As I read Linns name on the stone, its almost like I become frozen in time. I can't move. I remain on my knees, with my hand placed atop the stone. Suddenly, I can hear his voice coming from behind me. It's all too familiar. It fills my heart with dread and reluctance.



CROATON: “Hello again, Sebastian.”

SEBASTIAN DUKE: “What is it you want from me, Croaton?”

CROATON: “Ahhh. I'd wondered if you'd remember. Most take much longer. I must say, I'm impressed.”

SEBASTIAN DUKE: “Why are you doing this to me? I know the things I've done! I'm not proud of everything, Croaton! Everything I have done was done for a reason.”

CROATON: “As I'm well aware.”

SEBASTIAN DUKE: “Then why?”

CROATON: “I think we both know the answer to that, Sebastian.”

SEBASTIAN DUKE: “I really don't.”

CROATON: “You call yourself the Angel of Darkness.”

SEBASTIAN DUKE: “So? It's the truth. I am the Angel of Darkness.”

CROATON: “Well, if you're the Angel of Darkness, then what does that make me?”

SEBASTIAN DUKE: “A giant pain in my ass.”

CROATON: “I don't think this is the time for jokes.”

SEBASTIAN DUKE: “You want serious? Why are you using Linn Kwann to taunt me?”

CROATON: “I think you know the answer to that.”

SEBASTIAN DUKE: “Croaton! I demand answers!”

CROATON: “Funny. You're stuck in my world and you demand answers from me.”

SEBASTIAN DUKE: “Please. How can I change anything if I don't know what you want!?”

CROATON: “Sebastian, I want nothing. I'm nothing more than a tool used by the higher powers to.... enlighten... others.”

SEBASTIAN DUKE: “Why Linn Kwann?”

CROATON: “Do you remember our previous conversation?”

SEBASTIAN DUKE: “Unfortunately.”

CROATON: “Then you know that when she met her untimely demise at your hand, she was with child.”



I clear my throat. Then, I say nothing.



CROATON: “How does that make you feel, Sebastian?”

SEBASTIAN DUKE: “I don't understand the question.”

CROATON: “LOOK AT HER NAME!”



As if I was forced to do it, I did exactly as I was told.



CROATON: “How does it make you feel that you callously murdered not only Linn Kwann, but also your unborn daughter!?”



I feel the tears welling up inside. I won't deny it. It breaks my heart to know that I'd killed a child.



CROATON: “HOW DOES IT MAKE YOU FEEL!?”

SEBASTIAN DUKE: “I... I... Linn Kwann was a whore!”

CROATON: “She was changing that. She desperately wanted to change that Sebastian, and you know it.”



In my heart of hearts, I know this to be true.



CROATON: “You threw her out on the street! You put a bullet in her head! You ended her life fifty years too soon! You ended the life of your unborn baby girl!

“TELL ME! How does that make you feel!?!”

SEBASTIAN DUKE: “Guilty.”

CROATON: “Just guilty? That's it?”

SEBASTIAN DUKE: “No!”

CROATON: “Be a man, Sebastian! How does it make you feel?”

SEBASTIAN DUKE: “If I could turn back time and...”

CROATON: “And what? You'd still do the same thing! You know it. So do I.”



The tears begin to flow, slowly.



CROATON: “Do you know what Linn was going to name your daughter?”

SEBASTIAN DUKE: “I... I don't want to know.”

CROATON: “Well, you need to know. She planned to honor your late grandmother. She was going to honor the memory of the matriarch of the Duke family!”



Those tears? Free flowing now.



CROATON: “How does that revelation make you feel, Sebastian?”

SEBASTIAN DUKE: “There's nothing I can do about it! What's done is done! I can't change what I've done, Croaton!”

CROATON: “That may be true, Sebastian, but you can change your future.”

SEBASTIAN DUKE: “I don't know how.”

CROATON: “Your trail of destruction. The bodies you leave buried in your wake, needs to end.”

SEBASTIAN DUKE: “I've only ended the lives of those that I had to!”

CROATON: “Oh? Linn Kwann? Your daughter? They needed to die?”

SEBASTIAN DUKE: “They are the exception!”

CROATON: “The biggest, wouldn't you say?”



I can say nothing. I continue to try and rationalize my split second decision to end Linn's life all those months ago.



SEBASTIAN DUKE: “It was a needless act.”

CROATON: “Now, you're getting somewhere. Do you remember in our last conversation I told you of your future child?”

SEBASTIAN DUKE: “I... I can't say for sure. It's all such a blur.”

CROATON: “I told you that you'd have a son in the future.”

SEBASTIAN DUKE: “What about it?”

CROATON: “Do you want him to follow in your footsteps?”

SEBASTIAN DUKE: “I would want him to follow his dreams. Whatever they may be.”

CROATON: “Follow his dreams? How coincidental. That's exactly what I want you to do, Sebastian. Follow your dreams.”

SEBASTIAN DUKE: “I don't understand what you mean.”

CROATON: “This is your dream, Sebastian. I want you to follow it.”

SEBASTIAN DUKE: “I don't know how.”

CROATON: “What you see before you, is nothing more then your subconscious brought to life. All of your thoughts, your guilt, your passed misdeeds, all brought to life by yours truly.”

SEBASTIAN DUKE: “What exactly are you?”

CROATON: “A figment of your imagination.”

SEBASTIAN DUKE: “That's a lie.”

CROATON: “And how can you be so sure?”

SEBASTIAN DUKE: “My father.”

CROATON: “What about him?”

SEBASTIAN DUKE: “After your last unwelcome visit, I brought up your name. He claimed to have never heard the name before. I could see it in his eyes. I knew he had.”

CROATON: “Asmodeus. You're not easily fooled, Sebastian. Since you've called my bluff, all I am is your guide on this journey to your rebirth.”



All at once, I can feel this world being ripped away. Croaton and the cemetery begin to fade faster and faster.



SEBASTIAN DUKE: “Wait! Croaton! When will I have my son!?”

CROATON: “Your son will be arriving..........”



He trails off. I never heard the answer. I can now tell I'm in a hospital. I can hear doctors being paged over the intercom system. I can hear Dr. Nguyen, and Jacob.... and Caitlyn. I must not yet be fully conscious because I still can not open my eyes, much less move a damn muscle.



DR. NGUYEN: “He was just dreaming.”

JACOB: “How can you tell?”

CAITLYN: “His brain waves were going off the charts. Daddy, does that mean he's coming out of it?”

DR. NGUYEN: “I'm hopeful.”

JACOB: “I'm going to head back to the Compound for some rest. Please, call me if anything changes.”



I can hear Jacob leave. Little bastard. I stayed here the whole time he was laid up.



DR. NGUYEN: “Caitlyn, dear. Your shift ended eight hours ago. Please, go get something to eat and get some rest. I'll be here all night.”

CAITLYN: “Will you call me?”

DR. NGUYEN: “Of course!”

CAITLYN: “Give me a minute alone?”

DR. NGUYEN: “Absolutely.”



I can hear the click of the door as Dr. Nguyen leaves my room. I also feel the bed shift. Caitlyn must be sitting beside me.



CAITLYN: “You need to come back to me soon, we have things to discuss...

“I... I love you.”



I can feel her kiss my cheek. I can also feel the bed shift again as she begins to leave.



CAITLYN: “Sebastian, you need to come back to me because you're going to be a father.”


I hear the click of the door shutting.


My eyes open wide.



...To Be Continued