{Phase}
Part 01-a
| Premonition | - Part I: HER, The Host


Darkness recovered his domain after spectacular displays of shimmering spectrum.

He smirked. He knew he is a powerful demon. < ‘Flicking the tongue’ :P Author: Bullshit.> But sometimes when a situation gets out of hand… Well, he has several alternative plans to save face.

His intense eyes studied Hisoka. The eyes were quietly closed, his head lightly tilted, not betraying a hint of the turmoil he experienced. It seems that the mind has detached from bodily senses, completely entrapped in the illusion.

The cloaked man grinned. Not long. Very soon, the boy’s subconscious will detach from his body completely. Then, he can separate the youth’s soul out and sell him. Even if his friends saved him before anything could be done, the boy will be in a permanent coma. Suffering until the hallucination laid on him was removed.

The strong head lifted and the already vicious eyes were wider and fiercer as he surveyed the chamber. He withdrew from Kyushu earlier. The transition was successful. As a dream master, he spun psychic links to several mortals. Just like a parasite spider that attaches a thin invisible undetectable thread to its potential victims. When the current base is unable to accommodate any more, he merely switches to an outpost. Zipping himself over unnoticed using the psychic link like a safety line to haul in. Then, to weave his web of terror again.

His chamber is stable and hidden. He doubt anyone else can find him here (perhaps only his fellow demons). After his first observations following the transfer, he is pleased with his choice. This person is young, vibrant with life energy that will support his domain. Moreover, there are plenty obscure areas in this person’s inner self; with space to retreat and material for him to extort power to feed on.

This place is simply excellent. The dark regions of this mind…Are like mysterious secrets upon clandestine enigmas. Inter-related, interlocked with each other and inter-looped within each another. Like a maze yet not so. More similar to a mathematician’s ‘chain of loops’. There’s a definite way to free all the rings. If only the right method is found.

Fabulously fascinating. What could have stimulated this person to develope such deviously brilliant construction of the mind? He cannot come up with an explanation. Anyway, he is content to set up house here.

Those piercing eyes fixed upon his prize. Hisoka seemed peacefully asleep. Soft creamy cheeks with the slightest blush, like the flesh of new white peach with the pink ripeness budding inside. Silky wheat-blonde hair rustled invitingly as the delicate face tipped aside. Those lips gently parted. His fore and middle fingers traced them before fondling a cheek. Wondering at the soft tender texture. Then, the two fingers danced across the eyelashes, playing.

It’s just so irresistible not to touch. Especially after gazing at the youth’s slumber pose.

Humans are such captivating creatures at times. Yet fragile. And, short-lived.

He sighed. Then, waved for his armchair to relax in.

--- - - - ---

Night.

The time to rest.

Sleep; to lose oneself in dreams, fantasies of the happy days of yore.

The mind, conscious, subconscious and unconscious all converged. Fused into one single pure existence, distilled like a droplet out of myriad surging currents from this huge mirror reservoir; the liquid psyche-- all the memories, dreams, thoughts, emotions… the raw untampered self.

The droplet ascended out of the boundless pool. Rising higher.

It hovered at a certain height. Floating.

This is the only way to really ease. To recuperate, avoiding all the nightmare fiends of that past, the agony of the loss and all associated memories with it. Leaving all those dark polluted secrets there, deep down beneath the liquid. Those bits and pieces of the self buried within the calm peaceful pool.

Leave them there. Let them be. Let them cease. Be locked, frozen and buried.

Let them leave me. Just let go.

Just let them be.

Let go…

--- - - - ---

A slight tremor vibrated through the domain.

A dark figure jumped up immediately. The villain earlier had melted back to his previous shadowy form. < Author: Aye… Relaxing. Already let his guard down. > Vicious eyes scanned, focusing. Then, reclined back.

Nothing to worry. The person’s mind whom he now inhabits, is entering sleep. The dreaming individual detaches from the psyche, much like unplugging oneself from various sensory data of the material world. Then, rest itself out of all those grime.

Hmm…this person has substantial control at metaphysics. This is something out of his knowing. He didn’t examine thoroughly when he first came across this one. His excellent holding now was found a few weeks ago when he wandered the night for potential game (while checking on his links).

He was just passing by when he spotted that particular menacing aura emitting from that individual. He pulled closer and was drawn right into it. Falling right through until he reached those intriguing paradoxical areas. He was enthralled. He knew that this is the very place. Yes. It really is.

And now, he had set up house here. Maybe he should comb through thoroughly then. But this person is still human. Mortal. And mortals can’t win him.

--- - - - ---

Floating in this vastness. Drifting.

Above the still calm lake below that is me.

Feel so free. So light that I wished to fly this way forever. Yes, forever.

However, this is…only a mirage. It isn’t genuine. Dreaming. I will still return to reality. But before the day breaks and the real world spins on the brisk, fast pace that is reality; let me slow down, relax and rest.

Ah…Hmm ~. I’m singing.

A sinister clink arrested the song that’s about to form. There’s someone else.

And it does not belong to me.

Who is it? Why and how the heck did it enter my… Hmm. It is male. He, a mature fellow, not human definitely. Just spirit. Sinister objectives; a malignant tumour that perpetrated the subconscious system and take root. Then make himself at home here. And feed on my power.

Anger sets in. (Author: The host is clearly unhappy.) I’m gonna get him out. I have had a bad day and you don’t even give me peace by intruding here. Every person’s mind is each’s own private property. How dare you…

After a while, evil mischief replaced anger.

Very well, I’ll amuse myself with you instead.

This is my place. My property, my territory, my fortress…

I don’t believe I can’t thrash you out. So prepare yourself.

--- - - - ---

The dusky domain’s contours wobbled under external movement. He started to shed his shadowy appearance as before. Not out of his accord but due to reflex, so the better to handle the unforeseen.

That person has discovered me.

But how can it be? Humans, their powers (if they had any) are still below demons.

His host is trying to dislodge his lair out of the dark mental regions. He bounced and hit the walls as his domain shook tremendously. He stabled himself against the wall and dug his hands into the black solid that gave way like jelly. A red shimmer fused through his arms and into the black wall before diffusing through the whole lair. The quake earlier immediately died down to a tremor.

The sable cloaked man sighed in relief. His home is currently safe for now. But not for long.

It’s still trembling, like a creature in fright. Anticipation of a next coming stronger wave.

He paced around, a hand holding his strong jaw; jet-black hair concealed his face from view. His cloak billowed and spread to the left. It held itself out, a dark cave showing iridescent threads: the threads that represent those psychic links. Yet, many are unavailable now or difficult.

The cloak fold itself away. His domain is shaking again, the movement increased with every passing moment. As though done in purpose, to get his attention. To challenge him.

Those fierce eyes glared wider. He looked up, his black hair wild. A low growl escaped from clenched teeth.

You want to challenge me. Fine… I make you cry like hell that you’ll wish never to be born, mortal.

The shadowy domain blazed red, reaching bright orange at its sides. His whole lair extended itself. Spreading out scarlet tentacles that planted itself firmly into the mind. Seeking to integrate into the mind and swallowed it.

To turn what is the individual’s into its own.

The cloaked man tilted his head and laughed. His wild black mane danced around, the fearsome eyes narrowed in sinister glee. He will eat up the mind, the person from inside out. The host- this human will be nothing but just a shell. His puppet for all his evil doings.

Maniacal laughter filled the shadowy realm and drift away as a dark barricade loomed up. Separating our villain into another chamber.

--- - - - ---

The pristine glistening drop above trilled its delight.

Aha… He’s moving just according to what I want.

Hee… Just you wait, you stupid moron. You think I know not what you want and can do. You, you want to consume me from inside and then use my body as a facade for your evil deeds. Well, there’s a saying that goes: there shall always be a greater person than the one you are. Just you watch. And you better do…watch out.

--- - - - ---

More tentacles emerged. Sinking in and grow into thick vines like arteries. Then smaller orange capillaries developed and entwined. Like a burgeoning sinister web set on overtaking the quiet territory in all its wicked power.

He sat in his chair comfortably. A malicious grin spread on the strong handsome face. Black brows meet sharply above intense dancing eyes. His hand, tipped with sharp claws, twirled and played with his dark locks.

The other hand rested upon Hisoka who lay still on the support beside him. Looking as peacefully asleep as ever.

But the drops of cold sweat gathered at his temples and nape betrayed this seeming ease. The man in the chair knew too well what the youth was experiencing. He was enjoying the illusion he fabricated for that poor child.

Hear his desolate helplessness and isolation, and witness this pained soul. Listen to those cries; those sad cries laden with pain, fear and loneliness, as he relived the nightmare of the silver hair man and sakura flowers, the agonizing ordeal after. Feed on those pristine fallen drops of misery. This nightmare is continuous in an unending vicious cycle of fear, agony and hate.

There’s no break; he won’t allow that. It’s reaching the climax of its foul drama. He leaned close and tuned his ears and mind. A piercing crystal scream rang out to his mind’s ears. Under the relentless turmoil, even the most determined mind will collapse. That scream was beautiful. Music to his ears. He relished the anguish of that boy, savoring it like one after a scrumptious dish.

Some pattern floated on the skin. Indistinct at first, then it cleared.

Blazed, embossed onto the fragile body is the vivid curse of someone as evil as he. The demon peered closer to study the glaring patterns. Such severe, grim incarceration, it even duplicated into flesh and bone. A permanent manacle death will not free him from. He wondered if the man with silver hair seen in the memory was of his kind.

Time for the next step… WHAM!

A most violent quake hit him, throwing him off. The whole place bounced as though it’s built inside a basketball. His domain transformed into a disturbing yellow. It seems to have reached its limit.

He searched the place over. Wide ferocious eyes scrutinized every inch. The all-consuming netting, which he had sent out, was rooted into the mind BUT they are Now turned against him, as channels to transmit her vehemence. He tried to withdraw yet discovered that his vines were stuck. She drew on his net, gripping them with deadly attraction. The overtaxed web kept extending, more tentacles emerged and sink into the mind’s shady regions.

This isn’t good. Don’t care whether if the emergency routes are readily available. He had underestimated his host’s power. Got to leave this wreck soon.

His cloak swung around, blown out in an arc. Before twirling around him and wrapped up, turning into a dark shade that melt into the ground.

To be continued in next part of Phase 01.....