Peace and tranquillity were all Arik could sense. He saw nothing but blackness in every direction, and couldn't even tell if his eyes were open or not. In fact, he couldn't feel his entire body. Just peace and tranquility. And so, he continued to merely exist in blissfully harmony.

After an indistinguishable lapse in time, the swelling song of crashing waves drew ever nearer through the darkness. Accompanying the soothing sound was a small mote of pulsing soft blue light in the distance. A tiny speck at first, it quickly grew to the size of a basketball. Or perhaps it wasn't getting bigger, but moving closer, just as the sound of crashing waves grew louder.

As distance between Arik and the light narrowed, the alluring blue light cast its radiance upon him, revealing his body and giving him feeling where he was once devoid. This was also the first time Arik had been able to see anything besides the light itself.

As he wiggled his fingers in satisfying trial, the blue light became more vibrant and powerful. He looked up to see several more balls of light had joined the first; dozens, perhaps even hundreds. They all drifted in the same direction as if riding a current through the sky. They made Arik feel warm and safe.

Suddenly, a wretched pain smoldered in Arik's chest. Deep and violent emotions weighed down on him and sadness festered in his soul. It was an emotion that nobody should ever have to suffer, neither saint nor sinner.

A new vision came to be and momentarily distracted Arik from his grieving. This time it was a red light some 50 feet from him. Though, something was much different about this one. Arik could tell that the sadness he was feeling was coming from that red light. He started walking toward it to get a closer look.

Each step he took was slow and floaty, as if he was submerged in thick water. But he assured himself he wasn't. He could breathe after all. But even his breathing was slowed to an alarming crawl.

After about 20 feet or so, the light began to slowly take shape. Arik could make out some kind of hunched over silhouette residing in the light. Approaching even closer still, he was finally able to make out the image.

It was a man, a red man, so crimson in completion that it looked as if he had been dunked in paint. On his knees and hunched over a held item, he sniffled silently. Although Arik couldn't see what was hidden in the man's arms, he could tell that he was holding something that had a blue glow to it like that of the orbs floating about.

Tears began to roll down Arik's cheeks as he succumbed to the emotions he had been experiencing.

Arik tried to speak concerned and supportive words to the man but no sound came out. He yelled instead. Still nothing.

Driven to save this man from the torment he was feeling, Arik walked the rest of the way up to him. He slowly bent down to the level of the man and wrapped his hands around his back giving him a hug that was as heartfelt as he could make it.

The negative and foul emotions Arik had been enduring for the past few minutes began to subside. It was so relieving that he couldn't tell if the tears were simply becoming tears of joy. But that was short lived.

An unintelligible voice whispered from the red man and every inch that Arik was touching him engulfed in flame. Arik reeled back in pain and fear as the flames spread around his body, crawling up to his face. He fell to his knees in agony as the red man stood up. The fire and heat began to cloud Arik's vision, but he struggled his best to look at the blurry image of the red man.

Turning around as slowly as time would allow, Arik could finally see the held item. It was the man's own heart, ripped from his chest and still beating. As opposed to the man's glowing red body, the heart emitted a hue of blue.

As Arik drifted off into oblivion, he was left with nothing but confusion, betrayal and pain.

• • •

Heavy eyelids began to flicker open as Arik awoke. The sight of a horrendous teddy bear's fanged smile welcomed the entirety of his vision.

"What the hell!" Arik screamed with his arms up in defense.

A hefty laugh sounded off behind him.

"Well that's one way to wake him up." Cyanide walked up to Arik and stretched a helping hand to peel him off the ground.

The bear took a few steps back, its giant smile never fading. Arik flicked a cautious eye toward it.

"Don't worry, he doesn't bite," Cyanide informed as if reading Arik's mind.

Arik swallowed a lump in his throat. "It really gives me the creeps."

"Well I reckon he's doing his job then." Cyanide strutted away from them toward where he came and knelt down and rummaged around in a green duffle bag.

Looking around and taking in the view, they were no longer in Celesti's backyard. In fact, Arik knew exactly where they were: the Woodstock Forest. He would know the smell anywhere.

Arik gave another scowling look at the bear before turning to Cyanide.

"Alright, I've got two questions."

Cyanide cut in abruptly. "Oh, let me guess! 'Why are we in my cute little forest, and why did you knock me out earlier?' That sounds about right?"

Arik visibly deflated.

"Well, yes actually."

"I knocked you out because you were becoming frantic and were already breaking the one rule I had set for you. Do as I say when I say it. I've found it's always easier to call someone down by rendering them unconscious."

Arik stared in disbelief of what he was hearing.

"Don't worry, I'm a professiona— Ouch! Shit!" He ripped his arm from the duffel bag and put his thumb in his mouth.

"And second—" he pulled out a thick black baton and a matte black gun that looked like a grenade launcher that the hero would use in an action movie. "we're out here to teach you how to use your death echoes properly." A wicked smile like that of his pet bear stretched on his face.

"I'm going to die, again," moped Arik.

"Maybe. But then that'll just mean more training, won't it!?"