Cassadaga
Author: dreammaidenn
Title: Cassadaga
Rating: PG
Pairing/s: Arthur/Merlin (eventually)
Character/s: Merlin
Summary: Merlin's quiet life is suddenly disrupted by a visitor from the spirit world.
Warnings: pseudosciences and creepy/weird imagery, I guess.
Word Count: 787
Prompt: #245: Enough
Author's Notes: This is about the third story I start, but I do plan on sticking with it until I finish it. I swear.
That night as soon as Merlin steps through the door he knows something isn't right.
A heavy silence engulfs him in its grip causing him stop in his tracks, the smile on his lips slips off and turns into a frown. His eyes go to the staircase by instinct finding nothing but emptiness. Chills run up and down his body and goosebumps appear on his arms. The cold he feels is not natural for the weather they've had. Alert and unable to place the source of his discomfort he locks the door behind him sealing his fate from that point onward. He braces himself for whatever he might find. Merlin walks further in, his steps are careful as if he's trying not to disturb somebody's slumber. As is he's a visitor in his own home.
The house looks the same as he left it that morning. Nothing is out of place. His body and mind are telling him otherwise.
He trains his ear to pick any sound he might have missed before. Mice scurrying over the floorboards, a crow slipping through an open window, the telly he might have left on. There's nothing. Not a hiss, a clank or beep. Reaching the hallway he stops. His mother's photograph hanging on the opposite wall like ot always has. He listens. Silence once more. It's the kind of silence you only ever find in a church when there's no one around but the saints to keep you company, the kind you expect to exist at a cemetery. Dense. Eerie.
His breathing cuts through the atmosphere, every inhale sharp, his exhales coming out like a gasp. Whatever's around is already messing with him. Merlin's always hated the way external forces can affect him. He remember being told he was sensitive as a kid. It made him feel special back then. One encounter too many with malevolent energies and he wishes he wasn't attuned to other realms of existence. He'd be okay with staying in the natural world permanently. At least he wouldn't be wondering if the sudden flash of colors flooding his sight means he's in danger or not.
As if a higher force suddenly decided to take pity on him and give him answers, the tips of his fingers begin to tingle. A shock of electricity runs through him sending him into overdrive. His house is bathed in violet light, the walls bleed orange. He's not alone.
Out nowhere the sound comes back. Life increases its volume. The doors fling open and he can walk between the glow and noises calling for his undivided attention. But he doesn't listen to them or stops to peer over the edges where the vast and dark emptiness of the space is reflected. The universe is summoning him, he has a mission. He's sure of it. As though pulled by invisible underground wires he moves down a traced route, his path clear ahead of him. This zone looks like it was built for his eyes only.
When he reaches his destination he can hear water running. He's at the edge of a forest, a shoreline in sight.
The ambiance of the place is soothing and familiar. He can't see what he's supposed to find there, but he feels it. Another being's force. His energy touching Merlin's beneath his feet, tangling around him.
"Who are you?" He calls uncertain. This has never happened before. He can usually feel shapes, hear the spirits talking to him, asking him to tell their loved ones they are truly in a better place. This one is looking for him. Probably. Maybe.
He doesn't get an answer and begins to get anxious, the longer the time he spends in this place the easier it is to get lost and never find the door back. His powers and magic could be drained. Still he doesn't move. He needs to know. "Please, who are you? You brought me here for a reason."
"I can't see you, but I know you're here." Nothing. Just silence. Always silence. "Fine. If you don't want to show yourself I'll get going. Come back when you know what it is you want. I can't stay here any longer."
The silence is deafening, the water ebbs away and the electricity in him awakes. He gasps in surprise, the entity is trying to get him closer. Wants him to stay.
"Stop," he demands through gritted teeth, "I said stop."
In panic he breaks the connection chanting under his breath, making sure he closes every entry and exit. He falls on his back in the middle of his hallway. His house back to normal. The moon's brilliant silver light peeking in from the windows. He's exhausted.
"Bloody hell," he mutters closing his eyes unable to get up just yet.
Title: Cassadaga
Rating: PG
Pairing/s: Arthur/Merlin (eventually)
Character/s: Merlin
Summary: Merlin's quiet life is suddenly disrupted by a visitor from the spirit world.
Warnings: pseudosciences and creepy/weird imagery, I guess.
Word Count: 787
Prompt: #245: Enough
Author's Notes: This is about the third story I start, but I do plan on sticking with it until I finish it. I swear.
That night as soon as Merlin steps through the door he knows something isn't right.
A heavy silence engulfs him in its grip causing him stop in his tracks, the smile on his lips slips off and turns into a frown. His eyes go to the staircase by instinct finding nothing but emptiness. Chills run up and down his body and goosebumps appear on his arms. The cold he feels is not natural for the weather they've had. Alert and unable to place the source of his discomfort he locks the door behind him sealing his fate from that point onward. He braces himself for whatever he might find. Merlin walks further in, his steps are careful as if he's trying not to disturb somebody's slumber. As is he's a visitor in his own home.
The house looks the same as he left it that morning. Nothing is out of place. His body and mind are telling him otherwise.
He trains his ear to pick any sound he might have missed before. Mice scurrying over the floorboards, a crow slipping through an open window, the telly he might have left on. There's nothing. Not a hiss, a clank or beep. Reaching the hallway he stops. His mother's photograph hanging on the opposite wall like ot always has. He listens. Silence once more. It's the kind of silence you only ever find in a church when there's no one around but the saints to keep you company, the kind you expect to exist at a cemetery. Dense. Eerie.
His breathing cuts through the atmosphere, every inhale sharp, his exhales coming out like a gasp. Whatever's around is already messing with him. Merlin's always hated the way external forces can affect him. He remember being told he was sensitive as a kid. It made him feel special back then. One encounter too many with malevolent energies and he wishes he wasn't attuned to other realms of existence. He'd be okay with staying in the natural world permanently. At least he wouldn't be wondering if the sudden flash of colors flooding his sight means he's in danger or not.
As if a higher force suddenly decided to take pity on him and give him answers, the tips of his fingers begin to tingle. A shock of electricity runs through him sending him into overdrive. His house is bathed in violet light, the walls bleed orange. He's not alone.
Out nowhere the sound comes back. Life increases its volume. The doors fling open and he can walk between the glow and noises calling for his undivided attention. But he doesn't listen to them or stops to peer over the edges where the vast and dark emptiness of the space is reflected. The universe is summoning him, he has a mission. He's sure of it. As though pulled by invisible underground wires he moves down a traced route, his path clear ahead of him. This zone looks like it was built for his eyes only.
When he reaches his destination he can hear water running. He's at the edge of a forest, a shoreline in sight.
The ambiance of the place is soothing and familiar. He can't see what he's supposed to find there, but he feels it. Another being's force. His energy touching Merlin's beneath his feet, tangling around him.
"Who are you?" He calls uncertain. This has never happened before. He can usually feel shapes, hear the spirits talking to him, asking him to tell their loved ones they are truly in a better place. This one is looking for him. Probably. Maybe.
He doesn't get an answer and begins to get anxious, the longer the time he spends in this place the easier it is to get lost and never find the door back. His powers and magic could be drained. Still he doesn't move. He needs to know. "Please, who are you? You brought me here for a reason."
"I can't see you, but I know you're here." Nothing. Just silence. Always silence. "Fine. If you don't want to show yourself I'll get going. Come back when you know what it is you want. I can't stay here any longer."
The silence is deafening, the water ebbs away and the electricity in him awakes. He gasps in surprise, the entity is trying to get him closer. Wants him to stay.
"Stop," he demands through gritted teeth, "I said stop."
In panic he breaks the connection chanting under his breath, making sure he closes every entry and exit. He falls on his back in the middle of his hallway. His house back to normal. The moon's brilliant silver light peeking in from the windows. He's exhausted.
"Bloody hell," he mutters closing his eyes unable to get up just yet.