by Zel Spasov
Storm clouds hid the sun. Cayden fell to his knees. The ceiling cracked and dust poured over him. The trembling intensified. “GUILTY!” shouted the columns. The pain almost immobilized him. He tried to stand, but the weight on his shoulders pressed down on him with tremendous force. “GUILTY!” the verdict echoed again and again in the hall. His teeth chattered. “GUILTY!” The Red Evil was killing him.
The gemstone in Cayden’s left hand gleamed in the darkness. Its soft glow scattered the gloom as gently as a mother's kiss. “GUILTY!” The words resounded in the room.
“Red Evil!” Cayden’s voice raised above the thunderous rumble.
The roar amplified to silence his words.
“Red Evil!” he said again.
The ruby glimmered, and the darkness retreated. The sun appeared again from behind the clouds. The echo subsided, and the earthquake ceased. Cayden lifted the precious stone above his head. The Red Presence was compelled to answer its call. He stood on his feet, stepping firmly on the floor.
The darkness pulled back completely and was replaced by red light. Crimson tentacles emerged behind the throne, just like in his vision. The Red Presence crawled toward him. Its innumerable limbs left their corruption on everything they touched. Its monstrous figure towered high above Cayden, pressing against the ceiling. Evil energy radiated from the Creature. Anger, hatred, and fear penetrated Cayden’s nostrils, raging within him like a turbulent sea of fire.
“Is that what you want?” he shouted at the Monster, waving the ruby in the air.
The Red Presence shrank down to a human size, taking the form of Cayden, Its face composed of small, squirming worms. The two Cayden Starostas studied one another, the first with cool interest, the second with horror.
“Very bold on your part, to come on my territory,” the New Cayden said.
The original was silent. The man in front of him was his doppelgänger, but his eyes were cold, exactly like Mira’s.
“Some would even say it's suicidal,” Cayden’s copy continued, “but you already knew that coming here, didn’t you?”
“I came here to restore peace,” said Cayden. “It doesn’t have to end in bloodshed. We can stop this war and save many lives—”
“How is Mira, by the way?” said the Evil, ignoring everything Cayden had said. “Is she still angry? Does she still want you dead? Of course, she's just an instrument of your anger. Just a pawn in the network of hatred, war, and death you created to punish yourself. We’re all just chess board figurines in a game you play against yourself.”
Mira’s name triggered powerful emotions in Cayden. He tried to remain calm, but anger flooded him. How dare this Thing talk about her, and on top of it all blame him for her suffering?
“Don’t mention her name,” Cayden said. “You have no right to talk about her!”
“Ah, I’ve struck a weak spot. Of course, I know where all your weak spots are.” The copy approached him, and the next part it whispered in his ear. “After all, I am a part of you.”
“No!” Cayden shouted. “You and me are nothing alike!”
“You know it's true. Tell me, how did it feel when you almost drowned in the rapids near the enchanted forest? Part of you was ready to die, even enjoyed the idea, didn’t it?”
Cayden took a step back, the anger now replaced with dread. How did It know...?
“I know everything about you, Cayden,” said the Evil, as if having read his thoughts. “Even things you haven’t found out yet. Things you hid from yourself to keep yourself sane. But since you woke up, your memory has been recovering, little by little. It's inevitable. There isn’t a wall strong enough to protect you from your memories. From yourself. This ending was certain.”
Cayden shook his head. Pure horror flooded his body and wrapped him in its icy grip. He raised his sword and said, “Stay away from me! I came here to put an end to your dominion once and for all!”
“Do you really think that's the reason you're here? To defeat me? No, Cayden Starosta, the truth is much simpler than that. You didn’t come here to end me. You came here to die.”
“No!” Cayden shouted. It wasn’t true. Don’t listen to its lies; they will only confuse you, he said to himself.
“Everything that happened to you is your fault,” said the Evil with a warped smile on Its face. “This whole game was your desire, even the things you thought you didn’t want—such as Mira’s hatred toward you or the sacrifices of your friends. You see, it isn’t me who’s the real villain here. It’s you. That’s why you created me and ordered me to kill you.”
It couldn’t be. Cayden took another step back, putting some distance between himself and the Evil.
“This is the reason I exist. Don’t look at me like you don’t know what I'm talking about. You created me to punish you for your sins. You placed in me your guilt and anger and told me to destroy you. Have you changed your mind?”
“That’s a lie,” said Cayden. “You’re trying to trick me.”
“You can deceive yourself as much as you want,” said New Cayden, while slowly circling old Cayden like a lion circles its prey, “but you know it’s true. Why do you think the whole world has been trying to kill you ever since you came back? They all follow your commands, including me.”
The Evil made a pause while it studied Cayden’s face.
“But before I do,” It continued, “I will share one more thing with you. We’ve shared the same mind for so long, I feel like we know each other well. While you were away, I had time to think over some things. I matured and found meaning beyond the simple goal you gave me. My desires spread beyond Agapea and Windhaven to the world outside, where your physical body exists. Unfortunately, my task goes against my ambitions. You see, once I kill you, my existence must end, and I’ve enjoyed it more than I suspected. I don’t want it to cease so soon. This is why I’m willing to offer you a deal: give me the power over your body. Let me take the reins, so to speak. In return, I will protect you. You will live here in the castle with Mira. I will give you everything you’ve ever desired! The life you’ve always wanted to have, your loved one by your side. Join me, and we will rule over Agapea and Windhaven together. It's logical, considering we’re both so much alike.”
“I will never take your deal,” Cayden said. “I will destroy you and undo everything you have done to me and the ones I love!”
“It seems you still don’t get it. If you refuse my offer, I’ll make you my slave. After I conquer Agapea and Windhaven, I will bend the outside world to my will. All your friends will serve me here as well as in the other world—Charles, Jean, Monsieur Gèroux and… Mira.” The Evil took the form of the queen, its face turning into hers in front of the horrified Cayden.
“Tell me why.” Mira’s voice came from Its lips. “Tell me why you came back. Tell me why you left us?”
When he saw Mira’s form, Cayden’s hands started to tremble. Tears stung his eyes. It was all a trick, he told himself. Everything It told him was just a lie trying to confuse him. It couldn’t be true; otherwise it would mean he was responsible for the suffering of his friends and family. But what if…
No. I’m not going to let It deceive me, Cayden told himself. This ends now.
“I won’t fall for your lies!”
With a cry, Cayden lunged forward and swung his sword. Mira’s copy disappeared, replaced by the red, shapeless body of the Evil, which grew back to its former gigantic proportions.
Blink.
Doctor Perfect, who had been hiding behind her desk, emerged from her cover with a syringe in her hand. “Is that what you want?!” Cayden shouted, shaking the keys in front of her. She charged him, trying to stab him with the syringe.
Blink.
The Presence shot one of its tentacles toward Cayden, but he jumped to the side and slashed it with Varvara's sword. The chopped limb hit the ground and dried up like a flower left without water. The part of the floor It touched immediately blackened. The victory didn’t last long—the Evil h
urled two other tentacles at Cayden, followed by three more. He cut them off, but the Monster had an inexhaustible stock of limbs. The Presence slowly pushed him toward the wall. Cayden slipped and lost his balance. He managed to remain on his feet, but this distraction left a gap in his defense. A tentacle wrapped itself around his arm. Burning pain shot through him. Cayden howled and slashed the Evil’s appendage. The tentacle fell to the ground, the life sucked out. The spot on his arm It had touched turned black and numb.
A large portion of the floor was now blackened as the Evil drew nearer to Cayden. It had him with his back against the wall. It was time for desperate measures. He gathered his strength and threw the ruby to the other end of the hall.
Blink.
Cayden evaded Miss Dimitriou's attacks, but she was too fast and strong. Several times, she pushed him to the wall with a kick. Eventually, she cornered him. At the end of his rope, Cayden threw the keys to the other side of the room. Persephone stretched out her arms, but she didn’t catch them.
Blink.
The gigantic, shapeless body of the Evil turned to the precious stone, opening a passageway to the throne. As Cayden dashed toward it, the Evil rushed after him, launching Its tentacles. He managed to repel several of them, but others clutched at his body. The burning pain washed over him, and he almost lost consciousness. The more he tried to pull away, the tighter the grip of the tentacles became. His knees caved in. Cayden hit the ground, shouting in pain, as the Evil’s mass devoured him.
Blink.
Persephone ran to her keys. Cayden used her distraction and dashed toward the exit. She sensed his movement and lunged at him. He turned back to face her, stopping the syringe mere millimeters from his skin. Persephone pressed, crushing his defense. The syringe entered his arm.
Blink.
There was darkness.
***
The first rays the sun sent through the window warmed Cayden’s face. Confused, he rubbed his eyes. He was in a room similar to the one he had woken up in in Agapea, except this one had a ceiling and was much cozier. The carpet in the center, depicting the night sky, wasn’t faded. He was lying on a soft mattress covered with white sheets, and his head was resting on a fluffy pillow. A light summer breeze entered the room through the open windows.
Cayden sat up on the edge of the bed, his feet stepping on the soft carpet. He put on the slippers waiting for him near the bed and went into the bathroom. He turned on the tap, but instead of a bearded frog, water came out. Cayden closed it and left the room, still confused and a bit disappointed. Outside the room, he encountered a small corridor, at the end of which there was a staircase leading down to a kitchen on the first floor. As he descended the stairs, he heard a child's laughter. His heart stopped beating, and his stomach contracted, afraid of what he was about to see. In the kitchen, a woman with fire-red hair and sky-blue eyes was cooking breakfast, and a child with brown hair and eyes exactly like the woman’s was sitting at the table. Uneasily, Cayden sat down next to the child.
“Hey, Papa!” he said.
Cayden ruffled the child's hair. Mira put two fried eggs and toasted bread in front of the kid.
“Good morning!” she said in a warm voice. “Adonis was waiting for you to get up! You look a bit off today. Is everything all right?”
Cayden shook his head. “No, I just had a strange dream,” he said.
“The one with the Red Evil?” Mira asked.
How did she know...?
“Yes.”
“You've been having that dream a lot lately,” she said as she put breakfast on their plates. “Eat the eggs; we have to go.”
“Where...?”
“Are you serious?” Mira asked, raising her eyebrows. “I don’t like these dreams. Every time you wake up from one of them, you act different. We're going to an amusement park with Adonis.” She stroked the child's head.
After they ate, they dressed and went out. Cayden was silent the whole time. Could everything have just been a dream? Agapea and Windhaven? The Resistance? The Red Evil?
The longer he was with his family, the more he eased into this reality. His worries settled, and he decided not to think about the dream anymore.
Cayden, Mira, and Adonis climbed into the car and headed for the amusement park. On the way to the park, thoughts of the Starosta organization distracted Cayden. His father wanted him to lead the foundation. The responsibility weighed heavily on Cayden’s shoulders. Especially since he knew his sister, Angela, wanted the position more than anything in the world and saw him as an obstacle. Cayden pushed the thoughts out of his head—he wanted to focus on his family now. The Starosta business would have to wait.
Once they arrived at the park, Adonis pointed to a one of the games, which had different plush toys as prizes. “Come on, Mom, let's go there!”
Mira led him to the booth, and Cayden followed. To win the prize, Cayden had to hit a moving target using a ball.
“Daddy, Daddy, win a toy!” Adonis said.
Cayden bought fifteen balls. To get a plush toy, he had to hit twelve targets. He threw the first ball and missed. The same happened with the second and the third. Eventually, he had only one ball left, and he hadn’t hit any targets. He was determined to save face by getting the last one. He aimed at his mark and held his breath, waiting for the right moment. He had read a book called Zen in the Art of Archery where the author said archery was a purposeless art. That is, in order to shoot an arrow properly, the student must open his hand unintentionally. The more he tries to learn how to release the arrow in order to hit the mark, the more unsuccessful he will be. The archer must stay at the point of highest tension and wait for the shot to fall like snow from a bamboo leaf—without thinking about it at all. So Cayden threw the ball only when he sensed that he had become one with the target, and he hit his mark unerringly. It was a terrific shot, but it wasn’t enough for a plush toy.
Adonis looked at him with big, sad eyes. “We don’t get a bear, Daddy?” he asked.
“I don’t think so,” Cayden replied sadly.
Picking up on his bad mood, the man at the counter said, “Well, I can give you this band for one hit.” He handed Adonis a red ribbon. The child grabbed it from his hands, filled with glee.
Adonis jumped for joy around his mother, waving the bow in the air, while she laughed.
Cayden stared at them with puzzlement. He had seen that red tape before. He felt an almost uncontrollable urge to grab it before it disappeared. Before he reached it, Adonis ran into the crowd.
“Wait!” Cayden shouted, stretching out his hand, afraid the band would disappear. “Wait!” he shouted again and ran after Adonis.
The red bow popped up every now and again in the crowd. Every time it vanished, Cayden’s heart skipped a beat. He tripped on the foot of a man and fell. Adonis and Mira appeared beside him, laughing. His anxiety subsided immediately, and he smiled. How couldn’t he when he saw both of them so happy? Everything was all right in the world. He was content, wishing that the moment would last forever.
The sky darkened. Black clouds hung low on the horizon. Once more, that unsettling feeling appeared. Cayden furrowed his brow.
“It's just a storm,” Mira said when she noticed his worried expression.
She wrapped her hands around his waist and leaned her head on his shoulder. Her touch alleviated his anxiety, but it didn’t vanish completely.
“Come on, let's go home,” he said.
They got in the car and drove off. In his hurry to go back to the house, Cayden had forgotten to put on his seat belt. They came to a dangerous area on the road—the lane on the left became narrower, and on the right was a deep ravine. Cayden looked in the rearview mirror and saw Adonis playing with the red ribbon in the backseat. Though the clouds remained behind, his worry grew. Something terrible was going to happen, he felt.
“Is everything all right?” Mira asked. “You look anxious.”
“Everything’s fine,” Cayden said.
W
ith each passing second, the knot in his stomach became tighter. He pressed on the gas pedal. Thunder rumbled in the distance, followed by the loud drumming of rain on the roof of the car. Cayden turned on the wipers and headlights to see better in the falling darkness.
“Drive carefully; the roads get slippery,” said Mira in a distressed voice.
“I know,” said Cayden, annoyed.
***
Under the reign of King Cayden Starosta, Agapea enjoyed peace and prosperity. His marriage to Mira had only strengthened the unity of the city. The citizens of Agapea were happy with their king and queen—it was almost too good to be true. Even so, Cayden was pursued by a troublesome feeling that everything was just a dream and he was going to wake up at any minute.
The Festival of Nine Moons was just around the corner. This would be the first celebration Mira and he would spend as a married couple. This Festival promised to be bigger and more grandiose than all the previous ones. From villages near and far, householders flocked with barrels of wine, whiskey, brandy, beer, and various foods. Artists from around the world arrived to provide entertainment for the holiday.
Cayden was in the throne room, studying lists describing the number of barrels of brandy and their prices. Fortunately, they’d had a good year, and the treasury was full.
That morning, he had woken up with a headache that had been getting worse through the day. It was hard to focus on the numbers written on the sheets of paper before him, as the text was blurry. The next wave of pain flooded his senses. Cayden felt sick. He put his head in his hands and sat on the throne. He had difficulty breathing, so he loosened the collar around his neck with trembling hands. Cold sweat ran down his forehead.
He was about to call a healer when the light coming through the windows vanished. A red mist came from the walls and corners of the throne room, quickly filling it. Some huge and monstrous Thing stood before the throne, rising high above Cayden, then dove down, overwhelming him.
