Monday, October 23, 2006

Geist
By Inno Tenshi

Chapter 03 – Winston Lights


Inno was walking through the forest when she stopped by a tree that was coated in ice. Icicles dripped from it, and a couple were laughing and taking pictures.

The boy was snapping pictures of the ice and the girl.

Inno watched from a distance, and then came up beside him when the Polaroid spit out the print. She looked over his shoulder, and he looked down at her, and they smiled at one another.

“It’s a wonderful picture! But, if you’d like my advice … it would look better with her completely in it, or without her entirely. She’s half in and half out like that. Beyond that, it’s a beautiful picture!” said Inno.

The boy grinned at her.

“Thank you!” was all he said.


Inno walked off. She didn’t turn around, but her keen hearing told her that the girl and the boy had just said a farewell and the girl was heading home. The boy however …

“Hey, wait up!” he said, running up to her.
“Yes?” asked Inno, turning to face him.
“Where are you going?” he asked her curiously.

“Well … we’re leaving actually.” replied Inno.


She looked at him over and under. She noticed he was doing the same to her. A feeling inside her chest told – dim down. Your aura is too strong for him. And she focused her energy to a lower level, contained it. He had already seen something of her, however.

“Why do you ask?” said Inno.
“You have a bright light. I’d like to follow you!” he said.

The raven-haired girl tilted her head, watching him.


“Alright,” she said, “what’s your name?”
“Winston!” he replied.

They began to walk back to the town, out of the cold forest.

“Winston Lights!”



She couldn’t help but smile at his positive attitude.
“Well Winston, I’m Captain Alice Pan … but you can call me Inno.”



~ :: * :: ~



Inno brought the boy to the docks, and showed him the Leviathan. On the way she explained that Tivius was once the leader of the crew, but she had been appointed Captain in his wake.

He looked at the ship and smiled brightly, excitement flowing through him. He practically oozed with delight and happiness.

Inno liked him from the start.


“Welcome to the Leviathan Ship, my boy. We are the Lost Boys and Girls.” said Inno, presenting him the ship.

He grinned and looked at each member of the crew as she named them, introducing him.


“Hello Winston,” came a voice black as night.
“Ah, Winston this is Morben – she’ll make you feel right at home.” said Inno.

The pale beauty stepped out of her shadows and shook his hand, smiling at him. He wouldn’t tell her how bright her light was, though. He would keep that forever in his heart.


Inno saw as Morben and the new boy chatted lightly, the faint flicker of fire in his eyes. This should prove to be interesting, she thought.




Inno addressed the crew.

“We leave again, at dusk!” and she turned to Muffy to make plans. “Tink, ship’s all ready to go again?” – the fey nodded – “Supplies are top?” – another nod, and a grin.

“He’s quite something, like they all are, isn’t he?” asked Muffy.
“Yes. Something different.” replied Inno.




The captain watched happily as Muffy and a few others went over to the new boy to present themselves or just say hello.



~ :: * :: ~



Only a few weeks later…


A knocking came to the captain’s quarters late one night.

“Come in,” she said, “come in.”


Winston walked over and stood in front of Inno, and gave her a little salute before grinning recklessly. She couldn’t help but return it with a smirk, putting down her book and watching him.


“Well well! Sit, sit. Lookit you, all piratey and that, mate!” she said, looking at the clothes he was now wearing and half-laughing.

His sleeves were ripped and the collar was crudely sewn up. His pants had a patch on the hip and were totally worn through at the knees. His boots were murky, and he even had a cut on his cheek from a play fight! He looked … like one of the gang.

“You fit in alright, don’t you?” said Inno, leaning on her desk and looking at him intensely.
“Yes! I’ve made good friends with Morben and Miss Mage.”
“Good, good … what I like to hear.” replied Inno.

“Inno, you look so young. … I had not expected you to be so …”
“The way I am?” she said, chuckling.
“Yes! Your voice, your actions … your words, above all, I didn’t know you were so young. I would have thought you very different, if I only knew your name and your work.”

She grinned sheepishly … she wasn’t used to these comments.



But she sensed something else, quickly, in his thoughts. A different reason to his presence, now.



“Winston, how old are you?”
“I am 23,” he replied without hesitation, “and you?”
“How old do I look?” she asked him, wondering about his answer. In her mind, she knew she would forever be …
“You look at least 19, 20.”

Inno laughed!

“Hahaa… I’m actually 16. Well, 17 … but 16.”
“Ah. Forever young, forever sweet…”

She blushed and smiled, but continued.

“You look like you enjoy traveling,” said Inno.

This was certainly true. He was always everywhere and nowhere at once, and when she wanted to talk with him, he was never to be found!


“Of course! I love everything about life.”
“When we met, you were in the forest with a girl …”
“Yes, my girlfriend.” he replied.

“Do you love her?” Inno asked.
“Yes!” he said, smiling, and she saw his eyes flicker once more with that flame of joy.


“What do you know about love, Winston?” she asked.



~ :: * :: ~



The Leviathan returned to a new port, docking near a beach. Kishe had his fireworks late at night, and Mage prowled the streets alone in search of any sign of her Illfated Lovers. Inno wandered from shop to pub to shop, and then stalked people in the streets with Luus for fun.

Muffy and Morben played cards in a park, Noah watched from his perch on a rooftop, wings folded at his sides, and Atom walked around with a boom box blaring techno into the quiet streets, bringing them back to life.

Becca and Marion laughed as they chatted, sitting side by side on a park bench close to Morben and Muffy, overlooking Sketch and BlackHeartedOne’s game of chess. They were laughing because Sketch was winning, and BK1 was trying to steal a few points by phasing a few of Sket’s pieces to move differently …


And when Inno turned around, Winston was gone.



“Hun, did you see Winston?” Inno asked Luus.
“No, wasn’t he in the pub?” replied her partner, turning to look back into the window.

Passers-by hissed and yelled ‘vampires’! at the two girls, who looked over and bared their fangs in return, resulting in a scream and their running away.


“I’m going to look for him,” said Inno finally. “We can’t leave without him; we’ve only just begun this new adventure…”



~ :: * :: ~



Hours later, just before dawn, she returned to the ship. Empty handed.

Winston, however, had suddenly re-appeared in his cabin room – wounded, but alright. He was sound asleep when she found him. His camera was on his desk – she took it, and looked through the digital captures. Beautiful images of him and others, laughing. Then a few of the mountain in the distance – so that’s where he went off to, she thought.

She sat beside him and looked at the final photograph he had taken. A dark silhouette of a man with an unsheathed sword in hand, but blurred as though Winston had not expected the man to be there, and moved suddenly.

He stirred as she wondered, and turned to face her.


“Inno…”
“Oh, Winston.” she whispered, “what happened?”
“We have to go. Let’s please, just leave here.”



She nodded, then looked at her watch, and then glanced outside. The Leviathan’s sails were powered by starlight alone – the Sun’s rays would be too strong unless she left now.


“I’ll be back as fast as I can, and you can explain to me what happened then, alright?” said Inno, standing and kissing his cheek before leaving his room and telling the crew to take off, quickly.
Dream Engine fast.

Destination – Sanctuary. Home.
He hadn’t seen it yet, after all.





When Inno returned to Winston’s cabin, Muffy had dressed his wounds and given him a fey tea to help heal things faster. She sat on the edge of the bed and looked at him, her mind wandering, trying to gather thoughts and images but just getting jumbled in the process.


“Your light is flickering,” said Winston. “Are you alright?”
“Yes … ye-yes. I was just worried for you. And I still am, you’re hurt … what happened?” she asked.
“It’s nothing, just fell while climbing the mountain.” he answered.


Somehow, Inno knew this to be a lie. Someone was out there, and he hurt her new Lost Boy. She wasn’t pleased.

“Winston, if there’s someone out there who is following you, you will tell us, yes?” asked Inno, worry in her eyes.
“We’re a family,” stated Muffy. “We stick together. If you’ve got a Hook snagging at you, we’ll all fight together. You’re not alone!”

“Together. Yes.” repeated Inno. She rather liked that word.


The spark in his eyes light up again. He liked it too, now, and he nodded at them.


“Okay. You get some rest, we’ll be back for you later.”




~ :: * :: ~




Six months later…


Winston woke with a start.


He ran to Inno’s room, and banged on the door.

“Inno!” he yelled for her, his heart in a panic. She came to the door immediately, as was her custom.


He came in, and she closed the door behind him. She light a few candles and looked at him in curiosity, sitting on her desk and waiting patiently for the floodgates to open.

He had shed her armour in front of her eyes as he told her the following.


“I had a dream. This man, this evil man was following me. We were at home. He killed … he killed my friend, and my mentor, Inno!”

She shushed him, told him to calm down … and to sit down, stop pacing.


She then took his hands in her small little frail and pale ones, and he felt the coldness of her. How strange, for a creature so bright, to always feel cold … cold fire … bright, white light came from her.

He looked into her eyes, which were glowing a sky-ocean blue, aqualine – and his heart fluttered a little more slowly.


She was calming him with her mind. Clever.


“Winston.” she said, quietly, making every syllable resound in the room. The fire in the candles flickered.


“I’m not saying it was just a dream. But I’m telling you to go back to bed. When you awaken …” was the last he heard of Inno that night.




* * *




I had been sleeping for about two hours, when suddenly I hear Captain Inno's voice calling all of us up onto the decks of the Great Leviathan. The Dream~Ship has just recently docked in Moor harbor, a place that I remember almost regrettably, having been here before, since I was running for my life. The memories still held me firmly in their grasp as the familiar feelings from that last battle against a demon called Lansing had gone horribly wrong.


I stumble slightly as I could not believe my eyes... four years have passed and the City of Moor still looks the way it did back then. For four years I have been trying to forget that day, the day that I ran away and never looked back; swearing to myself that I would never set foot in this place again until I was certain I was ready to face Lansing.

I didn’t expect to be here.






Closing my eyes for a second I slowly remembered how it all started, just like it was yesterday...



It took place, as mentioned, four years ago in the middle of August. That morning I was supposed to meet with Alexander, a dear friend of mine who had suffered a great loss at the hands of Lansing a few years before. It happened when his young wife had discovered that Lansing was not a man, but a demon. In order to keep his identity a secret, Lansing murdered Alexander's wife in the dead of night while Alexander was out with some friends. It was only when I heard of the news that I understood Alex's wild hunt for Lansing. And it was on that day on top of Eagle Rock, the highest peak of the area, that he wanted to reveal Moor's Finest Man's real identity.  
But… as fate would have it, I was late that day and when I got to the top of the mountain I saw both Alex and Lansing already locked in combat.

There was really nothing I could've done to save my friend because in a split second Lansing grabbed Alex by the neck, and lifted him off the ground where I could clearly see the glaze of his eyes as he gasped for air. I heard Alex scream at the top of his lungs as Lansing ripped into his rib cage and tore out his heart in one swift movement, tugging at the arteries so they snapped and gushed the remaining blood. Alex’s shirt swelled and poured out crimson liquid.

No sound beyond a gurgle passed his lips, as his arms fell to his sides and his eyes remained wide.


“This belongs to me, lover boy!” he sneered as he squeezed ever so slightly my
friend's still beating, still bleeding heart.

With wicked, wild eyes he gazed over his shoulder towards me and let Alexander's limp body fall heavily to the ground at his feet. Then he turned towards me, walking ever so steadily in my direction, the clicking of his boots to the ground like thunder, the sound of his laughter sending shivers down my spine.



“You’re next, little warrior.” he spat as he pointed one bloody finger at me, the heart still coiled in the rest of his hand.

Fear engulfed my entire being and I turned and ran in spite of Lansing's presence.

As I dashed down the embankment as fast my feet could carry me, I skidded to an almost painful stop, … there before me stood the demon, still holding Alex's heart in his hand.

I felt so weak, I almost dropped to my knees but my instincts knew better than to falter in front of such a ruthless enemy. Without a second thought Lansing swung his deadly staff, which was crafted out of hardened magma, and sheered as to have many sharp little edges along its brilliantly dark shaft.

I manage to evade his initial strike, but the second hit is so fast, I didn't even realize it until I felt a sudden pain in my chest. Off guard, I took yet another hit – which sent me off the cliffs and onto the soft white sand of the beach below. My whole body was wracked in pain and out of breath. I had to struggle in order to get up and run as best as I could to the nearest harbor. Looking back, atop of Eagle Rock I could see Lansing’s terrible silhouette dominate over the landscape. The feeling of defeat was so great that I got onto the first ship heading out to sea and never looked back....

Until now.




I had been daydreaming of the past for about half an hour now, and when I turn my back to look at the crew, I’m astonished to see that they are all gone.  Only Kishe remains on deck as he ponders willfully about his next fireworks display. He asks me if I want to join him, but I gently decline the offer and make my way down the gang plank to go take a walk around the city.

Amongst the busy shouts and silent murmurs of the citizens, I overhear people talking about Lansing and saying that he has left to the seas about a few months ago and hasn't been seen since. Deep inside I’m relieved but yet still wary of my surroundings since I didn't think I would be ready to face him again. Not yet anyways. Casually I make my way through the different streets and alleys which I recognize all too well from my past, bringing a sort of nostalgic smile to my face. Same people, same faces, same stores, same activities....nothing was really different from when I left it.

Then a familiar thought runs through my mind....


'I wonder if Nardin is still alive,' I consider to myself.


He was a 307 year old man who lived in a Monastery up in the hills. I would go and visit the old man where he would give me wonderful advice and training when I became of age. It was he who told me of my childhood gift that I could see lights where no one else could. In any case, my conscious told me that I should pay him a well due visit.

So I turn left and up the hills I march until I reach the walls to the Monastery of Light. As I approach the temple I realize how much I’ve missed Nardin's peaceful voice, his teachings, and his presence... the very soul that would reach out to me when things got tough.


Walking through the front gates, I begin to think about how I could explain my absence, when an unsettling feeling hits me... Something’s wrong, horribly wrong! I can sense it, the smoke...the burning. I smell the ashes and raise my head up and when my gaze is level with the big steel doors, I notice to my terror that they are blown away. I draw my sword immediately...anticipating the worst.

“NARDIN!?! Are you there?” I shout as the fear in my voice makes it tremble as it escapes my lips.


A few seconds later I hear Nardin's voice, weak but audible over the creaking screams of the fire...


“Run Winston... Run...” he says, “Lansing is back!”

Just the sound of that name strikes me like a twenty pound brick and I become so scared since I can't see clearly inside the monastery because of the smoke. My hands start to shake, my eyes get blurry and a thousand thoughts run through my head. I just can't believe it that Lansing has returned, right when everyone thought he was gone for good.




“It's too late now monk! He walked right up to door step, such a -fool-...” that voice, …I recognize it immediately.

Out of the smoke and burning walls, Nardin gives me one last piece of advice:



“The light within!”



Those words... They echo in my head. Four years ago, just before my battle with Lansing, Nardin said the same words to me. I didn’t know then, and I don’t know now, the meaning behind those words.

How can my seeing light, my gift from childhood, help me in a battle?




No matter. It was my fault last time that Alexander died … I wasn’t strong enough then. But now, I’ve traveled far … I found friends. I’ve been aboard a ship with a wonderful crew, and learned many things. I’ve trained myself … I’m ready now.

I’m ready to face the demon.




I run through the foggy hallways, covering my face to keep the smoke from my lungs, and my boots sound heavy in the near-silence. The only sounds are my coughing and the flicker of the blaze ahead. I find the main room, whose once beautifully painted walls are now charcoal black and covered in flames, the doors blasted from their hinges, and I approach the alter, the smoke so thick I can’t see more than a few meters in front of me. Lansing walks out of the fumes, wearing a smile fit for Lucifer himself.



“Oh no…” my breath is cut short, … blood drips from the demon’s palm, inside his clenched fist – a bleeding heart. Nardin’s heart!


“What have you DONE to him!?” I scream furiously, my voice shaking in rage and pain.

“Ah, you’re back, little warrior! Back to help me finish my quest, I suppose?” he says, grinning with deadly malice.

“WHAT, have you, DONE TO HIM?!” I growl, lifting my sword and holding it steady.
“Who, … Nardin?” teases the demon, glancing to the once pulsating life organ in his hand.

“ANSWER ME!!!”
“Very well,” he replies calmly, a collected look of displeasure painted on his cold lips, “I killed him, as you can clearly see, by his worthless carcass on the floor over there.”

I look over Lansing’s shoulder, the focus in my eyes blurring the image of the demon, and concentrating on the lifeless body of my mentor, face down on the cold hard floor, the ceiling above him already in cinders. Ash coats his robe and his blood seeps into the monastery’s floorboards, coating them in coagulated crimson paint.

It dribbles over the stairs of the alter, thick droplets echoing like cannons of thunder, even over the inferno of flames. The walls begin to creak as they come down, and I glare back at my adversary, rage building up inside as I pace unsteadily, back and forth… never taking my eyes off of the demon for more than a few seconds to look back at Nardin’s corpse, wondering if I should make the first move.



‘At least he’s at peace now…’ I tell myself quietly, even though the thought brings angry tears to my eyes. The demon sees the puddles overflow gently as I continue to pace, the tears hugging my cheeks and sizzling as they hit the ground. It simply smiles.



“Now, with the strength of Alexander, Nardin’s wisdom, and … how should I say? ‘Unique’ vision … I – will – be – INVINCIBLE! Aha ha ha!” he yells, the fire all around him seeming to grow with each burst of amusement. Then … he lifts the heart to his face, tilting his head back and slipping the heart down his throat!


He licks his fingertips and looks back at me with gruesome satisfaction, grinning with his bloody lips, the intense red stuck to his teeth like plaque. His eyes glow with the flicker of the firestorm surrounding us, the ceiling threatening to collapse now.




“I don’t think so demon… I won’t let you, not if I have anything to say about it!” I reply, quickly making up my mind and sprinting towards him, my blade held confidently defiant.


“Do you honestly think you can stop me with that little shard of metal, little knight?” he spits with disdain, while the gap between him and I slowly closes, as if in a dream.


His words tear at my soul, fear welling up inside of me. But I can’t let his prowess distract me … so I close my eyes and halt a few feet from my target, setting both hands on my sword and concentrating all my energy into my hands, the sword gathering the ions and particles of vigor from my palms and charging. I lean back, sword held high, and take a breath …

It’s as if Time takes a breath with me.




In one, simple fluid movement, I hit the ground as hard as I can with the hilt of my sword, sending a shockwave of pulsating force towards the wretched creature that I loath so much. It raises the floorboards and makes the ceiling crumble slightly, but I keep my footing as it pushes me back a few feet, my boots skidding the ash-covered ground.


The wave hits its mark with amazing precision, … but in the aftermath, I see Lansing is still on his feet. He hasn’t even moved, waving off my attack like a bothersome insect.




I dash again full throttle, leaving the sword to fly birdlike, cutting the smoke with a razor edge, my target: the demon’s chest. Lansing swings to the right and blocks my attack with his left palm, then with his free hand, conjures a ball of black light, thick and oozing with liquid darkness that steams and simmers in his clenched fist.

He throws it at me, the contact of the energy to my chest lifting me off the ground and sending me falling from the alter onto my back in a flash of wine-colored light. As I hit the ground, I land on my left shoulder, and the residue of the black oozing ball on my chest sizzles with dark electricity. The pain is intense, but it makes me more aware than ever of Lansing’s deadly accuracy and power.

A physical attack in this state would prove to be ineffective, so I decide that it’s time I try the arcane skills I’ve learned while aboard the Leviathan…



I get back up, only to fall to my knees with my sword touching the ground. Inhaling deeply and whispering an ancient spell, I wait a few seconds before releasing a powerful breath of cold ice air, freezing everything in its path. This catches Lansing by surprise, but he turns the fire against me and blows my ice spell away in mockery.



“Alexander tried the same things on me, poor little knight… He couldn’t control himself when I killed his pretty wife… all I needed to do after that was get him down, and conquer his strength.”

“SHUT UP DEMON”

“Don’t you want to hear how I got to Nardin? I’m sure you do-”
“Enough, demon … you’ll pay for your crimes; for everything!”
“And who’s going to stop me? …You? .... Please. Your ‘eyes’ are not strong enough, little warrior!”


I jump to my feet at his words … my eyes … “the light within” – Nardin’s words… my whole body shakes in anger, pain and sorrow …



‘I won’t fail you Alex, … Or you, Nardin … I’ll get justice for you both.’ I think quietly, containing my hurt for only a moment longer.

“IT’S TIME LANGSING!” I yell, letting the ache of loss run through my veins as adrenaline.
“Time for what little warrior? Time for you to die?”
“NEVER! … It’s time… time to show you… my Light Within!” I say, my last words resounding like thunder … almost, perhaps, like an angered god.

Lansing, in turn, is shocked… he locks sight once more with my eyes, but quickly looks away as if afraid of how I see right into his soul, the fire around us glowing in the depths of me.

My whole body is engulfed in a bright, scorching white light as I let go of all but my memories … every muscle tense and hard as stone.


I close my eyes and the entire amount of pain, all the grief and the fury builds up in me and lifts me off the ground as I let out a whisper…




“The light… within”




Suddenly I open my eyes and in my pupils’ stead two red lights glow, overpowering the fire’s heat and making the smoke blush poppy red.

“This … THIS IS FOR ALEXANDER!” I say, my words hitting just as hard as the impact the light and energy makes from my eyes, pushing Lansing back and hitting him in the chest. Still, in a heartbeat he is back on his feet and preparing to attack again.

“THIS IS FOR NARDIN!” and a second ray of light hits him in the forehead, lifting him off his feet and joining me in the float.

“And THIS… this is from ME, DEMON!” my voice vibrates off the blazing ruins of the temple, and the energy bleeding from my eyes – its only outlet beyond my voice – begins to melt everything in its path, hitting Lansing in a terrible lock of eyesight, burning him inside out.

Lansing pleads forgiveness, … tries to, at least.



Demons like him give in at the end, anyway. His voice is drowned in the drums of revenge.






He moans and cries, clawing at his face, trying to look away and screaming in agony, … but I’m not one to forgive. Especially not after what he did to my friends. I unleash all the energy remaining, and in a flash, at last I only see the floor … then darkness.



~::*::~



Later, back on the deck of the Leviathan…

I wake up slowly in my cabin bed, Inno sitting by my side and reading a big book, entitled “The Guide to the Enchanted World”; famous for containing all the stories, myths and legends that Inno knows about.




“Oh! Winston, finally … Are you alright?” she asks quietly once she realizes I’m awake.

“How long have I- …?” I start, trying to sit up, when a pang hits me and I collapse back onto the pillow.                                    

“Hush. Stay in rest.” says the Captain, pulling up the blankets.


“Morben, Kishe and I heard you scream … we found you lying in a pool of blood surrounded by ashes.”
“What about-?!” I say, about to ask about Lansing and getting up sharply, but Inno pushes me back down slowly and shushes me.

“All that remained… were ashes.” she tells me.



I take a deep breath, bringing a sting to my chest, and sigh as I wince slightly.

“You’ve been out for five days.”
“… really? So long?”
“Aye. … I’m so sorry Winston … I had to bring you here to face your demon…” she says, holding my hand tightly with such a sympathetic look on her face.


“I know Inno… I know. Let’s just leave this place, please …”



She smiles.







“Agreed.”





* * *



A few months later...


Winston left Inno a note on her desk this time before he ran off. He gave her the key to his cabin, and asked to keep it tidy in his wake. He’d be back for it later. She understood, and did as he asked.




Sibiu, Bucharest, Ankara, all the way to Manila, then Port Moresby, and then to Melbourne, Wellington, across the ocean to Cape Town, then Pretoria, Nairobi, Cairo, Antaiya, back to Ankara, then to Sofia, Constanta, back up to Bucharest and finally home in Sibiu.

Winston had left the Leviathan ship yet again after a few months post the journey and encounter with Lansing.

He travelled, keeping in touch now and then with a few of the Lost. Once, he called Inno on her cell phone. He was always happy, always laughing.







Then he came home. And left a note on Inno’s desk, before disappearing once more.

When Inno woke, she found it thus;


“To: Inno Tenshi
From: Stefan Razvan
Date: Oct 22, 2006
Time: 6:37 PM
Subject: I’m Off!

Don’t ask me why things are like this. They just are... I’m off... for good I hope.

Don’t get me wrong... I love life, but I just can’t find my place in it!

If everything goes as I planned, you’ll receive a message from a friend of mine, White-Wing.

Don’t be sad, I’m not! I’m going with a smile!

Take care Inno!”






Inno was shaking.



She wrote back quickly as possible, the very same minute in fact, letting her quick wren-wrists make the most of the precious time she lost by the second, hoping it wasn’t too late to make him change his mind.




“To: Stefan Razvan
From: Inno Tenshi
Date: Oct 22, 2006
Time: 6:37 PM
Subject: Re: I’m Off!

Winston, what do you mean?

What's going on?
Don't leave me without an explanation, at the very least.

Where are you, why ... what's happened?


...

I hope you're not doing anything drastic.
Because I love you dearly and although I know we're not as close, you and I, as the rest of the Lost ... I mean, you're not around as often as before. I assume that's because you've found something to believe in and are following it, making a few dreams come true on the way ... that long travel you had, well, I missed you. I miss your enthusiasm, your positive vibes. I just miss -you-, Winston.

Please don't go without telling me what's going to happen first, and what you're planning now... otherwise I'm afraid, I'm so afraid. I'm afraid I'd lose you forever.

You are a good friend of mine, a Lost Boy ... and though you may leave at any time and I won't stop you, because it's your choice well ... I'd still like to know what happened to make it this way.




Much love,

<3
- I.”









( He didn’t reply. )




She ran to his cabin, but he had left a note there for all to see already.










“Expired Warranty
Journal Entry: Sun Oct 22, 2006, 3:42 PM

• Mood:  Mortified
• Listening to: Jem - 24



My life warranty has expired!

This is my last journal. I don’t care to explain why, I’m just telling you...

I don’t hate life, I love it. But it’s not for me...

Good bye!”





--- and many left their signatures on it. Inno herself demanded an explanation – but he didn’t reply to any of those comments, either.


And so she left a note on his door, hoping he would read it from afar, going over the words in his mind, receiving it thanks to the winds and the rain.





“To: ~WinstonLights
Date: Oct 22, 2006, 9:05:16 PM


Winston. What does it mean, you're ending your life? You love it but it's not for you? What does it mean!

What happened, why?



Why?”








She took one last look, and projected it to him in her mind. She suddenly knew he had read it. Heard it. But he didn’t reply.






She went to bed, confused. Perhaps, she thought, he would return someday to explain.

















The next day, White-Wing came to her.





“Subject: From Winston

From: ~White-Wing
Date: Oct 23, 2006, 10:42:20 AM


Hello

You don’t know me. I’m Adrian, a friend of Stefan, or Winston as you know him.

It’s hard for me to say this, but its Winston’s last request.

Last night I've talked to him on the phone and he asked me to send you this note.



"I’m off Inno! Off for good this time. I’m leaving with a smile. Ridding my bike, feeling the wind for the last time. Please don’t be sad. I know you don’t understand my reasons, it’s hard for me to explain why I’m doing this. I just feel its the right thing. I gave my friend this username to send you this message. Tell The Lost Ones about me, tell them the truth about me, who I was and what I have done." - Winston



At 03:50 CET Stefan (Winston) crushed his bike into a truck. He died instantly.



He also said that his account on dA it’s yours and mine, to do what ever we want with it. I want to keep it running in his memory. Please let me know on this account what is your will.

Best regards, Adrian.”







Inno shook her head at the message, and ran. She ran home, screaming, crying. Shaking. Remembering.

Remembering …














Inno spoke to Adrian, who had known Winston for 18 years. They exchanged thoughts and memories of him, Inno all the while crying her heart out in front of the boy who she didn’t know at all, a complete stranger – and feeling like she knew him already.

She would know him.


Adrian spoke of how Winston had always been smiling, taking pictures, and even when his girlfriend left him, he accepted it and moved on…

“ ‘Carpe diem’ he always told me. And never regret the past. It’s over,” said Adrian. Inno agreed.

“You know at one point, a year ago he started talking like a pirate and telling me he wanted to be 17 again …” said Adrian at one point.

Inno blushed and cried a little more.
“That’s my fault,” she said between little sorrowful sobs. “I’m a pirate!” she stated, “and captain of the Leviathan ship … my name’s Inno Tenshi, but they call me Alice Pan. And my crew, which he was part of, is the Lost Boys. The ones who remain young forever,” she said, laughing while more tears ran down her cheeks.

“That explains everything!” said Adrian. Then he looked at her. “Don’t cry Inno … he’d hate to see you this way,”
“It’s his own fault!” she replied bitterly, wiping her tears on her sleeves.

“I envy you.” she stated bluntly. “You knew him so long. I barely knew him. He was supposed to come see me in the Waking World … in September, next year.”

“I envy you – for being able to cry.”

Inno scoffed at this. She hated crying. Tivius had awakened something again in her numbness when they had been together, and now her emotions were too overwhelming. She felt they often got in the way, and might prefer not being able to cry again.


Adrian however, was numb. Shocked. Which Inno understood. She gave him compassion, and she let him be when he left to try and rest.







Instead, she fluttered her wings and gathered them around her, still sobbing, tears making her silver mirror-scars on her cheeks shine and shimmer, the salt carrying her kohl to the sand.











She looked up as Morben sat beside her, to her right, and Mage came up her left, and Luus wrapper her arms around her from behind. They all watched the new star being born, the brightest yet.



His.
























This chapter of Geist is dedicated to WinstonLights, his dreams – his hopes, his laughter. His absolute love for life.

R. I. P. Stefan Razvan, Winston Lights
Our Lost Boy, our 17 year old nomad pirate,
Forevermore.