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Sleep.
Evourai missed sleep.
His skin still felt itchy not long after being revived. His eyes were dry, his mouth like a desert. His body felt heavy.
But he wanted to sleep. Drowsiness overwhelmed him as soon as he went through that portal. The portal that led back to the real world.
Walking through that portal, feeling his cells regenerate and heart start up again was a strange, uncomfortable sensation Evo would rather not feel again.
In the Afterlife sleep wasn't a necessity he noticed too. Probably because you were already dead. Your body didn't need the benefits of sleeping, but now after coming back to the real world, Evo could barely keep his eyes open.
He slumped against an oak tree, looking out at the plains, dropping his weapons. To do so in a world where people kill for fun was stupid, but Evo didn't care. His body was so tired; just a nap would help.
Just a short nap.
—
Scraping.
Tick.
Evo looked around the pitch blackness. It was so dark he could barely see his own hands in front of his face. It was so quiet he could hear his heart pounding.
Tick..
He knew that sound.
It was over, he didn't have to see them again. Why were they here? Where was here? What was happening?
He saw a faint shine of metal circling him.
“Hello Evourai.” A static voice box spoke. “Y-you’re not supposed to be here.” He stuttered, his body going rigid.
“What do you mean? You broke the rules. It's time for your punishment.”
Syntax’s metal wings came into view, but their face was covered by a curtain of black. They threw a pair of glasses at Evo, ones that looked oddly familiar.
Images flashed in Evo’s head. Lezy… Lezy wore those glasses. They then also threw a ribbon of sorts at him as well; blue and orange-yellow. His blood went cold.
“This was your fault, remember?” they pressed. “No, no it wasn't.” Evo shook, reaching for his friends' items. “It was. You’re the one who met them. You’re the one who brought them along with you. You’re the one who broke the rules, who put them in danger.
You were the one who was too weak to save them.”
“Lezy- he's alive. I saved him. I died for him.” Evo mumbled. “Are you lying to yourself now?” Syntax’s wings scraped against the ground, filling Evo’s ears with sounds similar to nails against a blackboard. He put his hands over his ears.
“You killed them both.” Syntax’s voice still came through clear as ever, even after plugging his ears. “No I didn't.” Evo shook his head.
“Yes you did.”
“No!” He went to punch them, Syntax dodging the attempt. He swung a sword in his hand, clanking against Syntax’s metal a few times before they snatched it from his grasp and snapped it in half.
“Yes you did.” layers of Syntax’s voice echoed in his ears.
Syntax raised his razor wing. Evo stared at the shining metal, steel so sharp it could slice through him like butter. He held his breath as he felt the metal cut him.
He gasped, his hand trying to put pressure on his shoulder wound. Blood pooled through his clothes.
“I don't want to die again.” He muttered, shaking as Syntax raised the bloodied steel wing.
—
His eyes shot open, pain immediately hitting him like a wave.
His mind was so clouded, he couldn’t rationalize.
He smelt the metallic scent of blood on his right. His shoulder was bleeding.
He fell on his knees, his breathing ragged. His heart thumped, his pulse echoing through the wound on his shoulder.
Calm yourself.
He dragged his free hand through his hair, gripping the strands.
Calm.
He was hyperventilating; his breathing fast.
You’re okay.
“You’re okay.” He mumbled to himself. “It was a dream. It wasn't real. It wasn't real.” He trembled.
It wasn't his fault.
It wasn't his fault.
He took a deep breath, holding it, listening to his slowing heart beat. He let it go and did this a few more times as he stabilized his shoulder wound.
Once he'd calmed down, he looked around him. The sky was dark, being blocked by tall spruce trees. This… this isn't where he fell asleep.
He looked down at the ground. Pinecones and needles littered the wet dirt. He saw his blade next to him–
Blood. It was covered in blood.
Evo held his breath.
Had he killed someone..?
Where was the body..?
His heart rate spiked again as realization of the situation set in. Frozen. Staring at the blade, chills passed over his body, trying to remember what happened.
All he could remember was the nightmare.
It wasn't his fault. He didn't know how this happened, why he pulled the blade…
How did he pull the blade? He was asleep. Unless…
He sleepwalked here.
Evo put his head in his hands, dried blood getting in his hair.
Fuck, it was his fault. He let out a shaky whimper.
“Hello?” He heard a distant voice. He froze. He was in a vulnerable state right now.
He picked up his blade as a figure revealed himself from the treeline. Sunflowers sprouted and grew from his hair, his glowing skin illuminating the dark trees.
“Who the fuck are you?” he asked, looking Evo up and down. “Are you okay?”
Evo kept his mouth shut, gripping his sword so hard his knuckles were white. “You don't look too good bro.” he said, walking closer. Evo took a step back.
“Are you going to explain yourself or are you going to stand here in silence.” he asked, slightly annoyed. “S-sorry.” Evo stuttered, clearing his throat.
“Are you okay?” he asked again. “Uhm..” Evo trembled. “How can I trust you..?”
The figure dragged his hand over his face. “Just tell me if you're okay.”
“No.. no I'm not.” Evo crumbled. He landed on his knees. “My shoulder hurts, I don't have any healing potions and I- I don't know how I got here.”
“Okay.” The unknown person handed him a healing potion and Evo drank gingerly. “What do you mean you don't know how you got here?” He asked, the sunflowers scent filling Evo’s nose. “I–dont know.” Evo said, the warm aroma making him more tired than he already was.
He felt as if he hadn't slept at all.
“I just want to sleep.” Evo mumbled.
“Come with me. My village isn't too far from here.” he said, holding out his glowing hand. Evo hesitated then took it and pulled himself up. “Are you sure?” Evo asked.
“Bro, if you stay out here any longer you're going to die.” He insisted.
“I'm Evo.” He introduced himself, losing a little balance as he walked.
“Rejoice. It's nice to meet you, Evo.”