A few flashes from the night before went through Dante's head as he awoke in an intense sweat. The bubble that he lived in was no longer transparent and only a bitter taste was remnant of a forgotten bliss. He had overslept a forbidden slumber, with just enough thoughts to slip in. Dante whispered four words into the empty morning, "Where have I been?" So many questions were being pumped through his head, it was about time to plea insanity. So there he was, awake and safe at home, after another journey to the unknown.
What was next?
What did it all mean?
He was about to find out very soon. His head pulsated like a heartbeat at the very end of salvation. He started massaging his temples and tried to ease-up, but like the beating of a drum, his brain just increased in cringe-worthy momentum. His head was heavy and he could barely move or think, but he had to try. In the bathroom he splashed some water on his face and as he looked up his reflection glared at him. Next, he looked in the cabinet for some medicine, anything; but found none. He just stared at his reflection taunt him further. Some how he was being pitied and by himself no less. He went over to his computer and sat down. He was going to try and do some investigating or at least some writing while he could remember everything. Before he could even turn his computer on, a calming emotion sparked throughout his body. He felt the very same energy from before and pictured the unknown man speaking to him. His headache was growing and thoughts began to translate themselves like words scribed onto stone. "Your training will commence. You have been chosen. This is your path...Your headaches will only get worse without proper training of the power that has been awaken. Do not fear us, all will be right...You will begin at once." Just like that, the voice and the commanding power that it echoed was gone. In its place, what looked like a virtual 3D window appeared right in front of his computer monitor. What could only be described as a digital display materialized that had no visible power or connection. Dante's mouth opened wide and his eyes glazed. He was being taken away from the physical so his mind and spirit could accept the knowledge being brought to him through this new experience.
"Knock, knock." Dante's father always knocked first before walking into his room. A habit he had kept up to respect the space a growing adult may need. Dante was in a fixed trance, but almost automatically the window of enlightenment, the connection, was severed. Dante was now fully focused on his father, "dad you will not believe it, I have something great, amazing, magnificent. I have to tell you something." But his father was not listening. He had stopped moving and his eyes had taken on a glow like a light was being shined upon them. Suddenly all the power to his house went out and Dante was in darkness. His father, in some kind of funk, walked out of the room quietly. Dante could hear and feel the sensation of the unknown man in his thoughts. He was upset at Dante for almost divulging the secrets that were apparently not meant to be shared. Dante hurried to his knees and looked up. He opened his arms wide for an apologetic stance, "Oh please, I'm sorry, I am so sorry. Please don't be mad, please don't go. He is my father. It felt natural. This will not happen again, please! Please...I am sorry." One he finished his ritualistic apology the power came back on and his father came back through the door, this time not knocking. "Hey, you are a weird one, praying? I just came to see how the event went. Anything good?" His father did not seem off a beat from the prior transactions that had occurred, his memory had started anew. "Dad... it was alright, can we talk later? I am kind of in the middle of a something." "No problem, peace." His father walked off quickly and Dante sat back down in his chair giving off a great and appreciated breath of anxiety.
So this is how it was for a few days. Dante would continue his normal routine of saving face with his family and then immediately retire into his room where an energetic window would appear in front of his monitor and he would drift off into training. Another distraction was not far away.
Another day down and the window had just begun to fade. Dante's mind was coming back full of thoughts and hope. He still did not know what he was learning or even seeing. Yet his heart was beating a new tune and his headaches, gone from existence. Was a power really inside of him and was it growing and being trained? Everything happened in some kind of subconscious level of intrigue he did not yet understand. He looked slightly to his right and heard his phone go off. It was Jasmine and she was right outside, waiting for him. He still had not talked to her since the day he left her in the city. Actually, he had not talked to many people lately. He stayed secluded in his home disconnected from the outside world and the majority of his responsibilities were an invisible mystery. It was too late to delay her and she walked right in.
Dante turned his chair to the door and she glided in unaware of any prepared speech or friendly excuses, except for an emotional explosion. Jasmine looked at Dante briefly and then carried herself to his bed. She laid down into a comfortable position focused on a dead spot on his wall before taking a deep breath of anticipation. "Dante, I think you owe me some sort of explanation. We have been off and on and I am not sure what I or you even did. Talk to me." Dante rolled his chair over to her and was unsure of what to say. He felt vulnerable and his heart crushed. She was his woman and he her man. But something unexplainable was going on and he did not want to mess anything up. He was already in a mess, but owed her something. So like any man in love he let his heart do the talking, like any idiot. "Jasmine I owe you an explanation, because, I just do."
Dante looked at her and felt an emptiness pry at his heart. He knew he had never truly loved or even taken the responsibility to care for another outside of his family. It hurt to be so inexperienced and he just wanted to have at least one breath shared with another, one feeling. He did not want to become so cold, especially to his friend and companion. "Listen I will tell you everything. Do you remember the evening before, last?" Just then the power went off in his house and he already knew what was going on before feeling the disappointment from the unknown man. He had messed up again, but what could he do? He was in love, or at least he wanted to be at least once. "Well that is just great." Dante sighed and did not want to beg this time, he messed up, but with good reason. "Power problems in your place Dante?"
Just then the power went back on but the feelings and emotions from the unknown man were gone. He knew he had messed up and needed time to think. "Jasmine I'm sorry, can we talk later. I promise I will explain myself when I can." Jasmine got up and walked over to Dante. She stared right into his dazzled and concerned eyes. She pushed herself into his face and gave him a soft kiss and a tight hug. She whispered into his ear, "That is all I ask." She got up and let herself out. Dante spun around in his chair and noticed his reflection in the mirror taunting him again. He rolled his eyes and turned off the light. What better than to sleep on it. If he really messed up he would need a clear head to think about what his next steps would be with his life and when the mystery of the unknown might call.
Dante turned his chair to the door and she glided in unaware of any prepared speech or friendly excuses, except for an emotional explosion. Jasmine looked at Dante briefly and then carried herself to his bed. She laid down into a comfortable position focused on a dead spot on his wall before taking a deep breath of anticipation. "Dante, I think you owe me some sort of explanation. We have been off and on and I am not sure what I or you even did. Talk to me." Dante rolled his chair over to her and was unsure of what to say. He felt vulnerable and his heart crushed. She was his woman and he her man. But something unexplainable was going on and he did not want to mess anything up. He was already in a mess, but owed her something. So like any man in love he let his heart do the talking, like any idiot. "Jasmine I owe you an explanation, because, I just do."
Dante looked at her and felt an emptiness pry at his heart. He knew he had never truly loved or even taken the responsibility to care for another outside of his family. It hurt to be so inexperienced and he just wanted to have at least one breath shared with another, one feeling. He did not want to become so cold, especially to his friend and companion. "Listen I will tell you everything. Do you remember the evening before, last?" Just then the power went off in his house and he already knew what was going on before feeling the disappointment from the unknown man. He had messed up again, but what could he do? He was in love, or at least he wanted to be at least once. "Well that is just great." Dante sighed and did not want to beg this time, he messed up, but with good reason. "Power problems in your place Dante?"
Just then the power went back on but the feelings and emotions from the unknown man were gone. He knew he had messed up and needed time to think. "Jasmine I'm sorry, can we talk later. I promise I will explain myself when I can." Jasmine got up and walked over to Dante. She stared right into his dazzled and concerned eyes. She pushed herself into his face and gave him a soft kiss and a tight hug. She whispered into his ear, "That is all I ask." She got up and let herself out. Dante spun around in his chair and noticed his reflection in the mirror taunting him again. He rolled his eyes and turned off the light. What better than to sleep on it. If he really messed up he would need a clear head to think about what his next steps would be with his life and when the mystery of the unknown might call.
