Fate Of The Dragon

by Richard Lovegood

  Somehow, I do trust him. My vision is starting to get blurry. “Hurry…please.” I manage to say. The man runs at me, wraps one of my arms around his shoulders, and leads me outside. He places me on the motorcycle that was once in question, and get on. He turns it on and says to me, “Hold on! I know where you need to go!”

  We race through the town, and I can feel the wind rushing past my face. I have no idea how fast we are going, and I really don’t care. My hearing is starting to fade now, but there are faint sirens in the distance. The motorcycle comes to a stop.

  “We’re here.”, the man says. “Can you make it inside?”

  I shake my head slowly back and forth.

  “Not a problem. I can take you as far as the door, but I really have to go. I have to get back to my sis…I mean the girl in the office.”

  “Once you get to the door, I will lead you.” The Lord says.

  “After I get…to the door…” I say weakly. “I will be fine.” The man complies with this request, and does as he said he would. He takes me to the door, and opens it up.

  The man says, “It looks like a doctor is here, too.” as he turns to leave. I hear him start up his motorcycle and ride off, as I step inside the house.

  I swear I can fall over at any minute. Something, however, seems to be supporting me as I walk. I’m not sure how, but I’m not in the mood to question it. I follow the sounds of crying. I can hear Chuck saying comforting things to Brie. I can also hear Brie. She is the one crying. She’s also breathing rapidly. I hear another voice telling Brie to push, followed by a grunt and a long drawn out cry from Brie. After that, she breathes in heavily again. I then hear her ask, “Doc, what’s wrong?”

  Trying to remain calm, the doctor says “The cord is wrapped around his neck.”

  I swear I was just in my little confined space a minute ago. Now I see myself in this huge valley, and I am surrounded by mountains. What is going on here? Everything is gray and dull. The ground is damp and rocky. Further up on either side, it seems as if the mountains themselves become more rigid and sharp. They are certainly not suitable for climbing. However, as I look, there is a strange figure on top of the mountain to my left.

  I need to find out who or what this thing is, so in spite of the danger, I begin by ascent. As I get closer, I can pick out more details about the mysterious creature. It’s big, red, and it has a tail. It stands on two powerful legs, while its arms stretch towards the sky challenging the stars above. I become angry. Why would someone challenge the stars? They are innocent! They didn’t do anything wrong! I must stop him.

  I climb higher, and approach closer. I can now hear the creature, and it’s loud. Its roars are competing with the rolling thunder in the background. It thrashes at the sky above, almost as if it wants to extinguish the thunder. I slip on a loose rock, and fall on my face. Ouch. That really hurt, but even worse, I have given away my position. The thing sees me.

  Enraged, it leaps from his summit and lands a mere two feet away from me. I can feel the intense heat from his anger. My skin warms to the exhaling of his breath. I stand to my feet because I’m not afraid. I arch my back, tilt my head back and I stare into its eyes. Even though my head comes up to his navel, I will not back down. He glares down at me, opens his mouth to reveal dripping fangs, and snarls, “Have you come to challenge me, boy?”

  Without hesitation I respond, “I do. I don’t care who you are. I don’t care what you’ve done. What I do know is this: you do not challenge the thunder, and you most certainly will not snatch the stars out of the sky!”

  I feel myself growing. I look at my hands, and my feet. Every inch of me is increasing in size. I thrust my hand forward and grab the creature by the neck. In retaliation, he lurches his tail from behind him and secures it tightly around my neck. My eyes go wide, and I’m gasping for air. However, I don’t lose my footing. With my free hand, I punch the creature on the side of his head. Over and over and over again I make ever-increasing craters in his hideous skull. The more I punch though, the tighter his tail gets, and we both eventually lose our footing.

  We fall off of the craggy summit, and our bodies slam against some of the jagged edges on the way down. His tail squeezes my neck tighter. My eyes begin to dim. I force my eyes open to find I’m not fighting the creature anymore. I’m back in my small confined space! What just happened?

  I can’t breathe! Help me! Someone…anyone! What is around my neck? I search frantically around for something, anything to grab onto. Where is that blasted food cord thing? I find it and give it a good pull.

  Ouch! It just got tighter around my neck! I kick and thrash my legs. Maybe someone will feel me? Or maybe someone will hear me? I don’t know! HELP! I can’t get free of this thing. I’m going to try kicking with each syllable. Surely that will get some attention around here.

  GET. ME. OUT!

  The screen from headquarters pops up, and the captain appears. She says, “Oh my goodness! I’m so sorry, Aiden!” I see her turn to one of the crew members. “Somebody needs to get that doctor’s attention now! If not, then I will take over the audio output drive and tell him myself! Aiden is dying!”

  I’m what?

  The captain turns back to me and pleads, “You mustn’t move around so much. The more movement you cause, the tighter that cord is going to become. Listen to me. We are doing our best to get you out of there as soon as possible. I’ve been told that the doctor is on his way. A lot of commotion is happening outside right now. I’m not sure of all the details, but whatever is going outside sounds like chaos.”

  Not a single word of that made sense to me. I don’t care. I just want to be out of here. The walls are beginning to tremble and shake, and seem to be collapsing. This is just great. I do some more kicking to show my disagreement.

  “Aiden, please stop kicking!” the captain is crying. “I know the dream you had was intense. I’m sorry. I was under strict orders to do that. I was not in control of what you were going to see, all I had to do was open up the pathway. His Majesty said that He wanted to show you a vision of things to come. I had no idea He meant this! I’m so sorry.”

  The walls shake and get smaller. I can no longer move my legs, or my arms. I can’t breathe. I feel my eyes flutter. My vision is starting to go. I suppose this is it. I think back to when I first stepped off of that conveyor belt. Had I known then what I know now, I never would have gone into that auditorium. I would have remained slumped down against a wall somewhere back in my town; just like Richard. I just had to find out more, didn’t I? I just had to ask all those questions. Look where it got me: I’m on the edge of death.

  “Dear God! NO! My baby! Please, save my baby!” Brie says bursting out into tears.

  “Remain calm, babe.” Chuck says.

  I’m almost at the bedroom door. Brie is almost on the brink of hyperventilating, because she is crying so hard. I hear the doctor say, “All I need to do is cut the cord. Just relax for a minute.” I, now, hear what sounds like the doctor rustling through his bag. “Hemostat…and scissors check. Alright. Give me just a moment and we’ll have this baby in your arms.”

  There is a long pause. Brie’s eyes are flooded with tears, and Chuck doesn’t appear to have taken a breath since the doctor reach into his bag.

  “There. The cord has been cut, and it should unravel easily now.” The doctor works quickly. I hear a slop, slop, sound as something thick and wet hits the floor.

  The cry of a newborn baby is heard, and an audible exhale leaves Chuck’s mouth.

  Between tears, Chuck manages to say “He’s breathing! Thank God, doctor. You did it. Thank you so much for rescuing my son! Great job, man! I mean, doctor!”

  Sniffling back some tears, Brie says, “Please. Let me hold him.”

  “Absolutely” the doctor says. Brie laughs as her tears now turn to tears of joy.

  I open the door, and then my vision fades to black. I feel my feet moving me forward. My hand moves on its own, and it gently comes to rest on
a small and slightly hairy head. “What name is given this child?” I ask. My voice didn’t sound like my voice at all. Well, it did, but with a lot more authority to it.

  “Aiden.” Chuck says. “It means Little Fire.”

  An extremely bright light pierces through the top of the wall where my feet are. Hands that are much larger than mine reach in and grab me. Colors and shapes swiftly pass by me. The next thing I can tell is that the cord around my neck goes limp and falls away from me. I can breathe! It’s a miracle, but wow is it bright here. I have to smash my eyes shut. Whoever you are, put me back where it’s warm!

  Oh, my goodness it’s cold! I scream for help, but I feel like my voice is falling on deaf ears. I hear strange voices around me. “He’s breathing. Thank God, doctor. You did it.” One voice says.

  Another voice that sounds very familiar and soothing says, “Please. Let me hold him.” I’m still moving through this frigid air, and I don’t like it. Something needs to change quickly. SOMEBODY ANSWER ME!

  A new set of hands grabs me and pulls me close. I breathe a sigh of relief. I feel warm again, but I could use a little extra warmth.

  “He has your temper, dear.” The soothing voice says. That voice is getting closer. “There there. It’s alright little one. Charles, bring me a blanket please. The poor thing is shivering.” I like this one. She’s a mind reader.

  I stop shouting as it gets warmer again. I can definitely get used to this “blanket” thing. Now, all I have to do is figure out how to get a constant food supply. I’ll worry about that later. All of that kicking, punching, and screaming has left me feeling tired. I do want to see what is going on though.

  I open my eyes a little bit. Oops. Everything is so blurry! Forget it. I won’t do that again. I think I’ll go to sleep like I originally planned. As I shut my eyes, a loud crashing sound is heard. It scares me, and I scream. A distant voice cries out, “Is he here? Has the one promised been born?”

  “I’m not sure what you mean, father.” The soothing voice says. “You’re bleeding! Oh no! Doctor, do something!”

  The distant voice trembles as it gets closer. It places his hands on me. They are cold and wet. He says, “I anoint you, Aiden, in the name of the Father, The Son, and of The Holy Spirit. Go forth, little fire, and shine for all to see. Take your flame, and ignite the world.” The hands leave me, and I hear a loud thump followed by a scream.

  What just happened?

  I knew as soon as the words left my mouth that those were probably my last. I feel myself falling and I know I hit the ground, but there was no pain.

  A blinding and beautiful light appears in front of me. A month or so earlier, and I would have thought I was having one of my typically strange and terrifying dreams. But now, I have no fear at all, only a peace so great that I lack the words to describe it. “I have been waiting for you. I am so proud of you, my son. Well done, my good and faithful servant. Enter, now, into the Kingdom of Heaven.”

  A bright and shining hand takes mine, and lifts me up onto my feet. I know that this is the Lord. There is no mistaking it. The world around me seems to have faded into a fog, as we walk out of the room. “Lord, what about the other people here?” I ask.

  “Fear not, my son. I have other plans for them. Your purpose here is complete. Come. I want to show you what you did.” The Lord waves his hand, and instantly everything that I’ve been through flashes in front of me. I see things that were never visible to me before, and can now see where He had His hand in everything. Then, He directed my attention to the sky in front of me. Black ink-like streaks are rising up from the restaurant and the church. The streaks rise further up, spiral together, and shoot upwards into the sky.

  “What is that?” I ask.

  “That is something you did. Because of your obedience, evil has been forced to flee in My name.”

  “Where will they go and what will happen to them?” I ask.

  “That is not for you to know. Come now, it is time I take you home.” the Lord says with a smile. He places both hands on my shoulders, and we rise into the air.

  To be continued

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