Chapter 19
Frantic footsteps echoed through the corridors of Lucas's mind, each step mirroring the pounding of his heart. The nightmare's echo lingered, and the boundary between dream and reality blurred. The urgency to find Marco intensified, fueled by an unsettling fear that the dream might unravel into reality.
Temporarily blinded by the light, Lucas burst out of the front door, the crisp morning air stinging his face. The streets of Medun sprawled before him, a complex labyrinth of possibilities and dangers. Out of desperation, in hope that the dream would stay in his mind,
He called out Marco's name. The only answer was given by a murder of crows as they took flight, distracted by the sudden shouting.
"What is happening? This can't be real… Can it? I have to find you. I have to save you…"
Lucas ran through the bustling city, each corner hiding the possibility of encountering the ominous fate he had witnessed in his dream. The weight of uncertainty pressed upon him, the boundary between nightmare and reality blurring. Fear rippled through his heart, as each bridge, each alleyway, each street, he ran down looked identical to his nightmare.
"What if I'm too late? What if this nightmare is some twisted premonition? No, I can't let that thought consume me. Marco is here. He has to be."
Lucas's breath quickened, his eyes scanning the faces of passersby with a heightened sense of desperation, each potentially holding a clue to Marco's whereabouts. The nightmare had become an unwelcome guide, urging him to prevent the impending tragedy.
"If I can find him before the bridge. Then there is still a chance."
Lucas ran with a frantic urgency. Each step carried him closer and closer. He hoped. His muscles started to burn and scream in pain. Sweat dripped into his eyes blurring his vision.
"I need to catch my breath. I can't, don't have time. Need to find Marco. "
Why couldn't he find Marco? What sort of demon had shown this nightmare?
Legs aching from exhaustion, sweat blurring his vision, Lucas turned a corner and there he was. There, leaning on a bridge, just like his dream, standing over one of the many rifts and canyons that ran under Medun, was Marco.
Marco was alive
Marco was alive…
Marco was still alive!
Marco was alive, Ricardo and Porky were nowhere to be seen. Was it truly possible to change the future?
Breathless, Lucas skidded to a halt in front of the young elf, his eyes wide with a mix of relief and disbelief. The nightmare seemed to hang in the air, a phantom echo of what could have been. Marco, unaware of Lucas's emotions, looked up with a beaming smile.
"Lucas! You found me!" Marco laughed, his voice carrying a contagious joy that cut through the lingering tension. He extended his arms wide, and without hesitation, Lucas pulled him into a tight hug, as if confirming that Marco was indeed real and unharmed.
"You little troublemaker, you gave me a scare," Lucas said with a shaky laugh, his voice betraying the lingering fear. As they separated, Lucas couldn't help but ruffle Marco's white hair, a mixture of gratitude and lingering unease coursing through him. Thank goodness Marco was safe.
Marco's golden eyes sparkled with innocence, oblivious to the shadows that clung to Lucas. "I didn't mean to. I'm sorry for the paint last night." Marco's eyes flicked with a slight worry. "You not mad? I aint know you were gonna get in trouble. "
A shaky breath of relief escaped from Lucas's lips as he smiled at Marco. The weight of the dream seemed to lift a little.
"Apology accepted, you little rascal. But seriously, I was worried sick. I'm not mad. You … you had me worried there. "
Marco's brow furrowed in genuine concern. "What happened? Why were you so worried?"
Lucas hesitated, the words from the dream caught in his throat. He couldn't bring himself to disclose the details, to burden Marco with the nightmare he had just lived through. Instead, he managed a forced smile. "Just a bad dream, kiddo. Don't worry about it. Just promise me, no more pranks, okay?"
As Marco opened his mouth to reply, the wind seemed to turn. A chill ran down Lucas's back as a shout, one born out of hate, echoed through the air.
"Lucas!"
The chilling wind seemed to carry the shout, freezing the warmth of the moment. The joy in Marco's eyes dimmed, replaced by a mirrored sense of unease as he looked at Lucas with a question forming on his lips.
"Lucas!" The voice, full of venom, repeated, closer this time, now accompanied by hurried footsteps. The rhythm of the city transformed into an ominous beat, each step of the approaching figure resonating with impending conflict.
Emerging from the shadows, was Ricardo, his brother, with a storm of anger in his eyes that matched the force of the nightmare. Behind him, Porky trailed, his face etched with nervous uncertainty.
"Lucas! The two of you thought you could just walk away free after ruining my night?" Ricardo's words spat like venom, and his gaze fixated on Marco.
Marco, sensing the tension, took a step back, his innocence replaced by a hint of fear.
Remembering the look on Marco's face as he tumbled over the railing, Lucas made up his mind. I can't let anything happen to Marco.
"Marco run," he said, voice only just loud enough for Marco to hear.
"What?" Said Marco, unsure if he had heard correctly.
"Run," Said Lucas, as Ricardo and Porky stepped closer. "Run!" Lucas shouted with an urgency, "Go and hide at home. Go… RUN!"
Realising the impending crisis, Marco turned and ran.
"Get him" Ricardo shouted at Porky, fingers outstretched, pointing towards the young elf as he got further away.
Porky's eyes shifted abruptly as Ricardo pointed towards Marco. A predatory glint flashed in Porky's eyes, betraying a mix of hesitation and eagerness.
As Porky lunged forward, Lucas's sole focus became Marco's safety. With a burst of speed, Lucas tackled Porky, their bodies colliding with a thud that echoed through the alley. Caught off guard, Porky stumbled, disoriented by the unexpected collision. Lucas, however, wasn't unscathed. A stray elbow struck him during the impact, sending stars fluttering across his vision and the taste of blood rushed into his mouth.
Seeing the tumble, Ricardo stepped forward, his hand gripping Porky's collar. In a display of brute strength, Ricardo effortlessly lifted Porky from the ground. The bewildered Porky, caught between confusion and compliance, found himself being thrown in the direction of Marco, who was still sprinting ahead.
As Porky stumbled forward, Ricardo turned his attention to Lucas, the two of them alone in the alley. The confrontation between the brothers was inevitable. Lucas, bruised but resolute, faced Ricardo with a steely gaze.
"You ruined everything," Whispered Ricardo, as rage started to bleed into his voice. "You ruined everything," Voice rising, taken over by rage. "You always ruin everything!"
Ricardo's fury seemed boundless, each swing of his fists fueled by a cold resentment. He pressed forward relentlessly, unloading a barrage of punches that Lucas struggled to evade. A stray blow landed on Lucas's side, sending a sharp jolt of pain through his ribs.
Air escaped Lucus's mouth in a hiss as he rapidly tried to recover. Ricardo's anger and frustration seemed to increase, Lucas's movement became sluggish. The elbow to the head and punch to the ribs taking their toll.
His guard wasn't secure. A punch slipped through, landing on Lucas's nose. The impact threw his head back, and subconsciously his guard down. Thoughts became foggy and time seemed to slow as another punch landed on his cheekbone. Blood? Lucas thought with confusion. Why can I taste blood? Something hit his jaw, and Lucas heard the sound of something break.What was that? One final touch on the top of his head, and Lucas blacked out.
The world faded to black in an instant, and his awareness slipped away. The threads of reality seemed to ignore Lucas as he could feel nothing, experience nothing, was nothing.
Something seemed to rip back Lucas from the void of nothingness. Hands… Hands…. Ricardo's hands coiled around his throat like snakes.
A flicker of doubt crossed Ricardo's eyes, a momentary hesitation that contrasted Lucas's struggle.
"I'm sorry" Lucas tried to say, but all that escaped his lips was a cold burble of blood that splashed upwards, hitting Ricardo in the face.
Ricardo started to squeeze, eyes cold with hate.
Lucas's hands claws desperately, trying to find some way out of this. He knew the outcome. He could picture it. His hands clawed desperately, then silence. He had seen it before. He knew what was going to happen. Could the future really change?