Download - Read

Stories
What's New

Dream - Write

Writer's Area
Create a Story
Character Database
FAQ

Susila watched Benedict her gaze intense and questioning. Dark eyes remained emotionless, her concentration total. Long hair flowed around her face hiding her features. Her crouched figure strangely fragile and yet radiating energy. Power that was important. She had created her present image to use that power, created it as she would a suit of armor to arm herself against those who she knew were only a step behind. Like a new skin it itched, still far too new to fit naturally.

She had been reborn more than once in the last six months. Reborn in fire. In many ways this new shell was only a thin layer that still held too much of the person she had been.
Too much of the person that had been stolen to create who she was now.

The lake in front of her reflected the image of Benedict. She felt a strange empathy towards this intimate stranger. The water separated them but she could feel his thoughts as if they were her own. A third voice to join those that already inhabited her mind.

It was almost as if he was inhabiting a land at the bottom of the lake. The water was the gate between the dreams once she entered the water her journey and his would begin.

She delved deeper into his dreams attempting to find the best way to make contact. She could feel his need, his mind searching, open. She felt his pleasure then his pain.

He was a Trappist monk searching for god in an age of technology. She wondered why he had chosen this place of all others to begin his search. True this virtual world was one way of releasing your mind from the fettles of the body, but you had to be careful what you released your mind into. Susila found it difficult to believe in a God down here. Creation was so easy, too easy. There were too many who thought themselves gods.

Susila smiled grimly there were certainly plenty of people ready to meddle with things they did not understand. Pushing away her bitter memories Susila returned her attention to Benedict.

The link was almost painful as Benedicts emotions flowed inside her with almost suffocating intensity. The sensation of being suffocated from the inside was nothing new, but Benedicts alien presence made it even more uncomfortable.

Linked intimately to his mind she heard the whispering song through his ears. She felt his cry as he joined its chorus. Felt the turmoil of his silence

Through out all this Susila remained in the limbo, between dreamscapes. Trying to decide whether it was time to make contact. She had been doubtful at first. Not sure he was suitable. Not sure that he was ready, that he would ever be ready, yet something pushed her forward. Was she ready? Maybe that was a more important question.

It was time...

She dived gracefully into the lake. Keeping the image of that other landscape firmly fixed in her mind. She allowed her body to sink further towards the bottom of the Lake. There was a feeling of electricity and then she phased into the other dreamscape.

Gasping for air Susila hit the surface of the lake. For a moment she was unwilling to leave. The water was cool and reassuring. The water was like a protective film that moved around her with a gentle comfort, and then she saw Benedict's figure curled around itself as if in pain.

What if it was too late. Without conscious effort Susila left the water and crouched by his side. Her soothing words reached into his mind trying to get a grip onto his consciousness.

It was almost too late. So many didn't realize the danger of allowing your mind to wonder in this counterfeit reality. To many thought that it was just a game. His mind was far too open, open to every sensation that other mischief makers might feel like planting in its midst. Susila needed to be careful if she was to guide him back to his own dreamscape.

A sensation of guilt almost stopped her from acting.

She was no different from any other who might reach out and take this unprotected mind.

It was too late for any doubts.

This was the time.

This was the one.

Susila knew what to do. He was a pawn in the game, just as she was a pawn. There was no time to feel guilty about what she had to do.

"I am Susila," she said, gently closing his eyes with her hands. "I'm here to help you."

to be continued....

[Home] -- [Dream] [Download]

Dark Lethe Copyright © 1995 - 2004 L J Winson and Individual Authors
Web design with the Reactive Writing site.