The Soul Keeper

I froze mid step as I tried to process what they were talking about. Human mind? Help? What?

"Hush!" Uncle Eion suddenly said in a much lower voice. "Someone is here." 

I didn't think. My body moved on its own as I dashed through the threes, away from the two of them. I could feel their gazes searching the woods, but before they found me, I was long gone.

I only stopped when I arrived at the gate. I took a moment to pull myself together, then headed back home with slower steps. I didn't stop until I arrived in my room. I breathed a sigh of relief once I closed the door behind me.

I couldn't figure out what that conversation was about. What was the human mind not made for? What did Uncle Eion think we needed help for?

The sound of my phone ringing startled me. I rummaged through my pockets and glanced at the touchscreen, only to see a number I didn't recognise. I was hesitant as I took the call.

"Hello?" 

"Kai!" A shout nearly deafened me. I put some distance between the phone and my ear before responding.

"You don't need to shout my ear off, Lucius." He laughed, and I chuckled. "It's good to hear your voice though." I added after a moment. After spending so much time together in the game, it had been slightly weird not having him around here in the real world.

"Likewise. Kai," he hesitated. "I'm sorry I'm not there," He said. "I just really needed to be with my family after all that happened…"

"What are you worrying about?" I said with a faint smile on my lips. "There is nothing to apologise for. I'm glad you're finally feeling well enough to talk to me."

"Ah…" He hesitated. "Sorry about that. I… needed time to process all that happened. I didn't speak with anyone – not just you." 

I slowly paced the room as I spoke. "I told you, it's fine. You really don't need to apologise." I hesitated. "Did the United Nations' agents contacted you at all after they let you leave?" I asked.

"Yeah, I had to go to the hospital and have some scans done. Something about memory loss and anger fits… I honestly didn't listen to them any more than I had to, so I don't know the details." He chuckled. "I guess I should have listened though." 

I sighed. "Yeah, that would have been good." I shook my head, how could he be so careless when it came to such important matters?

"I was meaning to ask," He said with a darker tone of voice. "What do you think about that Divine Pillar looking thing in the Gallagher Mansion?" Lucius suddenly asked. I paused mid step.

"I don't like it," I said, carefully choosing my words. "But there isn't anything that can be done about it, and it doesn't matter anyways, right?" I hesitated. I didn't believe those last words I had spoken. I had this feeling of something ominous approaching.

"I hope so too," Lucius mumbled. "I can't shake this feeling that something is wrong though."

His words struck me odd. It wasn't like him to talk about his worries like this. Whenever he spoke like this, he usually turned out to be right. "Kai," he mumbled. "I can't reach Asher."

I started pacing the room again. "I'll ask Laura," I said as I nervously glanced around. Why did the shadows seem so intimidating? "She can probably get a hold of him."

"Good idea," Lucius sighed. "I have to go for now – physical therapy time." He chuckled. "I'll be back in shape in no time, just you watch!" 

I laughed. "The race is on."

"Hell yeah, it is!"

We ended the call after that. I paced my room a while longer before finally deciding to lay down and rest for a while. Perhaps I could get some shut eye, without any dreams or nightmares, or memories of the past.

I woke up to a crimson light shining on my eyelids. I opened my eyes, and immediately pulled the blanket up to shield them from the crimson sunlight. The setting sun was shining right into my eyes from the window across the room.

I slowly pushed myself up to a sitting position, then glanced around. How long had I been asleep? I wasn't too sure. I fumbled around as I searched for my phone and glanced at the time. 7:05 PM.

My eyes widened. It was a little after noon when I headed to sleep. Had I really been sleeping for so long? Without any nightmares or dreams? Without waking up in a panic?

I could hardly believe it. I yawned and stretched my arms, then hopped off the bed. Sure, I wasn't fully rested, but just these few hours of sleep felt so good!

My gaze snapped towards the door as I heard the creaking of the stairs. Was Aoife coming to wake me up? A moment passed, and no one knocked, or walked inside. I furrowed my brows, then stepped towards the door and glanced at the stairs. No one was there.

"Aoife?" I called her name. Was she trying to prank me?

No one answered. I stepped on the stairwell and headed down. Why would anyone climb so many stairs and then go back down without saying anything? The creaking step was the one second to last – it was literally right in front of my door. Someone must have stood at the door, done nothing and then walked back down.

I heard faint footsteps as I reached the bottom floor and glanced to my side to notice Mother walking back from the training room. "What's wrong Kai?" She asked, seeing my somewhat confused expression.

"Did… anyone come to my room?" I asked. "I fell asleep, so maybe I didn't hear a knock on the door or something."

Mother raised her left eyebrow. "No, not that I know of." Her lips formed a faint smile. "You slept? No nightmares?" 

I nodded. "Yeah, though I don't know how that happened. It did wonders though."

She chuckled. "That it did – you noticed me around the corner." She lightly squeezed my shoulder. "Aoife is preparing dinner – why don't you help her out?"

It was a good idea, and I wanted to ask Aoife the same question I asked Mother, so I headed to the kitchen.

"Your room?" Aoife asked with a chuckle. "Uncle Eion was heading upstairs, but that was a while ago." She hesitated. "Though, he didn't come back down immediately, and I only saw him like… a minute ago." She hesitated. "It's not like he spent the last three hours standing by your door though, don't be silly, Kai."

I chuckled nervously. 

Something was telling me that I wasn't just 'being silly'. The shadows seemed to agree with me.