The Empty World | The Empty World Sequence [complete | rewriting]

One (Draft 3) "Ordinary World"

Morpheus began with a song. He didn't remember how he'd been sung into being, yet he knew that he had. Where there had been harmony, there was now noise. Newly created, Morpheus lifted his hands to his head against the cacophony of sensory input.

The field of poppies at his feet had little odor, but the sight of every individual flower triggered a series of associations: colors, numbers, Papaver somniferum, herbology, bagels, hermaphroditic, remembrance....

"I can summon Gabriel," a soft, low voice suggested.

Morpheus looked up from the ground, his eyes narrowed against the silvery light. What first appeared a pair of blurry shadows resolved into the sharply detailed figures of his creators with pale skin and dark hair. In the embrace of one, was his sister, Maya, her pairs of bare arms showing a deep blue complexion.

"Morpheus." The one who spoke he might call Mother, though she had names. Morpheus looked down on her face and another wave of association crowded his thoughts: remembrance, mounds and circles of stone, the Empty World, names that were occupations....

Morpheus drew his wings forward to shield himself.

"Morpheus," Mother called again, her voice airy and high.

"That's me." It came out a rasping whisper, so Morpheus tried again, "that's me."

"Yes, Murph." Mother touched his wing and the contact came with such a sense of spiritual energy and presence that Morpheus winced from the intimacy. There was a silence, then Mother continued, "It's OK. You're safe. Can you look at me?"

Morpheus parted his wings, then slowly lowered his eyes.

When he looked at Mother this time it wasn't so overwhelming. All those flashes of information had already been triggered. Mother lifted a hand with polished nails to brush aside a lock of her gray-streaked black hair. Her eyes were pearl black, like his own.

"Perhaps, if we move them inside." Morpheus recognized the soft voice of his other creator, who he supposed he might call his father, as he manifested somewhat masculine appearance.

Mother's eyes shifted to one side. "Give me a second, Somn."

"As you wish."

"Sigh." Mother said the word. "I mean, I don't know if that'll be any easier on them. The others will have gathered expecting us to introduce the new Children."

Morpheus tried to look at his father, but turned away at the jumble of names and symbols; he could only even identify a few: hourglass, blue, poppy stalk, winged crown....

"This must pass. Was it this way for you?"

"I was conceived in a dream," Mother said, "logical effects of biology didn't apply."

There was silence between them and Morpheus took the opportunity to just breathe. The air was warm and still and, though the flowers gave little scent, there was a hazy, earthy smell about the place. The sky was violet and, on the horizon, an orange-tinted smog obscured further detail.

"I will take Maya inside. Morpheus seems to have the worst of it. See if you may help him and then join us."

"Gotcha."

Morpheus sensed Mother's gaze must be on him and looked down.

"I have a kind of superpower," she said.

"Superpower." Morpheus repeated the curiously new word.

"Well, it's not super here." She made a flourish toward their surroundings. It seemed a mountain was sneaking up behind her. "I can show other people who they are. The self they don't always realize or admit."