Writetober Day 18 (Misfit)

Writetober Day 18

Misfit

                Tom couldn’t get the thoughts out of his head, it drilled into his brain.  Why are you even here?  The three had been walking through the oppressive haze for what seemed like days.  Climbing up one torn piece of earth, only to clamor down to another floating chunk of ground became tedious; annoyance was building with in Tom.  The spire that brought hope and peace was long behind them, it’s silver light unable to cut through the corruptive mist.

“I think we are getting close; the orb is starting to ripple.”  Michelle tiredly spoke, her muscles barely strong enough to move her mouth.

Tom stared at the back of her head as she spoke.  Why do you even care about that orb?  Tom shook his head, trying to dislodge the thought.  Tom’s determination and fight was waning, the haze seemed to seep into his pores.

“You don’t belong…”  The voice was quiet in Tom’s hears.

“What?  Did you guys say something?”  No one answered Tom.  Kyle’s focus was on willing the next spire to appear.

They don’t care about what you say.  The thought beckoned Tom to join it, to understand something he was blind to.

“What purpose do you bring…”  The voice had intent with the words it spoke into Tom.

“Shut up.”  Tom forced the words out.

“What?”  Michelle tried to turn, but the pressure surrounding them was thick, it took too much effort to do anything but walk forward.

A dense ball of misery and confusion shrouded the wanderers.  Kyle’s eyes were tired, they fought to stare into the circulating muted air before them.  There was no sunset or sunrise, simply a steady drear of black and grey.  All around them, the black trees had sprouted and sunk their tendrils deep into the broken earth.  The obsidian mist oozing from their branches tracked the group as they passed by, never going too far from its source.

“You’re a hinderance to them…worthless…nothing but dead weight on their journey.”  The voice clawed at Tom, slowly tearing down his walls.

Maybe he’s right.  Tom pondered the thought as he trudged through the soup of despair that drowned everyone.

“No ring…no blood…no connection to the others.”  The voice pierced Tom, it festered within him.  “You’re nothing in this journey…a nobody…a misfit…”

Tom stopped, mid step, his blank stare focusing on nothing.  You’re right…I am pointless in all of this.  He welcomed his thought.

“Why am I here?”  Tom’s tainted words carried easily to Kyle and Michelle.

“What do you mean?”  Kyle used his might to turn through the haze.

“This is your family’s problem.  You and your wife can take care of this.”  Tom’s stare mad contact with no one.  “I am not your lackey to just follow you around.  I had a damn life!”  Tom seethed in anger.

“Tom, it’s the corruption, don’t listen to it.”  Kyle slowly walked toward his friend.

“Shut up!  I gave up a real life for this fairytale crap?  Because your grandfather needed to get his jollies off?  No thanks.”

“Tom, this isn’t you.  Listen to me.”  Panic shot through Kyle as he stared at Tom’s hand.

The ring was black, darker than the void, it dripped midnight onto Tom’s clenched fist.  Tom’s blank stare focused on Kyle, a grin stretched across his face.  He lunged to his so-called friend shoving him deeper into the haze.

“Listen to you!?  That’s all I ever do!”  Tom shoved Kyle again, making him disappear in the thick mist.  Michelle was next.  Tom turned to face her, his gaze focused on the violently rippling orb.  “Give me the ball.”  Hatred spewed from Tom’s mouth.

“Get away from her!”  Kyle’s voice cut through the mist.  “You’re right!  You are an idiot!  You followed me out here like a lost puppy!”  The words cut into Tom.

Tears obscured Tom’s view as he lunged into the mist after Kyle.  “I’ll kill you!”

Michelle couldn’t see the men, but she could hear the screams and blows that they sent to one another.  Slowly, with all her energy, she waded through the corruption, hoping to help Kyle.

“Michelle!  The spire!”  Kyle’s words struggled to escape in-between punches.  “The orb…help Tom.”  His words became muffled as Tom pressed on Kyle’s face to suffocate him.

Michelle fought the weight of despair and negativity that constricted her body, she kept moving.  The men appeared first.  Kyle was flailing, wildly attempting to grab Tom as the lack of oxygen began to steal his life.  Tears fell from Michelle, even if she made it to Kyle before he suffocated, she wasn’t strong enough to deal with Tom.  The spire was her priority.  She swallowed the knot of tears and fear and pressed on.

“I hate you!”  Tom screamed as Kyle’s clawing hands slowed and his eyes began to lose focus.  “You’re weak!”  The world darkened around Kyle as Tom yelled.

Just as death began to welcome Kyle, a brilliant silver light erupted from deep within the corruptive mist.  Tom’s grip loosened as he stared at the blast of light, Kyle took advantage.  Ripping Tom’s hands from his face, Kyle forced air into his lungs as the warm glow enveloped him and Tom.

Hard breaths had passed until the blinding light allowed vision again.  Michelle stood over Kyle, the quiet sphere in her hands, his eyes blinking into focus.  Tom was slumped over on his knees, gripped in shock as he made eye contact with his friends.

“I…I don’t know what happened.”  Tears flowed from Tom’s eyes.

Kyle embraced his friend, letting him weep into his chest.  “It was the corruption, it’s gone now.”

“Tom, look at your ring.”  Michelle whispered as she too embraced her friend.

Through salted water, Tom stared at the shining silver ring on his finger, the smallest smile showed as he cried.  The three sat together, cherishing the moment.  Their task was nowhere near done, and the corruption had shown it wasn’t going to make their goal any easier.

“I love you guys.”  Tom’s voice was happy.