Ch3 - Taken

Fear can kidnap your soul, and hold it hostage. Not all can afford the ransom.

Walking down the street was a young woman.

She had pitch black hair, strongly contrasted by her hot pink eyes.

She was wearing a short dress, of a leathery material.

It was tight to her skin, and exaggerated her feminine features.

She was also wearing long leather boots up to just above her knees.

She walked proudly, with her head raised high, and an attention drawing hip swing.

Her attention was momentarily caught by a man.

He looked sketchy, by any definition.

She made sure not to stare, as she kept walking.

Suddenly a sack was pulled over her head.

She struggled to escape, but her arms were grabbed.

She came to in a room, the walls were gray and oddly bright.

Light seemed to emanate from nowhere.

Her arms were tied behind her back, and to a pole.

She looked about, not seeing whomever had brought her here.

She opened her mouth trying to shout yet nothing came out.

Something was wrong with her voice.

She kept trying to scream shout something.

Instead tears streamed down her face.

Suddenly two dark figures appeared.

They were shadowy, and she couldn't see or make out their faces.

They were encircling her, she swore they spoke but she didn't hear real words.

She tried to plead with them to release her, yet still her voice didn't work.

One encroached closer, before grabbing the top of her dress, and ripping it.

She tried all she could to plead, scream, anything.

She struggled with all her might yet nothing.

Suddenly the two men vanished.

Standing a few feet behind them was a young male.

He had pitch black hair, and red eyes.

He was looking about before spotting her.

He walked closer, and she kicked her feet trying to protest.

"Calm down, I won't hurt you." He said his tone calm.

He went behind her and untied her hands, then sat down next to her.

She looked to him, and rubbed her wrists as she looked perplexed.

"Look, normally I just wake people up, but I need to talk to somebody."

He looked defeated, and depressed.

She looked about, there were no exits.

She wanted to run something.

He looked to her, "This is a dream. Or... Well, it was a nightmare.

That's why I'm here."

She felt confused by that info, yet it made sense.

She looked to him, and put her hands on her lap to listen.

He smiled a bit, before speaking.

"I just moved into the city, and today was my first day at the new school.

However I was told I'm a nightmare demon..."

She tapped her chin trying to think if she'd ever heard of such a thing.

He continued, "It isn't a common demon.
But now I just feel confused.

Apparently my very presence causes people to commit suicide.

People around me get nightmares constantly.

Now I have to attend some specialty school."

The girl's face lite up, and pointed to herself.

He looked to her, "Hm?

Do you attend that school?"

She nodded, and smiled.

"Is it a nice school?"

She opened her mouth a bit, but instead bit her bottom lip softly.

He chuckled, "Sounds great. I can't wait." the sarcasm obvious.

She chuckled at his sarcasm.

He looked to her, "Now I wish people remembered me from their dreams.

It'd be nice to start school knowing someone."

Her smile faded, but she gently touched his leg and smiled again.

He looked to her, "If I see you, I'll say hello.

We should probably leave this nightmare."

She tilted her head a bit, not sure how to do that.

"No worries. I'm rather well practiced at this."

He gently placed his hand on her shoulder.

"Your dress is still ripped.

Wake up."

Her eyes had glanced down at her tattered dress, before the dream shattered.

----

Lanz laid on his bed, staring up at the ceiling.

The room was still dark, it was still night.

He rolled over and grabbed his bag pulling it closer.

He ruffled thru it, before putting out a pair of pants.

He then got up, only in his underwear and pulled his pants on.

He then grabbed a t-shirt, and slipped it on.

He stood up, stretching a bit.

He'd never slept all the way thru the night.

He wondered if nightmare demons actually needed sleep.

It felt more like he just laid down and jumped into other people dreams.

He walked barefoot and left his room, pausing to glance into his cousin's room.

His cousin slept soundly, he wondered why he seemed immune to the affect he had on people.

He went to the door, and slipped on some shoes before leaving.

He walked in the dark of the night, down the street.

The air was beginning to get colder as the seasons changed.

His mind wondered as he walked.

Perhaps the school could teach him how to control his abilities.

Perhaps they'd teach him things he'd never have known.

Controlling his abilities would be nice.

He'd left home not long after his mother died.

Mostly because the rest of his family was becoming increasingly depressed.

It hadn't occurred to he was the cause.

Instead his uncle had simply suggested him and Kanzo explore the world.

It seemed an innocent enough suggestion.

They were the oldest, and the house was feeling crowded.

They randomly had contact, but they were moving constantly.

Kanzo wouldn't tell him why.

And had seemed just as surprised by the info that he was a nightmare demon.

What did a nightmare demon do?

There were a plethora of demons, each was unique.

Unique abilities, and talents.

And among those there were the extremely gifted and talented.

Kanzo claimed to be a prodigy of his breed.

Lanz didn't know if that was true or simply boastful.

Lanz kept walking, and a small group of males suddenly cut him off.

They were blocking his path, and with the five of them gave an air of intimidation.

"Hey man, gonna have to fine you."

Lanz looked to them, "Fine me? For what?"

Two chuckled, "For entering our turf without permission."

Lanz looked to each one, "I don't have any money." he said before looking to the ring leader.

"That so? Guess we'll just have to check.

Search him."

Lanz did nothing as one of the guys began to pat him down.

The guy then reached in and pulled his mother's necklace out of his pocket.

"What's this?" the guy said showing it off.

Lanz's eyes went wide, "Wait, give that back.

It was my mother's." he said reaching for it.

The ring leader laughed, and snatched it first.

"Do I look like I give a s**t?

This should cover the cost of your fine.

Now beat it."

Lanz growled a bit, "No, give it back!" he said moving to take it.

Two goons blocked him.

The ring leader laughed, "Boys, show this whelp what we do to trespassers."

One goon suddenly punched him in the gut, and Lanz doubled over in pain.

He gripped his stomach, as a guy grabbed him from behind and threw him on the ground.

They then encircled him, and began beating him.

The ring leader kept laughing.

Lanz took the punishment for a bit, as his growling intensified.

Suddenly his hands began to turn black.

The black spread over his arms, and soon it was covering his whole body.

The goons backed up, confused.

Lanz got up growling, only his red eyes remained as piercing darkness.

He grabbed the closest goon's leg, who's eyes turned red as he started screaming.

The goon screamed and screamed.

Lanz reached for another, who jumped back.

Lanz then lunged tackling him.

The male's eyes also turned red as he began screaming in agony.

The two others ran, as the one who was grabbed collapsed to the ground.

Still screaming in agony.

The ring leader looked to Lanz.

"What did you do to them?" he asked.

Lanz stood again, his black form staring at the leader.

He held out his open palm.

A dark hissing and raspy voice spoke, "Necklace." he said.

The ring leader cautiously dropped the necklace into his hand.

From the necklace the black faded, and eventually he looked just as he did before.

The ring leader looked completely perplexed.

"What the f--k was that?" the leader asked.

Lanz looked to the two on the ground.
Their screaming had faded, but they seemed to writhe in agony still.

Lanz shrugged, "Dunno. I'm still new at this."

He put the necklace in his pocket, and walked away.

As he walked he thought.

He couldn't completely piece what just happened together.

He remembered it, yet it felt like his body had been acting on it's own.

He sighed, why couldn't be born the same as his family?

Their abilities were simple.

Nothing strange like this.

Why was he a freak?

Author's Note

The dream sequence is based on a friend's requiring nightmare.
She was excited that I am finally writing a story where a character based on her could be introduced without risk of being assassinated.