ARTBOUND - TO DIE BEFORE YOU WAKE

Prologue:

To Die Before You Wake

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Dear Crystal,

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I just had the weirdest dream. Maybe it means something, maybe it doesn’t. But it starts off; I saw a forgotten kingdom that wept in silence.

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This Kingdom was once mighty but had become nothing — nothing but a ruinous heap consumed by overgrowth. Vines ate away at the once majestic balconies, like locusts.

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I could hardly see a thing; the whole kingdom was shrouded in fog on all sides. From the moment I see this kingdom; even the thought of it, makes me tremble. The vibe in the air is so haunting. And it’s eerily familiar like I’ve been there before, but in real life, I don’t think I’ve ever dreamed of this place before.

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Anyways, it had to be destroyed a long time ago. There were old fountains, they were still. I imagine when they worked they looked amazing; imagine water and sunshine on a pure crystal fountain. I’ll draw that for you one day.

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But in the dream, everything about this place was tired; even the wind. I heard it sigh like a ghost who no longer had anyone to haunt.

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I don’t know what this place is, I wish I did, but for now I call it “The Forgotten Kingdom”.

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The scary part about this place is the center of the ruins, where the ground opens into a giant circle of broken glass. It once sealed the lower levels of the castle. But something shattered it, maybe it’s whatever destroyed this place.

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And there I was within the void, clinging to the edge of the hollow with only one hand, fighting to keep a grip. The glass was cutting my hands, I could barely hold on. And beneath me was nothing but darkness. It was a far drop to the bottom. I felt afraid, like a fresh piece of raw meat dangling over a dragon’s mouth.

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I looked older, I felt taller. I think I had to be about fifteen years old; weird. I knew I was myself in this dream, it’s not like other dreams where I experience things through another person’s eyes. I was in my body, but seeing myself at the same time.

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This was me, everything was the same; almost. My skin is dusty, scuffed, but still light brown. My face was… actually my face and well, guess it wasn’t too different from the skull face-paint. My hair was long; too long, it seemed like it reached to the end of my back or longer. And, it wasn’t just black I had white streaks in it, especially the front.

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It looked like I had been in a fight, my hair was wild; pulled out of place, some braids were intact.

Both of my eyes were green again though. It seems like my scar had healed and the blindness cleared. Ha, maybe I was touched by Jesus. Okay, I’m just kidding.

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I don’t know how I got there, when, and why. I don’t know what happened prior to me holding on for dear life but it couldn’t have been good. I was afraid, shaken, and something else. You could even see it in my eyes.

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Glass scraped the pavement and I heard footsteps coming my way. My heart fluttered so hard. I didn’t know what to do so I just stared until whoever, whatever it was came and got me. I was thinking, well once it’s over at least it's over.

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Anticipation built up so hard until I saw a woman, she stood over me. She just stared at me with an empty gaze, so empty, I can’t remember if she had irises.

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It’s hard to explain exactly what I felt, it was confusing to be honest. I didn’t know whether or not to be scared, happy, relieved, grieved.

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Don’t laugh, but I think I love her. Or, maybe I used to love her. I’m not sure.

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Even now, I feel as though I have a connection to her; a bond. Maybe we’ve met before? It’s all fuzzy, just like the kingdom, it felt like I had been there but nothing to link it to.

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But, trust me sis, she’s no one to love at all. Not even on sight, so I don’t think it’s a weird kind of love, just something I can’t explain.

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She wears a black torn gown, it made a bone chilling sound as it dragged behind her. She had cobwebs all over her, hanging from her feet, her arms, hair; everywhere. She was bound by chains on her neck, wrists and feet; all connected. Her dark skin lost all its warmness and moisture. She was dusty, dirty… She looked like she had returned from the dead. Her eyes were receding and I told you they look empty.

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Widow of Woe; her name, that’s all I know. Creepy right?

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It wanted to look away, but it was hard to take my eyes off of her. It was strange, but If she was good or meant harm. Maybe she was just lost. Or, maybe she came to save me.

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"Please…"

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I begged and hoped for the best. She knelt down slowly, and she held my face. Her hands were cold, bruised, but comforting. But her face; there was nothing. No smile, no frown—nothing.

She rubbed my face, so soft, I left safe. Yet, so soft, I felt afraid.

The Widow tilted her head, she smiled. It’s like she adored me.

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She didn’t speak, she just rubbed over my face leaving her finger on my forehead.

And with a simple poke on the head, I fell.

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It felt like the world held its breath. Gravity disappeared.

I was shocked. I was broken.

And I fell, and fell, and fell into this pit.

Everything blurred around me and the wind screamed in my ears. And all I felt—pain.222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9rYzkoECA0
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Glass cut through my clothes, slicing my arms, legs, my face got it too.

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It seemed like the laws of gravity were different for everything. Even though I was falling downward, other things were floating in place; objects. And I hit just about everyone on the way down, but the few I remember are:

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A canvas bursting with color; seems like something I painted, I tore right through it.

Also, a picture frame; I cracked the glass. Seems like the picture was of me and some other kids, not sure who they are.

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There was even a statue of me, I was smaller with a halo and wings; which broke when I hit it.

I was getting banged up and bruised the whole way down, yet none of the objects fell with me.

If all of that wasn’t enough, guess what was below me? I was falling straight towards a stained glass floor, It was me I guess, or Angel. He was smiling holding hands with a princess; the girl I see in my dreams all the time, she always wears pink.

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I thought maybe I’d just drop down on it but nope—I crashed right through it, of course.

I felt like it went so slow, the glass drifted around me floating upwards to join the solar system of items floating above. The way the shards shone in the light was kind of beautiful. Is something wrong with me? Ha.

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I hit the ground and all I remember was darkness. It’s like I got knocked out from the impact. I felt, heard, seen, thought nothing at all.

Until finally I felt the tips of my fingers twitch, they hurt, they were bruised. But I curled them tight.

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My face was on a freezing stone; it was so cold. Everything around me glowed red, I guess it was from whatever remained of the sun. I don’t know how long I had been there, but I think it was a long time Crystal. I mean, it was a long fall.

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I didn’t groan as loudly as I wanted to; or as much. I managed to get up. I felt something creeping down my hand, it was blood. It trailed my hand off the tips of my fingers. It was so quiet the drop echoed.

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I knew I wasn’t alone, I felt it. But I didn’t know where they were.

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He was in the shadows all along, sitting on his throne. I could barely see him. He sat on his throne like a pharaoh, nonchalant; leg draped over the armrest like a true king.

He was watching me from the start.

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Watching. Waiting.

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I still didn’t notice him though, not until he spoke breaking through the silence.

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?: Well if it isn't the Angel of Light…

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That’s when I realized I was me, but I wasn’t ME. I was HIM. I was…. Angel.

That’s why I had been so stupid, with The Widow of Woe and now, not even sensing this guy.

All I could do was look shocked.

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His voice…

His presence…

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It was too familiar.

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I knew exactly who he was in the dream and because of that I was frozen. I was scared.

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But now, I can’t even tell you why.

He stood and walked slowly, each footstep echoed loud.

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It felt like the air was growing thick and I couldn’t breathe as well. And this guy started to taunt me.

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?: Restorer of Peace. Menace to Darkness. Great Savior of Hearts…

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Like he was making a joke out of everything I’ve ever done, or accomplished. That’s how it felt.

He stepped out just enough for the light to catch him.222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0tE1apWiVc
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He wore a black, decayed reaper's cloak hanging in loose strips like rotted wings. His skin is pale and gray; dead, but not skeletal — riddled with cuts, bruises, remnants of rot. Hair long, straight, and wildly unkempt, falling around his face like tattered curtains. His features, sharp and strangely familiar. His hood hid one of his eyes, the one I could see was grey and lifeless.

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He is what his name implies. He is Death.

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Death: My, how you have fallen from Heaven.

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Instantly my ears rang violently. I stumbled, clutching my head. I felt like I was losing it. And I began to see visions; memories, rush in like a flood.

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So vivid, so real.

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I saw:

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Mom turned her back on the infant me as I screamed for her.

You, your last breaths haunting me.

Myself, in the hospital. I felt alone. I drew endlessly.

Laughter. Mockery. Isolation.

Myself crying alone in a closet.

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Death came closer, his smile widened.

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Death: Do you get it now, Angel? You're no hero. (scoffs) You can't even save yourself.

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I backed away, clutching my temples. Death closed in on me. He knew what he was doing, he was trying to break me.

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Death: All you can do... is run away! You're weak! (He grabs Angel by the throat, his tone low but menacing) Face it, Angel!

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I closed my eyes, struggling.

Fighting to keep my sanity.

But Death forced me to look.

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Somehow, he was much stronger than I was. Well, than Angel was.

Then, his other eye slipped from under his hood. It was red, piercing right into my soul.

The moment I saw it, it was too late.

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My left eye flared a bright red with a black sclera, as if something inside me awakened in terror.

It got dead silent.

My hand dropped.

All my strength had gone. I was weak. Pathetic.

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And…

My mind spiraled; overtaken by unwanted memories. My life flashed before my eyes.

Mom’s neglect. My dying baby sister. Being alone.

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Death: You were never wanted…

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In the memory, the closet door opens. Light streamed across my face.

That woman kneeled in the doorway.

Her eyes widen in terror at what she sees inside:

A monster, with pitch-black sclera, and a red glowing iris.

That memory stayed for too long.

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I heard a loud,222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvVXaJedwqq
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SHATTER.

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And then—

I lost it.

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Screaming like the world had ended on the wrong deed.

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I’m not sure what it means. Or, if it has meaning at all. But, I can’t sleep. I’m not scared. It just has me thinking. Every dream I’ve ever had has always meant something. Whether it was someone else’s memories or a vision of the future, it always meant something. Well, I’m only ten, so I guess I’ll let fifteen year old me worry about this. Ha! If I even live that long. Good night.

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Yours Truly,

Angel Rahman-Ali

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