1
It was like falling into a void, hearing nothing, turning a deaf ear to the world—as if I didn't have four of them; as if nothing mattered.
"Hey, brat," a strange voice said while my eyes were still closed.
I opened them, spotting a man with silver hair, blue eyes, and brown wolf ears and tail.
"Who...?" I stammered after a couple of seconds.
"You're an idiot. You almost died," the man said.
"Who are you?" I asked.
"Are you seriously asking that? Does my voice not sound familiar at all?" he retorted.
"No, not in the slightest," I said.
"Ugh." The man sighed, kicking the ground. "I'm Merlin."
The setting was a kind of limbo with blue surroundings (matching the man's tunic) and a floor that looked like water—aqueous, if that's the word.
"Hey!" the man shouted. "I'm talking to you!"
"Oh, yeah, sorry. I was just trying to process my surroundings."
"...."
The man frowned and sighed again. What was his problem? He looked like he was about to have a heart attack. Well, I made him mad, which makes sense. I'd better listen.
"I am Merlin," the man said. "Your ancestor."
"...."
And following that declaration, the sudden urge to strangle this guy appeared.
2
"Ahg, ahg—let go of me, you lab rat!" Merlin choked out, his voice strained by my hands wrapped around his neck.
"You damn liar! From what I understand, you were supposed to guide me, and you just disappeared! Not to mention you kept giving me nightmares!"
My reproach echoed through the limbo. I was scowling with all my might. How did this guy have the nerve to scold me? He's not my dad. Besides, if he really "wants to help me," where was he during the mission for the stones?
"Tch. See you around," Merlin said, snapping his fingers.
It was strange; everything suddenly faded to black.
I was alone in that "space" for a moment, then a bit of light filtered in. Suddenly, I was in the hospital (a magical one, because I doubt a normal one would know how to repair me down to the last millimeter). I was lying down, and my dad was sitting beside me with a worried expression.
"Dad..."
"Tell me!" he exclaimed instantly.
"My head hurts," I groaned.
"Take it easy, champ. Just rest. You'll feel better later," Dad said with a sad smile.
Placing his thick, furry hand on my head, he began to stroke my hair, smoothing the black locks.
"Okay..."
It was all I could say. My mom walked in a few seconds later, just as I was about to drift off, carrying what looked like juice.
I'll drink it when I wake up.
3
I woke up about three hours later (I think). My dad was still by my side, sipping a glass of orange juice.
"Ahg," I winced at the sharp pain in my shoulder.
"Are you okay, son?" Dad asked.
"Yeah, yeah, but..." I replied. "No, it's nothing."
"...."
"DYLAN!" Mom screamed. "You're okay!"
She hugged me as tight as a boa constrictor, kissing my cheek and repeating, "You're okay." It was a bit weird, but that's my mom; it's completely normal when it comes to her.
"Who won?" I finally managed to ask.
Silence stretched for a few seconds.
"Michael," Dad said curtly. "He was the one who won."
"...."
Dammit. I lost. It was obvious, but I still held a tiny sliver of hope that they would wait or something.
But I see they didn't.
"Don't worry, son. Next time will be better," Mom said.
"...Yeah, maybe..." I muttered.
Wait, where is Michael? I have to talk to him. He can't just leave; he has to explain that whole "cousins" thing, and that other wolf who looked like my dad, and whatever he was trying to tell me. EVERYTHING.
"Son..."
Dad tried to speak to me, but I raised my hand.
"I need to find Michael," I said.