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Colton wondered how he got into this, but since there was no way to quit, all he could do was to accept it. He was a tall, skinny boy, blond as a wheat field; he was also a reserved person that enjoyed the company of others sometime, but was unable to completely express what he was thinking.

He could remember how it happened; the day was bright, but the wind was a little chilly, making him shiver. Even though he was tall, he was a little bit frail, making him a potential target for the local bullies around his school. Maybe they sensed that he didn't like fighting, or maybe it was like lions in the Savannah, hunting the weakest prey. He was afraid of them and the only way he found to counter that fear was to escape in his imagination; in his creation, he was lord and master of his devices, supreme ruler of his world, dictator of thoughts, beloved tyrant and fearless adventurer. Literature and television fueled his world, adding new elements to his imaginary kingdom.

Except that this imaginary world of his couldn't really save him from the beatings and the wedgies; all it could do was to give him some sort of relief, a relief he gained when he took out his frustrations on the inhabitants of his realm, since he wasn't the type of person to create a world and beings without using them; they feared him, even worshipped him, a thought that made him smile_._

It was a fragile balance; he could, one day, fall from grace, give into insanity, destroy his kingdom and annihilate everything that he created, thus inspiring terror in his subjects' hearts. But he couldn't in power stay forever; they dreamed of freedom, freedom from the one that created them. Could one free himself from his creator, or would he be forever a slave to him?

It was a question that was haunting them, residents of his imaginary world. In a way, some could assume that they didn't really exist, but could one really be sure about such assumptions? After all, they did think for themselves and were able to create; weren't these the basic elements of existence itself? They were linked to him, but he wasn't linked to them; it was a fact that they learned the hard way, when they felt his reign of terror take over their lives. Maybe, one day, things would change... and maybe... they could do something to change their ruler...

There was this new kid in school; a little chubby on the side, of medium height, he too became the target of the bullies' bunch, like a member of an exclusive club. Maybe it was fate, destiny, or a simple coincidence that made them some sort of brothers, united in their common suffering at the hand of the league of the rowdy kids.

His name was George, but for some of the kids, he was «Tumb'o'lard», for his size wasn't a thing they found normal. He was a tad smaller than the other kids, making him closer to a spherical shape, a model far away from the others. He had a weak eyesight, forcing him to wear glasses; at least his brown hair wasn't greasy and he wasn't covered in pimples, or one could have thought that he was an undergrowth teenager or a caricature of an overweight boy.

Colton thought he was lucky that they didn't find any nickname for him; it was easier to ignore name calling then to ignore the same name, going over and over, without any possible pause. Maybe he shouldn't have made friends with George, but he was a nice person, once you knew him; a selfish person would have avoided him like the plague, to make himself more desirable socially, but being a social person wasn't in his plans. After all, wasn't he a respected and feared ruler?

«Colton, what are you thinking about? You seem a little... phased out»

He looked at George; there were things that he didn't want to talk about and this was one of these things. He didn't want to talk about the existence of his imaginary lair, of his rule over his subjects.

«It's ok; I was thinking about the assignment we have to hand over soon; you know, that one Miss Lauren gave us... you know, that reading assignment?»

«Ah yes... it's not that hard, but I find the premise of the book stupid; who could pass his day dreaming? There is so much more things to do in life than dreaming...»

Colton looked at him; that was one of the reasons why he wasn't talking about his realm to him; he enjoyed George company, but there were some differences between them; he was a dreamer, someone who enjoyed passing time in his own creations, while George was a rational person, even a killjoy sometime, when the topic was imaginary.

Maybe one day, George would be able to understand the rush he was feeling right now, ruling over an entire world and receiving the devotion of an entire population, feeling their fear...

The thing he didn't know was that his rule was under question; even though he was an iron fist type dictator, the resistance was growing, in the obscure and dark corners of the lands. He controlled the armies, but that didn't mean that the people weren't able to fool them into thinking they were simple peons.

«How are we going to get rid of him? We can't overthrow him with such ease; we have to find a way to replace him until we can live without depending on this being»

The one that talked was the leader of a small resistance group, a group that was formed after the first crackdown on the populations. He was a blue scaled lizard, by the name of Sythislzon; he had small spikes sprouting from his snout and tail and several scars, results of his battles with the authorities. He didn't know why he was the leader, but he knew that each passing day made his role even more decisive in the battle ahead; in the first day, he was alone, hiding from the guards and the people that collaborated with them. With time, he was able to recruit several people to his cause; even then, their numbers weren't enough to even think about a direct assault on the ruler itself.

«Why should be having compassion for this tyrant? We should eliminate him and call it a day; after that, we will find a person to replace him. We need to free ourselves before anything else!»

The one that opposed the vision proposed was a long standing member, known for his belligerent attitude toward the power in place. His name was Raellassa; he was a crow, his feather as dark as night and his eyes, red as a raging inferno. Some were scared of him, seeing in him an omen of misfortune, but Sythislzon knew that appearance were nothing to worries about; the only he had to care about was his tendency to use radical means...

«You know that our existence depends on this twisted, yet essential ruler; without him, we wouldn't exist anymore, unless we find a way to do so... to break the barrier holding us here, but no one has been able to do so, so the first solution is the most reasonable one...»

The raven looked at him, the passion burning in his eyes; it was clear that trying to calm him wouldn't be easy and that it would require patience and skills, things that Sythislzon had to develop to survive in this reality.

«It's not that I don't agree with the principles you are advancing, it's just that I believe that this can't be applied right now since we don't have any logistic means to get that close to him. Any tentative would be mere suicide; do you really want to confront the BlackCorps?»

The entire group shivered at the mention of the dreaded menace; only a few people manage to escape them, and all of them told a similar story. A story of walking armors, black as shadows, always silent, not even breathing, not talking, not showing any emotions. One survivor even related that the face under the helm wasn't real, but was just a simple drawing, that was supposed to show an emotion.

«We have to find a way to avoid them; they surround him, sleep and hunger not stopping them from achieving their goals of protecting him. No one is sure if they exist for real; maybe they are dreams made reality, an extension of a peculiar fantasy that saw light. There should be a way to destroy them; after all, there is nothing invincible nor immortal is this world...»

They stared at Raellassa, wondering why he was that aggressive; he was passionate about freedom, but it was a new standard for him to be on the offensive, to plan attack and ambushes, without fearing the consequences. Maybe it was the sign of a change; there was something new in the air, something that could maybe change their life for the better... or the worse. After all, there was always a chance that these actions could only make their life more miserable; but what did they have to lose, except their lives?

«There must be another way than direct confrontation... we should avoid it at all cost, but at the same time, we should try to get someone inside the palace, to get as much information as we can, so your movement can survive»

Sythislzon sighted; even thought he had hopes for the future, he knew that the Fates weren't with them, unless there was a way to change the outcome of the future... maybe there could be a way to influence the ruler without bloodying their hands... but how? How could they even reach him in the first place? Unless one of them decided to sacrifice himself for the group, this wasn't going to happen soon...

He was surprised when he heard one of the members of the group clear his throat; although he was a dragon, he was usually quiet, reserved and shy, making some wonder if something happened to him. The past was something that they didn't want to dwell in, but sometimes, it was necessary; in this case, for the sake of the group unity, there was no point in pointing fingers and digging in memories...

His name was Thenzon, a former resident of the slums around the castle. Covered off pale cyan scales, taller than the others, he was imposing, especially when he opened his wings. But he couldn't live to the image he was projecting; he wasn't a person to take direction, to impose his will on others. He liked following the group, maybe influencing it from behind, but never from the front row.

«There were rumours circulating in the slums, one day... There were talks about other worlds, others... kingdoms; not that we could escape in one of these, but maybe we could request some help from one of them?»

Sythislzon was relieve to hear such things; planning an attack would have led to something beyond his expertise and chaos would have followed. The potential casualties were unavoidable, providing bloodshed for the tyrant to quench his thirst for violence. But maybe he was exaggerating a bit; after all, there never was a full out war against them... not for now, unless he changed his mind.

«How can we reach these worlds? Do you have any clues to give us?»

Thenzon looked at Sythislzon, wondering if he should bow down his head or simply smile, the situation being beyond his control. After all, he was only a messenger, with little to no power over the world surrounding him; there was no point in him trying to change that situation...

«There is always a way, but no one really knows how to do so; after all, we are talking about going into other worlds, probably other dimension. It would require the assistance of a powerful magician, or at least a sage, that could answer your question. Maybe... Maybe, in the deepest region of the slums, if my memory serves me well, there is an old eccentric living there, babbling of nonsense most of the time, but... there is times when he actually speaks of things that make sense»

«So there are no real assurances that this person could actually help us? We could be wasting our time searching for him...»

«There are none indeed; only the rumors and words of the slums. I cannot guarantee anything, except that he exist and that for now, it's the only information I can give. If I had better information, I would be glad to give it, but I cannot give what I don't hold nor know, unless I could rewrite the world...»

Raellassa stayed silent, but it was evident that this situation wasn't something he enjoyed; there was too much indecision, too much imprecision to make him satisfied. He didn't like to deal with troubles like these; the world should be ordered and follow laws. Not that all laws were good, but these laws, regulations, time settings and other life necessities were the very essence of his view of life.

«And should we go on a wild goose hunt? Even if this person does exist, what tell us why we should even get close to the palace in the first place? Wouldn't his mere suicide? It's not like the guards won't be waiting for us...»

The group stayed silent, unsure of what to say or what to do; Raellassa was making a good point, after all. They didn't want to die for nothing and yet, they desired knowledge... was the reward sufficient for the risk, or was just a quest for fool's gold? The desire was present, but fear was holding them back; fate wasn't a good companion for them and they didn't believe in luck either, making their choice easier, in appearance.

«Maybe because it's the only reasonable solution we have right now; we can't assault the palace nor infiltrate it. We cannot also stand here, doing nothing; we will be caught, one day; time is the essence and we must strike before they do. There will be no need to expose the entire group to suspicion; I will head out to the slums alone, to avoid attracting the authorities. It will also be easier for me to flee if I'm alone than with some people accompanying me»

«Do you even realize how dangerous this is? If you get caught, they will know everything about our resistance, our movement... All we created would be wasted, lost in a futile tentative... But again, I cannot let your courage unapplaud; or maybe it foolishness; who knows?»

«You think I am not aware of the risks of such an enterprise? Don't take me for a fool; the result may not be significant, but I'm willing to go away and still face the danger ahead. After all, we cannot live hidden forever...»

Sythislzon looked at his group, knowing that this would be a long journey ahead of him; he didn't say a word when he left them, but he could feel their gaze on his back, the weight of their hopes, dreams and hesitations fueling him. It would ease his burden, but the road ahead of him would not be an easy one...

Sythislzon was surprised that nobody blocked his path; the roads were empty, except for the local vegetation that claimed back his right to dominate the land. He wondered why people didn't use the roads anymore; even if they weren't free, they could still travel to other cities. What was the point of this desire to stay in the same area at all cost?

There was no sign of authorities either; was the regime in place that confident in the fact that his power and reputation would be enough to make people stay in place, to make them respect and fear the laws put in place? It still surprised him that there were no patrol, no guards, no borders; as if terror was enough to hold people in place... Which seemed to be the case, although he had the feeling that there something else going, but this was something he didn't want to investigate; he was on a mission, a perilous quest, not a social data gathering task.

The entrance to the slums wasn't guarded; after all, who would try to stop people from getting in such bad neighbourhood? Any sane being wouldn't want to go in this place after all; it was a haven for thieves, rogues and other criminals; one always had to watch his back when he walked in this area, for he could robbed, mugged or kidnapped before he even realised it. But he had little to no valuables in his possession and no reputation what so ever; what could they do to him?

Sythislzon felt sorry for the people living there; even though they weren't unhappy, he knew that they could live much better existence... only if he could do succeed in his plan, then this situation could change for the better.

The buildings were made to resist time, but even then, they were in bad shape, as the local populace didn't have the means to repair them. After all, it would require material and knowledge, things that didn't have here. But they didn't seem to care that much about it; after all, the inhabitant got used to lower standards and there were able to live with them. It wasn't a good life, but it wasn't a terrible life either; they survived and that was their goal.

Sythislzon wandered on what look like a main street, or at least a road; the battered earth was guiding his path, making him wonder if he was really heading in the right direction or if he was going deeper into the dark abyss of society? There was no easy answer to the question he asked himself, while he traveled on the dust covered road; it was clear that this section of the road wasn't used that much. Maybe it was a sign he was getting close... or maybe he was getting lost; only time would tell him.

«Mister, you don't want to continue on that road; there a crazy old man living over there and he's really scary»

«A crazy old man you say? Why do you think he is crazy, young boy?»

The young kid look at him, wondering he if was speaking to someone with a deficient mind or a stranger; a closer look made him realise that the second option was the good one, even though he didn't discard the first one.

«He keeps spouting nonsense about things that don't even exist! Sometime, he speaks to himself, yells in the street and makes weird signs on the ground as if someone was watching him. He's not violent, for now... but he's so weird that he could turn violent if you provoked him»

«Thanks for the heads-up kid; I will keep it in mind»

The path was covered with junk, dismembered apparatuses and other exotic items he had no idea what they were, except that they had no use anymore. Maybe he could assemble them, to make something out of them, but he had no talent crafting things. It wasn't a talent he needed anyway, since life requirements weren't the same for him then someone living in this part of the city.

There he saw it, what appeared to be a small hut made out of debris but was in fact the residence of the so-called lunatic he was warned about. He could see him, inspecting his creations, mumbling in a low voice, not paying any attention to anything surrounding him. Maybe it wasn't such a bad thing to be able to concentrate on matters like that, but it made Sythislzon a little nervous; after all, what could stop a potential assault?

«Hello sir, may I ask you something?»

His question was left unanswered; maybe he wasn't worth the attention, or maybe it was due to the fact that his voice couldn't beat the mumblings and whispers that seemed to surround that strange fellow.

«If I could have some of your time sir, there would be something I would like to ask you...»

«They're everywhere; can't you hear them? The crawling, the creeping... nothing can save us... asmond, asmond... from the gate lays the path to the other world... no... I don't want to... there so much in there... who are you?... I want to go home...»

What Sythislzon heard wasn't what he was researching, but it was a step toward the good direction; after all, throughout the rambles, he was able to uncover some elements that did make more sense than the rest of the others.

«From the gate lays the path to the other world... there must be a passage near here; his sanity wouldn't able him to travel too far»

Sythislzon looked around the feeble babbling fool; the mountains of trash, the odors, the discarded bags... There was a small tent, hidden between two piles of ragged clothes; it looked old, reeked of fermented meat and yet, seemed important for a reason. He tried to approach it, but his movement was caught by the hermit, who sprang into action, pushing him out of his path, yelling of obscures dangers and words that didn't make sense.

Sythislzon pushed him aside, ignoring his rants and screams; there was little he could gain now from staying here, listening to madness itself. The contact with pure insanity wouldn't be good for his own mental health anyway; he didn't desire to end like the poor fellow, crying about imaginary monsters and worlds that didn't exist... or did they?

Sythislzon entered the tent, regretting his decision; the stench was unbearable, but to move forward, he had to face monstrosities... and this wasn't excluded. The thrash was still there, littering the ground, attracting pests and vermin; he tried to find a place where he could place a feet without stepping on either living beings or decomposed matter. There was a strange hole in the back, clear from the debris; it was a perfect circle, as if nature herself didn't create it, but something else created it. He could jump in it or ignore it, focusing on another way to face the situation his people were passing through; but did he really have the choice? Could he ignore the pledge he made and run away? He closed his eyes and let himself fall in the hole, hoping that it wouldn't be the end for him; there was so much he had to accomplish...

He felled for what seemed hours, seeing nothing, hearing only his own breathing and whimpers; maybe it was even days. He had no clues how much time it took for him to reach a hard surface and much time his conscience took to get back to him.

«Welcome to George dream realm; I am Altimo, the consultant and also the greeter for the newcomers. I am sorry to inform you that your form is... how should I say it? Not tolerated in this realm, for only one model is allowed. Here, only the human phenotype is desired, for the creator is... not that really imaginative. But I suppose that people can't be perfect, after all»

He opened his eyes and looked at the being talking to him; he never saw such a weird being. Pale skin, hairless, without scales, without a tail nor claws; it appeared defenseless and yet, it wasn't afraid of him... as if it already seen a lot of beings different from him.

«I will have to change you; don't worry, it will be temporary transformation that will be reversed when you will leave this realm»

Sythislzon looked at the strange being make a hand gesture; he didn't understand the meaning of it, but it didn't long for him to feel the consequence of it. He could feel his scaly hide melt, being replaced by the same hairless skin Altimo possessed. His bones were cracking, readapting to the new frame that would he temporary reality; the pain was real, but it was a small price to pay to be able to explore that new world and find the answer. He could feel his skull burn, his snout retracting inside of it, giving him a flat face. His scalp was now itching, as something was now growing out of it; that feeling spread to his face as well, making him wonder the utility of such a thing for a moment. He looked at his hands; there were now similar to those that Altimo possessed, even though the color wasn't exactly the same.

«Seems like you are set to go; enjoy your travel and don't cause any troubles; I don't want to have to make this trip a bad thing for you»

Sythislzon looked at the ways ahead of him; he wondered where he could go, but he knew that here lay the answer he was seeking...

(TO BE CONTINUED)