As I lay sleeping...it was more torturous than being awake. I felt myself tossing and turning...beads of ice falling from my face. The result of the sweat that had formed from my nightmare....
"RaXi!" Vincent's smiling face gleamed. "Look there! This is a very rare type of plant! I'm just sure it holds some mysterious secret...just waiting to be revealed! It may contain something unique...able to cure illness...or perhaps...a nutrient for renewed food production... it's so exciting."
"So then...where to now? You decide...you always seem to know the best places to go RaXi. I'm so happy I met you..."
"Don't ever leave my side alright...I swear I'll always protect you. Because your life DOES matter...you Do EXIST RaXi...never let anyone tell you different..."
Shut up! Shut up! Shut up! I begged fiercely...yet the scenes continually played out non-stop.
Then everything went dark.....
A light shot out...there was a huge cross...I shielded my eyes...then followed the spotlight as it landed on a man...strapped to the cross by chains. At the wrists....around the neck...and on both his feet. Wearing nothing but a loincloth there were marks all over his body. Strange symbols that seemed to glow. His chains clanged as they dangled loosely. Yet I couldn't see his face......
The light scrolled up...
"VINCEEEEENNNNNNTTT!!!!" I screamed...jerking straight up. I hadn't been asleep very long...I knew that much. My whole body was shaking...just seeing the chains...and Vincent...
Chains...Like Triskix...I suddenly thought. He had been strapped up in a cell...just like....Ari....like....me....
I felt a low-controlled fury begin to rise up in me. It was just one more reason for me to hate Xerebus. Standing up, I went to my closet and put on my Organization Coat. I saw the gourd...still on the floor. I went to it...and picked it up. A slight smile danced on my lips...but only for a moment. I took a small sip.
"...sweet..." I smiled once more...putting it into my pocket and walking out into the hall.
~RaXi
