CHAPTER 1: A Dream

"The dreams, they keep coming..."

Darkness, stretching out in every direction. There is no break in it, except for the even darker clouds that float by.

"I don't know why I have them. They're always so real..."

A lone figure, falling through the endless black. Red hair cut short, a blue jacket, a silver necklace.

"I don't even remember if I'm asleep or awake any more."

He sinks further, as if through water, and a tiny bubble of air floats away to the light far above.

Ohh

His eyes open, showing blue. He's on a beach, and shields his eyes from the light.

Uhh...

A figure standing out in the water, facing to the horizon. The redhead smiles, and takes a step toward the other. The tide rushes away to sea.

You're giving me
Too many things lately

The figure out in the water turns, grinning at the red head. Another boy, all in black. Behind him, a massive wave rises in the distance, flying towards the shore.

You're all I need
You smiled at me, and said...

He reaches out to the redhead, still smiling, the other runs to grab him, but they're engulfed.

'Don't get me wrong I love you,
but does that mean I have to meet
your father?

The boy spins as he is dragged under, searching frantically for the one in black

When we are older you'll understand
what I meant when I said no.'
I don't think life is quite that simple...

He turns, the boy wearing black is there, still reaching, still smiling. He tries to reach for the outstretched hand, but the current pulls them apart, and the redhead breaks the surface, gasping.

When you walk away, you don't hear me say

He looks up, the sky red now with the sunset.

'Please, oh baby, don't go'
Simple and Clean is the way that you're making me feel tonight,
and it's hard to let it go

A voice calls, he turns to the shore. A girl is there, hair the color of sand and eyes green as the sea. She calls out again, he waves back and wades toward her. She smiles as he walks up, he says something and she laughs.

Hold me
Whatever lies beyond this morning is a little later on

She looks up, bewildered; he follows her gaze. A lone figure falls through the sky, against the backdrop of a meteor shower.

Regardless of warnings,
the future doesn't scare me at all;
Nothing's like before.

She gasps, he stares harder, seeing the same red hair, the same clothes. He steps forward, and the other's eyes open, meeting his own.

Hold me
Whatever lies beyond this morning is a little later on
Regardless of warnings,
the future doesn't scare me at all...

He falls, the ground vanishing beneath him as he plummets into an endless crimson sky. The girl calls out to him, but he can't hear her.

Nothing's like before.

He looks up, and the girl vanishes.

Suddenly he hits water, and again he's surrounded by darkness.
He touches bottom, and he is again alone. He stands, takes a step, and light flashes.
He's standing on a stained-glass window, a young girl with pink hair depicted on it, surrounded by the pictures of three men, a blonde, one with black hair, and a third with silver hair, his left eye hidden.

A voice calls through the shadows. Welcome, Raphael.

"Who's there?!" His voice comes out frightened, echoing endlessly in the infinite dark.

Do not be afraid.
The door is still shut.

"Who are you?!"

Step forward, if you can.

Raphael ran forward angrily. "Where the hell am I--"
The ground shook, and around him, three mirrors appeared,each a different frame; one ivory, one ebony, the third oak. "What the..."

Power sleeps within you.
Power to level armies, and to topple fortresses to the ground.
If you give it form, it will give you strength.

"Hey! What am I supposed to do?!" He called out, but the voice gave no answer. He frowned, walking up to the mirror with the black frame, and looked into it, but immediately jumped back. Staring back at him was what must have been his shadow, though it stared back at him with glowing, yellow eyes.
Night, that which corrupts. Could you be a warrior of the dark?
The dark reflection smiled at him with pointed fangs, and he backed away, heading to the oak frame. His reflection was not-at-all familiar; its black hair reached to its shoulders, its clothes all gray.
Dusk, that which mutes. Are you a soldier of the twilight?
This reflection did nothing, simply staring back at him with blank, emotionless eyes.

He moved on, this time looking into the ivory frame. This time, his reflection looked like him, but clothed entirely in white, twin white wings sprouting from his back.
Day, that which blinds. Might you be a champion of the light?"
He leaned in, tapping the mirror. "I am definitely getting therapy after this..."
Without warning, the reflection's hand burst out, grabbing his wrist and pulling him in. He cried out, but it was too late.

He appeared on another platform, this one sporting an auburn-haired girl dressed in pink, the faces of several others surrounding her, the most prominent being an angelic woman behind her. He glanced down, feeling warmth in his hand. An orb of light appeared, which transformed into a short sword, a golden eye engraved into the crossguard.

Now that you've chosen, you have strength to fight.
Shadows appeared on the ground, and Raphael felt his heart pounding as small creatures rose out of the dark. Though they couldn't have been larger than a housecat, their hands ended in vicious, deadly-looking claws.

Though you may be afraid, there will be times that you have to fight. Don't drop your guard, or you will be consumed.

One of the creatures lunged, and Raphael screamed, closing his eyes and blindly thrusting the sword in front of him. He felt something cold and wet splatter across his face, and he opened his eyes. The creature had been cut cleanly in half, black blood pooling out onto the ground as the creature dissolved. He looked up, and the remaining creatures all charged. He swung again and again, carving his way through the swarm of creatures.
Moments later, he collapsed, shaking. He and the platform were covered in black blood. "W-what the hell..."
Then the blood began to rise, and he struggled to stand, but was reduced to screaming as he was pulled under.

He opened his eyes, and yet another platform had appeared. This one depicted two people; on one side was a brown-haired woman in a red dress, on the opposite side a black-haired girl wearing a school uniform. As he stepped forward, a door materialized out of the floor.

But as long as you keep your heart burning strong, you have nothing to fear. All you need do is reach out, and seize the opportunity when it arrives.
A second door appeared behind him.
This is the point of no return. You can go forward, and begin your journey, or go back and keep yourself as you are.

Raphael looked angrily upwards, though he really had no clue as to where the voice was coming from. "What do you mean, journey?!"
When no answer was forthcoming, he walked to the first door and kicked it. "Lousy crack-dreams..."
To his surprise, the door burst open in a brilliant flash of light, and he had to shield his eyes.

Yet another platform materialized beneath him. This one had another strange girl depicted on it. Her flaming orange hair was spiked all over the place, and she wore goggles. A baggy white t-shirt and skintight black shorts completed her image, and she was clutching a brown and white dog in her arms. There was nothing to speak of on this particular platform, which struck him as odd.
The day you will open the door is both near and far away.
This time, there were at least twenty of the shadow-creatures popping up out of the floor.
“Wha… shit.”
The sword appeared in his hand again, and he charged forward, slashing through two of them that leapt at him. They weren’t very sturdy apparently, and even his weakest swings were able to kill them.
It seemed to drag on forever, but Raphael had eventually felled the monsters, and he sat, panting heavily.
“There is no way… A dream should feel this real…” He looked up as a light appeared from above, shining down on him, and Raphael felt rejuvenated.

Always keep your light burning strong…

A staircase appeared nearby, leading to another platform. Raphael stood, sighed, and walked up the stairs, noticing that each step he climbed, the one behind him disappeared. When he reached the next platform, he noted it had a red-haired girl wearing black robes.

However… Beware, for the closer you are to light, the greater your shadow becomes…

Raphael looked nervously behind him. His shadow had grown to nearly three times its usual size, and there was something not right about it; it was moving on its own.
But don’t be afraid. And don’t forget…
It rose up, and slowly transformed into a giant version of the monsters he’d met before, with huge wings on its back and indeed, much bigger fists. Twin yellow eyes pierced through its otherwise featureless face. “Oh. Lovely.”

The monster threw a punch at the floor, which was dodged. As Raphael slashed at the hand again and again, some of the little shadow creatures appeared. While he fought those off, the fist withdrew, and the giant thing leaned back, releasing balls of energy from a hole in its chest. Raphael dodged these, and the remaining imps were obliterated. It punched the floor again, conjuring more of the shadow creatures. Suddenly, an idea struck Raphael. He ran up the thing’s arm, and switched his grip on the sword, stabbing it in the eye.
The creature convulsed, throwing him off, seeming to shriek in silent agony.
Then it slammed its hand down on Raphael.

Don’t be afraid. You hold the mightiest weapon of all.

Raphael cried out as the fist pushed down on him, and dark pools started to suck him downward.

And don’t forget…

He felt the black energy envelop him, and suddenly he couldn’t breathe.

You are the one who will open the door.

Raphael woke with a start, gasping for air. He was still on the sand. Something hard hit the side of his head. He whirled around, searching for the culprit. A boy his own age, dressed in a black tanktop and jeans, was doubled over in laughter, holding an orange. His black-and-purple-streaked hair, along with a classic red ‘anarchy’ symbol, marked him as the type of person who did most of his shopping at the local Hot Topic.
“Did you finally decide to join the living?” he called.

Raphael rubbed his head. “That hurt, you know, Domovoi!”

Domovoi walked over and helped his friend up. “Well, you’d better be thankful it was me who woke you up, rather than Kiana; she wanted to toss you off the dock! Though I admit, it would’ve been hilarious!” he ruffled up Raphael’s red hair, who smoothed it down in exasperation.

A giggle behind them alerted the two boys to another presence. A girl around the same age as the other two was trying and failing to not laugh. Her long, sun-bleached blonde hair, tanned skin, and brightly-colored clothes told that she loved island life, and was a dedicated beach bum. “It certainly would have…”

“Quiet, you; you’re just as lazy as he is!” Domovoi looked at her sternly, but all three of them instantly burst out laughing.

“So Raphael, did you have that dream again?” Kiana asked.

Raphael sighed. “Nope, different this time.”

“Oh, I get it, you were wearing a blue dress this time around!” Domovoi teased, eliciting another fit of laughter.

“C’mon you two, we really should get to work on the raft!” Kiana said.

“Right!” Raphael turned to Domovoi. “Race you there!”

The other boy grinned. “You’re on!”