Inner Turmoil

Bryson had no idea where he was going. It was pitch black save for the light given off by the full moon. Bryson was walking through the snowy garden, the voice no longer echoed in his head, yet he knew where it wanted him to go.

He moved further down the garden path, the minutes flew by, he had forgotten just how big this garden was. Eventually he reached his destination. The crater.

The crater where he was originally found was before him. This time the crater was glowing, Bryson could feel a warm sensation of mana brush his face. As he stared at the crater in confusion, he felt a tremor beneath his feet.

Out from the crater dense black smoke rose from the ground and began to collect inside, forming a ball. Bryson stood there, his mouth agape as the ball of smoke began to change and turn into a human form.

Rising from the crater before Bryson was what looked like a tall thin man dressed in a three-piece suit, he wore on his face a black mask that completely hid his features, and a black fedora adorned the top of his head.

The strange figure rose from the ground and approached Bryson, it left footsteps in the snow as it walked. Standing before a confused Bryson the tall figure seemed to be studying him tilting its head to the side as it seemed to think.

Suddenly a strange fabric-like mouth appeared on the mask and it curled up into a wide wicked smile, the mouth stretching from one side of the mask to another.

It then spoke.

“So, this is the boy that he brought to this world.” A chilling, diabolical voice echoed out the sound didn’t emit from the figure, but seemingly through Bryson’s head.

Bryson could only stare in silence back as the figure studied him some more.

“Bryson… Coldwater.” The figure slowly whispered out.

“Who are you?” Bryson finally said. In reply he had a strange screaming laugh echoing through his head.

“Oh, where are my manners?” The figure replied. “Where are my manners, I am… well now actually, I don’t have a name… yet. I suppose I’ll figure it out later.” It said deviously.

“So, why did you call me?” Bryson replied in confusion, only to be greeted by more screeching laughter.

“To help you of course!”

“With what exactly?”

“Becoming the heir of Coldwaters!” The figure exclaimed.

“What? But what about Gareth and everyone else?” Bryson said in confusion.

The figure tilted his head to the side curiously, “Oh. Oh, you don’t know.” It said leaning in, more laughter emitted from it.

“Know what?”

“That you are one of a kind.” The mask’s smile somehow expanded even wider. “That you are above all others. That you will change this worthless planet into something greater.”

Bryson felt a shiver up his spine as the figure spoke to him. He took a step backwards as he said, “What exactly are you? Why are you here, and what’s going on with the headaches?”

“You are quite curious, aren’t you?” The figure said while standing straightening its back. “Alright let me explain some things. I’m here to help you… I’m not exactly what one might call a god, but part of that family I suppose. The headaches aren’t exactly related to me, they are more so because of your developing powers. I just used your awakening to finally appear in Strarth.”

The figure began to saunter around Bryson.

“They will stop when after they develop a bit. So, need for any concern.” It said sweetly.

“What do you mean by help?” Bryson said, keeping his eyes on the figure.

“Right now, your power is still growing, and I can’t do much by myself in this world.” The Figure explained. “In order for me to have an actual presence here I need to make a pact with someone.”

The figure extended out a gloved hand in front of Bryson, “So let’s get ourselves a contract.”

Bryson stared at the outstretched hand before looking at the figure straight in the face, “No.”

The two stared at each other for a few moments, saying nothing.

“What?” The figure asked dumbfounded.

“I said no.” Bryson replied firmly.

“No?”

“No.”

Another pause before the figure erupted in rage, “How dare you!” He screamed, a wave of energy erupted from him, Bryson was surprised that the force of energy hit everywhere around him but him. Bryson was confused that he wasn’t harmed at all, despite the snow around him melting.

Bryson realized something, maybe in part because of his ability, but he realized that this entity could not physically harm him.

“You know who I am?!” The figure screamed at him.

“I know that you can’t seem to hurt me.” Bryson shot back, confidence growing.

The figure fumed at Bryson before stopping, and then began to giggle. Bryson went back onto high alert.

“No, no I can’t hurt you, but I can take control.” It growled back at him. The figure then returned back into a ball of smoke and rocketed straight into Bryson.

Upon entering Bryson, he fell to his knees, unable to feel anything, unable to move. A voice could then be heard from inside his head. If you don’t want to play, then I’ll take charge.

“What are you doing?” Bryson croaked.

Taking over. When Afa allowed you to enter here, it was my only chance to have a shot at this world. I’ve waited seven years for your stupid powers to appear, so whether you want to or not I am using you. He heard the sinister voice echo through his head.

Bryson could feel the figure take control of his body; he could feel his own mind getting trapped inside a cage. He saw the magic surrounding him, sealing him away. Darkness consuming his vision. Losing his control to this entity.

Don’t worry boy, you’ll lose your conscious soon enough. Perhaps I might take on a bit of your personality and habits, so you can take solace in that.

As Bryson heard it laugh some more, he felt hopeless, he felt fear. A strange godlike entity was going to take control of his body, his life was over. He didn’t want to disappear he didn’t-

Then fight.

Bryson heard a new, deeper voice echo through, it was faint but he heard it. Bryson had no idea what this voice was, nor did he have any idea how to deal with this figure taking over.

Pathetic. What was the point of you reading it?

Bryson momentarily forgot about the entity taking over his body and began to wonder what this other voice was trying to say. Then he remembered, the scroll he had been deciphering. It explained how to control and manipulate mana, and while Bryson couldn’t see, he could feel the mana surrounding him.

What if he tried to manipulate it? The strange figure was doing so to control him, so why couldn’t he?

Feeling his strange binds around him, he simply willed them to unwrap. Bryson, feeling like he could control his limbs again began to get his vision back. Open seeing his environment he was hit by a wave of confusion.

He looked around; he was floating in a black void. He could see his own arms and legs but nothing around him. He wasn’t even sure that he could move around properly. Bryson then realized where he was, he was inside his own head. At least, where the weird figure had trapped him.

Bryson began to look around searching for a way out.

Fool, why bother?

Bryson stopped and tried to decipher what the voice was trying to tell him, he then realized that the strange black void around him felt similar to his binds from earlier. He reached a hand out and felt the void-like wall began to move to his will.

He reached out a second hand and made a pulling part motion.

Rip!

With a small tug, the black wall ripped apart like paper and Bryson saw the masked figure’s standing there, back toward him. The masked figure turned around, while Bryson was unable to see its face, he could see the visible confusion from the figure’s body language.

“How?” It said in disbelief.

“It’s my mind and it’s my body.” Bryson replied. “You’re playing by my rules not yours.” He said as a glowing blue chain burst from the palm of his hand and wrapped around the figure.

It struggled in its binds, Bryson could feel it attempt to break the chains, so Bryson tightened them.

“How is this possible?!” The figure screamed out.

“Do you forget who I am?” Bryson asked, he could hear his own voice echoing with sinister intent.

“You think I would allow a pathetic upstart like you take over? You think I would allow a low brow deity to defeat me? I am Bryson Coldwater.” He said his voice rumbling through the figure.

More chains wrapped around the figure and the ground beneath it began to crumble away and the figure began to sink into an inky black void. It’s movements began to be frantic as it struggles to free itself sinking deeper and deeper down.

“What are you doing?” It cried in panic.

“Doing what you wanted. Sealing you away, never to emerge again.” Bryson said coldly.

“Wait- wait! I made mistake, let’s make a deal! Please!” It begged.

“I don’t care.” Bryson said. With that, the figure was completely submerged into the void and the hole in the floor quickly repaired itself, the wooden floorboards covering the black void and silencing the screams of the masked entity.

Bryson simply stood there for a moment before he blinked. Opening his eyes, he was in another place. This time he was in a white void. Though this time he wasn’t floating and was able to stand on the floor. Bryson looked around in confusion.

“Over here.” Someone called to him.

Bryson turned around and saw… himself. This mirror version of himself wore the same outfit as Bryson, but most of the colours were in darker colours. Though the biggest difference between the two was that the person standing before him had glowing white eyes just as he had when he looked at the mirror in his room.

“Who are you?” Bryson said cautiously.

“Who do you think idiot? I’m you.” His duplicate replied with annoyance. He sounded exactly like Bryson, only with a layer of harshness and attitude mixed in.

“What?”

“Oh for- I’m the voice that’s been talking to you, part of the reason why you’ve been able to sense and manipulate mana?” The duplicate said in exasperation.

“So, your like, a spirit inside of me?” Bryson asked.

“What? No, I’m more of a figment of your imagination, created so its easier to process things.” The duplicate replied.

“That’s not how imaginations tend to work is it?”

“Probably not, but these powers of yours aren’t exactly normal right? I mean they have been affecting your brain a bit.” The duplicate replied with a shrug.

“Were you what caused me to head into that weird store?” Bryson asked.

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“The mana there was so… strange, I don’t know why but it just stood out. Had to check it out.” The duplicate explained.

“And you were that voice, why did you talk to the shopkeeper, how did you? What was that headache?”

“Well, the headaches had to do with your powers awakening, I believe. And the shopkeeper … that wasn’t actually me who spoke. At least I don’t think so.” The duplicate admitted. “But it seemed familiar. Maybe.”

“Then what was it?” Bryson asked.

“I don’t know, I only know what you would know. Again, I’m not real, just a way for you to form your thoughts.” The duplicate said exasperated, his voice with his icy tone and slight echoing effect made the way he spoke comedic.

“Okay but why are you like this?” Bryson said deciding not to pursue.

“Like what?”

“So mean, dressed like that, talking like that.”

Giving another shrug the duplicate replied, “You’re a Coldwater, you have that streak in you, it’s just hidden. Not that well either.”

“So, who was that thing that tried to possess me?”

“I have no idea; Again, I know just as much as you do. You banished him before asking any questions. A bit bull headed don’t you think?” The duplicate said judgingly.

“Mmm.” Bryson gave a small grimace, not wanting to admit his fault, he quickly deflected. “Well, now what? What am I suppose to do now?”

“Well, now that your power is growing, I imagine that similar things like this will happen.” His duplicate replied.

“Why do you say that?”

“Clearly whatever this entity was, it was here because you fell from the sky. So, I’m guessing that there will be things in the future that will occur that are related to you.” The duplicate said.

“So what am I suppose to do?”

“I guess just survive.” The duplicate said with a helpless shrug.

“Great thanks.” Bryson said sarcastically.

“Hey, don’t forget I’m you. Just saying what you would say.”

“Oh yeah, what’s going to happen to you?”

“Nothing, I’m not real. I’m just here right now as a barrier to help contain your powers. When you wake up, these powers will activate and I’ll be, well I’ll become part of your personality.” The duplicate said.

“Great. So I have this alone. No help or idea on what to do.” Bryson said grimly.

“Hey, you’re Bryson Coldwater. Apparently you’re suppose to be special, so keep your head high, listen to yourself, trust yourself. Do what you think is right and you should make it.” The duplicate assured him.

“Thanks for advice. It was nice talking to myself, I think. Now I guess I’m going to do what I want, so, I guess this is goodbye.” Bryson said with a wave.

“Good luck.” The duplicate replied. As he said goodbye, the white room around them began to fade back into darkness, the duplicate dissipated into the air. The last things that Bryson saw before darkness consumed him were the two glowing white eyes staring at him.