OBSCURE-chapter one.

"There can be as much value in the blink of an eye as in months of rational analysis." Malcolm Gladwell

Did he drink too much last night? No, wait.. he never even went out last night. He had gone to work early that day and worked several hours overtime to make up for some leave he had taken off. Yes, that's it. Then why was his head pounding, his lungs burning, and why did his entire body feel so sore? As if he had been thrown around like a rag doll - wait a minute.. His eyes were closed yet he could see something: haunting silver eyes that seemed to pierce his soul. No sounds came from his surroundings but his mind heard a muttered curse. Blackness. Oh, so that's what had happened. It was as if he had somehow memorized different tidbits of information, so they could be recollected afterwards. Had he been mugged? Anthony Santiago wasn't really sure of anything at the moment. He groaned softly, trying to reach up to touch his forehead - when he realized his arms were restrained. After a quick test, he realized his legs were, too.

"What the-" He tried, but his words were raspy and his own saliva felt like acid burning the back of his throat. Was this what it was like to die? He tried to crack an eye open but the light that stole in was too much. He began to struggle - as much struggling as he could considering his current state, anyway - but to no avail. The straps (at least he assumed they were straps) were too strong, they did not surrender an inch.

"Easy, Mr. Santiago." A voice said, male, very deep. Anthony's thoughts were fragmented, only little bits and pieces of the sentences he was trying to think. "Struggling won't get you anywhere. It'll be much, much better if you just go along with what we need you to do, ya hear?" He tried opening his eyes again. One managed to crack open, and while the light was blinding for a moment, he managed to pick out three figures before letting the lid slide shut. "I see you peeking at us!" There was a playful note.

"Shut it, J.T." Someone hissed, female, the voice was so quiet he almost missed it. In his current state it seemed like every sound was picked up by his suddenly oversensitive hearing.

"Aw, Nyx, you're just mad because you couldn't kill the guy." The male replied, who Anthony decided must be 'J.T.' He seemed to be mocking whoever it was that was with him. The woman.

"I had no choice. La'thi would have my head served on a silver platter at the next festival if I killed the 'chosen.'" She snapped, disgust rife in her tone. He couldn't get his eyes to open, so he did not know who the woman was or what she may have looked like.

"Wouldn't that be a nice sight." He heard, in a low murmur. Apparently, the woman either missed it or ignored it.

"He shouldn't be waking up this early. The spell should have lasted at least-" The woman said,. 'Nicks,' was it? No, that sounded weird. Or at least, looked weird. Some weird spelling? A nickname?

"That is the power of the Chosen." A new voice, also female. The tone almost seemed accusatory, kind of like a 'duh' tone. "They can override any of our spells, lucky for us he doesn't know how."

"Yet he still woke up early." The other said, doubt still evident in her voice. What was happening? Chosen? Was this some kind of a cult? Anthony prayed he wasn't some kind of a sacrifice for some made-up god. Even so, he was unable to do anything.. it was too much to even try.

"Means they must have some kind of built-in self-preservation instinct or something. I dunno. You'd have to check with Chance, he's more into history. I only know any of this because I might have copied off a few of his pages." The newer one said. Anthony wished he could see what was going on, rather than lying on what could have been a table or the floor to his knowledge. The pain had receded to a dull throb in the background.

"I told you not to harm the Chosen." A new voice. He could feel the power radiating from it, sense the air of nobility that whoever it was carried like a silken cape. The presence seemed to fully capture all attention. "Why is he restrained so? You were too rough on him, Nyx." The last part seemed disapproving, and again, he could almost sense a rising feeling similar to indignation in the one he had addressed.. yet he could not see, how was it he could-

"I had no choice." Her voice had lowered considerably, defensive yet almost challenging.. how could one challenge another with such natural power? He could feel it, he felt it in the air and even within his own self - wait, what the hell? This was crazy talk, now. He had to get out of here, he had to get out now. That thought seemed to fuel something inside, and he flung himself forward - it was as if there were no restraints at all - eyes snapping open and it felt as fire was in his lungs as he landed flat on his stomach. With a small grunt, he was about to jump back to his feet and make a run for it - had a new weight not have landed on him so suddenly.

The air rushed painfully out of his lungs with a sharp gasp, his mouth opened to vainly struggle to capture more air.. more precious oxygen.

"Nice try. Nyxie-Pixie here kind of ruined the effect." The voice he had heard first. He could see now, and looked up to see who it was. The man had an extremely dark complexion, though it looked as though his skin tone was actually more of a tan, but his face had a lot of grime on it - like grease when working on a car - and darkened it. Amber eyes watched him with amusement. "Nyxie-"

"J.T. Enough." The other male voice. The powerful one. Anthony tried to crane his neck to look but the way the woman was pinning him down on his stomach made it impossible. "Nyx. Build a barrier and it will be fine - further damage can not be risked. We need this. We need him." A moment's pause - reluctance. Slowly, the woman stood, relieving Anthony's back of her weight - which was surprisingly light.

Anthony, too, paused. He stood. He realized he no longer had his jacket, but everything else was intact. He looked.

The moment his gaze came in contact with the one who radiated power, everything else faded away. He felt an intense heat he had never felt before.. pure power. So.. strange. But nice, very nice. His body wanted more, his inner being needed more. Craved it above most all else. Suddenly he felt separated from his own body, as if his mind had shelled itself off in a cave from the rest of the world - yet still observing everything. It was as if something else had temporarily taken control of his actions. He could feel it, the way it was naturally drawn to the power.. yes, it had much power of its own.. but it needed more.

He didn't even take in the features of the man, only seeing things in light, pure light, pure power. It needed power, which was right in front of it. So close. Close, too, was another thing it needed much, but it needed power before it could get to that. This was a valuable source. Power. It needed power, needed to take from another before it could be taken from itself. Need. Needed power. Power.

Power. The 'thought process' was getting repetitive. He, Anthony, thought this, feeling oddly sentient, not seeming to fully register the fact it was as if he was not in control. For in a way, he wasn't. So consumed by something, compelled to act and give in.

It needed power, it was so close. Suddenly, a burst of light, and then blackness..

..Power.

Nyx was stunned. Of course, she wasn't about to show that. Never had she seen such a direct action.. No one had ever been able to penetrate - waitaminute.

Not an eye blink later she struck. Her split second distraction was worrisome, but she would meditate on it later. He had.. tried to take from La'thi? No. Impossible. Regardless, he had to be restrained, even further than he had been before. She had glimpsed what lay within him, and half of her was screaming for her to destroy it now, the other half..

Blue light overpowered the bright red light that had burst from the Chosen. He was inexperienced, and knew nothing of how to control his power. It would work for her advantage in this instance, but would cause trouble in the future, she knew that from common sense. Remembering La'thi's orders, she was careful to let him float to the ground from where she had pressed him against the upper wall. However, he hadn't put up a fight and she had overtaken him with ease. Good. Good.

Something else was at work here, she thought, remembering the split-second scene she had glimpsed. Something had changed.. Nyx did not know what had changed, however. She could not think any further on it until later.

Careful to conceal her spiked heart rate and unsteady breathing with a slow, yet silent, deep breath, she glanced towards La'thi for any new orders or instruction. Judging from his narrowed, unfocused eyes, the Chosen would get to sleep in the dungeon tonight.