As Talon takes a step forward, the room transforms into a decrepit arena, at the center of the building rests an old wrestling ring. The sound of cheering crowds fills the air, amplifying his heart rate. The ring is illuminated, drawing his attention. Standing in the center is a figure cloaked in darkness, its form shifting and contorting. This is the Malphas, the embodiment of his darkest fears.
The Malphas extends its twisted hand, beckoning him to approach, and for some reason he cannot resist. Call it intrigue, call it foolish, whatever the reason is Talon finds himself walking towards the figure. A sinister smile spreads across its face as it whispers with a voice that echoes through his mind. There are no words audible, but he hears them in the recesses of his thoughts. The figure has no true face, but a form almost like a large bird skull complete with a boney beak like mouth, it is chilling. It’s “voice” pierces his thoughts.
(Malphas): "Talon, my dear Talon. Embrace me. Surrender to your desires. I can offer you power, release from your pain. Give in to me..."
Talon's heart pounds in his chest as he tries to resist, but an invisible force constricts around his throat, cutting off his breath. He struggles, gasping for air, feeling the weight of the Malphas' influence pressing upon him. He attempts to look down and he finds a dozen arms reaching from the shadows around him, their skin black and rotting as they reach for his throat, squeezing tighter and tighter.
In the corner of the arena, Talon sees movement. He attempts to call out for help, but he has no air in his lungs to push the words through, but the figures in the distance quickly appear closer to him, all standing in the ring with him and the Malphas. One is his brother Daniel, whom he lost tragically in 2009. …Daniel’s face is filled with disappointment and anger. Talon’s eyes shift to the second figure, realizing it is Eddie; his expression filled with scorn as he nearly growls while staring into his eyes..
(Daniel): "Talon, you're weak. You always were. You'll never escape this darkness. You couldn’t save me, you couldn’t save Eddie, you can’t save Ash, and you can’t save yourself!"
(Eddie): "Just give in, Talon! It's easier this way. Embrace the chaos. Embrace me, brother."
Their voices blend with the taunting laughter of the Malphas, intensifying Talon's inner turmoil. Sweat beads on his forehead as he fights against the tightening grip around his throat, desperately attempting to resist the allure of the Malphas' promises.
With each passing moment, Talon's resolve weakens, the weight of his past mistakes bearing down upon him. The arena begins to shake and crumble around him, the crowd's cheers turning into a cascade of jeers and mockery. The Malphas grows closer and larger, it’s dark shadow-like wings spreading to engulf the remaining space in the ever changing room, his dark presence overwhelming all of Talon’s senses.
(Voices of Eddie, Daniel, and the Malphas): You can not win this fight. You will fail him. You will fail yourself… and we will see you in Hell.
The voices intermix with each becoming clear before fading and yielding to the next. The coaxing, the taunting, the tourture is unbearable. The hands around his throat squeeze tightly as the Malphas pulls him face to face so close that Talon can feel the eerie ice-cold chill radiating from the bone skull of the demon.
(Malphas): Together. We will rule. Alone you will perish.
Suddenly Talon’s eyes fly open in his bedroom, the morning light casting a soft glow through the curtains. He sits up, soaked in sweat. He takes a deep breath as if the hands around his neck had only just released him in real time and after a few seconds he slows his breathing and relaxes. He stretches, feeling a sense of contentment as he turns to his side, expecting to see his wife, Aubrey, sleeping peacefully beside him. But as he gazes upon her face, a wave of confusion washes over him.
The face before him is not Aubrey's—it's Blush. Talon's heart pounds in his chest as he tries to make sense of this bewildering reality. He looks around the room, and everything has changed. The pictures on the walls depict moments he shared with Blush, and not the ones he remembers with Aubrey. The memories of their life together begin to overwrite the life he thought he had with Aubrey.
Talon stumbles out of bed, panic rising within him. He searches for answers, desperate to regain his grip on reality. He reaches under the coffee table in the living room and grabs the wedding album. Turning the pages he begins to panic-laugh as he looks at the pages of the book to see that the entire album has transformed into a collection of memories from his union with Blush. The family photos show him, Blush, and their children, faces he can't remember, but who should be Aubrey and their kids.
In a state of turmoil, Talon rushes downstairs, hoping to find clarity. The kitchen, once familiar, now holds traces of a life he can't comprehend. Blush's favorite coffee mug sits on the counter, and the sound of her laughter echoes through his mind. His head spins as he tries to reconcile this twisted existence with the one he believed to be true.
Talon's heart sinks as he gazes out the window, feeling trapped in this alternate reality. He whispers to himself, trying to anchor his sanity.
(Talon): "What is happening? Am I losing my mind?"
Just as he is about to succumb to despair, a voice calls out to him, it echoes as if it is coming from a loud speaker, but It's Aubrey!
(Aubrey): “Babe, wake up! Talon. Baby, wake up, you’re having a nightmare.”
Talon’s eyes again fly open and his head jerks to look at the face hoving over him as he again lays in his bead. A mixture of relief and confusion fill his eyes as he looks into Aubrey’s eyes and finally brings clarity to the entire situation.
(Talon): “Holy sh*t, what a nightmare.”
He says as he sits up on the edge of the bed, his eyes fixed on the wall to be sure no shadows are moving this time.
(Aubrey): “Don’t worry babe, you’re fine. It’s been a stressful few weeks.”
Talon nods as he stands up out of bed and stumbles towards the other side to embrace Aubrey,
but as she turns to comfort him, her face transforms into that of Blush. Talon's mind reels, trapped in a never-ending labyrinth of dreams within dreams, terror floods his veins as he pushes her away.
(Blush): “Baby, what’s wrong? It was just a bad dream. It’s okay now, you’re home. I know you’ve been stre-”
(Talon): “Where is Aubrey?!”
Talon shouts as he cuts Blush off. His confusion spiraling out of control as panic sets in.
(Blush): “Talon. I AM Aubrey, what are you talking about?”
Talon looks at her, and suddenly once again Aubrey stands before him. Her eyes filled to the brim with concern. She had never seen him this weak, this vulnerable. She reaches for him and Talon moves closer to embrace her again.
(Talon): “What the f*ck is happening to me.. Babe, I’m in too deep this time…”
(Aubrey): Shh.. babe, you’re not superman. It’s okay to need help. Just remember…”
Talon feels Aubrey’s embrace, her arms wrap around him and pull him in close, but as she does a sudden chill fills the air and another chill shoots down his spine as he feels the embrace change into the unmistakable grip of The Malphas.
(Malphas): “You’ll always be safe in my arms.”
Talon jerks awake in a cold sweat, gasping for air. His heart pounds in his chest as he frantically scans the room, praying for familiarity. Relief washes over him as he realizes he is finally awake, next to Aubrey.
He clings to her, trembling with fear and confusion, yet finding solace in her presence.
(Aubrey): “...what’s wro – is everything okay?”
Aubrey’s voice is filled with confusion as she is barely awake, but feeling Talon clutch her so tightly she can feel something is off.
(Talon): " …I had the most disturbing dream. It felt so real, like I was losing myself."
Aubrey holds him tight, her touch grounding him in the reality he so desperately craves.
(Aubrey): "It was just a dream, baby. You're here with me, and I'm here with you. We'll get through this together."
Talon's heart gradually slows its frenzied rhythm as he allows himself to be comforted by Aubrey's embrace. As Talon drifts back to sleep she whispers and kisses his forehead.
(Aubrey): “You’ll always be safe in my arms.”
Message Thread
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