Alex was still in immense shock from his experience. Luckily through some sane part of him he deliberately calmed himself.
Momentarily stopping his fear and madness like stopping the lava flowing from a volcano. Except the volcano was only being stopped for a bit.
Alex was just temporarily suppressing his fear. He did this in hope that logic would prevail and his fear would be wiped away.
So Alex took his given time and started brainstorming reasons why he had felt pain. As he went through many possibilities.
Like that place being his soul, and that attack had injured his soul. Or it was just his imagination that he felt the pain, akin to phantom pain.
Eventually Alex came to a realization, but not about how he felt the pain. Yet it was still logical enough to give him an anchor for his worries.
As Alex had realized that he only woke up before fatal wounds were dealt to him. The attack that injured him obviously didn't kill him so he didn't wake up.
After realizing this Alex began to calm down. Yet fear still lingered within him, originating from the spider's immense strength, and Alex's doubt.
As Alex slowly reached sanity his mind began flowing like it usually did. As his thought process came back and he checked his surroundings.
Suddenly remembering Alex glanced toward the group of people. Previously Alex had noticed the group but was too insane to actually observe it.
Alex got up from his seat and walked toward the group to feed his curiosity. While once he reached the outer circle he saw a man in his sleep.
There were many people all surrounding one man in his slumber. Which to say the least is not what Alex expected, especially because the man was still alive.
Although Alex did notice the man twitching and moving uncontrollably in his sleep. So Alex then started listening to the whispers being passed around the circle.
Trying to glean the reason for the man's twitching or why they gathered around him.
"I heard from one of his friends that he was having nightmares of a spider."
"I heard last time this happened to him he woke up screaming."
"Hey, do you guys know what's happening?"
"Not really, we're all just worried for him."
Alex stayed out of the conversation refraining himself from speaking. Instead just listen to the rumors.
While this Alex was left in absolute shock. As Alex had only known of him and Lyra being affected by the spider.
Now Alex was staring at another man in their same situation. As the puzzle pieces slowly started to click together and Alex had put together the story.
Alex had gleaned that the man was fighting the spider in his dream. During the past times when he lost he thought he was about to die, causing him to wake up screaming.
Figuring out the story Alex lost interest and was prepared to turn around and walk away. As Alex wanted to think about some plans he had.
Except the moment before Alex turned around he watched as a girl crouching next to the man let out a scream, while the man stopped moving.
The girl's hand was on the sleeping man's heart as tears dripped down her face. This was all happening in the observation of the crowd.
With countless whispers traveling through the circle, while people gasped, and some even started to let tears escape like the crouching girl.
Alex didn't even need to listen to the crowd to know what they were saying. As their reactions could only mean one thing.
The man had died.
More specifically the man had died while fighting the dream spider. And as soon as Alex realized this he was sent to a spiral back into insanity.
The one anchor that wiped away his fear and madness had just been obliterated. Alex was once again drenched in fear.
The sudden realization that the man had died while fighting the spider destroyed Alex's only comfort that the spider offered.
Even around him people were sent into fear and chaos. Yet it was on a small scale and only intense fear and whispering.
Unlike last time the group had been sent into fear the group was handling it better. With all of the survivors acknowledging that it was possible for people to die.
Yet even with the mental preparations they had, it was still the first death on the continent. Or for many it was the first death in front of them they had experienced.
With the two details battling, it was evident within the expressions of the survivors. As it was torn between calm sadness and chaotic fear.
Luckily the two suppressed each other. While from a distance Lyra observed this, finally deciding to head toward the circle of people.
Even though Alex had already left the circle to his seat subconsciously, Lyra still headed toward the circle before realizing the situation.
She walked through the crowd in sorrow, grabbed the man, then carried him to the front of the plane. Once there she found a blanket lying on a nearby seat and grabbed it.
Lyra then gently laid down the man before covering his body in a blanket. While she then clasped her hand together and bowed toward the man.
"Do not despair people, the man has left our wretched world for a better place, so may he rest in peace, and may we travel on for him."
Everybody watching Lyra immediately copied her words, as they all said in synchronization.
"May he rest in peace."
The people bowed their heads, while tears dripped from their eyes. Lyra then walked forward, walking past the others and finding her seat.
After Lyra sat down she started brainstorming. Yet she wasn't there to hear what the people had said and did not know the full gravity of what had happened.
Except Alex did, he now knew the truth, the horrible truth. As he discovered many things while the puzzle clicked together.
Haha, no way I came that close to death twice.
Alex let out a maniacal laugh in his head as he let the madness take over. Even while a small part of him tried to fight it.
His madness was overtaking him, with their situation from the start forming his unstable mind. With only the thought of survival anchoring him.
Alex was situated at the front of the plane where he had heard Lyra's speech. Understanding that Lyra did not grasp the true meaning of the man's death.
While he listened to the people paying their respects.
"He was such a kind man."
"At least he went out in his sleep, although we don't even know how, truly saddening and lucky."
"He was the bravest man I ever met."
Alex paid close attention to the latter, as he stared at the girl that had been lying on him at his death.
Then suddenly something clicked in Alex's mind.
Wait, did she just say he was brave? Shit so that's why I survived.
Alex had fully connected the mysteries surrounding the spider. As his revelation had revealed his survival and other things.
In any dream or nightmare people wake up when faced with immense fear. This was the basis behind Alex's thoughts.
If he truly were dreaming or something akin to that if he were faced with near death then of course he would wake up.
This also connected to how he was hit in the previous dream. As Alex was not afraid when he was about to be struck by the air blade.
Ha it seems fear was the key this whole time.
Alex had slightly calmed down as some of his madness was suppressed with his understanding of what was previously unknown.
After realizing this Alex came to the same conclusion he had recently. Yet this time it was much more important.
Once again Alex knew he had to kill the spider, yet this time it wasn't to suppress Lyra, but instead for survival.
Except the moment Alex came up with the thought of trying to kill the spider a rush of memories of his fight flooded his mind.
Alex then vomited to his side, causing a horrible stench to film the air around him. As Alex's mind was filled with immense fear once again.
He had realized that there was no chance he would be able to defeat the spider. As not only did it have extremely fast movements and an ability Alex wasn't knowing of.
The Spider had one thing that topped all its other abilities. Something that struck true fear into Alex, causing Alex to lock away the thought of defeating the spider behind an unclimbable wall.
This potent ability of the spider was its striking intelligence. Not just that but specifically it battles intelligence.
As during Alex's fight with the spider it had shown its truly terrifying adaptability. While it had also used Alex's strengths and knowledge against him.
Alex had convinced himself it was impossible to beat the spider. And even if he kept fighting the spider he'd die.
This was because if Alex was dealt an instantly fatal wound without him noticing or realizing it he would not be able to fear the attack, therefore dying.
Even if this was a rare chance it would happen eventually. While Alex could not control it, and anytime he fought the spider he'd had the chance of dying permanently.
Yet Alex was jumping to conclusions, as he did not know whether dying in that plane of his mind would kill him.
Except Alex did not realize this, instead believing it was all but an impossible task to defeat the spider.
Alex's corrupted and mad mind raced through horrible ideas of what was happening because of the spider.
Then Alex had a truly terrifying thought. As Alex realized he was going to die, even if he never faced the spider again.