Within the Cover of Darkness

"This life'll be the death of you, Randy."

Her words repeated over and over, bouncing around every dark corridor of my mind. I splashed cold water onto my face and let my fingers cover my eyelids for a moment. I could see my happy ending, I just had to get there.

I dropped my hands and raised my to the empty frame where a mirror once was. I stopped liking my reflection a long time ago. Cindy always called me a "pretty-boy" but I disagreed. I turned around and walked into my bedroom. My rucksack sat on my bed, surrounded by the things I'd need for tonight's job. My bag was old and worn; it was a decent embodiment of how I felt inside: abused, tired, and barely hanging on. I crammed in the gear as best as I could.

I took a last look at the treasures I'd collected over the years. Priceless idols, legendary weapons, texts from forgotten lands- I had it all. Once it's found, all of it will be taken to Arnik's Library; a lot of it sorted and re-distributed amongst other Dreamers. I thought it would be harder to leave so much behind after all these years, but it wasn't. I guess love will to that to you. I sighed, closed my door, and left.

The streets were quiet that early morning. Those that happened to be awake paid me no mind. Despite being a tried-and-true Dreamer of the Madlands, I didn't have the shiny, extravagant garb or overtly large, flashy weaponry that many others had. My process of banishing Nightmares was far less forward than that of the hunters that everyone could recognize. I'd been labeled by many as a lowly thief but I always preferred "Treasure Hunter."

I crossed town as fast as I could without looking suspicious; passing all the ornate, sandstone buildings until I reached the train station. Its walls stood high and were adorned with the many guardians and historical figures I'd grown to hate over the years. Before approaching, I scanned the area. There were a dozen different figures across the main platform. A gaggle of Dreamers, scholars, and regular denizens. Their trains came and gone- hulking, massive ghosts of machinery.

I was about to exhale a sigh of relief when I spotted two figures meander into view. Their stature was taller than everyone else by a foot, maybe two. They were donned in gilded armor that was finely patina'd, and wielded magnificent lances infused with lightning. I'd seen the damage they could deal during the city's riots some years back. Behind them were darken-clad figures in brass helms which resembled various animals. Criminal slaves with bloodlust; same fate as mine if I failed my mission.

They're called Hollowfolk and Dreaming Beasts respectfully, and aren't sent out unless there's real meddling to be taken care of. It was a disappointment to see them there, but I wasn't surprised. In my years, I'd learned that if something goes easier than expected, it usually means you've done something wrong or are about to play yourself. I dashed left and started heading north, into the desert.

I walked for thirty minutes or so until the city was behind me. I was told was a dilapidated shack nearby where I could summon my train. The information was correct and I saw the building nestled halfway into the sand. I pulled out an antique service bell and placed it on the counter. With a firm press of my palm, a warm chime filled the air around me. I took a few steps back and watched the air slowly begin to distort and warble. Flashes of yellow and red lightning crackled in the air and across the golden rails. I'd seen this a thousand times, yet it still filled me with awe.

With a final clap of thunder, the train appeared. A simple steam-engine as dark as night. I reached down and dropped the bell back into my bag as the passenger doors opened. Out stepped the conductor who stretched his hand towards mine.

"Randi, Good to see you!" His voice was friendly, but his eyes were weighted with heavy lids.

"You as well, Kamrade." The last word fell heavy from my tongue as I said it, given that I might have to betray the man who once called me Dreamer-kin. "Is something the matter? You seem a bit... tired."

"Well... Since that battle is going on out west, a lot of the conductors got pulled. They're running us hard, but I can handle it!"

Good, they're running them dry. This meant that the guard of Arnik's Library likely be working on westward efforts, too. This made my job significantly easier.

"Say, this ain't your usual station. What're you doing out here?" He asked.

"Needed to get away from the city for a minute. It's been rough since Cindy left." This wasn't a total lie, but it wasn't quite the truth either.

He forced a frown on his face, "Sorry, kid. C'mon up."

I followed him onto the train and pulled out my ticket.

"The Library, eh?"

"Yep, need to check out a book."

"You got it!" His eyes rolled backward into his head, revealing two pearly mirrors that reflected my face. His head swayed as he did this, and after a moment, the ticket disintegrated. "Alright, got ya logged in. Sit on down, we'll be there in a jiffy." I did as he asked, taking my usual seat in the middle of the train car.

"want to stop at your Resting Place 'fore the Library?" He asked.

I thought about it. Nothing there but hollow tears and empty goodbyes. "No, thanks."

"Sure thing."

It was an hour's ride to the Library of Arnik from my town, which was rather long in comparison to other train rides, but it beat the few days' journey it'd take by car or horseback. The train whirred for a moment, and from my window, I saw streaks of starlight whizz by. Looking down, I pondered the mission.

The Pawnbroker was my client. Elward, his "friends" called him. I refused to call that thing my friend, so I just referred to him by his title. I only worked with him when I was desperate, and what I needed made me the most desperate I'd ever been.

"You want a way out? Well, sure. Anything for you, my dear friend. All you must do is retrieve a little black book for me."

He always dressed in a smelly long coat with a stupid little top hat glued to his head, but that wasn't fooling anyone. He was a slimy bastard, and when he gave me this pitch, I knew there'd be a catch.

The book was in the largest production house of all the Dreamscape- Arnik's Library. This was where most knowledgeable artifacts of other worlds were stored. Stealing from here was a death sentence, if you're lucky. But I was running out of time, so I agreed.

"Alright, stop's ahead!" The speaker boomed.

My window was bright with lightning, and before too long, I saw the guardian's domain in all its glory. The open sky had been obscured with ancient webs and dark stone. Arnik's realm was massive, and most of the production was done here, in the subterranean nest. I hated this place.

As I sat up, I took deep breath and rubbed a stone within my pocket.

He approached me, "Aaaand, welcome to Arni-"

"Thank'aya for your service, it was an excellent ride to The Falls." I interrupted him, and hoped the stone steadied my voice enough.

"Er.. Randi, we're-"

"At The Falls, aye. Thank you. I must be off." I felt the stone in my pocket burn hotter with every word. The confusion on his face was soon replaced by a grin.

"Anytime, Randi! See you soon."

"Take care of yourself, Conductor." These were the last words I'd ever say to him, and I'm still unsure if I doomed the man or not.

I hate to say it, but the rest of the job was easy. Everything went as I'd hoped. I'd like to think my skills helped and it wasn't sheer luck. I waited until night, retrieved the book, and ran out into the desert. It was no bigger than a journal I'd once kept. Maybe it was the stress of the whole thing, but it never occurred to me just how easy it'd been. Once safe, I blew a whistle that transported me to the Pawnbroker's shop.

In the lot, part of me wanted to know what the book contained. It seemed so... unextraordinary. I learned long ago not to meddle with these affairs, so I left it closed.

"Ah! Randyll, my dear friend." The creature must've slithered into view when I wasn't looking.

"Here's your book, Broker. Where's the transport?"

"There've been some small complications, unfortunately. But fret not- here."

An anger rose somewhere within as the creature threw an old briefcase at me.

"The fuck is this?" I roared in confusion.

"It's your ticket out. Twenty-thousand dollars in blood money, just for you. I'd hurry, though."

I scrambled the case open, where stacks of dollars met my eyes. They were ancient, reeked of some foul smell, and partly glowed with what looked like maroon embers.

"Take it west, to the ferryman. You have thirteen blocks to go and a head-start of fifteen."

I stared into the case with burning eyes. "This isn't what we agreed, you disgusting fuck."

"Bah, it is! Just not what you expected."

I turned to look at the creature, my hands curling into fists, but as I did, her words swam through my head. I took the case and ran as fast as I could. My lungs burned with coal until I reached the dockyard. I was yards away when I saw the lights from above.

Dreaming Beasts, the same ones I'd seen at the station, fell upon me. They clocked me on the back of the head until my vision was blurry.

For the rest... It all gets muddled towards this part, and it's slowly fading.

I recall being put on a trial, where my sentence was declared. A magician seared the words "Liar," "Hoarder," and "Thief" all across my body, every inch of flesh... No, not flesh. I remember them specifying, "These words will mark you forever, boy. Wherever you go, they will read clearly for all to see. You can run, hide, but the very cosmos will look down and know your treachery."

They locked a brazen helm over my head, where I've rattled within for countless days and nights.

Now I sit in a transport of some kind, on my way a prison. My head is slumped forward and I hear the whimpers, yells, and chains of others ahead of me somewhere. My trance is broken by that pale bastard's voice.

"For someone who runs from all their problems, you certainly aren't very fast." The creature mocked me from the reflection to my left. I wanted to curse that freak and all his kin, if the bastard had any, but they took my voice.

"I consider you a friend, Randyll, so I'll give you this one on the house. Your memory will slowly fade, but here's a little something to remember: Should you ever make it out of the Labyrinth, she'll be waiting for you."

As fast as he'd come, he disappeared. His face was gone from the window, instead replaced by the disgusting helm that resembled an owl and my hollow eyes beneath it. My hands were bound, so I smashed my head against the glass until it cracked enough to get rid of the maddening sight.

I felt liquid run down my cheeks as I heard Cindy's words. They no longer echoed in my mind, but all throughout the confines of this helm. They're all I can hear, now. All I can remember anymore.

"This life'll be the death of you, Randy."