Chapter 108

Chapter 108
Aidan's POV

I can't say how long the ritual lasted, but one thing I know, nothing was the same again from the moment I woke up.

While the ritual ensued, I kept drifting away, sinking into episodes of nightmares that frightened the shit out of me. I've always prided myself in being fearless, but those dreams tested my strength and I found myself cracking, like an egg.

I could faintly recall the last one. It was the most terrifying. It was the heat that hit me first, a devilish wind that made the night air feel like a burning furnace.

I was in the forest at first, surrounded by tall, almost breathing trees. Then, like a movie flash, the trees were gone—replaced by a yawning rift on the earth crust that stretched beyond acres of land. The walls were made of black basalt licked off by an overwhelming flame of fire. Voices roared in pain from within the pit, creating a cacophony of painful symphony that shook me to my core. Their voices, mingled together caused a vibration that reverberated through my bone marrow.

I shivered as I neared the entrance of the chasm. It was a long line on the earth that opened up like a hungry beast swallowing thousands, no, millions of lost souls in it.

It was a starless night, and the shadows of darkness preyed even more in the dark. The pit was a bubble of black and red that ripped into an unimaginable tunnel of torture.

Deep down, I could see their souls twisting like earth worms exposed to salt as the devouring fire licked at their skin, tearing off layers of flesh and life. I wondered how they found themselves there. Did they wander off and were caught prey by some predators? Were they enticed by their lust and weaknesses?

I tried to howl, to summon the primal energy that surged through me, although I had no idea why I needed to. Even if I did summon my wolf, was there a way to save everyone in the pit from damnation?

Every damn time I tried to roar, all that leapt out of my throat was a rasp whisper, like a puppy's whimper. To make it worse, probably to rub my insufficiency on my face, the wind shifted, slamming the scent of burnt sulfur and blood on my face.

I took a step backwards, then another, and another, trembling all over like a child who was seeing a horror movie for the first time. Then, my back slammed against an object, like a rock, and I stopped, fearing to turn back.

Seeing that I wasn't prepared to play along, I felt fingers curl around my waist, and yank me off the ground, disregarding my kicks of protest. The end was predictable.

Just as I'd predicted, the fingers pushed me into the burning furnace. As I fell into the endless pit, unable to wrestle against gravity, I let out a loud scream, seeing my life flash before my face.

I jerked awake with a start, panting like I'd just escaped from some blood sucking demons. I've had a series of nightmares all my life, but none was as horrific as that dream.

For some reason, I was grateful it was only a dream. It gave me some hope that I was safe.

I looked around at the small shrine, noticing for the first time the intricate designs on the wall. There were drawings that seemed to communicate the journey of a people, or of someone. A journey that looked like it never had an end.

My nightmare, was this it?

As if in response, a voice echoed in my head. A familiar voice that I couldn't place rang firmly in my mind. "Find your trail, protect your base!"

I heard footsteps, then the door creaked open, and in came Principal Legrange. When she noticed that I was awake, she flashed me the brightest smile ever in the way she'd never done before.

"You're awake," she whispered, as if she wasn't expecting me to ever wake up. "Here, drink this." She offered, handing me a bottle.

I took it without objection, and gulped down every liquid, not stopping until the bottle was empty.

Then came the effect.

"What did you do to me?" I asked, feeling a form of numbness, like sleep paralysis.

"I gave you a new life." Principal Legrange whispered again, running two wrinkled fingers on my arm. Her voice grew dark and husky.

I zoned out briefly, but it wasn't useless. Revelation hit. That voice, I pondered, it was the Priestess. I recall where I'd heard it, it was in my dream. Find the trail, protect your base? What did that mean?

I looked up at Legrange, and thought I noticed some attitudes that weren't consistent with her usual sweet side, often a disguise. I picked myself off the table I'd been laying on, and marched towards the door. Standing in the same room with Principal Legrange was the last thing I desired.

She watched me, a smile dancing in her eyes. I stopped halfway, curious about how she found out about my condition.

"How did you know that I was inflicted with the Lycan's curse?" I asked, my hand on the door knob.

The older woman's upper lip curved upwards in a smirk. "I guess you trust her with everything."

"Who...?" I frowned, grinding my teeth together.

Elly would never do that. I knew that, but I couldn't believe it. I turned the knob, and let myself out into the light.

Legrange watched me leave without trying to stop me. She must've known that I was now a puppet.

When I stumbled on Elly at the alley beside the garden, I felt some other thing take over for me. Everything I said to her, was the exact opposite of who I truly was, or what I would've said.

I had no idea what time it was, but Elly mentioned that she'd been searching for me the whole day. That only meant that I'd spent over twelve hours on the table. What kind of ritual was that? Legrange never said, but I had to see Rockwell, I needed to.

Unfortunately, the moment my mind mentioned Rockwell's name, a strong, pungent wave of hate washed over me. It felt like the hate I experienced towards him when I first came to the Mutant Academy, but only intensified this time.

I started out towards the entrance of the school with an energy that surprised me. The last time I tried escaping was months back, and that had been a futile effort. But it was different this time, it seemed like every force under the heavens was working in my favour.

As I sprinted towards the large walls, fluorescent bulbs flickered as I approached, and even the soldiers seemed to give me a free pass like I was some VVIP.

The invisible cloud which shielded the school's gate wore off, and in place of the walls, I came into proximity with the gate. The same gate I'd walked in through on my first day into the academy. Was this my last day? But why was I leaving alone?

I duck my head, and walked out of the gate, breathing in the air of the outside world. The air of freedom, but that was where my free will ceased.

Darkness had covered the earth when I got to the other side but my eyes shone even brighter.

Lurking behind trees, like they'd been waiting for me, a group of figures emerged with pale faces upturned, and eyes glowing in the dim light. They weren't my kind. They belonged to Ryan's clan - the cold people.

Why wasn't I scared? I couldn't be, because I was their commander. They were only minions.

I felt my skin crawl as a different, possessive kind of energy coursed through me and a creeping sensation made my hairs stand on end. I tried to pull away, but the jolt of electricity running through my veins left me rooted to the spot.

Suddenly, my vision blurred, and I was flooded with images. I raised my head to the heavens, and burst out laughing maniacally, my voice tearing into different tones and sounds that didn't sound like me.