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Chapter 3

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           Darkness surrounded the black fennec as he sat in the middle of what looked like the scaled landscape of a dried up lakebed. It was hot and uncomfortable where he was which made his ears droop. Standing himself up Raine looked around him only to see the darkness was even in every direction. With a sigh the fennec chose a direction and started walking. The last few hours were completely unexplainable to him. Jericho was a huge beast and what of himself?

           Raine covered his face and shook his head, "Why me? Why did it have to be me," Asked the fennec. The response was nothing but silence. A soft wind blew but it was just as hot as the rest of the air around him. He was alone.

           Falling to his knees Raine held himself whimpering slightly in the darkness, "I just want to go home and forget all of this... Why can't I be normal? I don't want a special destiny..."

           Footsteps came from the darkness in front of the fennec and he looked up quickly. From the darkness stepped a black fennec looked like a mirror image of himself. The creature was the same height, color and it even had the same mark on its chest. Raine started to get to his feet but the creature put a paw on his head to hold him down as it leaned down and whispered into the fennec's ear, "Anata wa dare desu ka?"

           Raine looked up confused as the hand softly trailed along his cheek and held his muzzle up to look at the stranger. Raine was slowly lifted to his feet to look into the crimson eyes of the only other person in this forsaken land. Silence was all that was between them for some time as they looked each other over and Raine soon realized that the touch of the other fennec was like ice. It was soothing in this hot place and when the stranger offered open arms Raine embraced him whimpering and closing his eyes. He felt the burning in his eyes like he could cry.

           "It's okay little one... Your destiny is simple and you are never alone. Soon you will have to worry about nothing anymore," Replied the stranger in a voice that sounded like grating bones mixed with the sigh of life leaving one's body. He held the whimpering Raine a bit tighter and let a grin cross his face as his red eyes began to glow, "Never alone... because we all see you... I slumber inside waiting for the time to come to change this world into paradise, to bring the endless winter, immortality to all the ones forsaken by man... The end of human kind and the rise of the true heir of the planet."

           Raine opened his eyes and tried to pull back as the stranger began to change. The stench was nearly unbearable as he saw sections of the fennec's skin falling off and the rest becoming fetid. Half of the monster's jaw was exposed showing his yellowed teeth chipped and broken in places. The grip around him became tighter as he let out a howl of terror at what he was witnessing.

           "Witness the world in paradise my young ill fated one! See now the vision I have for our people," Cackled the demon as he turned the fennec around while still holding him close to his chest. The cracked lakebed was broken as great dark spires rose from the hardened sand rising higher than the black clouds. The hot wind changed to an icy chill cold enough that Raine could see his panicked breath.

           The bed began to crack more as fetid and rotting creatures began to break their way to the surface and lumbering colossi that looked to be sewn together from many corpses circled around them. There were millions of them gathered here making Raine gag at the overpowering stench. He had to reach up and put his arm over his nose as he looked at the one that held him and shook his head, "What is this? Who are you!?"

           The living corpses laughed at the words as the demon held tighter and Raine felt himself actually slipping into the creature as it laughed manically, "Poor child... You don't understand. It is okay... You don't need to know. I will take care of everything boy."

           Raine began to struggle and fight to try and escape but the creature's hold was simply too tight. Slowly but surely he became one with the creature until only his muzzle was sticking out the front of the undead thing. He let out a final scream before opening his eyes and sitting up strait quickly.

           He looked around him trying to make sense of what just happened. He was in a bed in a room he was not familiar with. Looking around he saw modest furnishings, the sort that you would find in the home of someone able to live comfortably but not luxuriously. A chair sat facing the window that a dull light shined through. It was still early and the sun was just barely cresting. Raine held the comforter close to himself as he was still hazy and trying to get over what he had just been through.

           "Take deep breaths Undying One. You're in my home. I know it's a lot to take in all at once but please stay calm. You have nothing to worry about here, you are safe," Said Crono as he leaned against the doorframe of the room, "I know it's not much but it's home. You should rest more; awakening takes a lot out of a person."

           Raine looked to the man and held the comforter a bit tighter to himself as he took the stranger in. He felt hot under the material and looked down to see his paws gripping the covers, "Then... it wasn't a dream..."

           "It's very real. You get some rest now and we will talk about it later. I'm Crono by the way... You are safe while in my care." Replied the home owner as he stepped into the hallway and closed the door to the room behind him.

           Raine lifted the covers and frowned as he saw the black and dark grey fur of his body with the red mark even more prominent on his chest. He gripped his paws and stood himself up walking to the bureau against the far wall from the bed and looked into the mirror above it. He reached up and touched the muzzle before looking into his red eyes and frowning, "I'm not a monster..."

           The face in the mirror grinned slightly as it changed into the monster from his dream just staring back at him for the time. No words were exchanged just an understanding. The creature lifted its paw and drew on the other side of the glass the words "Raine Diam." Raine shook his head slowly as the letters began to twist and turn and rearrange themselves until they said, "I am Raiden."

           The creature seemed to be laughing before the image snapped back to Raine now holding his face and shaking his head slowly, "Never... I won't become a monster... It's a lie..." The voice was in his head. He could almost feel the touch of the bony hand on his cheek sending a shiver up his spine as it replied, "You... are the lie."

           Raine put his paws over his face backing away from the mirror and letting himself sit in the darkness. Silence came and stayed with him. It was a welcome thing ensuring him that he hadn't gone completely insane. Slowly he pulled his paws away from his eyes and looked back into the mirror to see the image of a tired young man. His eyes were bloodshot from his exhaustion and his entire stature slouched out of weariness.

           Maybe Crono was right? Maybe he just needed more sleep?

           Raine turned himself away from the mirror reaching down to touch the mark on his chest and whispered softly to himself, "Then the legends were true... I am the undying one..."

           The fennec made his way back to the bed and under the covers laying there for some time just staring up at the ceiling. He couldn't shake the feeling that he wasn't alone and the prospect of possibly having another dream like the one he just had wasn't at all comforting. With a sigh he finally decided he should get up and face the day.

           Raine stood himself up and stretched out before looking around the room again for anything to wear. He couldn't just wander around in his boxers all day. It wasn't exactly proper after all. He spotted the clothing laid out on the chair and smiled a little. His host was accommodating at least.

           The vulpine slipped into the black jeans and fastened them with the braided belt that was provided. It seemed that all Crono had for him to wear on the top was a long brown duster. It didn't matter, it was something at least. Slipping into the long jacket Raine slowly made his way out into the rest of the small house.

           Down the hall to his right he saw just two doorways. One was obviously the bathroom as he could see the mirror and sink plainly through the open door. The other was a closed door that he assumed was Crono's bedroom. Walking down the hall in the opposite direction he found himself in a den of sorts which lead into the kitchen to his right. The place was rather sparse in furniture but what was there seemed nice enough. Better than Raine had in his apartment at least.

           "I see you're up and about. I'm sorry about the jacket but I couldn't find anything I was sure would fit you. You see I have to wear rather lose fitting clothing," Came the familiar voice of Crono from the kitchen, "Feel free to come and join me Raine. I was just finishing breakfast."

           The desert fox walked slowly into the kitchen to find Crono setting out two plates of pancakes and a bottle of syrup in the center of the table. For now Raine took the far seat at the table and watched in silence. He was still in a strange place with a strange person and didn't know who he could trust. Yesterday had been taxing to say the least.

           Crono quirked a brow and rand a hand through his curly black hair with a grin, "Heh... It's okay... You can talk when you feel you are ready. I'm sure you've been through a lot. Roy seemed pretty winded when he dropped you off here late last night. I'm sorry that it's like this but... well there aren't many refuges left for us."

           Raine nodded as the plate was set in front of him. He hadn't realized how incredibly hungry he was until he caught the smell of the food in front of him. His stomach tensed and let out a growl so he didn't waste any time to get rid of the uncomfortable sensation. The ebon canine grabbed at the syrup quickly and drenched the cakes in the sugary liquid. He was like a savage as he inhaled the breakfast quickly much to Crono's amusement.

           "I reckon it's been about twenty hours since you last ate so it's okay. No need for silly manners I guess," replied the host with a bemused grin.

           Raine sat back in his chair for a few moments blushing slightly at what he had done but he got over it quickly, "I'm... Raine. You already knew that though..." The voice was his own and he felt relieved hearing it loudly now. He was terrified that the voice of that demon from his dreams and in the mirror would come out.

           Crono simply gave a nod as he wasn't even half finished with his meal. He just wanted to make sure Raine knew he heard what was said.

           "I... I don't know where I am, but, thank you for taking care of me," Said the fennec softly while the voice betrayed his feelings. He was afraid and confused.

           Crono set down his silverware and shook his head, "We have to take care of each other. Otherwise we are just like the humans and the beasts. We are better than that."

           Raine looked confused for a few moments as his ears folded back nervously. He replied quietly as he felt the question must be silly for his host, "What... What are we?"

           "Ahh now isn't that just the twenty thousand dollar question," Asked Crono with a grin. He nodded and leaned back in his chair to get comfortable as he knew this would take some time to explain, "We are a lot of things I suppose. Some speculate we are the next step in evolution. Others say we are the return of creatures from a long time ago. All we really know is the scientific name given to us by the humans, Homo Familiaris. That what we call ourselves by the way; the Familiaris."

           The fennec nodded slowly before he spoke, "Then there are more of us? Like the ones that took me from my apartment?"

           Crono chuckled softly and gave a nod, "Course there is. Why there is a whole resistance held up in a huge underground city right under Death Valley. Hides right under the noses of Fox Hunt."

           "Where are they? Did they just leave me with you," Asked Raine curiously. He wanted to thank the people that had saved him.

           Crono's face turned grim for a moment before he rubbed his small goatee and nodded, "They were captured I'm afraid... and Jericho was killed. Roy was the only one that seemed to have gotten away. I'm sure he's back at the city telling Blindman what happened."

           Were Raine not covered in black fur Crono would have seen all the color drain from the young man. His best friend in the whole world was dead and now he was in the middle of a conflict he didn't understand nor wanted to be a part of. His eyes were burning at his loss and he could feel the wetness against his cheeks, "Jericho... He's gone?"

           Looking a little surprised Crono stood up and reached out to Raine putting a hand on his shoulder softly, "Hey hey... he wouldn't want you to cry about it I'm sure. You two were close then?"

           Raine nodded as he rubbed the back of his paw against his eyes to dry them, "Yeah... He was my best friend. I can't even remember how far back we met."

           "No one ever can when it comes to Jericho... He was a rather special individual. Let me give you an example. What did Jericho look like," asked Crono curiously.

           The fennec looked confused as if the question was completely absurd. He opened his mouth to speak but no words came out. He had stopped himself to think but nothing came to mind. It was like there was a complete blank spot when it came to trying to remember Jericho's face.

           Crono nodded as he saw this and smiled a little, "You see? Jericho was gifted with an ability. Some of us have them and others do not. Jericho's special ability was very unique. You see he could insert himself into any person or group of person's lives and he just seemed to belong there. I've seen him walk right into a Fox Hunt base and they did nothing about it. Pretty amazing huh?"

           Raine sat there silent for a few moments before he looked up a bit more upset than before as he spoke, "So... You mean our friendship wasn't real at all? It was fabricated by some sort of... of... Super power?"

           The homeowner gripped the fennec's shoulder reassuringly as he shook his head speaking softly in reply, "It may have started out that way but if what you say is right, that Jericho was your best friend, then I suspect he cared about you a lot... He did die trying to save you after all."

           Raine nodded slowly remaining quiet and solemn for some time. Crono went back to finishing his breakfast and the rest of the meal was met with silence.

           Eventually Crono excused himself while Raine sat at the table still trying to remember his friend. It bothered him that he couldn't place Jericho's features at all. Was this all just a trick? Was he still dreaming and waiting to wake up back in his apartment. To go back to work the next day at his dead end job and spend another lonely night surfing the internet?

           He eventually came to the realization that this was all very much real and that his life would never be the same again. For better or for worse he had to be a part of this elaborate struggle to survive in some way.