dREAMSEEd

Volume 1: Alice Through The Looking Glass

“TUMBLIN’ DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE”

“You have got to be kidding me,” Arisu moaned out under her breath as she adjusted the small pack on her back for the third time since her team’s hike had begun.

In front of her, both Adam and Roko were consulting the map with a long, cylindrical torch provided to them by that horrible Ajutoki woman. After consulting it for a moment or two longer, they both walked further up the somewhat grown-over forest path until they reached its end. Stopping again, Adam flashed the torch along the thin veil of underbrush that covered and blocked the trail. After a moment, he brought the torch back to the map held between him and Roko. They began speaking lowly to each other, words that Arisu could not make out. But she was pretty sure what the two were talking about. And all it did was strengthen her annoyance.

Only about thirty minutes into the journey through the Ando Woods to OrCHARD and it seemed as if they were already lost! How was that even possible? Surely two guys who, between them, had spent more than seven years at the specialized academy – that she had once been happy and excited to go to – should have been much more knowledgeable of the surrounding countryside than either of them were now showing! It was becoming an insufferable situation for Arisu. Especially considering that she was not even sure she wanted to go to OrCHARD now. Not after what she had experienced on the commuter train. Not after dealing with Rorschach and seeing that…that monster again!

Face twisted up in an insolent glare, Arisu eyed the men in front her again as they began to push their way through the underbrush at the end of the path. She let loose with a loud sigh that managed to avoid getting their attention. Not that she really wanted it. Not that she had wanted any of the things that had happened to her since she had first boarded that train bound for the Toshiyuki OrCHARD. It was hard to believe that she had actually been excited back then. Amazing how much things could change in just a few hours.

Turning down the forest trail, Arisu allowed one of the pack straps to slip off of her shoulders and headed for a small clearing a good number of yards away from where Adam and Roko had disappeared into the overgrown bushes. Why did she have to end up with them? Reaching a single tree that was sitting in the middle of the clearing, Arisu turned around and leaned against it back first. Afterward, she relaxed her head and closed her eyes.

Tamiyaji Roko had turned out to be just as charming as he was handsome. He was extremely polite and well-mannered; everything a certain perverted American teen definitely wasn’t! Arisu could have been happy with just him alone, even if he was almost six years her senior. But thanks to that stupid Ajutoki woman, she had ended up with two others that made the situation almost intolerable.

The first was Adam Cowling, an extremely annoying boy she had gotten into a verbal sparring match with. Even though he seemed like he was born in the United States, it became apparent to Arisu after listening to him speak – which she wish for all the world she never had! – that his use of Japanese was bit too fluid for that to be true. And that meant he either was born in Japan – most likely Okinawa by the sound of certain words he had used – or had moved there when he was very young. Not that Arisu really cared one bit. As far as she was concerned, if she never laid eyes on Adam Cowling again, it would be too soon!

And then, of course, there was the second reason. Shiza Tomoko. The conflux of emotions and thoughts that surrounded the girl kept Arisu’s feelings for her drowning in a sea of doubt. She wanted to like Tomoko. She wanted to be her friend more than anything else. But she just could not do it. Not after seeing that crystal golem again; not after seeing the thing responsible for her sister’s death again. How could she be friends with a girl who wielded such a horrible reminder of that tragic event from her past? How could she give Shiza Tomoko her friendship when her memories of that day told her to hate the girl? Arisu sighed as she reopened her eyes and looked up into the sky. It was not the first time she had wished that her senpai was there to comfort her. If there was any time where she needed to hear the soothing words of Minazaki Mio, it was now.

The full moon was high in the starry, night sky and its light radiated virtually an otherworldly glow that let her see what was in front of her. If the situation had been any different, Arisu would have utterly enjoyed a night like this one. The chill on the air, the sound of the wind rustling the leaves in the trees, the occasional hoots from owls hidden in the opaque gloom cast by the surrounding shadows; all of it reminded Arisu of a secret spot back in Nagemura that she and Chise often snuck off too when their parents had gone to sleep. It was a place where it seemed that they could reach up and touch the sky, a place where they could escape from the real world and dwell in an imagined Neverland where they would always remain children and never grow up. It was place that Arisu would never forget, a hidden spot that was as close to her heart as the locket that hung around her neck.

Chise…

“Um…h-hello Niimara-san,” a light, nervous voice called out abruptly, pulling her back to a reality that she no longer wanted to be a part of. It was amazing she had managed to fight off the dogging depression for the past hour or so when she was back at the gathering site with all the other Transhumans going to OrCHARD until now.

I guess, she thought out dejectedly as her eyes met with Shiza Tomoko’s slender form. Mio-senpai and I talking helped with that some. I suppose having all those people around me, having that Ajutoki woman making me her running joke, not having to see Tomoko kept all the hurt away too. But now, it’s all coming back. What she…summoned on the train, the memories of my sister, all of it. And it hurts worse now than it did before… Why Tomoko? Why did you have to have that thing to protect you?! Why that?! Why couldn’t it have been anything but…but that?!

Before Arisu, Tomoko shifted her feet nervously as she held her own pack out in front of her with both hands. The girl looked much the way that she had when Arisu had first met her, except now there was a nasty truth about her that she knew. One she wished, for all it was worth, that she did not. It was just too painful for her to accept. Especially considering how much she liked the girl.

“N-Niimara-san,” Tomoko stammered out again. “Are y-you alright? You…you look very sad.”

In her mind, Arisu grunted out a bitter laugh. Sad? She thought she looked sad?! The willowy girl before her knew nothing about how she was feeling! Nothing! Sad did not even begin to describe the horrible feelings eating away at her! Sad was a poor choice of word to use to explain what she was experiencing. A very poor choice! The girl’s lack of insight was only adding more fuel to the annoyance she had been feeling ever since she had gotten off the train. An angry fire was beginning to build in Arisu’s heart and the guilt lying at its core.

Though she did not want to, Arisu pulled herself away from the tree and walked forward. She stopped a few feet away from the gray dress-clad girl to regard her with a rather cold look. She really did not want to do this now. She really did not want to have this conversation. Not with the emotions that were slowly stabbing her in the heart each time her mind recalled something from her past. Especially when they were things she wanted desperately to forget. For a moment or two, Arisu’s brown eyes remained locked on the light-brown ones resting behind the over-sized lenses of Tomoko’s glasses before they narrowed slightly.

“No,” she lied stiffly, voice trembling on the edge of anger as she broke her gaze. “No, I…I’m fine. It’s just…that pervy American. You know, just one too many jokes at my expense. I guess… I think I just needed a little time to myself. That’s all.”

Please Tomoko, Arisu thought out immediately after the words had left her mouth. Please just turn and leave. I don’t want to see you right now. I can’t see you right now. All I see is that…that golem you control! I just can’t deal with you right now. Definitely not now. So please…just go!

But Tomoko did not move from her spot. Hands holding her pack shyly in front of her, she tried to make her expression understanding; compassionate even. All it did was add more fuel to the fire burning menacingly within Arisu.

“O-Oh,” Tomoko quickly replied, trying to keep any silence from falling between them. Her fingers fidgeted about nervously as they maintained a loose hold on the straps of the pack. “I-I thought th-that you might still be s-sad. From… From the train, I-I mean.”

Without warning, the anger burning inside Arisu flared wildly. It carried over easily into her voice.

“What do you know about that?!”

Tomoko seemed taken aback by the almost sneering response from the short-haired girl in front of her.

“N-Nothing,” the lanky, bespeckled girl said abruptly, voice and movements alike becoming quiet and mousy. “I…I mean, I d-did see you talking to…to th-that older girl. A-And I…I also saw y-you crying as…as she was h-holding you. I simply a-assumed –”

“Assumed what?!” Arisu interrupted, tone carrying more heat than it had before.

The willowy girl’s booted feet shuffled about nervously. Her hands tightened around the straps of the pack she held. Tomoko’s light-brown eyes widened behind the thick lenses of her glasses. She gulped twice before responding.

“Well I… That is, we… I-I mean, when w-we first met and…and were sp-speaking with each other, y-you became very s-sad when you made mention of…of y-your sister. So, I-I simply assumed th-that you –”

“M-My…my sister…?”

Tomoko seemed confused at first when Arisu interrupted her again, but she maintained her weak smile. Arisu felt her teeth grind against each other unconscionably. It was obvious to her that the girl was trying hard to look past her growing agitation and find a point that the two could connect on; something that they both shared in common. But Tomoko’s desperation to reach her was blinding the girl to the fact that Arisu did not want her around.

Yet even with the anger inside burning feverishly, Arisu forced herself to take a deep breath. She closed her eyes for a second or two and made herself calm down. The desire to lash out at the girl before her was twisting around her insides in ways that made her feel ashamed to be human. Here was Shiza Tomoko, a teenager who was extremely introverted and shy, trying to be there for her; trying to be a friend. And all she could do was take all of her earlier frustrations and embarrassments out on her. Even with the memories of her sister jabbing her in both heart and mind like jagged shards of broken glass, there was simply no excuse for her to be as rude as she was being. What was she doing? What was wrong with her?

“Look,” Arisu began as she swallowed both anger and pride. It felt like a rush of bitter bile sloshing down her throat. “I…I’m sorry about how I’m acting. It’s…it’s just been a long day and everything’s getting to me. The stuff on the train,” Arisu felt a sudden torrent of anger rush through her but she crushed it down, “all that crap with that Ajutoki woman and that porny American; it’s just been…everything. I…I’m so on edge right now that it’s not even funny.”

Tomoko’s face seemed to brighten with understanding and the anger within Arisu surged again.

“Hey,” Arisu quickly said in an attempt to keep the willowy girl from speaking as well as trying to blindside her growing irritation. “Would you mind just leaving me alone for a bit? You know, so I can have a little time to get my head together?”

Please Tomoko, Arisu intoned inwardly. Just go! Leave! I don’t want to hurt you! I don’t want to say something that I might regret! So please just leave me alone!

But once again, Tomoko remained where she was; not moving an inch away from Arisu. The frail-looking girl’s head had lowered diffidently; light-brown eyes cast toward the grassy ground beneath her feet. Her lips moved awkwardly as she said, “Is…Is that wh-what you…what y-you really w-want, N-Niimara-san? To…To be l-left alone?”

Arisu tried to push some semblance of friendliness into her voice, but she knew that she had failed. That anger and guilt she had fought back was still simmering just beneath the surface. And she knew that one wrong word from Tomoko would bring it back to a vicious boil.

“Well, I don’t plan on being alone forever. It’ll just be for a little while. Until I can sort a few things out, that’s all.”

Tomoko abruptly raised her head, pulling her eyes from the forest floor. Arisu immediately noticed that the girl’s lissome face no longer held that understanding expression. It was now troubled and pained.

“N-No!” she exclaimed, face supporting the heavy lenses of her glasses scrunched and eyes seemingly on the verge of tears. Her hands were taut around the straps of her pack. “Niimara-san, y-you cannot b-be alone! N-Nothing good ever…e-ever comes fr-from being alone!” Tomoko’s voice suddenly grew quieter as her eyes took on an even sadder, far-off look. “I…I know th-this to be tr-true…”

Anger and guilt pushed aside temporarily, Arisu had no idea what to make of the teen in front of her with twin ponytails. Or even, for that matter, what to say.

“T-Tomoko…? I…uh…” Arisu sighed loudly and then raised a hand up to her head uneasily, scratching her scalp as she looked down at the ground. “You know, I really don’t understand what you’re trying to say. I’m not saying I want to be alone forever. I just need some time to myself. I think you’re blowing this a little out of proportion.”

The next words that came out of Tomoko’s mouth, as tripped up and hesitant as they were, surprised Arisu as their tone were carrying none of that earlier meekness.

“I…I am n-not,” the slender girl stammered defiantly. “I-I k-know…I know wh-what it f-feels like to…t-to be alone, Niimara-san. S-So please, d-do…do not b-belittle me by…by believing th-that I do n-not know a-about what…what I-I sp-speak.”

Arisu found her eyes rising from the ground and centering themselves squarely on the girl in front of her. The anger within her spiked and this time, she did not try to cover it up.

“I…I didn’t say that! I just don’t see what you’re getting at or going with this! I just need some damned space! Is that too much to ask?!”

“B-But why, Niimara-san?!” Tomoko practically cried. “Why…do y-you need to b-be alone? Wh-Why do you w-wan –?”

“Because of you, alright!” Arisu interrupted furiously, dark eyes glittering. “It’s all because of you, Tomoko! YOU! That’s why I want to be alone! YOU’RE the reason! Okay?!”

Tomoko’s face scrunched up again; the heartbreak that she was experiencing radiating from behind the thick lenses of her glasses.

“Wh-what!? B-But…B-But wh-why…?!”

If Arisu noticed any of the emotional torment she was putting the girl through; she was not showing any remorse because of it. She was firmly in the grip of her anger now. There was a fire within her that she did not want quelled. She wanted to lash out, she wanted to hurt someone! Unfortunately for the girl in front of her, she was that someone. And right now, Arisu could give a damn about how Shiza Tomoko was feeling.

“Be…Because of that thing you called to protect you, that’s why!”

For a moment, Tomoko’s tearful expression became questioning and then her glistening, light-brown eyes widened behind her glasses. “B-But… Y-You…you c-cannot mean…Yoroi?!”

“What else could I be talking about?!”

Tomoko’s expression saddened further, eyes becoming more disbelieving with each word that fell from Arisu’s mouth. They struck her with the weight of an anvil. Her taut grip on the straps of the pack loosened. She took a shuddering step back, shaking her head in disbelief of Arisu’s words; her lips trembling with a jittery response.

“Y-You…you c-cannot…you cannot mean…th-that, N-Niimara-san. Pl-Please tell…tell m-me…th-that…that…that… Wh-Why…? H-How c-can you…can y-you say some…something s-so terrible? H-How?!”

The tone of Arisu’s voice did not change. The anger present in it was enough drive home her point with a ruthless sort of ease. Somewhere deep within, Arisu could feel her heart breaking as she heard herself deliver those vicious words her roused bitterness was forcing from her mouth.

“Be-Because it’s the truth! Now get away from me! Just…just leave me alone…!”

Tears now truly beginning to fall from her eyes, Tomoko said nothing else as she dropped her pack, hurriedly turned away from Arisu and ran off aimlessly into the dark, shadow-swathed forest surrounding them. Her angry eyes followed the slim girl until she was swallowed up by the gloom of the woods and then Arisu curved her head and stared off blankly to her side. There. She had done what needed to be done. Reaching up absently, Arisu irritably wiped away a lone tear that had begun to trace a path from the corner of her eye.

It…it had to be done, she convinced herself guiltily, staring down hard at the pale, moonlit ground beneath her feet as her anger began to wane and subside. It…it was…was the only way. Th-The only way…to…to…stop the…memories…

She stood there, rooted in place; unable to make herself move. All alone. Again. Just like before. She wanted to be alone. But she hated being alone. She cared about Tomoko. But she hated the girl for having that golem aid her. She loved her sister unconditionally. But she hated her for running off like that. Why did she do that?! Why did she run away from her when she told her that?! All she wanted was to be alone that on that day too! That was all! She had just wanted to be alone! It was not her fault then and it was not her fault now!

Slowly, the guilt lurking just at the edge of her consciousness began to subsume the rage that had outlived its usefulness.

An eternity seemed to pass. She remained where she stood, crippled by things said and done. The sound of footsteps brushing silently against the soft, grassy earth touched suddenly Arisu’s ears. But still, she did not move. She just stood absolutely motionless. Mind trapped in that maddening loop of forcefully persuading herself that she had done what was right – by herself and by Shiza Tomoko. Each time it looped, however, the guilt within her grew. And as the guilt grew, it forced Arisu to remember more things about that day she did not wish to recall.

“Hey,” a familiar voice called out to her. She ignored it. It had to be done…

The figure approaching halted in his steps and raised an empty hand to his head.

“Oh come on,” Adam stated in an annoyed tone as he scratched the scalp under his blond hair absently. “You can’t still be pissed about earlier. Look. I’m sorry, okay? I didn’t mean to make fun of you staring at Ajutoki-sensei. I was just trying to, you know, break the ice and make a new friend. Afterall, you don’t want to be alone, right?”

Alone. Arisu cringed visibly at that word as it came from Adam’s mouth. But he did not seem to notice and continued to talk.

“I mean, a new school, a new place to call home, you’re going to have to make friends sooner or later, right? Friends are the most im – ”

“Shutup.”

Adam stopped talking when he realized what she had said and gazed a questioning glance at Arisu’s back.

“Huh? What did I say this time? All I was saying is that you need to have friends if – ”

Arisu never looked up from the ground, but her voice was suddenly a raw mix of once-forgotten anger interlaced with both remorse and anguish.

“I said shutup!!! What do you know?! Huh?! Just what the hell do you know about any of it?!”

The young man’s face was a mask of confusion, touched at the edges by a dawning antagonism.

“Alright, hold on,” he began, taking a slow step forward. “I don’t know what the hell you’re going on about or what’s wrong, but you need to stop taking it out on me!” Pausing a moment in his words, Adam glanced around the moonlit clearing, spotted Tomoko’s discarded pack and then returned his attention to Arisu. “Wait a minute, isn’t that Shiza’s pack? Where is she? Niimara? Niimara?! Didn’t you hear me? Where is she? Do you even know?”

At that moment, Arisu turned her body around fully to face Adam, raising her tear-streaked eyes from that long stare at the ground. Her expression was carrying every bit of the weight that the guilt of her actions was beginning to burden her with; all the weight that her awakened memories of one tragic day were saddling heavily on her heart. Arisu’s tone could not be anymore regretful.

“I…I told her to go away.”

Adam’s blue eyes widened in unhidden bewilderment.

“Y-You did what?”

Arisu’s voice did not change, nor did the look on her face. The memories of that day were superimposed over the actions taken just a few minutes ago.

“I told her to go…to go…away. I just w-wanted to…be alone. I told her it was be-because of that…that thing and I c-can’t be friends with…with someone who has any…anything to do with it. My…sister… Alone… I…just…can’t…”

“Are you stupid,” Adam screamed out in an angry, questioning tone. “Do you realize how little sense you’re making right now?! Do you even have any idea what you’re saying?!”

The memories swelled in her head. Arisu nodded stiffly. She felt like she was going to drown.

“Y-Yes.”

About that time, Roko made his way into the clearing with the map and torch still in his hands. His handsome face was already full of questions.

“Hey, what’s going on over here? Why are you yelling, Cowling-kun?”

Pointing a stiff finger at Arisu’s unmoving form, the blond-headed foreigner cast livid eyes at her.

“Why don’t you ask her?! She’s the one who told Shiza to go away, or so she says! Go ahead! Ask her!”

Roko’s expression grew concerned as he turned his midnight black eyes to Arisu.

“Niimara-san,” he asked in a soft, soothing voice. “Is what Cowling-kun said true? Did you tell Shiza-san to go away?”

Arisu nodded her head again, but said nothing in return. Why would they not stop? Why were those memories tormenting her now of all times?

Adam’s mouth opened menacingly, but Roko spoke out first to counter what he was sure to be another angry retort. “But,” he pushed mildly in an understanding tone. “Why would you do something like that, Niimara-san? Did something happen between the two of you? Why would you just tell her to go away?”

Arisu averted her pained eyes to Roko for the first time since he had arrived.

“Because,” she stated miserably. “I…I just had to. I just…wanted to be…alone…”

Before either Adam or Roko could respond to Arisu’s cryptic answer, a loud growl sliced through the chilly, night air followed by a girl’s scream. A look of serious concern and worry quickly etched itself across both of the men’s faces as their eyes fell upon Tomoko’s abandoned pack. But Arisu’s expression never once changed, never once hinted at anything else but aggrieved guilt.

“Dammit,” Adam cursed loudly as he bolted off toward the dark tree line, moving hurriedly in the direction the growl and scream had come from without giving it a second thought. “Come on Tamiyaji!”

Adam was already well past Arisu when Roko pulled his eyes off of her reluctantly and dashed after the blond-headed young man.

“Don’t worry,” he uttered quickly, moving away from her in a rush to follow Adam before he swallowed up by the darkness of the forest. “We’ll find her. Everything will be all right. This isn’t your fault.”

With that, they both disappeared into the shadows of the sparse tree line behind her. And Arisu just stood there, not moving a muscle; frozen by her self-loathing and a new, emerging sense of fear. Inside her head, Roko’s words had triggered whirling thoughts that were adding even more weight to the doubt she was feeling. This isn’t your fault. Tears that had stalled began to leak from Arisu’s eyes again. Was Tomoko all right? This isn’t your fault. Slowly, they widened as a heart-rending realization dawned. Her hands rose to her mouth, trembling fingers brushing against her lips, hovering there as another piercing growl tore through the air. What was that? Was…was it near Tomoko? Had Tomoko run into whatever that was when she had…had… Oh no! What had she done?! This isn’t your fault. Whirling her head around in the direction she believed that Adam and Roko had run off in, Arisu stared into the darkness of the tree line with frightened eyes. It was her fault! All of it! What had she been thinking, doing something so terrible like that?! This isn’t your fault. Yes it was! Her words and her actions were what had driven Tomoko away in the first place! How could she have been so stupid! Adam was right about her! And Tomoko was going to get hurt because of…of her!

Dropping the pack from her other shoulder completely, Arisu ran from the clearing and into the blackness of the tree line as it fell to the ground. She dashed through the trees as fast as she could, heart pounding loud in her ears and hard feelings of guilt racing through her frantic mind. Low-hanging branches and brambles snagged at her clothing, but she did not care. It was all her fault! What she had said to Tomoko was what had made her run away! It was the reason she was in trouble now! All because of her! It was going to be all her fault if something happened to the girl! Just like before! Just like that day!

Another loud roar echoed out over the night, closer than before. She must be headed in the right direction, she had to be! Right behind the growl, the sound of two other voices followed; emotional and furious yells coming from the young men who had raced off after the mistake that she had made. But…was Tomoko okay?! The girl was not screaming anymore! Did that mean…NO! She had to be okay! She just had to be! If she were not, Arisu would never forgive herself! Thoughts becoming even more panicked than before, Arisu pushed her body harder. It was happening again! It was going to be just like before!

Within seconds she broke into another clearing, this one larger than the previous one. The first thing to catch her eyes was Tomoko’s limp form lying haphazardly across the ground. Arisu froze immediately, eyes large and fearful. T-Tomoko? NO! Mind pushing her feet to move again, Arisu rushed across the clearing to where the slender teen lay immobile. She was only vaguely aware of Adam and Roko’s presence; the two were near the center of the clearing, apparently confronting a large, dark shape and doing what they could to keep it at bay. Fields of glowing energy surrounded both of them. But Arisu did not care. Only one thing mattered to her, only one person. It’s all my fault! ALL OF IT!!!! So caught up in her guilty thoughts, she never heard Adam screaming out at her.

“No! Wait! Stop! Don’t go near her! SHIT! Watch out Tamiyaji, it’s moving!!!”

But Arisu did not hear him, and even if she had, she would have ignored him. The guilt boiling in her heart would have pushed her forward regardless. Her anger at being so insensitive to a girl who only wanted to be her friend slashed deep gouges into her mind. Arisu could hear the blood pumping through her veins, she could feel her breath growing short as her lungs struggled to take in and expel air in semi-regular intervals. She had to reach Tomoko! She had to make sure that she was okay!

Suddenly, a deep, guttural growl coming from somewhere near the center of the clearing assaulted her ears. Arisu only had enough time to begin to turn her head in its direction before detecting a huge, dark shape loping toward her out the corner of her eye. Another growl leapt forth from the creature’s snout, this time seeming closer than before. Arisu refocused all of her attention on getting to Tomoko, pushing her body as hard as she could. The heavy footfalls against the soft earth grew closer and closer. Arisu forced her legs to go faster. I have to reach Tomoko! I can’t let it be like before! Not again! I have to –

Arisu’s thought was interrupted when something tackled her from the side, grabbing hold of her body and dragging her down to the ground. To her left, her eyes caught a brief glimpse of the large creature that had been coming up behind her. It loped past on all fours, then brought itself to a halt between herself and Tomoko’s prone form and turned to face her and whoever had knocked her out of its path. Mind distraught at her failure to reach the other girl, Arisu frantically struggled to free herself from the grip of one of the two men who were on her team; slapping at the arms wrapped around her waist and kicking out vainly at nothing.

“LET ME GO!!!” she screamed out angrily. “I HAVE TO GET TO TOMOKO! I HAVE TO HELP HER!!! IT’S ALL MY FAULT!!! I CAN’T LET IT HAPPEN AGAIN!!!”

The calm voice of Tamiyaji Roko tried to sooth her guilt-wrought rage.

“Niimara-san,” he pleaded lightly, fighting to keep hold on her thrashing form. “Niimara-san, please try to calm down! We’ll get to her, I promise! But first we have – ”

Roko’s words were cut short by the point of Arisu’s elbow as it smashed into the side of his jaw brutally. His arms loosened quickly from around her waist as his hands rose to his face in stunned surprise. Lifting herself from the ground, Arisu moved a few paces away from him and then stood erect to face off against the growling form keeping her from reaching Tomoko. Her dark-brown eyes were narrowed and her mouth was quivering with barely contained fury. At her sides, she had balled her hands into trembling fists. In front of her, the creature – a bear – bent low, then rose up on it’s hind legs and gave off a loud growl that seemed more a warning than anything else. Arisu’s face darkened.

“No,” she shouted out at the animal more than twice her size. “Not this time! You won’t get away with it this time! I won’t let you!” Even though it was a bear Arisu was facing off against, in her mind’s eye, all she saw was that horrible golem of crystal and death. The monster responsible for her sister’s murder! Her eyes flashed with hatred and ferocity as she screamed, “You can’t have her! I won’t let you hurt her! Do you hear me?! I won’t let you hurt her!!! I WON’T FAIL AGAIN!!! I’LL PROTECT HER!!! I’LL SAVE HER FROM YOU!!!!”

Without warning, a sharp pain lanced through Arisu. She groaned loudly as her knees buckled hard, almost causing her to fall down. It was like someone had pierced her through the head with a spear. Her eyes teared up practically in an instant as the pain continued to throb through her brain relentlessly. Her entire body suddenly felt like it was on fire. Every inch of her burned like she had been doused with acid. What was happening to her?! She had to get to Tomoko! Without warning, the throbbing pain burning through her began to pulsate, slowly falling in tune with her heartbeat. All time seemed to stop around her. Arisu was frozen with fear, eyes wide in confusion and anguish. What was going on?! Why was she feeling like this?! Why was this happening?!

Abruptly, a dark shape appeared before her bewildered eyes. It was formless, but long and wide; a horrible, burning red core surrounded by lightless black. She could feel nothing but raw hatred and anger radiating from it along with…with guilt. Guilt and remorse. Deep and dark emotions she had pushed away and buried long ago; repressed feelings that she no longer wanted to experience let alone remember. Heavy. It was heavy, almost oppressive. It felt like a heavy chain of metal wrapped around her heart! How could she even bear the burden of it?! How?!

The shape before her pulsated with her heartbeat, connecting with her through the hellish memories they both shared; through the pain they both endured. The heaviness became a distant sensation. It was calling out to her. It wanted her to accept it. To touch it. It wanted to be one with her. It could help her to fight, help her to protect. Help her to save what she could not save before. All she had to do was accept it into her heart and body. Tentatively, Arisu reached out for it and…

…The world unexpectedly resumed around her. The bear was back on all fours and growling with even more menace, beginning to take slow steps toward her. Behind it, Tomoko lay in an unmoving heap. Because of her! Because of her harsh and cruel words! It was all her fault!

“NO!!! I WILL SAVE YOU!!!!”

Around Arisu, the air suddenly exploded outward in a bonfire of scarlet and black energy. The grassy ground beneath her feet cratered almost immediately. A deep, penetrating wave of euphoria rolled over her, almost drowning her in unrelenting ecstasy. High in the air before her, an obscure shadow of something large rapidly swirled into existence within a large plume of crystallizing black-red flames. For a few seconds, the object hovered there within the shimmering, glass fire; growing darker and more solid as it did. Then, without any kind of warning, the spiral of crystal fire was gone, disappearing as quickly as it had appeared. What remained in its place as black as the night itself; round and heavy with an aura of despair radiating from it. With nothing to keep it suspended in the air, the object began a fast descent to the ground below.

Across the clearing from Arisu, the bear sniffed the air in fear and growled at her again. But she did not care. She was going to save Tomoko! No matter what it took!

Suddenly, the heavy form crashed down between her and the bear, its spiked form smashing itself deep into the earth it had seared in its hellish creation; its weight throwing up scorched terrain and burnt grass. The bear growled again and then paced about nervously as a dark, lustful smile slowly parted Arisu’s lips. The surface of what had fallen before her seemed to be crystalline, glossy exterior black again as the night and burning from within with an angry, red glow. The entire thing was a foot and half long; coming up well past Arisu’s kneecap. The ebon hilt took up most of the weapon’s length. It was a foot long, rough and ended with a ringed pommel where a twelve-foot barbed chain of crystal hung down. The other six inches of length were reserved solely for the wicked-looking spiked ball embedded in the ground; as wide across as it was in length. The odd-looking weapon bore more than a passing resemblance to a medieval mace, only much more twisted and looking as if it had been dragged from Hell itself. The lustrous, obsidian length of the weapon danced menacingly in her dark eyes, giving them an unnatural and wicked glint.

Behind her, Adam had rushed up to the fallen Roko and was kneeling down to check on him; making sure that he was okay. The taller man with the dark hair did not respond. One hand still pressed to his jaw, those ebon eyes were locked apprehensively on Arisu and the hideous mace-like weapon sitting between her and the still-pacing bear. Directing a frightened look at the blond-haired foreigner, Roko extended a long finger with his other hand and then pointed toward her back. But Adam did not need for the Japanese man to warn him of what had happened. He had already noticed. Rising hurriedly to his feet when he realized that Arisu was making her way toward the mace jutting up out of the ground, he opened his mouth and screamed out at her as loudly as he could manage.

“Oh God! No! Arisu…DON’T TOUCH IT!!! LEAVE THAT THING ALONE!!!”

But his desperate plea fell on her ears deafly. Without a second thought of anything else beyond saving the girl that she had hurt so badly with her words and embracing the sinful ecstasy within, Arisu quickly stooped down to grab hold of the crystal weapon’s ebon hilt with her right hand. As soon as the two touched, the unconnected end of the barbed chain abruptly snaked its way upward and wrapped itself around her arm viciously. The sharp, black barbs of glittering rock shoved themselves uncaringly into her lower limb and Arisu screamed out in both agony and elation.

Unexpectedly, the black-crimson flame surrounding her erupted into a larger bonfire than before. Frightened by the maliciously dancing flare of released anger and hatred, the bear – the catalyst for the ghastly weapon’s appearance – turned and loped off into the nearest section of trees that encircled the clearing. As it did, the red-black flames of rampaging Quintessence rose higher and higher into the night air above her, shooting up well past the top of her head. And within the fiery maelstrom of crimson and black, Niimara Arisu was awakened to the truth.

Across the soundless expanse of the pale, moonlit night sky; a girl’s hoarse scream of guilt, anguish and unhinged rapture could be heard as it echoed through the chilly air…

IN THE NEXT VOLUME OF

dREAMSEEd

Accepted into the Toshiyuki OrCHARD for Transhuman Growth and Improvement, Niimara Arisu’s journey of discovery into the strange and dangerous world of the Transhumans has only just begun. But will it be the grand adventure that she seeks or something more?

Driven into confusion by how she should feel about the quiet, willowy girl she met on the train and haunted by the memories of her dead sister, Arisu’s repressed emotions of guilt unleash a power like none she has ever experienced before. Sustained by a single-minded, obsessive fury only matched by the horrifying burden she carries within; Arisu’s rage threatens to consume not only her but everyone within the group she is assigned too. Including Shiza Tomoko, that same girl she felt so many conflicting emotions toward and – because of a terrible mistake she feels directly responsible for – is determined to sacrifice anything to save!

Can she tame her out-of-control emotions long enough to reign in the hellish force unleashed by her past remorse? Or will Arisu’s remaining teammates, Adam Cowling and Tamiyaji Roko, be forced to end of her rampage by any means necessary?

Be there for “DARKSIDE OF WONDERLAND”,

Volume Two of dREAMSEEd!!!

Atsuryoku:

(First Mentioned in Chapter 3) Quite simply, the friction/pressure created by two or more powerful moeagaru impacting and clashing against one another. It is normally an involuntary action, but a Transhuman can be taught to subdue and control it to an extent. Moeagaru of higher power tend to gain priority over the weaker ones, producing a powerful atsuryoku that literally surrounds and smothers them out. A moeagaru overwhelmed by one of higher power temporarily ‘mutes’ their ability to create a stable reiki, thus disabling their powers as a Transhuman.

Branch Accords:

(First Mentioned in Chapter 5) A rather restrictive and limiting set of regulations created to govern the growing Transhuman population. Among other things, the Branch Accords sanctioned the building of the OrCHARD training academies and the mandatory period of time required to attend. The Accords have been under attack worldwide from various civil rights groups almost since their inception.

First Growth:

(First Mentioned in Chapter 1) The initial mass mutation of mitochondrial DNA held within the mitochondrion of most human cells along with the emergence and growth of the QL Gland. It can be a very uncomfortable experience, similar in some ways to how a woman feels physically and emotionally during her monthly cycle. It is also accompanied by intense headaches and migraines. First Growth generally lasts for a span of six to eight months, though both shorter and longer times have been documented.

Moeagaru:

(First Mentioned in Chapter 4) Often called a ‘Flare Up’ at English-speaking OrCHARDs, it happens when a Transhuman pushes or forces Quintessence from their bodies. This excess energy spills over into the reiki and causes it to erupt into a literal bonfire of color, light and power. This is also amplifies the Transhuman’s Resonance, carrying it from a gentle tingling sensation to a brutal, crushing feeling that can incapacitate anyone not possessing an active reiki. It is the only way for a Transhuman to use Quintessence to interact with the surrounding world without crystallizing it into DREAMs.

The Numbers:

(First Mentioned in Chapter 3) An Anti-Human Movement terrorist group based exclusively in Japan. They were born in the wake of the Christmas Day Massacre. Known for carrying out nearly inhuman acts of violence against ‘Normals’ (a derogatory term for humans), they are hunted by both human and Transhuman authorities alike. Their most recent attack on ‘Normals’ was carried out in Chiba City. It resulted in a death toll measuring in the hundreds of thousands and a leveling of well over half the city. The Numbers are currently ranked second on the GTL (Global Terrorism List) and first on a similar list in Japan.

Quintessence:

(First mentioned in Chapter 1) It is the name given to a special type of bio-energy emitted by the chondroplasts located in Transhuman cells. Quintessence comes from the Latin words quinta essence which literally means ‘fifth essence’. By learning how to focus and channel it through their bodies, Transhumans become capable of amazing feats of strength, speed, endurance and agility, but these skills are only a small scratch on the surface of what can be accomplished by manipulating Quintessence. When they push or force Quintessence from their bodies into their reiki, it allows the Transhuman to interact with his surrounding environments in varying and incredible ways. These interactions are always accompanied by vibrant, awesome displays of color and energy which surround the Transhuman and are called moeagaru.

Reiki:

(First Mentioned in Chapter 3) Japanese for ‘aura’. It is an outward manifestation of a Transhuman’s power; a subtle, luminescent field of energy that appears whenever they are actively channeling Quintessence. Its color and appearance is believed to correlate to the Transhuman’s ‘true self’.

Resonance:

(First Mentioned in Chapter 4) The steady pulse of power emitted by a Transhuman’s reiki when they are actively channeling Quintessence. It will vary greatly depending on whichever ability they are using. A Resonance can only be felt by other Transhumans, and an exceedingly powerful Resonance (such as those caused by a strong moeagaru) can have debilitating effects on any who are too close to the source. It is unanimously agreed upon by almost all Transhumans, who have experienced such a Resonance, as a feeling of being physically crushed by an external heaviness they cannot explain. The feeling eventually subsides, but still carries strong lingering effects after being exposed to it. Only those who are actively channeling Quintessence during such a Resonance can avoid these ill-effects.

ROOT:

(First Mentioned in Chapter 5) A scholastic rank native to the every OrCHARD that covers a Transhuman student’s 3rd, 4th and 5th years at the academy, marking their continuing steps into the responsible usage of their powers and abilities. The rank is equivalent to a high school or college sophomore.

Rorschach:

(First Mentioned in Chapter 2) Believed to be pronounced as ‘raw-shock’, they are characterized (and rightly so) as a group of brutal Transhuman vigilantes who act out in the name of ‘justice’ and operate mainly in Japan. While some view them as modern-day ninjas, most – due to their murderous ideals – see them as violent thugs and unrepentant murderers. In their quest to rid the world of crime and moral decay, they are equally as vicious with humans as they are with criminals of their own kind. The Rorschach have an intense ‘black and white’ view of the world with absolutely no room for ‘shades of gray’.

SEED:

(First Mentioned in Chapter 5) A scholastic rank native to the every OrCHARD that covers a new Transhuman student’s 1st and 2nd years at the academy, marking their first steps into the responsible usage of their powers and abilities. The rank is equivalent to a high school or college freshman.

SOIL:

(First Mentioned in Chapter 1) An acronym for Symbol of Identified Latency, it is a mark issued (and usually appears in the form of a crescent moon) by the interviewers from OrCHARD in acquiesce to the both the Branch Accords and the United Nation’s Active Registry Commission, through the use of an injection gun, to those children who are C-Positive. Children marked with the SOIL are subject to enrollment at an OrCHARD nearest to their location upon their fifteenth birthday to learn how to control their unique talents in producing and controlling the bio-energy known as Quintessence.

Toshiyuki OrCHARD for Transhuman Growth and Improvement:

(First Mentioned in Chapter 1) Ordained College for Human Advancement Research and Development. It is one of the numerous expansive institutes created for the expressed purpose of training Transhumans in the use of their abilities without bringing any type of harm to the surrounding environment or the people there within. The Toshiyuki OrCHARD was the second one built – following behind the constructed in North America – and still stands today as one of the most technologically advanced. Based on a Japanese scholastic curriculum, students attending are subject to nine years of required education in not only the use of their powers, but also how to interact with the world around them as Transhumans along with the more mundane knowledges that would have normally been covered by their final high school years. After graduating, the Transhuman can attend an optional three more years at OrCHARD if they so wish it.

Transhuman:

(First Mentioned in Chapter 1) Humans whose mitochondria have undergone a mutation in which key genetic triggers and sequences have been activated, leading to a mass transformation and division of the organelles. This allows them to produce and control the bio-energy called Quintessence. As such, they have developed strange and powerful abilities that has the majority of the scientific community labeling them as the next stage in human evolution.

Transhuman Initiative:

(First Mentioned in Chapter 5) A philanthropic organization created and headed by noted British socialite, Lydia Branch; with seemingly altruistic ideals which promote cooperation between Transhumans and humans to coexist peacefully while building a more perfect world. Their motto is, “Building today for a better tomorrow”. The TranshumanInitiative has UN sanction to deal with Transhumans, and later helps with the creation of a set of ‘codes of conduct’ called the Branch Accords; which are met with both acceptance and scrutiny.