Snyp lifted him in the air and smashed h
im down. Screaming was the last thing he heard before his body gave out. The fight was gone. All that was left was the subtle rhythmic beating of his heart. Each beat sounded as if it were echoing down a long corridor. Life was ending, and Caden knew it.

  Struggling to hold on, Caden tried to fight, but he didn’t know how. Images began to move around him, not in front of his eyes, but in some type of subconscious state. It was as if he was going back to moments in his past and was able to observe without anyone seeing him. The first images were of Bridget and their life together. His years in the war and the men he had lost pushed into his mind. Sorrow slowed his heartbeat and the images grew gray, colorless.

  Somehow, Caden was able to shut the images off and everything went black. His heartbeat grew even slower and quieter. Then voices again pushed their way into his mind.

  “You’re a filthy woman. You don’t deserve anything.” Caden was surprised to see his dad yelling at his mom. His dad followed the yelling with a punch, smashing her nose. Blood splattered against the wall. She fell to the floor and young Caden jumped in trying to hit his father.

  “You little…” His father picked him up by the neck and banged him against the wall.

  It was strange watching the scene. Caden didn’t know what to think seeing his defenseless young self, trying to fight against his pathetic dad. His younger self squirmed until his face began turning blue.

  “You’ll never amount to anything. You’re pathetic and weak,” his father said as he let him drop to the ground and then kicked him in the face while he gasped for air. Caden somehow shut the vision off, feeling the pain from the horrible times of his past. It caused the sounding beat to grow more distant and harder to feel.

  Matt’s voice prompted him to look around once again. “I mean look at you. You think I’m wrong, and yet you don’t do what it takes and kill me.” With the same strange ability as before, Caden was able to see the images again. He could see himself talking to Matt in Dead Time at Matt’s office. The beats grew faster.