Tabula Rasa Chapter 3

Tabula Rasa

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Disclaimer: I own everything in this story.

Summary: 12 year old Sean Reader has always lived a normal life. However, around the time of his mother’s bizarre suicide, he has been plagued by nightmares. When he is finally ‘liberated’ of these nightmares, he vows to return the favor by doing the same for others. However, it doesn’t take long to realize that there is much more to this then the ancient feud between the Dreams and the Nightmares.

 

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Chapter 3: Blank State

(Sean’s Nightmare, 11:49 P.M., July 1)

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“Get up.”

“…………….”

“Wakey wakey, Mr. Man!”

“…. uggghhhh…”

Sean sat up, yawning.

“Nice to see you finally awake. We’ve been waiting.” Said a familiar, rather emotionless voice.

“Cecelia…?” Asked Sean, now sitting up. He then took a quick room around his surroundings, and realized three things.

One- He was dreaming. This was his room- and it was the same way it was years ago… That day.

Two- He was obviously lucid dreaming. He was conscious he was dreaming. He tried changing the scenery in room as if he were God, but realized he couldn’t.

Three- Their was a eight year girl about two inches away from his face.

“Hi, Awakey!”

“Crap!” Said Sean, falling on his back. He honestly should have seen that coming- he dropped a mini f-bomb at himself. Note to self- either stop watching Comedy Central or become a sailor.

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“Wow, so you’re the Awakey Cece keeps talking about!”

“Cecelia, give the Awake some space.” Said another voice, a male’s voice. It came from behind the door to the room, and it opened.

About three others came in.

The male’s voice came from a boy looking around his age. Long blue hair, purple eyes, pale, and in leather pants and a jacket. Their was a white t-shit under it, with a motorcycle logo on it, which he recognized as the Harley Davidson logo. He couldn’t but chuckle inside- his hair and eyes looked like some little kid had chosen them at random. Ah, the things people do to their hair. Then he took a look at the hyper girl in front of his face.

She looked to be around eight in appearance. And with a different color scheme. She had red hair, red cat-like eyes. She wore a sleeveless red shirt with a blue fire in the beginning, and long red-pants with the emblem on each side. Most notable features- cat tail and cat ears. “Hi Awakey!”

“Uhhh… hi?”

“For real, give him space, Samantha.”

“Fiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiine.” Said the girl, running to Cecelia’s side on all fourth, and shooting a quick glare at the teddy bear.

“Someone mind explaining what the hell is going o- Oww!” Said Sean, as he was bonked on the head.

“Hey! That’s a bad word!” The girl, Samantha, said.

Dear God, I realize I did not pray to you today. Please shoot me. Amen.

Sean thought, sighing.</P>

“Do you remember what I said?” Asked Cecelia.

“Yeah. You were going to ‘liberated me from my nightmare’.”

“That is what we are here to do.” Said the boy. “Only when you are in Tabula Rasa can you do it?”

“… Tabula Rasa? You mean the theory that all people are emotionless when born and get their personalities when they grow?”

“No, but I’m pretty damn impressed you know that.” Said the boy.

“When you dream, your mind goes into Blank State and the soul takes over.” Said Cecelia. “And you are taken to the land of dreams, Tabula Rasa.” Said Cecelia. She then took a photo out of her pocket, and showed it to Sean.

“… The hel-heck is that thing?” Said Sean, quickly saving himself from another hit to the head.

“It’s a Nightmare Demon. Inhabitants of the ‘Rasa’.” Said Cecelia. “He is well known. His name is Double Stinger.”

“And I should care why?”

“He’s the one that has been tormenting you around this time of year for the past several years.” Said the other boy. Sean’s eyes then went wide.

“He mostly creates nightmares revolving corpses, particularity people who have discovered dead bodies.” Explained Cecelia. “For years, he has been exploiting the sight of your mother’s body.”

“…………………………….”

“The rest of the gang are downstairs.” Said Samantha. “Let’s meet up with them and introduce them to the Awakey!”

“Why do you keep calling me that?”

“Because, you live in the awake world!” Said Samantha, with a smile on her face. “We call those type of people the Awake, even in their dreams!”

“… So you don’t…?”

“Nope!” She said, still smiling. “Outside of Tabula Rasa, I don’t exist. Now common! We’re keeping everyone waiting!” She said, running out of the room on all fours and heading downstairs. The boy walked down, and Cecelia made her way to the door.

“Come on, Sean.”

“R-right…”

This is happening too fast. Too damn fast.

Thought Sean. In less then six minutes, he just learned all of that. Freaking headache.</P>

He didn’t have time to think of anything else. He found himself moving downstairs unconsciously moving downstairs.

He was met by two other people. An Asian girl a few years older then him, wearing a not-so-modest stripped t-shirt and a leather coat with fur around the hood. She wore plain, ordinary blue jeans and sandals. Her hair was dyed night-black, and went to the bottom of her ears.

The other person was male, and looked to be the oldest, at least 18. He had a bit of a beard, and was holding a lighter for some light, making him the only one Sean could clearly see at the moment. He had glasses, and short brown hair. A DKNY shirt that was mostly white, with a tree rising from a skull. Short jean pants, and dress shoes.

“Yo.” Said the boy.

“……………………..” The girl made no reply.

“Yay! Let’s do introductions!” Said Samantha, smiling.

“Umm… My name is Sean-”

“We know who you are.” Said the 18-year old, smiling. “And we know you know Ms. Hawkworth as well.”

“Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh! Let me introduce myself first!” Said the hyper girl.

“Uhhh… Go ahead.” Said Sean.

“My name is Samantha, but you can call me Sammy! I like three things- fire, cats, and fish! I really like fish!” Said Samantha, making a ball of fire in her hand, then extinguishing it. Sean wasn’t too surprised- this was a dream. “I would tell you everything else, but Cece says that takes too long.” She said, puffing her right cheek.

“…………………… Yume.” Said the other girl, introducing herself. Doubt I’ll be getting anything else out of her. Thought Sean. Pretty, though. He also thought- he managed to get a look at her when Samantha made her fire ball.

“Gregory Barrows.” Said the older teen. “I like vegetables, meat, anything that has to do with music, and doin’ my part to make your dreams better. My dislikes- the Nightmares, the darkness, etcetera.” He said, smirking.

“Zer0.” Said the blue haired boy. “Get to know me more and maybe I’ll spill the rest for you.” Said Zer0, sitting on a sofa.

What awesome people skills you have.

Thought Sean.</P>

“So, how are you guys gonna liberate me from my nightmare?” Asked Sean.

“As of now, Double Stinger is invincible, as he still holds power over your nightmare.” Said Cecelia. “What YOU must do is figure out the true nature behind this nightmare.”

“True nature?”

“Yes. This nightmare represents something. You most confront the Nightmare once you figure this out, announce what it is… and move on over it. That will break Double Stinger’s grasp over you.” She said. “We shall protect you by any means. And when you confront it will probably try to flee.” She said. “However, it may not, and transform into a combat-form, and attempt to you simply kill you in this dream. If it does, you will wake up… but you will not be liberated, and it can continue to torment you.”

“… I see. So for the most part I‘m doing most of the work?”

“Basically.” Said Zer0. “But to properly liberate you, we do this thing at the end of the dre-”

“Annoying little lot.”

</I> Came a loud voice. It was impossible to tell were it came from, it was just imposing in all directions.</P>

“I didn’t expect a Liberation squadron to come here.”

Said Double Stinger. “How dare you intrude on my meal!? How dare you stand in between me and that boy’s suffering!?”</P>

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“Shut up!” Roared Sean. “You’re the one… who won’t give me a damn break… all I want to do is fucking forget that day but you keep digging it back up!”

“Ask me if I give a damn.”

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“You damned bastard!” He said.

“Double Stinger, we offer you a chance to surrender. You are a highly wanted criminal. Allow us to Seal you and you can return back to Rasa with no difficulties. Elysium herself has stated this.” Said Zer0.

“Only your damned Citadel am I a criminal! If I am a criminal, why doesn’t Elysium come and personally take care of me? She wishes to protect the innocent, but what of us? We require the power of the negative emotions from nightmares, yet you stand in between! Are we not innocent simply for feeding!? Elysium can burn in my homeland for all I care! Glory to the Nightmare King and our Nightmare God!”

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“HEY! Don’t you dare insult Her!” Shouted Samantha, now mad, fireballs in her hands.

“There is a difference. A normal nightmare is acceptable, and so are possessing nightmares so you may feed. You however, curly torment, day after day, never stopping. There is a problem with that. You sadist.” Said Cecelia, no emotion as usual. “Even other Nightmares have acknowledged your cruelty.”

“Come out here!” Said Sean, yelling. “I already know the damn nature of this nightmare! Come here so I can show you!”

“Sorry child, but I can not yet do that. I haven’t had enough food yet… please, let me enjoy your suffering just a tad longer!”

</I>Crackled the Demon. “I shall feast upon your corpses, damned Liberators! I’ll show you that no soldiers from anyplace like Tabula can stop me! And you, boy, as long as you live, you shall become my toy to torment!” </I>Shouted the voice, immediately crushing Sean’s confidence.</P>

“We aren’t afraid!” Shouted Samantha, although she was clearly shaking.

“………………….. This does not bode well.” Said Yume.

“Aw, damn!” Shouted Greg, stepping back- avoiding a scorpion that came out of a sofa.

The lights came on- the scorpions were pouring out of the furniture. The lights were blood-red, and Sean’s pupils went small in fear.

“Still feeling confident, boy?”

 

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“…….. It’s finally begun.” Said a young girl, clad in all white, doll-like frilly dress, standing up from her throne. At the top of the castle in the Dream Citadel, making up most of the land of Tabula, she looked out of the window of atop the castle tower. She had a fair tan, white eyes (but not blank), and white hair.

“He has become aware of Tabula Rasa…” She said. “…. Reader.”

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“At long last, it has finally begun.”

</I>Said the Nightmare King, standing up. He was a huge, skyscraper tall like being. A black grim-reaper like robes, and bird-like talon hands. “At last, the time has come…”</P>

“I will not let you escape, boy.”

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“… It has begun.” Said a man, looking at a large screen, the ‘Dream Monitor’. He was in all red robes, and was sitting with a group of a few others at a table, with the words ‘Novus Ordo Mundi’ carved into the table. He picked up a book, and flipped through it, and it eventually became blank. “So, gentleman, shall we finally finish the story?”

“You better be right about this, Luke.”

“Since when am I ever wrong?”

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Enjoy, the first ever Tabula Rasa chapter to be written in midair, which I wrong during my plane flight to Santa Fe, which I am at right now. And I still have 5 minutes of battery power le-

*boop*