CHAPTER 39: BEYOND REACH

An ordinary room with a wooden floor and white wood-panelled walls. A single bed was placed in the right corner; it had a light blue bedsheet, and a black blanket rested on top. A small round wooden table with two chairs was placed beside the entrance, and a dark oak wardrobe stood in its left corner. There were no lights within the room— only a large one-way window beside the wardrobe allowed moonlight to illuminate the space.

A black, moon-shaped clock with golden designs hung on the centre wall. The room appeared modest and humble, even though most objects and furnishings had luxurious flair.

On its bed lay a raven-haired youth, who had scars all over his face and upper body. The blanket covered his body, but his chest was still visible; his eyes were closed as he was still asleep. A few moments later, the man began to throw around his limbs, his face had a look full of horror and fury.

He sat up as he woke from sleep, his body covered in sweat, eyes trembling. His body shook as he breathed heavily. He was in a state of panic.

After a few moments, he took deep breaths as he tried to calm down, and he slowly rubbed his face with his hands. His body slowly trembled from time to time.

"Hah... Not again..." White said, his tone dejected, completely different from his usual mischievous one.

He sat there for a few moments before shaking his head and standing up. He picked up a plain black t-shirt and donned it. He walked out of his room and gazed at the moon hanging in the sky. He took deep breaths and began to jog towards the villa.

White’s lodgings were situated beside the Kinten villa.

White stopped as he reached the clearing in the forest where he usually trained. He then began to do his usual set of push-ups, squats and other exercises.

After half an hour, he walked towards a tree which had many blunt marks on it, which were due to White training his punches on the tree. White began to strike and landed punch after punch on the tree.

A few minutes passed by, and he continued.

More time passed by, but he continued.

Blood began to flow out of his wounded hands, but he continued.

As he was punching the tree, his face had a look of resolve and a bit of disappointment, disappointment in himself, as no matter how much he trained, he could never surpass the fantastical Midnighters.

His punches had no conviction any more, he just punched for the sake of it.

Suddenly, a worried voice called to him.

"Neo..."

White or Neo turned and looked towards the location of the voice. There stood a man with short brown hair and eyes of similar colour. He looked at Neo with a worried face.

Neo looked at Blake as he spoke

"Brother..."

"Did you have that dream again?" Blake asked, his voice full of worry for his little brother.

Neo didn’t reply and just nodded at his question.

Blake walked forward as he hugged Neo in a tight embrace and spoke with a voice full of reassurance.

"You don’t have to beat yourself so hard, Neo... I will protect you no matter what may come." Blake spoke, his tone determined at the end.

Neo’s eyes turned wet as he hugged him back and nodded his head.

Blake let go of Neo after a few moments and questioned.

"You alright now?"

"Yeah," Neo replied with a small nod.

"Let’s go," Blake spoke as he nudged at Neo.

Neo shook his head and spoke

"You go ahead."

Blake stopped in his tracks and looked at Neo for a few moments. Soon, he nodded his head and left the clearing.

Neo looked at his bleeding hand and clenched it into a fist as the look of determination shone over his face.

"I’ll find a way, just you wait..." Neo said, his tone cold at the end.

Damien stood before an unassuming wall with a vial of red liquid in his right hand. He threw the vial at the wall, and soon, the wall began to tremble as blood-like vines began to come out of it and push it open. The wall parted, and a dark pathway came into view. Damien walked forward as four hooded figures followed behind him.

After a few moments, Damien stopped at the crossroads and spoke

"Check the whole area," Damien ordered.

The four hooded figures vanished from their spots as they swiftly looked around the place.

A few moments later, the hooded figures returned, and one of the hooded figures with crystal indigo-like eyes and sword-like eyebrows stepped forward and knelt as he spoke.

"There’s no one here, my Lord."

"Anything worth reporting?" Damien questioned.

Another hooded figure with light brown eyes stepped forward; he, too, knelt as he spoke.

"There is a room inside that can be worth checking out."

Damien looked towards the hooded figure as he spoke with a nod.

"Take me there."

The hooded figure bowed his head and began to walk as the others followed behind him.

Soon, they reached an ordinary room with grey wooden chairs and a table placed inside. It was dimly lit.

Damien walked forward, and his eyes fell on a claw of night engraved on the table; it was pulsating with a Verdigris glow. He moved forward and touched it. Soon, his eyes began to tremble before finally settling a few moments later. A single sentence rang in his head.

"May the world be purified with blood, May the moon burn in crimson." The voice was ominous, and it had a fanatic tone to it.

Damien’s eyes widened when suddenly

*BOOOOOOM*

A huge explosion took place within the room.

The space at the front of the wall began to ripple, and a purple-hued portal began to form. As soon as the purple portal was complete, four hooded figures walked out of it, all of them had an expression of horror and shock. Damien too walked out of the portal, his hands clenched into fists as a single word left his lips.

"Damn it..."