Post by Nathan Saniti on Jun 6, 2016 20:26:57 GMT -5
The Seeds of Life - Chapter Four
Nathan looked at the coffin that Seromine had placed Kelli in only mere hours before at Living a Legacy. In fact, he hadn't left it's candy-filled side since the end of the program. He'd felt a form of defeat that was abysmal, eternal. His elimination from the Icemann Tournament at the hands of Dan Fierce was inconsequential.
All that mattered was what had happened to Kelli. He bore the blame for all of it, and it weighed on his heart like an cruise ship's anchor. He had wept in horror until the tears had all but dried up. He'd run his hand through the candy occasionally, as if his love had gone to pieces and he was looking for just the right way to put her back together.
Sparks of rage flitted about in his soul, but his desire to find his love extinguished them before they could light. She was far more important. She was his priority. Much like the Seeds of Life, he had no idea where to begin the search. The last time she had teleported, she was unaware of how she'd done it or even where she was. If she couldn't find herself, what hope had he?
He knew he would be facing Dontevius Ellis at Trauma 193, pitted against yet another person who had unselfishly aligned themselves with him to assist Kelli to no avail. Dontevius and Brenna had both taken their golden hearts and gone home, leaving Nathan to decipher this enigma for himself at his request. He promised to keep them both in the loop, especially his would-be opponent.
There must have been something that hit close to home for the new talent. Dontevius had uttered the name 'Kelsey' by mistake whilst prying the lid from the pine box. Brenna's position for the alliance was still a bit out of focus, but Nathan was certain that all would reveal itself in due time.
Just as another wave of guilt was about to wash over him, Nathan felt the ivory trinket with the obsidian star thrum to life within his jacket pocket. He welcomed the distraction. As he freed it from its cloth covering, he noticed one of the seven points of the star pulsating a midnight blue.
He stood slowly, turning his body in the direction of the illuminated point. As he spun, the point stayed firmly affixed to the location indicated, like the needle of a compass. It made no sound, only the luminescent heartbeat beckoning him to lead the way.
As Nathan strode down the halls of PCW Arena, the light's direction would change as a turn needed to be made. He passed locker rooms and broom closets alike, the beam strobing faster. "I must be drawing near one of the seeds," he imagined.
"He's coming to."
Nathan heard a distant an vaguely familiar voice emanating from a lit room with the door ajar. He looked at the trinket before replacing it in his pocket to prevent it being seen by a possible ne'er-do-well. Cautiously, he approached the door.
He peered up long enough to familiarize himself with the surroundings. It was the medical quarters where they had taken him only a few short weeks ago to stabilize him before carting him off to the hospital after Seromine and his Harbingers had crucified him.
"Curiouser and curiouser," he muttered as he peered around the door frame.
The medical staff had taken to working on Non Compos Mentis after his grueling battle against Alexa. His neck was in a brace, and he was strapped down to a gurney. Only his arms were free to move. A shaking arm reached out to Nathan, calling him to NCM's side, despite the protests from the attending medics.
Mentis motioned for Nathan to approach. Slowly reaching into a pocket, the Hobo King, produced an odd colored acorn shaped seed. Nathan's eyes darted to the medics. They were either far too busy to be bothered with the token, or perhaps they were unaware of its existence. Nathan covered the thing with his own hand to prevent finding out just which it was.
"I didn't get the job done," Sean sputtered through a strained and agonized windpipe. "I don't even know what this is, but take it. I have a feeling you may know what to do with it."
They made the exchange without the doctors and nurses even noticing before one of them all but shoved Nathan aside. "I'm sorry, Nathan. We have to get him to the hospital." They began to rapidly wheel him out, each bump along the way causing a grunt of pain to erupt from their patient.
"Use it, Nathan!" shouted Mentis as his entrapped body cleared the portal. "Stop whatever this is that's coming!"
Nathan followed out of the room, but the entourage was halfway down the hall before his response could be heard. "I shall, Mr. Rhodes. You have my word."
As Non Compos Mentis was loaded into the back of an ambulance, Nathan opened up his hand to look at the gift he'd been given. Neon and pastel colors danced around it like a vibrant, living waltz of hues. It was roughly the size of a tennis ball. How it had escaped detection from the rushing medical staff was a bit of a mystery. In his hand, it felt warm and alive and full of possibility.
For a brief moment, Nathan had been offered a respite from the emotional turmoil of his missing lover. He felt hope. He felt courage. Most of all, he felt patience. There was something reassuring his soul that all would work out for the best. He knew he would find his love and put an end to all of this madness. All he needed was a little patience.
