Aemon was paralyzed with fear and panic. His chest tightened as the choking grew worse. What had once been light, pale skin was now a subtly darker tan. His hair had taken on a flesh-like pink hue instead of the rich brown tone it once possessed.
In the time he had between vomiting and coughing, he tried to scream for help. The pain was excruciating and was becoming unbearable. It had only been a measly few minutes, even though it felt he had been suffering for hours. He wanted to rip his heart out, which was a serious consideration. He gripped his chest with his right hand and opened the bathroom cabinet just below his sink with the other. He rummaged around in the cupboard in hopes of finding a pack of razors.
He was ready to walk into death's arms.
As he was violently feeling around for anything that could take his life, he felt a cold gash form across his hand. He swiftly swiped his hand out from under the sink. A razor that was seemingly pronged to his hand followed him out of the cabinet and spttered blood on the floor.
Aemon's hand was covered in blood, and yet, it didn't hurt. All the adrenaline produced from what was taking over his body had made it so he felt nothing. Aemon's veins were popping everywhere on his body. Blood was gushing out of his hand at an arming rate. The sight of the blood mixed with the nausea and constant ringing in his ears caused him to throw up again.
This marked 4 times.
Aemon was aware that a Resonance was forming inside his body. He assured himself he was okay, he heard that people can survive from this after all.
Aemon went to run the water in the sink to try and clean up one of the many gruesome messes inside the bathroom. Right as he gripped the lever for the faucet, he fainted.
…
"Hello! Where am I?"
Aemon looked around, never locking his eyes on anything, given that he was standing in what seemed to be an endless white abyss. He frantically patted his body, relieved that everything seemed to be back to normal. He even admired his reflection, which shined back at him through the wet, puddle-filled ground. His hair and skin seemed to have returned to their natural colors.
"Hello, my darling, you have left me waiting for so long."
Aemon's eyes widened involuntarily as he was staring down. The voice that whispered back to him could not be mistaken. He slowly raises his head while turning around.
It was his mother.
Aemon's vision became blurrier as tears exponentially filled up his eyes. What could be the expnation behind this? Why was his mother standing in front of him after being dead for 6 years? He stood even more frozen than when he was terrifyingly transforming.
"I have seen you grow. I have watched you become the person you are today."
His mother was just as beautiful as the st time he saw her. Aemon tried to say something back but stuttered any words he could decipher.
"You have lost many things in your life, Aemon. I have seen it all. I just do not want to see you lose hope. I know you will be strong enough to get through this. You will prevail over anything that decides to stand as an opposition to your successes."
Aemon dropped to his knees and sobbed softly. He was ashamed knowing that his mother was witnessing him in this distraught state.
"Am I- Am I going to live?"
She gave a warm smirk that was so familiar to Aemon's childhood. His mother's eyes were crystalline, reflecting the void's light aura upon him.
"That is something that you have to decide for yourself. However, I do not want to talk to you again until it is truly our time to see each other again."
Aemon was truly on the path to death, and it was for him to decide whether he would continue or turn now. Seeing his mother stand so gleeful and majestic as he once knew made it so tempting to let his life slip out of his body and accept death. Aemon's mother calmly turned around.
Aemon promptly crawled over to her and reached out in hopes of tching on to her. Unfortunately, Aemon's hand was only met with the air that made up the illusion of his mother. Just then, it seemed as if her image disintegrated into the ostensibly never-ending pin, leaving nothing but the footprints she made while she was there. The built-up tears that he didn't dare to shed infront of his mother finally managed to flow smoothly down his face.
Aemon dropped to the ground in agony. At this point, he was soaking wet from the thin sheet of clear water that painted the terrain's ground. His mind went bnk. It seemed any thought or feeling that he tried to produce just ultimately found its way to be turned into more crying.
If I die now, my hope will be lost. After losing everything in my life, do I want to lose the st thing going for me? What will my mother think? What will my father think when he swings open that bathroom door and sees my corpse lying still?
Aemon decided that his demise could wait. After all, this was the best way that he could learn about Resonance and see the full effects that await. He wanted to prove his mother right and show her how strong he could be. He swore that the next time he saw her, he would be far more superior than himself now.
Aemon wiped off the tears that accumuted on his face. He was terrified to go back to the loud thumping of his heart and the sharp ringing that filled his ears, but he knew that he could do it; the willpower he gained from being uplifted by his mother was exhirating.
I will not die…
I will not die.
Aemon closed his eyes and kneeled as the voice screamed louder and louder each time in his head.
I will not die. I cannot die.
"I will not die."
The powerful words were brought out of his head and forced into his mouth.
"I will not die. I cannot die."
Every muscle in Aemon's face was tense as he forced his eyes to be shut. What was an empty mind a few minutes ago turned into a hurricane of hope.
"I will not die. I cannot die!"
Aemon's energy quickly vanished as when he opened his eyes again, he was greeted with the foggy vision of the tiles on his bathroom floor and the rapid beating of his heart.
This time, there was no mistaking it. He was going to live.
