Zane: The Atlantean Prince

CHAPTER 21: THE NIGHTMARE

Zane just finished unpacking her clothes and books. He felt exhausted after the first day of school. He bought the things he needed in his new apartment and school.

"At last! I can lie down now and rest." He went to his bed and lay down. He stared at the white ceiling. "I am facing a new chapter of my life, living alone, eating alone." He hugged his pillow and closed his eyes. Another day will pass by in a few hours. "I need to sleep early."

He fell unconscious after a few minutes, only his low snores could be heard in his room.

Zane felt different, which made him wake up. He opened his eyes, only to see the red, dark sky on the horizon. "What is happening? What the heck is this?" He quickly got up, only to see he was on the ground. He looked around but no one was there.

"Where am I? What am I doing here?" Zane was walking on a dark, rocky land; the sky was red and black. The buildings are almost torn down. "What is this place?" He scanned the area, trying to recall if he knew where he was. Everything is ruined around him. Dead bodies are lying on the ground. "N-no, this is not real..."

He continued walking, searching for his friends, family and anyone he knew, but he could not find them. All he sees are dead bodies. "T-this is not happening..."

He saw Wane on the ground; a huge chunk of wall was on him. Zane can only see his brother's face full of blood. "No... no!" He searched for his parents and Anne, but he could not find them. He felt nervous and anxious, worried about his family's condition. The surroundings were not helping him at all. It was a destruction.

"Mom! Dad! Anne! Where are you?!" Zane's eyes became blurry, he couldn't think of anything. The ground started to shake. The dark clouds continued to form and it covered the entire horizon. He could not see the sun, and the clouds looked gloomy. It felt like there was a strong storm ahead.

"Do you think you can kill me?" a deep voice echoed that made him startled. "Do you think you can surpass me? Do you think your continent could rise again?"

"Who are you?! What are you saying?" He turned around and searched where the voice came from, but he saw nothing. He is alone in the middle of nowhere. He was confused about what the mysterious voice was saying. "What continent? Are you responsible for this?" He pointed at the pile of dead bodies. "Why did you kill them? Why did you do this?"

"I was not the one who did it. It was you." He heard a roaring sound from the thunder; it was a rising growl from the distant sky, and lightning violently came down directly towards him.

He jumped and rolled on the rocky ground to avoid it. He got scratches and bruises on his arms, but they suddenly healed. His forehead wrinkled, clueless as to why his wounds healed like a miracle. He remembered one time when his bullies hurt him and his wounds suddenly healed. He could not understand how that happened, and until now, he is still clueless about the powers he tried to forget.

Another lightning came, and this time he roared and released a magnetic sound wave that blocked the lightning attack.

He was confused. why would he kill people and destroy the world? Does he have the power to do it? He would never hurt innocent people.

"Why are you attacking me? What have I done to you? Who are you? I didn't do this!" He stomped his feet and shook the ground and it opened. His power was destructive that made everything around him fall and break into pieces.

"Are you planning to end the world?" said the voice. "I will not allow you to end it. I am the only one who will decide about that."

"No! I never intended to do this! You forced me!" Another lightning struck him; this time, he did not avoid it.

Zane woke up, catching his breath. He felt he jogged for hours. He is sweating and he is so thirsty. "What was that nightmare about? So weird."

He got up and went to the mini fridge placed on top of the kitchen counter. He bought it yesterday together with other things he needs in his new apartment. He took out one bottle of water and emptied it.

He glanced around his studio-type room. He felt satisfied seeing the things he bought from the money he won from the Third District Archery Championship. He will represent their District in the Regional Championship which will happen in two months, two days right before his birthday. "I am starting to become an adult."

He checked the time on the wall clock. It's five in the morning. He needs to prepare for the first day of classes. He just shrugged his shoulders and ignored his nightmare. He went to the bathroom to take a shower.

***

"Zane," Tommy called outside his room. "Are you going to school now? I'm heading there."

"I'm coming!" Zane took his backpack and his bow and arrow bag. Today is the tryout for the Archery Club.

"Let's go." He prefers to go there with Tommy than being alone again. He wants a happy and memorable college life, totally different from the past.

It was just a fifteen-minute walk from the apartment complex area going to school. The guard on duty remembered him and greeted him.

"Good morning, Zane."

"Good morning, Sir," he replied. He is not used to having any attention from strangers in the past. He was like a wallpaper, hardly noticed.

"You can call me Uncle Chris. I will watch your tryout," the guard said. "I wish my son would grow up like you."

"That's a compliment, Uncle Chris. Thank you. I'm going in now." He shyly waved his hand and walked away. They were walking on the campus grounds going to their respective buildings when some female students passing by looked at him and giggled.

"Hi," one of the girls from that group greeted him.

"Is it difficult to be famous?" Tommy asked.

"I'm not famous." He chuckled. "If only this guy knew I was a victim of bullying..." he said to himself. "Which club are you joining?"

"The fine arts club!" Tommy proudly said it while his arms were wide open. "Some of my relatives are wondering why my father is a brave police officer while I am a weakling artist. What can I do? I inherited my Mom's talent." He grinned, showing his braces.

"That's cool. Glad your parents supported your decision."

"Right. Unlike some of our relatives..." His eyes dimmed. "Anyway, I'm heading in this direction now." Pointing to the building next to the gymnasium.

"I will go straight to our college building. See you later, Tommy." He waved his hand.

"I will watch you try out, too, to cheer you on." Tommy ran towards the Fine Arts building.

Zane is heading towards his room when he suddenly sees a gorgeous tall girl with mid-brown hair and blue eyes, facing his direction but not looking at him. It was like a slow motion and the world around him stopped. Her beauty made him mesmerized.

He did not notice that the girl turned around and left. He just realized he was standing in the middle of the hallway when someone bumped him accidentally, and the girl he saw was gone. He looked around and searched for her but he did not see her anywhere.

"Am I just dreaming? She looks familiar though." He shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. "I was just probably hallucinating."