Light It Up

[Disclaimer:This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance of characters to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. The Author holds exclusive rights to this work. Unauthorized duplication is prohibited.]

. . .


“I’m moving back into my dorm suite.” Eric avoided Lauren’s eyes by closing his own, feigning to return to meditation.

“What?” Lauren opened her eyes.

“I think it’s time Sylis and I started working on that whole, getting apart from each other thing.” Eric sighed nonchalantly.

“The last time you two spent the night apart it was like dealing with withdrawing crack addicts.” Lauren laughed, “I think that you’re pushing it. If you want to start building up your tolerance, than we can start little by little, up to eight hours at a time. It isn’t going to be pleasant.”

“I know that.” Turning his head up, he snapped. “Let’s just get it done.”

“It’s going to take time, Eric.” Placing a hand on Eric’s, she gripped it even as he tried to pull it away. “He’s only been out for four six hours and you’re already getting short tempered.”

“It doesn’t matter. I’m moving back into my place and that’s final.” Eric stood up and stormed to the kitchen.

Right on his tail, Lauren catch up with him at the sink where he poured himself a glass of water. “What exactly is going on that you’re trying to hightail it out of here?”

“Nothing is ‘going on’. I’m ready to get back to my life.”

“This is your life, Eric. You can’t expect to stop training or to get rid of Sylis.”

Spinning around, Eric slammed his glace on the counter. “And why not? Got some secret information I haven’t heard about. I bonded with your golden boy like you both wanted and now I’m done playing harry potter.”

“You think this is a game?” The incredulous tone in Lauren’s voice brought laughter to Eric’s lips.

“As a matter of fact, yes. I’m clearly off my rocker. I’m going to go home, take my meds and check into a hospital first thing Monday morning because clearly you all are as crazy as I am or I’ve progressed to hallucinating people now.”

“You can’t walk out of here.”

“Yes I can. You seem to forget that I’m a free person. Now, either help me build up my ability to stay away from Sylis or I’m going cold turkey right this minute. The people at metal facilities are happy to keep away anyone that might bother me.”

“Fine I’ll help you, but you have to do this slowly or your body will go into shock.”

“Shock my ass. I just need to know what to expect and how to deal with it.”

A choked sound of mocking escaped Lauran’s throat. “First of all, calm down. Let’s sit and talk about this.”

Rolling his eyes, Eric took the seat opposite hers at the kitchen table. “Okay so what am I supposed to do.”

“You and Sylis need to talk about this. It’s not going to work if just one of you is trying.”

“Fine.” Eric nodded. “Sylis wants out as much as I do.”

“What makes you say that?”

“Trust me.”

“Okay so the first step is to start keeping you apart for longer periods of time. You may need to be restrained.”

“It’s not going to be that bad.”

“If you go to long without seeing him, It will be.” She shook her head. “Trust me you don’t want to push too far too fast. It will be bad for both of you, especially now that you guys have become increasingly aware of each other.”

“We haven’t slept together in over a week. He’s not in the apartment at night. I think I can make it through a day without him.”

“I didn’t realize you were already attempting to separate.”

“We’re two different people with two very different lives, bonding didn’t change that, just confused us for a little while.”

“Fine then. I suggest that you spend the night away. No signs or scents of Sylis. You probably shouldn’t tell Sylis where you’re going, just me. He’ll do the same.”

“Fine. Next.”

“After that we’ll talk about filtering your connection. It’s a lot like the energy exchange exercises I showed you two. That should help moderate how much you two reach through your bond, which you’re inevitably going to do when you stop seeing each other so constantly.”

“Good.” Eric stood up. “I’m going to go pack some stuff for my place then.”

Lauren watched as he exited the room. “I hope you know what you’re getting yourself into.” The scars on her wrists ached; her fingers sought to rub that memory away.

. . .

“I’m back.” Sylis called from the front door.

“In the kitchen.”

Rounding the doorway, Sylis found Lauren reading a book over her cup of tea.

“Where’s Eric.”

“He’s out for the night.”

“Where is he.”

“You’re going someplace else for the night too.”

“What are you talking about.”

“Eric wants to try separating you to further.”

“No.”

“Sylis, don’t be stubborn. Eric said you two have been working on it already.”

“He’s lying.” Sylis pounded his fist into the wall. “Where is he?”

“Calm down he’ll be back tomorrow morning.”

Shaking his head, Sylis rejected the idea. “I don’t care when you want him to come back, bring him back right now. I haven’t seen him in nearly ten hours.”

“No Sylis. You have to start building up a tolerance.”

“Fine, tomorrow night, but I need him right now.”

“No.”

“Look I’ve been pushing the edges of my tolerance for three weeks… get him back here now.”

“Why are you pushing yourself if not to build your tolerance.”

“It’s not important.” Sylis swallowed heavy and calmed his voice. “Now please, bring him back here. I won’t touch him… I just need to know he’s here okay?”

“No Sylis. It’s one night.”

“Get out.” Sylis growled. “If you refuse to bring him back get the hell out of here. Don’t come back until he’s here.” Sylis turned and stalked toward his room.

. . .

Eric cried out to the ceiling of his empty dorm. He’d already started to sweat and toss and turn. If Lauren hadn’t taken his phone he already would have called Sylis long before now. Turning back onto his side Eric looked hard at the clock. It was a very early two o’clock in the morning. He groaned and turned to his bag. There was enough left in the small vial for at least three hits.

It didn’t take long for the magical liquid to work its way through his system. The light from his alarm clock swirled and there were little hoping alarm clocks all around. The chanted “two o’clock…. Two o’clock.” Eric giggled as one alarm clock leaped over the other and the first went skittering away. He giggled and a hiccup bubbled from his throat. Suddenly there were tiny bubbles everywhere. He tapped them lightly with his hands…. Bubbles but they floated up and away.

“Need water.” Stepping down onto the carpet was like freefalling through the air and Eric made a long sigh has he billowed to the ground. Acid was the most fun drug ever. He found himself doing a million extraordinary things and it all happened in the safety of his apartment. He waded through the forest of grass that ended at his mid-thigh. Climbing through the entrance of the cave he made his way into the depths of the darkness. He suddenly ran into a wall. The wall sped toward the ground, disappearing into the unseen. “Sylis!”

“Eric, come on you need to get up.”

“Sylis what are you doing in this cave! Did the alarm clocks send for you?”

“Eric what did you take?”

“I didn’t take anything.” Eric pushed away the hand on his face and watched the worried face of Sylis bob in the darkness like the grin of a Cheshire cat. “Those damn alarm clocks are liars. They said I wouldn’t see you for a long time.”

“Eric we need to hurry. I’ve got you things but we need to get out of here, now!” Sylis was tugging him into a swirling abyss of color and suddenly they were floating in light.

“Hold on. I feel dizzy.” Eric muttered and tried to push away. There was a loud bang.

“There they are. Get them quick.”

So much movement… So much light… There was an alley that as zooming by and a Cheshire cat that smiled like Sylis taunting him all the way. Suddenly he was being pulled back, groping black tentacles were pulling him into the darkness and away from the Cheshire cat.

“Eric no. Fight! Lauren let go of me… we have to get Eric. They’ve got him.”

And nothing.

. . .

Eric groaned, his head pounding in the light washing over his face. “Jesus Christ.” His own voice boomed in his ear. Moving to cradle his pounding head, he couldn’t move his arm to his head. He tried again and looked down to find the brown restraint keeping his wrist tied to the bed. He tried to sit up but his leg restraints did let him move. “Help! WHERE THE HELL AM I.” Looking around he only saw the too bright reflection of the white walls around him. “HELP!”

“Eric, thank god!” His mother’s face appeared over his own. “I was worried when you were out longer than they’d say you’d be. I was so worried.”

“Mom, what the hell are you doing here. Let me up.”

“Oh honey, calm down. I’ll explain for a minute. Let me get one of the nurses to un-strap you.” There was the click of a door opening and the sounds of his mother calling down the hall.

“Can we help you Mrs. Morris.”

“Yes, Eric is awake. I’d like him let out of the straps.”

“Yes.” The keys in the nurses hands jingled as his wrists and ankles were released. “Now don’t sit up to quickly.” A hand at his back and one on his arm, Eric slowly recovered.

“Where am I.”

“Oh Eric, you scared me to death. You called me in the middle of the night saying you were having another break and then hung up.” She wiped her mussed brown hair behind one ear. “I flew in right away. I was so worried. The nurses said they had to tranquilize you, you were so out of it and kicking. Screaming something about a snake or something.”

Eric’s head pounded. “I don’t remember.”

She made a clicking sound with her tongue. “Of course not sweety. It’s not your fault. The doctor said your meds must not be working at that dosage so they switched up your meds.” She offered him a glass of water, helping him lift it to his cracked lips.

“How long was I out this time?”

“About half a day. I’ve been here as much as I could be.” I brought some stuff from your dorm, but they said I shouldn’t reintroduce too much to you until we’re sure that you’re stable.

“I feel so fuzzy.” Eric blinked a few times, trying to expel the weird halo of light that seemed to blur his vision.

Rubbing a hand over his back, she stared down at her son, who sat hunched over his knees. “That’s probably the medication dear, they said that you might have some problems clearing you head for the first few days.”

“Can I take a shower? I feel a bit gross.”

“Sure honey. I’ll have one of the nurses take you down to the bathrooms.”

“Mom you should go back to your hotel and rest. I’m gonna be tired for a little while with the new meds right.” The look of worry cut into his chest.

“Of course, honey. I’ll be back after you eat some lunch okay.”

“Thanks mom.”

“Love you.” She pressed a kiss to his forehead before dragging him close to her chest. “I’m so glad you’re safe.” She grabbed her purse quickly and clicked her way down the hall in her heels.

“Jesus.”

A knock at the door made him groan. “You’re mother said you’d like to shower.”

“Yes thanks.”

The nurse gave him that sweeping look, the one that said he was sizing up just how crazy and unpredictable Eric would be.

“Look man, don’t worry. I just want to shower and brush my teeth. I feel like a rat slept in my mouth.”

The nurse nodded and helped him stand.

“Sorry for the trouble. I know everyone gets nervous when a new delusional shows up.”

The man didn’t look at him. “Don’t worry about it.”

“I’m on my meds, I’ll play ball and I want to get out of here as fast as you want me gone.”

“Whatever kid, I’m just here to take you to the showers.”

The worst part of the showers was that in the psycho ward there is no privacy, just a flimsy blurry piece of plastic that lets in drafts of cold air between you and the rest of the ward. Here in these tiny stalls, chronic masturbators, and bulimics find moments of refuse. Eric was happy for his shower slippers and a few moments under the yet to become freezing water. In his mind he tried to go over the last few weeks.

He’s been going to classes. Things were normal and then he’d met that Sylis kid. Or he’d thought he met Sylis. Best not to mention him until Eric could be sure whether or not the other boy was real. The bond. Looking down at his wrist, Eric could only make out a blurry figure of his arm. Fucking pills. Maybe he could get them to up the dosage on the other stuff. There had been meditation. The guardians. The priests. His head hurt when he tried to recall so much at once. Thoughts of the night he’s been brought in just brought sharp pain into his head. “What the hell did I do?” Eric sighed and let the water run over the back of his head and down his shoulders. It felt real. The connection was real. Then again he used to think the strings were real too. It doesn’t matter if he saw it or heard it or touched it… reality isn’t what you want it to be.

. . .

R&R

. . .

POH4luv: I'm glad you're enjoying the storyline.

crazykitty: Sylis isn't exactly a kitty, just one of many shapeshifting forms he can achieve.

kylee: The tension is great, but I've got a few more curveballs for these boys before we get back hope. Hope you enjoy.