Slave: Zero Chapter 14: Chapter 14

Read chapter 14 of Slave: Zero by HEAVENLYLARPER on NovelPedia.

Eric floated in the darkness of his mind. His consciousness at peace. Despite the horrors he had just seen, he felt a strange numbness to it all. His demons are still present, wrapping their grotesque arms around his naked soul. But Eric didn’t resist, he accepted them. He accepted them as his punishment, his punishment for not being able to save them. However, despite how horrifying everything was to him, he won’t fully give in, because there is something he considers way bigger than himself that he is fighting for. A light, a light that shines brightly in the darkness of his mind, a light that fully exposes his nakedness. Eric steered up at the light, starstrucked. Before he could even realise it, he lifted his arm, trying to grasp the light. But it was far out of his reach. He began to get up and swim towards the sky, trying to seize it. But more and more hands appeared, wrapping around his body. They weren’t pulling him back, but instead they were pushing him up along with themselves , but at the same time they were weighing him down. The closer he got to the light, the more demons wrapped around his body. And the more he swam, the more his life began to fade, until he drowned again and again, and each time those demons brought him back up desperately, trying to get him to keep pushing upward, upward to their salvation. Eric was immediately jolted awake, by the feeling of liquid being poured on his head, and by the sound of pots colliding. “Wakey, wakey sleepy heads.” Eric looked up and saw Arop smiling, hovering over them with a cup. Right behind him was Nyangdeng, with 2 big pots in her hands. “You could have just shaken us awake.” Suddenly, Eric lost the balance of his body, and was going to hit the floor before catching himself with his arm. He looked up behind him and saw Akeer standing and looking at both of them annoyed. “But where is the fun in that?” Arop said, smiling. Akeer sighed, rubbing her eyes, too tired to argue. “Are you getting ready?” Akeer asked. “Yes, we’re half way done packing.” “Good. …I’m going to check on my brother.” Akeer said, before disappearing into another room. “So, how was the sleep?” Eric looked up at Arop, extending his hand for him. Eric took it, lifting him up from the floor. “It was...ok.” Eric felt refreshed, he felt way better than he did the day before, but as for his dream… it was blank, he knew he had dreamed of something, but he didn’t remember what it was. The only thing he remembered was that it was just as surreal as his other dreams, including the one he had during his trip. Eric tried to remember any images from that dream, but everything was just a blur. “How was yours?” Eric asked. “The same. It was ok.” “Good morning.” Everybody turned their attention to a boy limping towards them, with the biggest smile on his face. “Good morning.” “Good morning.” “Good morning.” They all said, right after each other. “You're going to need a doctor.” Arop said. “No, I'm fine, it’s just a little pulsing pain, that’s all.” Arop turned to him and said. “I could hear you last night.” Then the bright smile on Thon’s face slowly vanished and was replaced by a light one. “I’m fine Arop.” They both steered at each other for a moment, before Arop nodded and walked away, assisting his sister in packing. “I know it’s kinda too late to ask now, but are you ok?” Eric turned to Thon and replied. “Yes, I'm fine.” Thon smiled at Eric. “Well, that’s good.” Thon paused before asking. “Eric, could you help me pack the stuff in the other room? It’s not a lot. And plus there is a spare shirt in there I could give you.” “Sure.” Eric said. As he followed Thon to the room, Eric's eyes couldn’t help but stare at the bloody bandage as he staggered walking. Why did he do that, Eric wondered as they reached the room. “Ok, you pack the stuff over there and I will pack the stuff over here.” Thon said. And as they were packing, Eric glanced over to him, kneeling down packing, one hand covering the wound and the othe