Finding Contentus

-Stage One- Chapter 1: Wake up

Stage One: Freed Cage and Caged Freedom

We pray that you have mercy on our souls. Please, I beg that you forgive us for being born as Two in One.

He began, by running, as fast as his legs could take him, striding with incredible speed across the vast plains. He was hungry, no, he was starving, starving for blood to quench his longing for sustenance. The air surrounding him was filled to the brim with strong aromas of enticing prey.

Why did his prey run from the inevitability of fate? Why did it struggle? The cycle of life dictates prey to be preyed upon by the predator, and yet it still continued to defy this notion. This made no sense, and yet it was fascinating.

Nonetheless, this hunger would not be subverted by the intrigue that resided within the prey's defiance, and so the running continued with increased vigor, increased power, increased ferocity.

Tlaya, tlaya. Come on, come on. He thought rigorously, religiously in his tongue. Come here, here to me. Feed me, don't escape me. Fill me, don't empty me. Let me devour you. Let me rip you. Let me break you. Let me hunt you.

The distance between them kept getting smaller and smaller. Just a few more strides and his wish would be fulfilled, the goal was in sight, the kill was within reach!

Ewe. The killer smiled, about to claim his reward. Kill. Kill. Kill!

Without warning — his kill killed him.

"Genesia!"

A loud voice disrupted the young boy from his dream of lucidity. He woke up, panting heavily and covered in frigid sweat. His heart was racing like a war hammer that battled for recognition, for hyper awareness.

He looked around, surveying the area to see exactly where he was.

Reality.

The cold reality of normality. He was back home, back in his little tent. But that dream... was it a dream? It felt so real, like he was physically there. Like he was actually running.

Like he was finally free.

With a deep sigh, Genesia turned to look at the voice that disrupted his sleep.

"Why did you wake me so early?" He asked in an annoyed tone to which the identical girl in front of him quickly brushed off.

"Because uncle Amoar told us we had special training today, remember? Besides, you're always a deep sleeping slacker."

"Mhm," he groaned in clear irritation. "You could have at least waited one more minute, Neo. I was so close that I could taste it."

The girl widened her eyes like saucers. "Taste it? Emanyana." She pointed an accusatory finger at him. "That was you?"

Genesia paused for a moment, rubbing his tired eyes. "What do you mean was it me? I was talking about the dream I had—"

"Eh,ya you fool, that was me you were chasing! Hell the only reason you almost caught up was because I kicked you before you could catch me!" Neosa said hotly. She was also covered in sweats like she had been drenched underwater. She, like him, looked completely lost.

Genesia felt like time had slowed down after hearing that. Huh? What on Mama Earth is she talking about? Woke up? So then that wasn't a dream then? Ha,eh, she said woke up, so it clearly was. But... does that mean we shared the same dream? It didn't feel like one though. It felt so—

"Hey wena, wake up!" She clapped her hands in front of him like a teacher at her drowsy student.

"Uncle said that we'd experience something funky like this today, or did you forget? Listen, we best get over to him so he can explain because I've got just as many questions if not more than you do. Like why the hell was I the one getting chased?" Neosa remarked in a rather disapproving tone.