Waking Up

Waking Up

By: monshogaku

Note: Amazon Arrow is the property of amazonarrow and used with permission. Mr. M and all other characters are property of the author.

M slowly opened his eyes, took a deep breath and let his memories flow. Amazon Arrow had found him, beaten him thoroughly and drove a soul arrow through his chest. A flash of light and now what? Getting to a sitting position, he thought it would be difficult and painful considering what happened, but he moved with no problems. His jacket, dress shirt and undershirt were burnt and torn to pieces. Thankfully his pants, shoes and cape were still intact. Pulling his torn clothing aside, he saw the mark where the arrow had pierced his chest. A greyish-blue mark, but no scarring or other distortion or damage to the skin. He was shocked though when he continued looking at his torso.

There should have been scars near his ribs from where he had been lashed many years ago, but like the bullet wound he should have in his left shoulder, they were both gone! Other scars, burns and marks were completely gone. The only one left was where the arrow had struck him. As he wrapped his mind around this, he also seemed to feel well rested. “Almost like I woke up from a long nap...”

Standing up and not swaying or stumbling, M walked over to where his smartphone was laying. It was cracked and burnt, which meant no one probably got his signal. Getting a new one and setting it up wouldn't be a problem, hopefully someone would be able to stop Amazon Arrow. As his mind relaxed, the city seemed to shift, turning from normal to a yellowish-orange sepia tone. Then M seemed to sense something behind him.

Spinning around, M realized as he reached for something to throw that all of his items had been damaged or destroyed when he was hit with that arrow. The man standing across from him was almost his height but thinner. Dressed in a three piece suit and wearing a bowler hat with an umbrella in his hand. “Been a while since I've come across someone that can see and walk in both worlds.” As he spoke an evil smile crossed his face. “Nice to have someone worth the effort to kill.”

M wanted to shift to a martial arts stance, but as much as he wanted to, he just stood there stock still. The world still in sepia colors, his senses almost dull and sluggish. Meanwhile, the well dressed man began walking closer to him, occasionally moving slightly to the left or right. “What's wrong with you man, at least fight back and make it challenging!”

Almost in front of him, he suddenly stopped and seemed to be looking at M's chest. He raised his umbrella. M wanted to desperately move and knock the umbrella out of the way, but he still stood like a statue. Using the umbrella, he moved his torn clothing and revealed the mark where the arrow had struck. Now red and glowing, almost like it was alive. “No wonder you won't do anything, this is a fresh mark.”  He stepped back and stood still, leaning on his umbrella.

“I don't know what happened to you, but whatever caused that has unlocked an ability. The ability to interact with the worlds of reality and magic, living and dead.” Taking his umbrella, the man began writing strange symbols on the roof they were standing on, like it was a chalkboard.



“It will take some time, but eventually, you can not only see, but move and interact with this world we are in. I've been doing this for much longer, so it's easier for me. In fact, I almost always stay here.” The man then smiled a softer smile and walked towards M again. “I will come after you again, and will kill you, but I want you to experience this gift you have been given first.”

Even if M's body wasn't responding, his mind was racing at being told all of this. His rational mind overwhelmed with what was being experienced. He focused again as he heard the man speak. “For now though, I want to at least give you a head start on what you are going to experience.” With just the slightest pressure, the tip of his cane touched M's mark.

M stood there for a minute looking at the man, the suddenly everything exploded. His past, present and experiences of both broke and reformed. Images of people, places, and events combining and blending. M shut his eyes, hoping it would stop.

Opening his eyes, the world was normal colors again. He was standing on the roof, still holding the broken smartphone and breathing normally. Gingerly lifting a foot, he stepped forward with no problems. Taking a deep breath, he headed back to the brownstone, hoping Professor Kismet might have answers for him...