*********

Just then Herbert came back and sighed in relief. “I knew there was something wrong.” he laughed snatching the paper. He read it over again. “This isn’t what happened.”

I raised an eyebrow, “hey buddy I saw the blade sink into my chest. I think I know what happened.”

The jerk kept smiling and pulled out a digital watch (at least that’s what he called it) and set the time. Everything went rewind in an instant and there we were looking at me and Ryan when we went on our mission. He pointed towards me and I jumped seeing this little reptile looking thing sucking the back of my head like a slurpee my eyes became sunken in and cheeks pulled into my face as my skin began to grow pale.

“The pills Ryan bought gave off pheromones that attracted dream stealers. When you fell asleep you dozed off down wind. The dream stealer got to you first and was going to move to Ryan when.” Herbert coughed and Ryan woke up.

“Someone put the pink pajamas on me while I was asleep I swear.” The idiot said in daze as he woke up. He sharpened up though when he saw that monster feeding on me. He drew his sword. The creature looked up and sucked itself into the back of my head.

I woke up with a yellow glow in my eyes.

“I was possessed?” I asked the angel.

“Not only that but if you remember what Roland taught you-”

“It learns my abilities,” I sighed as I saw the living me draw it’s sword and charge at Ryan. Even though I knew what was going to happen my gut tightened. Ryan was going to get his butt whooped…again.

Ryan drew his stupid wooden sword and braced for impact. As the evil-me neared Ryan turned the blade so the broad side faced him and swung. The wood slammed square in the center of evil-me’s face. The impact was so hard that the dreamstealer flew out and snapped it’s neck against a tree on impact.

“Crap,” Ryan hissed as he ran over to my body. “I totally didn’t mean to hit you that hard man.” He turned my head and a splash of blood ran out with teeth floating in it. “Ah man!” Ryan had begun to realiz that I was dead.

“Roland had never taught us how to do that,” I mumbled watching Ryan. “How’d he know?”

The angel punched some more buttons and we were off to someplace else it was room with beat up mattress sprinkled with blood stains.

“Ew,” I couldn’t help but muttered. The bed looked like a breeding ground for germs.

The door opened and Ryan came in his face looking like ground beef. He sighed and laid down. That explains the blood stains. Footsteps were heard before his dad got to the room. “Hey kid, how’re the classes?”

“I know how to beat each and everyone of them dad, including that dick Paxton,” He sat up. “Why can’t I just beat the crap out of’em and call it a day?”

His dad grinned and pulled some money out of his pocket. “You know their’s a law that says only the warrior can know how to fight. It was made to ensure that none of the citizens could give the kingdom too much trouble if an uprising should occur or some villain within in the city decides to try and kill the warriors. I learned what I’ve taught you just by traveling about and meeting and helping people. When I settled here I had to vow that I’d never express my knowledge or me and family would be exiled.” He handed Ryan some money. “Thanks for keeping my secret, I’ll always owe you one for that.” He smiled.

Ryan took the money.

His dad raise a brow, “Didn’t think you’d actually take the money.”

Ryan smiled. “Hey I get beat up on a daily basis just to keep your secret I’ll take what I can get.”

The angel tapped the watch and we were back where we had started. The angel looked at me and sat on a fallen tree. “So, now that it’s all cleared up, what do you think of him?”

Ryan suddenly came walking by in his boxers. Occasionally he’d jump in pain as his bare feet would step on something sharp. “Stupid dog, I still think he rigged that poker game.”

“He’s still an idiot,” I shrugged, “But he’s clear in my book.”

And from there the angel let me into heaven. Good luck Ryan, I’ll see you when I see you.

Paxton