A Krystal Encounter Ch.5: The Nightmare
Story © 2010 Kira Kitanya
My mind began to stir; I realized that I was moving somehow, weightless and unsure of where I was going. Suddenly I was standing in my room back on Earth; each of the figures and models on the shelves seemed to all look at me, wondering what I had become. I was confused and somehow frightened, I shouldn't be here... _I thought tensely. "_Fox, Krystal, everybody; where are they? Why am I here?" The questions hit me like stabs from a knife; I couldn't comprehend what brought me back to my room all of a sudden. Looking into my bedroom mirror, I saw that I was still in my blue fox form (or Azure for short) and was wearing nothing discernable; almost like I was a blank slate. Around my neck was the arrowhead, I was relieved to see something recognizable but as I tried to grasp it, the necklace faded into a cloud of dust right in front of me. I gasped in horror as the necklace never returned to me; I had just lost one of the few things that remained of my family. My dark, brown eyes began to fill with tears as I laid my hands on the dresser, weeping like I had lost a member of my family. Around the same time, I heard a voice from outside the room; it was crying like me, but even more sorrowful than I was.
I picked my head back up and automatically stepped out of my room and into the hallway. The green carpet felt soft on my feral feet as I gingerly stepped along. From the top of the stairs I could see the kitchen, the crying became louder as I peeked around the corner; sitting at the table while looking down at some photos was my Mother. I instantly ran down the stairs and hugged her but she didn't even feel that I was there.
"Mom? It's me, Justin! I'm here!" I said. She kept her eyes on the photos and continued to flip through them, with a tear occasionally falling from her face. They were pictures of me when I was younger, some of them even showed me as a newborn being coddled in my Mother's arms. From the looks of it they had small blotches from her tears and looked old and worn out.
Behind me I could hear some kind of news report, "The search for Justin, a 16 year-old Rhode Island teenager has been unfortunately called off. The boy disappeared from his home on August 12, 2010 at an unspecified time, officials believe that he was apparently kidnapped or simply ran away. But at the moment Justin has been making it apparent that he doesn't want to be found..."
My heart beat stopped for a few seconds after I heard this, like someone suddenly pulled the plug that was keeping me alive.
"But...that doesn't make sense. I'm right here! Mom, why won't you answer me?" I beseeched with tears about to rain down my face.
The brown haired woman didn't even pivot her head in response; she just sat there sobbing over my photos hoping that I would return.
"Why? Why would he run away? What did I do wrong?" she wept. "Oh God please. Justin! Please come baaaack!"
I wanted to respond but my voice was suddenly silenced. Even though I tried to scream I heard nothing, blankness, emptiness, like someone who doesn't have a soul. The room suddenly dissolved before my eyes into darkness, and I was in the middle of it all. Voices started clamoring around in my head, mocking my inability to justify what I did. All I could do was endure the pain and hope it would stop but it only got worse. They started calling me things: Worthless, selfish, uncaring; they described someone that could be my dark alter ego, my shadow, everything that I'm not. I wanted it to stop but no matter how much I screamed and yelled it all continued...
I jolted upward from the bed in a wash of fear. Cold sweat trickled down the back of my neck as I breathed heavily. The room was very dark and I could barely see, only adding to the nightmare's aftermath. As my vision adjusted I searched for the light switch, in doing so I shook the bed a little and startled Krystal who was still sleeping. I twisted the dial on top of the lamp and soon the room was illuminated.
"Justin are you alright? What's wrong?" Krystal asked, rubbing her tired eyes.
I didn't bother to respond and only embraced her tightly. The feeling of her body against mine was enough to give me comfort. I knew she would sense my troubled thoughts and realize that I had a nightmare. I slowly started to cry in her arms, unable to speak up for myself; words were inadequate to describe my sadness anyway.
She gently stroked my back and exhaled in sympathy, "Justin don't cry. I understand your pain." Krystal cooed.
"You miss your Mother?"
"Ye...Yeah." I stuttered.
"What happened?"
"I saw my mom crying, begging me to come home...I've never seen her so sad." I sniveled repeatedly trying to form words.
"Dreams are tricks of the mind," Krystal assured. "I'm sure your Mother is well."
"I hate seeing her like that. I just..." I couldn't find the strength to speak. The dream felt so real, almost as if I saw what was currently happening back home.
" Um...where's that thing you call an MP3 player?" Krystal suddenly asked.
Regaining my composure, I reached into the white bag and pulled it out; along with the adaptor cable. I handed it to her and Krystal plugged it into the room's small speaker system.
"Why do you need that all of a sudden?" I timidly asked.
"There's something I want to show you. I've been practicing."
She found a song and pressed play, I realized she chose "You'll be in my Heart" by Phil Collins. The music filled the room but wasn't loud enough to wake everyone else up. Looking at me with a smile, Krystal took a deep breath, and truly amazed me:
" Come stop your crying, it will be alright. Just take my hand, hold it tight.
I will protect you from all around you. I will be here, don't you cry.
For one so small, you seem so strong. My arms will hold you keep you safe and warm.
This bond between us can't be broken. I will be here, don't you cry.
Cause you'll be in my heart. No matter what they say."
Her voice was so beautiful. It made me even more grateful to be the one she loved. I decided to return the favor, and gathered the strength to sing back.
" Why can't they understand the way we feel?
They just don't trust, what they can't explain.
I know we're different but deep inside us; we're not that different at all.
And you'll be in my heart. Yes you'll be in my heart.
From this day on, now and forever more."
The both of us locked hands and didn't let go. Krystal took her free hand and stroked my cheek tenderly. No matter what sadness I was feeling before, it was completely gone now. As the song continued, we alternated with the lyrics.
" Don't listen to them, cause what do they know?
We need each other to have to hold. They'll see in time, I know."
" When destiny calls you, you must be strong.
I may not be with you but you've got to hold on. They'll see in time, I know."
" We'll show them together cause, you'll be in my heart."
For the remainder of the song I just sat there with her, letting all my sadness peel off of my soul. She wasn't kidding when she said she would always be with me, and that only made me feel that much better.
"How did you learn to sing that song?" I asked with a tear in my eye.
"I found it fascinating when you first showed it to me. I decided to try it while you were sparring with Fox." She smirked.
"You could've asked me you know." I joked.
"I know but I wanted to surprise you. I thought you'd like it."
I grasped her hand tightly, "Thank you. I'm sorry that I woke you up."
"It's alright; I would've woken up anyway after hearing your heavy breathing."
I chuckled somewhat and scratched the back of my head, heh, all this over a nightmare. Even so, I was still worried about my Mom; despite the possibility that it was just my mind messing with me. I stiffly got up from the bed and walked over to the bathroom alcove. With a twist of a metal knob, the sink began filling with water. When it became a small puddle, I scooped up some of the cold liquid and splashed it on my face. I did this a few more times a bit unknowingly; I needed to do something other than angst. The face staring back at me in the mirror looked shaken, with sulking blue and white fur that dripped all over. I firmly grasped the arrowhead around my neck realizing that it was still there, _"I'd be without a limb before I lose that thing," _I thought.
"Justin, now that we're awake, why don't you and I share some breakfast? Krystal asked.
I was relieved that she broke the eerie silence, and breakfast sounded great.
"Sounds good to me!" I answered, wiping my face dry. Even as I followed her out of the room and into the lounge, I could still hear my mom crying in my head, it just wouldn't cease. I shook it off and looked forward to having some food in my stomach. Krystal and I proceed to one of the refrigerators along the wall, in doing so I looked at the digital clock: 5:18. It was still pretty early, but quiet just the way I like it. After opening the fridge's door, I reached behind a few wrapped up items and leftovers before I felt the handles of the cornflake dispenser and milk jug. Pulling the two transparent containers out, I set them down on the bar in front of me. One last thing I needed of course was a bowl and spoon; usually I'd be lazy and eat the flakes dry but I needed the full complement this time, especially since the splash of water made me thirsty. Soon I was swiftly lifting each spoonful of flakes into my mouth accompanied by a cold sensation as they traveled down my throat. Meanwhile, Krystal sat next to me snacking on a chocolate energy bar she got from a cabinet nearby.
"Any plans for today?" She asked, taking another bite.
"I guess I'll just lift some weights later, and see if Slippy is still up for that rematch."
"That fight was pretty extraordinary, I still can't believe you defeated him."
"Neither can I. But if Jeggei's special attack missed then he would have beaten me." I replied, finishing my cereal.
As I rinsed out the bowl in the sink, I could feel Krystal's eyes on me. She was probably reading my mind or maybe she felt that I was still worried. I guess I was but not as bad as before.
"You going to be alright? You did look pretty shaken." She said.
I turned back to her after putting the bowl away, "Yeah I'll be fine. I just need something to take my mind off it."
"Okay, I'll see you at the morning briefing. Be well Justin." After that she left the room and it was quiet again.
This time the silence only made me even more uneasy. I was half-anticipating the harsh voices to start clamoring around in my head within moments. I scanned the room, waiting for something to happen, yet it all remained still and barren. My ears twitched at the lack of sound as I turned and made my way to the exit.
"Hope the weight room isn't this quiet."