The Myth and The Guardian Book II: Christopher

“Oh, his eyes are opening.” said a distorted voice as Austin’s eyes squinted from trying to adjust to the bright light.

He took a deep breath and immediately recognized the smell of light urine and ammonia.

Hospital? The thought entered his mind as soon as his nostrils identified the smells.

The faces that surrounded him seemed unfamiliar, but he did not feel the threat of any danger. He blinked a few times, and his eyes finally adjusted to the light of the room. He saw the tall man wearing his white lab coat and nurses in light blue uniforms. This confirmed his first thought; he was inside of a hospital room.

“Vitals appear to be normal and pupils are reactive.” said the doctor as he shined an even brighter light into Austin’s eyes.

The voices were nearly clear as Austin sat up in the bed. He took another deep breath and looked around the room. He wiggled his toes and fingers, moved his legs, and stretched his arms. Everything he needed to get out of the hospital was working according to his own point of view. He had a bit of a migraine, but everything else seemed to be fine. He tried to get up from the bed but was immediately guided back down to a lying position by the doctor.

“Hold on there, young man; let’s make sure everything is normal before you go trying to walk around.” said the doctor in a smooth tone which let Austin know he was either new to the hospital or trying to impress one of the nurses.

He looked around quickly and saw a short nurse with big breasts looking at the doctor as if he were a movie star.

“I was correct. Clever as always, Austin.” Austin thought to himself which made him smirk a little.

Suddenly the young man was overwhelmed by a strong panic that set the monitors off. His heart was racing, and he struggled for air as he realized what he had just thought to himself.

“Why do I know that name? That’s my name, but why do I know it?”

The doctors and nurses began to move rapidly, trying to grab equipment, but Austin was hardly paying attention to what was going on around him.

“I am not supposed to remember anything at all. I am not even supposed to remember that I am not supposed to remember. If I remember my name, then…”

His thoughts were interrupted as a montage of visions came rushing back to him all at once. His heart rate was increasing with every struggled breath he attempted to take. One nurse was trying her best to convince him to calm down, but he could not understand what she was saying as the images kept repeating themselves inside of his mind.

“I need a crash cart in here!” The doctor yelled.

“His palms are sweating, body is shaking, heart rate steadily increasing, and he is having trouble breathing. Heart attack.” The nurse said to the doctor.

“Not yet, he is panicking and cannot calm himself. Push some Ativan before he does have a heart attack.” The doctor spoke quickly as the nurse followed his instructions without hesitation.

Austin could not move as all his memories continued rushing back to him. He was not supposed to remember any of this at all. Something had gone wrong when he drank from the fountain. He was about to replay his last memory, but he was suddenly too tired and calm to stay awake.

Austin woke to the sound of a monitor beeping. He was still rather groggy from the medicine the nurse had given him. He sat up in the bed and thought about everything that had led up to this point in his life. He did not panic at all from his own thoughts this time around. He felt sad, angry, and helpless. He knew that there was not anything he could do to change anything that had happened or that would happen in the larger scheme of it all. He remembered the words of the guardian:

“It will always end here. This way.”

“That way.”

Austin thought of the way he had protected the human race from its own ignorance. Frank, Susan, and Chris were all dead because of him, and so were hundreds of other families who chose to accept and love him as their own.

He wished having his memory back would inspire some type of hope, but he knew that it was just a minor flaw that would not affect his “destiny” other than make it harder for him to fulfill. The memory was not enough of a sign to make him believe that anything significant would change this time around. Instead, he would remember why he chose to drink from the fountain and use it as his reason for doing so again when the time came. All he could do at this point was accept his lack of control and try to get out of the hospital. He knew that escaping a hospital would not be as easy as he hoped it would, but he had plenty of time to think of a plan.

The nurse entered the room with a tray of food which Austin had no choice but to eat to regain some of his strength. The beef patty and gravy were only mildly warm, the mashed potatoes resembled a scoop of old ice cream, and the sight of the green beans made his stomach tighten and turn. The juice and the pudding would more than likely be the best parts of the entire meal. Austin hated hospitals and hospital food which, in his opinion, were probably not too different from prison and prison food. He had to wait before he tried to swallow the food because the thought of eating it was enough to make him nauseous.

“You seem to be better at remaining calm than you were yesterday.” said the nurse as she looked at the monitor. “They found you on the side of a road naked near the University.” She added as her face started to blush.

Austin did not even look up at the nurse as she continued to talk.

“Bathroom.” He managed to say loud enough to interrupt the ranting nurse. “Right there.” The nurse said pointing to a closed door.

Austin jumped out of bed and rushed to the bathroom as quickly as he could. He switched on the light, located the toilet, and began to relieve himself. He felt like the urine had been trying to get out of him for days by the rush of relief that overtook his body. He finished the bodily function and then noticed something he should have the moment he started. Either his hands had gotten smaller since the last time he used the bathroom, or his…

“Okay, it is definitely the latter.” Austin said to himself aloud with a satisfied smirk on his face. “Wait, what’s this? I have pubic hair now? That cannot be right. Unless...”

He quickly stopped focusing on his private area and stood in front of the mirror. “Holy Hell!” Austin yelled louder than he thought.

“Is everything okay in there?” the nursed asked immediately.

“Oh yes.” Austin stuttered. “I just haven’t seen myself in quite a while.” “Austin added in a whisper to himself.

He stared at what he would have believed to be a stranger looking back at him in the mirror and noticed light traces of facial hair. His voice was deeper, which he thought was due to the soreness from some type of medical tube that caused his voice to sound strange, and his muscles had developed better than he could have hoped. He placed a hand up to his own face and felt for a hint of the shape he once knew. The adorable looking boy was somewhere hidden in these new strong cheekbones that shaped a ruggedly handsome face. Austin stared at himself awhile longer and admired how well the older him ended up looking. Finally, after satisfying his eyesight, he began to think about the obvious.

“How did this happen and what did it mean?”

These questions would probably prove nearly impossible to answer even when he got out of the hospital.

“Okay, one task at a time. I must get out of this place first before the doctors start asking me questions I cannot answer. A t least not without being committed to the psychiatric ward.” Austin talked softly to himself trying to get used to the sound of his new voice.

The doctor entered the room while Austin was still inside of the restroom trying to get over the shock of his age. After being told Austin was using the bathroom, the doctor and nurse began talking in what they believed to be quiet voices. Austin could still hear their voices as they began to have what they believed to be a private conversation. The conversation started out with the nurse telling the doctor how sexy he looked in his lab coat. She then mentioned how incredible he was in bed the previous night and offered to give him a special reward in the janitor’s closet on her next break.

“We don’t have time for that now. You know our orders, Erica.” the man said in a serious tone.

“Sorry. Excuse me for trying to have a little fun in this godforsaken place.” The nurse said in an annoyed voice.

“Do you think I like it here? I would much rather be back in California opening my private practice, but we cannot go home until we retrieve the boy.” The man added with a hint of anger.

“Our private practice. You need the rest of my money to help you open it, and Yes, we can. We can give him his money back and get the startup money from someone else.” “The woman replied immediately.

“Ok, let me rephrase since you do not fully understand. We cannot go home and expect to live longer than three days until we retrieve the boy. He is rich, powerful, and would have no problem killing the both of us as well as my children. We have to do this.” The man said on the brink of tears.

“He threatened to kill your children? I am sorry, but I did not know.” The woman said looking down at the floor.

“Yes, you did. Is that not how he forced you into seducing me? He threatened to hurt your son. We both know that this is not a romance. We have sex because it is convenient, but this is just a business arrangement because we both accepted his money.” The man said in a matter of fact tone and walked away from the woman.

She looked shocked by everything he had confessed but managed to control herself as another nurse entered the room. The other nurse told the doctor he was needed in another room.

Austin’s mind had quickly processed the information and began forming a quick escape plan. He had to get out of the hospital faster than he had previously assumed. The questions from the doctors and blood samples were not a concern at all anymore. These people had been ordered to kidnap him by some rich murderer from California.

“I have never met anyone from California, but someone sure knows about me.” He thought to himself as nurse knocked on the door.

“Is everything okay in there?” She asked in what now Austin knew to be a fake friendly tone of voice.

“Oh yes, my stomach was just a bit upset.” Austin quickly lied.

He exited the bathroom and pretended everything was okay as he walked back over to his bed. He looked at the nurse who had on a very convincing happy face, but he could see the concern in her eyes. He sat on the bed and tried to make sense of everything that he had recently discovered. He watched the nurse as she looked in a drawer for something and noticed the syringes were kept in the second drawer. He thought about doing it as soon as he noticed the syringes, but he quickly whispered “No” to himself.

His mind was suddenly on full alert as he was completely sure he had never had a thought like that before that moment. He remembered how much he felt for the world and all the people in it which was how and why he was chosen to protect it and them.

“I can’t believe that thought just entered my head.” Austin said as the nurse walked out of the room.

“Why not? We both know she deserves it.” said a scary and familiar voice. Austin’s heart began to race as he desperately searched around the room. He knew the voice better than his own at this point.

“Where are you?” He said in a slight louder voice.

There was a moment of silence as Austin began to allow himself to calm down, but then the voice spoke.

“You know the answer to that question. Follow that rush of adrenaline inside of you.” The voice replied coldly.

Austin jumped from the bed and looked underneath the bed. He then carefully looked around the room for anything strange.

“Show yourself!” Austin screamed out of a mixture of anger and frustration. There was a loud laugh inside of Austin’s head as if someone was standing with their mouth to his ear.

“Very good. All that anger, all that frustration, all of those unstable emotions. Now find me.” said the cold voice.

The bathroom door moved a little, and Austin quickly grabbed the door and reentered the bathroom. The door was closed, and the lights were off. Austin reached for the switch but felt a hand touch his. He jumped back against the door and thought about leaving the room.

“Run if you want. We both know you have no place to go.” The voice said as Austin felt his stomach turn.

He rushed to the toilet and found it from memory. He vomited three times before the nausea went away, and he flushed the toilet as he slowly got to his feet.

“Come on, Austin. I know you feel all that rage inside of you. Let it be your guide.” The voice said in a somewhat playful tone.

“Enough! No more riddles or cryptic bullshit! Show yourself!” Austin screamed as his anger got the better of him.

He punched the door as hard as he could and felt the pain rush through his hand and arm. He used the same hand to switch on the light, but he still did not see the guardian. Austin placed his hurt hand over his heart which was beating louder but slower. He felt so angry, but he could not remember a time his head was as clear as it was becoming.

The laughter erupted in his ear again, and he felt like he was going to explode.

“Is this a game for you? I have no idea what is going on and you want to play games with me? Show yourself now!” Austin said clenching his hands into fists with another undeniable urge to hit something. “Damn it! I said show yourself now!” Austin yelled as he drew back to strike the mirror above the sink.

“I’m right here!” The voice thundered inside of Austin’s head. He dropped his hands and looked into the mirror at himself.

His reflection was pale and looked more relaxed than he knew he was at the moment.

“Yes. Long time no see Austin.” Austin stared at the reflection in disbelief and thought if he was losing his mind. “No, you’re not going insane. Not yet.” said the reflection.

“How are you doing this? How am I seeing you right now?” Austin asked in a frightened tone. “Wow, all of that fear you feel is really a rush. And to answer your other questions since you have not figured it out by now. We are connected.” the reflection explained in an annoyed but mysterious tone.

“I know we are connected because of the fountain. I remember that much. Still, I am not sure how you are able to do what you are doing right now.” Austin said with the fear fading slowly.

“Because we are connected! I have told you already.” The reflection screamed.

“I know, but that does not explain...”

“Shut up and pay attention! Obviously, you need me to show you what I mean. “The guardian shouted.

Austin noticed his fists were ready for action again, but he was not the one moving them. His left fist punched his own stomach as hard as it could, and he almost fell to the floor in pain.

“Okay, I get it.” Austin said trying to catch a breath.

The right fist then punched the right side of his face with the same amount of force the left had hit his stomach.

“I said I get it!” Austin said as his anger began to build again.

The reflection smiled and gained some color as it looked back at him.

“You meant we are whole again.” Austin said through gritted teeth.

“Good. Now let me out so we can get out of here.” the reflection said coldly. And before you ask the question forming inside your head, I have already told you how. Follow the anger. You at least know that you are the good and I am the not-so-good.” The reflection said with a smirk.

“You mean the evil one. You want to hurt people. You feed from their pain.” Austin said to his reflection.

“No, I feed from the pain that you feel about their pain as well as every other negative emotion that you could ever experience. Anger is the quickest way to allow me to take control because you are too weak to do what it necessary.” The guardian explained coldly.

“You mean kill people. Well, that’s not going to happen. You are not getting out. This is my body and I am in control, you understand?” Austin said forcing himself to calm down completely.

The reflection became pale again as Austin felt his recent anger go away.

“We will see about that.” The guardian replied as the reflection in the mirror became normal.

Austin waved his hand in front of the mirror, and the reflection in the mirror did the same. The guardian was gone, and Austin was in complete control again.

“Where did you go? I have more questions.” Austin said to his normal reflection in the mirror.

“We’ve got a new one for the psyche-ward in here!” said a female voice. Austin had not noticed the door opened and a new nurse had watched his entire conversation he had with what she believed to be himself.

“No, you do not understand, miss. I am not crazy. I was not talking to myself. I mean, I was talking to myself, but it was my evil self. He wanted me to kill that other nurse and I wouldn’t do it” Austin said and wished he had not immediately after he realized how crazy it all sounded.

Two orderlies entered the room with restraints and proceeded to grab Austin. Austin tried to run past the two large men but was grabbed and forced onto the ground. One man held Austin’s arms together while the other attempted to put the restraints on his hands. Austin struggled as best as he could to overpower the large men, but his attempts were worthless. The men controlled him with ease and laughed as his full attempt to resist was nothing in comparison to their own strength.

“Wait, I am not crazy. I promise. This is all just a misunderstanding.” Austin pleaded to the men.

“Yeah kid, that’s what all you lunatics say. Stop fighting, little man before you actually make me try.” said one man.

“Yeah, it will all be over soon. We have a nice new jacket and comfortable padded room waiting for you.” said the other.

“Please. I am warning you to let me go. If you keep this up, I will not be in control of my actions. It is for your own safety that you both listen to me and stop now.” Austin said in a strained voice.

“Sure, kid. Your bad ass speech is really going to scare us into not doing our job.” said the first man.

The second man just looked at the other and laughed at the situation.

Austin could feel as they each tightened their grips on his body forcing him into submission. He knew he was moments away from a lifetime of therapy, sedation, and padded rooms. The fear erupted with an intensity he was not prepared to handle. He heard the laughter in his ear begin to build again, but he could not do anything to control his thoughts.

“Let me go. I said let me go!” Austin shouted as he began to move wildly to avoid the restraints. One man placed a hand on Austin’s throat and applied light pressure.

“He’s trying to make this difficult. Give him the shot now.” The man said in a monotone voice.

“Way ahead of you.” The other replied as he prepared a syringe.

The man with the needle pushed the plunger until a little liquid shot from the needle.

“Now this isn’t going to hurt at all.” He said as he began to place the needle into Austin’s arm.

Austin shouted one more time and suddenly began laughing uncontrollably.

“You are wrong. This is going to hurt. This is going to hurt more than anything you’ve ever experienced.” Austin said in a cold voice.

Austin broke free from their grip and threw both men against the wall with little effort. He walked slowly towards the now frightened men and began to laugh a little as if he could smell their fear rising with each step he took. He picked the syringe up from the floor and moved even slower towards one of the men. Austin jammed the syringe through the man’s eye and pushed the plunger. The man screamed loudly for a moment and became silent immediately afterwards. Austin took a deep breath and looked the motionless body like a piece of art work that begs to be admired.

“So sad to waste all of those muscles.” Austin said with a smirk on his face. “Now, for you.” He said looking at the other man.

“No, please no. Please don’t kill me. I’m sorry. I was only doing what I had to do. Please don’t kill me.” The man begged through tears.

Austin stared at him for a moment and walked out of the bathroom. The man tried to control himself as he watched the boy walk away from him. Austin immediately returned with a second syringe.

“You did not really think I would let you live, did you? Wow, you humans are a truly inferior species. Now, unlike you who would have stabbed me with this syringe because you had to do so. I can assure you that I’m going to kill you because I want you to die. My weaker alter ego begged you to stop, and you did not listen. I’m going to show you that same level of ruthlessness and more. Now, beg for your life.” Austin said slowly walking towards his next victim. “I said beg!” he added with rage.

The man jumped as Austin shouted, and he saw the darkness of the boy’s eyes.

“Please, don’t kill me. I have a family. I wasn’t trying to hurt you. I promise. Please, don’t kill me.” The man begged again.

“That was good. You mentioned your family to help your plea. That’s very clever. You have a gift for begging. Do you know what I have a gift for? Austin said moving closer to the helpless man.

“No, what?” The man asked in a frightened stutter.

Austin looked at the dead body lying beside the man and smiled quickly.

“Murder.” he added in a cold voice as he stabbed the man in his throat and forced the needle from side to side.

The man tried to scream but he could not make a sound. He looked at Austin and witnessed the proud look in the boy’s eyes. The man then accepted his fate and stared at his dead coworker lying next to him. The image of his lifeless friend was the last image the man would ever see.