Dissolution

by Kyle West

  The screams of dragons carried on the wind from an indeterminate point. Alex paused in his tracks to listen.

  “Hide?” I asked.

  Alex looked to the dark sky, considering. “Yeah. They might hide.”

  That hadn’t been the answer I was expecting, and before I could clarify that I’d heard correctly, Alex charged through the city rubble, heedless of any lurking danger.

  “Alex!” I called. “Are you crazy? There’s well over a hundred dragons guarding the city!”

  “Come on!” he called back. “You have to trust me.”

  I didn’t have much of a choice, so I ran after him. We turned down what once was a wide thoroughfare, now half-covered with rubble, broken columns, and felled trees. The street was practically impassable, so we descended into a nearby trench, which was once one of the main canals that had laced the metropolis. The passage here was a bit easier. When our way was obstructed once more, we turned down another canal, which drove due west to the Thought Dome and the Hyperfold it housed. Once we neared the edge of the city, I could spy the Dome rising clearly above the dark forest that began right where the city ended. A long, high bridge ran out of the city and over the trees, which led directly to the entrance of the Thought Dome.

  More of concern to me, however, were the dozens of dragons circling the starry sky above, screaming their iterant warnings.

  “You sure about this, Alex?”

  He gave a single nod. “Getting in will be the easy part. There should be a set of stairs by that bridge support. Once we’re on top, the real fun begins.”

  “Just so we’re clear, we’re going to fight those dragons, right?”

  “Yep.”

  I could hardly believe it. “You sound confident. I guess it’s true that you’re a god.”

  “I’m no more a god than you, Anna,” he said, turning to face me. “Or should I call you Shanti?”

  “Call me whoever,” I said.

  “Listen. It was Anna I was kissing earlier, just to make that clear.”

  “Yeah, I figured. Let’s not make this awkward. I’m glad you did it.”

  And I wanted him to do it again. The question of our love was too complicated to process right now. I felt like Anna when I had exited the Sea of Creation, but now I felt like both myself and her.

  Fighting dragons seemed simple when compared to figuring out my identity.

  “Let’s just move on,” I said.

  Alex laughed. “Yeah. Good call.”

  We reached the stairs, and thankfully, only a few of the stone steps were broken, allowing us to climb all the way to the top. As soon as we stood on the wide bridge above, it was a straight shot to the Thought Dome and the entrance to the Hyperfold within.

  Just being here brought back all sorts of terrible memories. I broke into a cold sweat, not helped by the fact that we were easy pickings for the dragons swarming above the bridge. As soon as we started moving forward, their screams filled the night.

  They had seen us.

  All at once, they turned and homed in on our position, letting out baleful roars.

  “All right,” I said. “I’m trusting you.”

  “Bond with me,” he said.

  I obeyed instantly. I reached for Silence and felt his connection to the Xenofold, and latched myself onto that connection. I gasped at the amount of raw power behind him, far more than I’d ever felt in my life. If I were just a lake, Alex was the entire ocean.

  That’s when I realized that Alex himself was the Xenofold. Whatever power it had, he had, completely unadulterated. And he held all that power as if it were nothing. Even the bond I’d formed with everyone else that forced our entry to the Hyperfold was as nothing compared to this.

  Feeling this power, I could see why Alex was so unconcerned about the dragons.

  I followed Alex’s line of concentration, as a dozen links were forged, tethering every single one of those dragons to us. Vaguely, I was aware of them screaming, not in predatory delight, but in capitulatory fear. All of them wheeled around, futilely, knowing that Alex’s next move decided their fates.

  I heard Alex’s voice in my head. Stop.

  Every single one of the dragons stopped, hovering in midair. Seeing them hanging suspended in the air, no sound but the flapping of their wings, was eerie. There were no more screams, only complete obedience to the one who was controlling them.

  I never knew such a thing could be possible. Tethering and controlling even one dragon was a struggle for me.

  “Time to go in,” Alex said.

  “You’re not going to kill them?” I asked.

  Alex looked at me as if my question were strange. “They could prove useful. Remember, Quietus was once Radaskim. And there’s a chance that one day, these dragons can be redeemed if the Xenofold ever regains its full strength.

  Even if immobilizing these dragons was only part of the strength of the Xenofold, it was still impressive. For all the weakness of the Xenofold, it was still unimaginably strong.

  We ran across the bridge, right under the swarm of dragons that continued flapping their wings, hovering in the air. The bonds we’d forged didn’t seem to be in any danger of breaking. I spared them one last glance once we passed through the barrier that separated the Thought Dome from the outside world.

  Once inside, I felt Alex release the bond between us. Through the semi-translucent barrier, I could see the dragons swarming again like angry wasps, but there was no sound save the emanating, oceanic drone of the glowing Point of Origin, just one hundred paces ahead along the shining bridge.

  “Rakhim no doubt knows we’re here,” I said.

  “He most certainly does,” Alex said. “But there’s something we must discuss before we go in.”

  “What’s that?”

  “Whoever kills Rakhim becomes the Hyperfold’s new master. But that new master is still vulnerable to Odium’s control.”

  “Meaning?”

  Alex shook his head. “It can’t be me. I can’t take control of the Hyperfold, and I can’t kill Rakhim.”

  I wasn’t following what Alex was saying. If it couldn’t be him, then who?

  “There’s only one way,” Alex said. “When I enter the Hyperfold, I won’t be able to leave again. It has to be you leaving. And when you do, it must be as Elekim.”

  * * *

  All I could do was stare at him dumbly. I felt as if I hadn’t heard him correctly.

  “That can’t be possible,” I said, when I saw he was serious. “Why would you say that? You want me to become Elekim?”

  Alex held my hand, looking into my eyes sadly. Seeing him sad just made my chest heavy and my throat thicken.

  “I’ll try to explain, even if it sounds confusing. The Hyperfold poisons whoever controls it. It would be impossible for me to control the Hyperfold. Whoever takes control of it becomes the new Rakhim, basically. The only solution is for me to stay and make sure Rakhim can’t cause any more trouble. This will cause Odium to abandon him, to flee outside of the Hyperfold into his other two Champions . . . Isaru and Haris.”

  “I think I understand,” I said.

  “And you won’t be able to deal with either of them as you are now,” Alex said. “For one, that dream you had. A great part of your power left you then to help Isandru fight Rakhim. He fought him, but cannot ultimately defeat him. That power was necessary, but it has left you weaker. By giving my powers to you, you’ll be strong again . . . stronger than you ever have been. As soon as I impart my powers to you, you’ll be powerful enough to drive Odium out for good and free Isaru. With luck, you’ll be able to drive Odium out of everything he’s poisoning on this world. That will give the Xenofold some breathing room, some strength to gather itself before the final storm.”

  “What about you, though? If I were to take over your position, what would that do to you?”

  “I’ll remain in the Hyperfold, making sure it can’t be taken over by Odium. I can strengthen the link to the Xenofold, allowing all
those who are trapped here to rejoin it.”

  “That means you would be gone, too,” I said.

  Alex nodded. “Yes. I will return to the Xenofold, for good this time. And I’ll be waiting there for you . . . for Anna. I’m sorry it has to be this way. But it’s the only way we can truly be together. Yes, I can remain out here, but even with all my power, the world would burn if the Hyperfold isn’t dealt with now.”

  I felt a deep sadness at these words, mainly because once Alex was inside the Hyperfold, everything was going to be up to me once again, and if I failed, then Alex’s work would be for nothing, and we wouldn’t be together.

  I wasn’t ready for such a responsibility.

  “I can’t, Alex,” I said. “I’m not strong enough.”

  “Do you think I thought I was strong enough?” Alex asked. “I didn’t wish for this, either . . . but it came to me all the same. I wouldn’t give you this burden if there were any other way, Anna. But this is the only way.”

  “I can’t, Alex,” I said, tears falling from my eyes.

  “You don’t know that!” He took me by my shoulders. “I know you can, Anna. You must believe that you can! That’s the source of my powers. I believe it, and the Xenofold believes it, too. Belief becomes reality.”

  His intensity took me aback, but deep down, I knew that he believed in me, too, for some crazy reason. Would that belief also become reality?

  I realized that yes, it would.

  “Anna,” he said, “this isn’t the end. This is just the beginning. If we push Odium from Earth, if we hold back the invasion, we can start a new life, away from here, on a new world. Right now, you’re two people in one. But the part of you that’s Anna will rejoin the Xenofold before it fades, and then we’ll be together again.” Alex grabbed both of my hands, cradling them in his. “I know you’re not the same person anymore, Anna. I know that this body was never meant to be shared by two souls. But there might be a way out still, if we just believe and have hope!”

  Listening to him, I understood how Anna had fallen in love with him. To maintain such a positive outlook in the face of such overwhelming odds was a rarity. Unwittingly, I found myself starting to hope, too.

  I looked past him, toward the Hyperfold’s Point of Origin. “I’m not sure how much time we have, Alex. The longer we wait out here, the less chance there is of rescuing Isandru.”

  Alex nodded. “You’re ready to go in, then?”

  I didn’t know I would ever be ready for that. But as Alex said, it didn’t matter whether we were ready. We just had to believe we were, and pray that belief was enough.

  I made myself nod. We stood for a moment, hand in hand, and walked together down the shining path toward the central, blinding orb. Alex went ahead, reaching out his hand toward the light.

  Together, we were pulled in.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

  THE WORLD WITHIN THE HYPERFOLD was not the one I was used to. The city of Hyperborea wasn’t there, and all that was left was a bleak, cracked plain under a dismal gray sky. Alex stood next to me.

  In the distance, I spied a stooped figure kneeling on the ground alone, a wash of long gray hair falling behind his back.

  Isandru. I ran forward to help him.

  “Anna!”

  I ignored Alex, continuing to run.

  When I reached him, he didn’t turn. “Elder?”

  “Anna,” he said, standing and then turning. “You’ve returned.”

  The face wasn’t Elder Isandru’s, but of Rakhim Shal. He gave an amused smirk while his glowing eyes narrowed.

  Rakhim’s eyes came to rest on Alex, who had caught up to me by now. Rakhim let out a throaty chuckle. “You are out of your element, Elekim. Prepare to be destroyed.”

  “No,” Alex said. “That won’t be happening.” He looked around at the devastated landscape. “Your creation is passing away, and you no longer have the power to rebuild it.”

  “I will soon,” Rakhim said. “Don’t you worry about that.”

  I remembered the last time we were here, the Hyperfold had completely crumbled while we made our escape. Something told me that we had been very close to defeating Rakhim once and for all, but only to just fall short. But if what Alex said was true, then even such a victory would have been short-lived, since the one who killed Rakhim would just fall under the Hyperfold’s influence.

  As if daring for this to happen, Rakhim taunted, “Kill me. You know you want to.”

  The space next to Rakhim became warped and twisted, the waves congealing until a form appeared from the very air. I recognized the shape to be Isandru. He was kneeling on the ground, his head hung low.

  “Elder Isandru!” I called.

  The Elder Prophet looked up at me, seeming older that he had ever appeared. His face was sunken, his form thin and emaciated. There was no strength left in his body.

  “He tried to fight me,” Rakhim said, almost with a coo. “Of course, he failed. And if you kill me now, I will destroy him utterly.” He gave a poisonous smile. “If you die in this place, you will be trapped here, forever my puppet.”

  “The time of the Hyperfold has come to an end,” Alex said. “No one will die today. No, not even you, Rakhim.”

  Rakhim’s smile evaporated. “Isaru will come. I have slowed time, and I can wait as long as necessary.”

  “Isaru isn’t coming,” Alex said. “Not this time. Your master has abandoned you to your fate. You’re no longer useful to him.”

  Rakhim’s expression darkened. I could see from his face that he knew the truth of this. His next words were filled with denial. “No. My master needs me. I created this place. I have the power to command Isaru. Without me, my master would not be able to touch this pathetic world!”

  “That might have been true once,” Alex said. “But no longer. Your master is throwing everything he has into Isaru, and casting you into the darkness.”

  Rakhim’s face contorted in rage. He reached out his hand, and I felt myself pushed back. I landed on my feet, stumbling a bit, but quickly regaining my posture. Rakhim looked down at his hands, unbelieving that they had produced so little power.

  “Do you believe me now, Rakhim?” Alex asked. “Do you surrender?”

  “No!” Rakhim said. “It can’t be.” He glared at Alex. “I will destroy this place before I ever let you have it!”

  “Go ahead and try.”

  Rakhim closed his eyes, seeming to channel an energy that I couldn’t feel myself. After a few seconds of this, he opened his eyes, an expression of horror on his face.

  “Do you believe me now, Rakhim?”

  “Why . . . why would this be?”

  “It is Odium’s nature to use and discard,” Alex said. “People are his tools, and he casts them away when they’re no longer useful. All the power he has promised you was a lie. He gave you power, for a time. But he will not let you have victory. Victory belongs to him alone.”

  “But I can still destroy you!”

  “You’re powerless, Rakhim,” Alex said, stepping forward. Rakhim pathetically cowered, using Isandru as a shield – Isandru, whose eyes were still closed and whose body was unmoving.

  “I’ll kill him!” Rakhim spat, “I’ll . . .”

  Alex reached out his hand, and Rakhim flew backward, screaming. It was the move he’d intended to do to us, only when Alex did it, it was a hundred times stronger. He crashed into the ground far away and lay there, either incapacitated or dead.

  “Is he . . .?” I asked.

  Alex shook his head, as if to say “not yet.” He seemed confident that Rakhim would no longer be a threat, because he went straight to Isandru. He felt along his old, wrinkled face, and closed his eyes.

  “He’s almost dead,” Alex said. “Rakhim has done terrible things to him. He wasn’t lying about the fight. I’ll try to revive him, but even my power is limited in this place.” He shook his head sadly. “I know it won’t be enough . . . but maybe I can give him enough strength so that he doesn’t h
ave to die here.”

  I watched as Alex closed his eyes, as the energy of the Xenofold flowed out of him and entered Isandru. A moment later, Isandru’s eyes opened, and he drew a deep intake of breath.

  The first thing he saw was me.

  “Shanti . . .” he rasped.

  “Isandru,” I said, my eyes filling with tears while I knelt next to him. “I’m sorry. I was too late.”

  I hugged him, but not too hard since he was weak. When I pulled back, Isandru was looking at Alex.

  “This is Alex,” I said. “Elekim.”

  Isandru smiled. “Yes. I know that. Only Elekim could have brought me back from the place Rakhim put me.” Isandru frowned, puzzled. “Where is he? I would fight him, though I have no strength left.”

  I looked across the plain, and Isandru followed my line of sight.

  “He isn’t dead, yet,” Isandru said.

  “No,” Alex said. “I’m afraid it isn’t that easy. I’ll have to stay, to make sure he doesn’t have the power to rebuild. The Hyperfold won’t be destroyed now, but it also won’t get any stronger while I’m here.”

  “I know what you said before, but he looks so weak, Alex. Maybe there’s a way we can end this, once and for all.”

  Alex shook his head. “There’s nothing more you can do, Anna.” He reached out and touched my face, his expression sad. “As long as this place exists, Rakhim cannot truly die. This is the reason I came back. To stop him from using this place to poison the world. It’s your job to save Isaru, now, and to stop Haris in the Sanctum. Then this place can finally end, and Odium will have no one to possess in this world.”