As the man stepped closer, Aziel's thoughts screamed.
Don't come near me.
You will die.
Run away.
The man frowned.
What is happening here?
I thought it was just simple kidnapping case… but this is something else.
"Hey," The man said. "Can you hear me?"
Aziel's body on its own started to move toward him.
Aziel felt his consciousness slipping, thinning like smoke. He could barely understand what was happening anymore.
The man drew his sword.
"I think you can hear me," he said, leveling his blade at him "The owner of this body."
The sword tip pointed directly at Aziel's chest.
"If you want to live," the man continued, voice steady "then try to stop yourself. Or I will kill you."
The words struck Aziel like a blade through the heart.
What do you think I am trying to do? Aziel screamed inside himself, forcing his own awareness back.
Then-
The man vanished from Aziel's sight.
Aziel's body reacted instantly.
Steel flashed.
The blade narrowly missed Aziel's neck.
"Oh," the man said, a small smile forming "you are strong."
Are you insane? Aziel thought. Are you giving me time to take control… or trying to kill me?
Aziel's body lunged again.
Fist and blade clashed.
Aziel's body threw a powerful punch powerful enough to crush a skull-but the man twisted aside just in time.
"Hey," the man said while dodging the relentless blows, "you are running out of time to live."
His eyes sharped.
"Don't you want to live?"
As the fight carried on, Aziel's desire to live and to stop it grew stronger and stronger.
I don't want to die.
Then Aziel screamed in his mind with everything he had.
Stoppppppp.
The man noticed a small pause in Aziel's body movement.
Good, the man though as he dodged another attack.
The fight between Aziel and his body continued.
Give me my body back.
Stop it all.
This is my body.
As it was going on.
Suddenly, the man increased his speed and delivered a powerful punch to Aziel's chest. Aziel's body crashed into the wall.
Cracks appeared on the wall.
With this.
Aziel lost his consciousness.
Am I dying…?
After a while….
Aziel found himself staring at a wall made of well-polished wood. He was lying on a bed layered with warm wool. It was comfortable
He could also move his body freely. He felt relief and his skin was back to normal.
Where am I?
As he was thinking, he heard the door open.
It was the same person who had attacked him.
Aziel tried to sit up, but dizziness hit him instantly.
"Don't move," The man said with calm voice.
Aziel asked nervously.
"Are you going to kill me."
The man laughed and said.
"Are you an idiot? Why would I save you if I wanted to kill you?"
Relief flooded Aziel's face.
"So…what are you going to d-"
Before Aziel could finish his words, he remembered what he had done.
Aziel bent forward and vomited. Tears streamed down his face.
"Hey, Slow down." The man said, holding Aziel by the arm.
"I… I killed a lot of people." Aziel said in trembling voice.
"Why am I alive."
He repeated those words again and again.
The man slapped Aziel.
"What nonsense are you saying. You don't even know what was happening to you."
Aziel looked up at him.
"We should start with an introduction," The man said, "then I will tell you what happened to you."
Aziel nodded.
"Alright," the man said, "I am known as Ninja."
Aziel blinked in confusion.
He was confused to know his name but…
Only then Aziel realized that the man, who saved him was wearing a black mask on his face covering his mouth and nose only his grey eyes were visible.
"What a weird name," Aziel said with confusion, "and why are you wearing a mask."
Ninja gave a weird laugh.
"Hey, it is not that weird."
"Now your turn." Ninja nodded toward Aziel.
"My name is Aziel Solren," Aziel said, "I am seventeen."
Ninja patted his back lightly.
He sat on the chair beside the bed. His expression turned serious.
"Alright."
"Now let me tell you what is happening with you."
Aziel stiffened.
"The condition in which you are is known as," he said with a pause,"Mindfall."
"Mindfall?" Aziel repeated.
"Yes, it is a condition when a person cannot control his imagination." Ninja continued.
"and then the person loses their mind… and go berserk."
Ninja stared directly into Aziel's eyes.
"You will have to find a way to control it."
"I don't understand how I can control it." Aziel said.
"That is up to you." Ninja replied as he stood.
"From now on, you will know the true reality of this world. That will help you control your powers."
Aziel clenched his fist.
"Thank you."
Ninja moved out of the room without saying anything else.
After a while Aziel came out of his room.
A vast hallway stretched before him, lined with many doors. The hallway was beautifully decorated. Flowerpots sat on small tables present near each door. Lanterns hung along the walls, bathing the hall in warm light.
As Aziel continued to move forward, he saw a girl moving out of her room.
She had long, silver hair that flowered down her back. Her clear blue eyes carried a quiet warmth and her delicate features gave her almost unreal beauty.
When she saw him, her face lit up.
"Aziel!" she shouted, running toward him.
Aziel froze.
"Do… do you know me?" Aziel asked.
"Why won't I know you. Silly." She said as she stopped in front of Aziel.
"We are childhood friends," she continued, "you even tried to save me--Ninja told me."
"I tried to save you?" Aziel asked with more confusion.
Suddenly, a memory surfaced.
The girl tied to chair…
Aziel stepped back.
His hand and legs trembled.
No… I don't come near me.
I don't want to hurt anyone.
"Are you alright." She asked worriedly.
As all this was happening Ninja appeared. No one was able to sense him coming.
Ninja said calmly.
"What are you both doing. Come with me."
His presence steadied Aziel's mind.
"O-okay" Aziel said.
As they followed him Aziel could feel a beautiful and peaceful presence of Ninja. He could sense it but at the same time he could not forget how terrifying he was in that building.
I will change.
I can not live like this my whole life.
I will overcome whatever this Mindfall is.