Limits

Chapter 443

The "me" in front extended his hand, inviting me to let it all go. To stop resisting, and give myself into him. I was losing any reason I had left at this stage. 'This is fine, right? There is no other way…' I thought to myself, and slowly extended my hand as well. 'Good, you finally agree. We can make this world painted red, nothing can stop us', the "me" said. Before our hands touched, I saw something in the darkness behind him. There was something there in the distance. An old memory perhaps, something I saw before but couldn't quite recall.

Time seemed to freeze. Neither of us moved closer, as the scene played out in front of me. I didn't know what it was at first. It looked like my memory of sorts. I saw my parents running through the forest, they seemed to be running away from something or someone. I was small at that time, maybe four or even younger. While my mother held me tight to her chest, I moved my head to the side. Arrows passed us, almost wounding my mother and father.

We were being attacked by someone, I couldn't see who chased after us. Besides, everything was hazy, like a dream. Father said something to my mother, and stopped running. My mother stopped too, but a bit further away. She was holding me tightly, while I looked up and saw concern on her face. She looked at me too, and said in a ghostly voice. "It's alright Nex… Everything… Alright". A few figures emerged from the forest, and faced my father. They said something as well, but I didn't know what. I couldn't hear what any of them said, neither what my father was saying

The fight was intense, and my father's opponents seemed to be too strong. He was fighting a losing battle. My mother must've seen this. She backed away slowly, then let me down near a tree. "...Stay here Nex… Hide yourself…" my mother's ghostly voice sounded. She rushed towards my father's side, trying to help him out. I stayed behind the tree, peeking at the battle taking place in front of me.

It seemed like my parents could turn the tides. My mother's help seemed to give my father a boost, and they began pushing back their opponents. Suddenly, someone grabbed me from behind, and screamed some stuff I couldn't hear… Or perhaps didn't remember. I saw myself shouting towards my mother, crying for help and attention. My mother tried to rush towards me, but she was stopped by others. My father didn't fare well either. The man holding me demanded something from my parents, but I didn't know what. 'Was this about the Moon Blade?' I asked myself watching the scene.

My mother was really angry, I could see it on her face. She wanted nothing else, but to get me back from the clutches of that man. Yet she couldn't. The injuries on her body only increased with time, while my father didn't fare any better. I could see myself crying, but the man covered my face and said something I couldn't hear.

I couldn't scream anymore, while my mother tried everything just to get to me. She was punched heavily to her face, and flew away crashing into a tree. I wanted to shout, but I couldn't. It was then, that my father's Aura awakened… An Aura that was just like mine. Full of hate, vengeance and thirst for blood. Father hid his sword, and took out another. It was the Moon Blade. The people surrounding my father panicked, but tried to attack again. Their attempts were futile though, my father cut them down like leaves in the wind. All his opponents dropped to the ground, like lifeless puppets.

Father slowly walked towards me and the man. My mother screamed something, but I didn't know what. She seemed distressed, fearing something bad would happen. The man holding me screamed something, I could feel his hand tremble.

My father didn't stop, he walked closer and closer towards us. A hideous smile on his face, as if he wouldn't mind killing anything at this stage. What I saw in my father, was exactly what I saw in myself. The pure rage took over him, he no longer distinguished between foes and allies. The man gripping me couldn't take it anymore, and backed off while dropping me to the ground. My father laughter reverberated through the area, as he threw his sword at the man trying to escape.

I didn't see what happened to that man, my focus was on my father who was still walking towards me. Just as he approached, another sword appeared in his hand. I couldn't move. I didn't understand what was happening, but I was scared of my father. There was no love in his eyes, only hatred and desire to kill. Suddenly, someone ran in front of me… It was my mother. She blocked my father's path, and said something. I don't know what she said, but whatever it was didn't stop my father. A sword pierced right through my mother's stomach, while her blood splattered all over my face.

I could feel the tears rolling down my eyes, but my mother stood there unmoving. Father pulled out the sword, probably to repeat what he just did. I thought he would kill my mother, I couldn't take it anymore. I closed my eyes and shouted, "STOP!". When I opened my eyes again, everything quieted down. My mother was lying on the ground, while my father tended to her. Although wounded, she wasn't dead. I didn't see pain on her face, but relief. She was relieved that nothing happened to me, and my father gained control of himself.

"I'm so sorry son. I… We will live in peace from now… No more fighting... No more blood… to me Nex... If you ever lose control… You can't fight it… to accept it… Don't go down... path I went down". Father said in a ghostly voice. It was hazy and hard to understand, but those were the words I could make out. My father beckoned me to come over, but I was too scared. Only when I saw the smile and his usual expression, did my legs finally move.

My mother said something to me as well, but I couldn't make anything out. Perhaps she was glad I was alright and unharmed. Father took care of mother's injuries, collected the Moon Blade, and carried both of us out of there. Then, the scene stopped. Silence all around me. No second me, no father or mother around. Everything disappeared.

'Why do I feel like father knew this would happen? He wanted to tell me something, but perhaps I was too young and shocked to remember anything else' I thought. This felt like a dream, like it never happened. It looked like my memory, but I didn't remember that happening. 'Was I imagining things, or that really happened? What was my father trying to say? I can't fight it? Accept it… I shouldn't follow the same path he went?' I asked myself.

'Was he asking me to simply accept that anger, and become a crazed killing tool? No, my father would never tell me to do that. He would never tell me to become a senseless being, that would kill anything in sight. He must have meant it in a different way' my thoughts continued. Then it dawned on me, 'Was I supposed to accept my anger, rage and hatred, not fight it. Accept who I was, instead of trying to control it? Is that what you meant back then father?' I thought.