Joshua's POV:

My vision blackened and the strangest thing occurred. I dreamt. Dreaming came to me easily and so does sleep. Why would I sleep in a river?

For a moment everything was white, no colour at all. Was something wrong? Then colour blossomed. All I could see was a figure of a girl, which then turned into Maia. Maia Sterling. My girlfriend. My best friend.

I remembered what Kindness had told me about this river. It showed your deepest desires. I smiled at the thought that Maia is my deepest desire. I focused more on her face but it was contorted with sadness. I wanted to ask what happened but I was pulled backwards by an invisible force. I heard footsteps and looked over at the source of the sound. A man, whose face I couldn't see, approached Maia and her face lit up with happiness. She gave him a kiss. I could feel my heart shattering into a million pieces but she was happy, so I regained myself a bit.

I could feel a hand grasp onto mine as I turned my head to see the new figment of my dream. Kindness. She stood next to me, holding my hand tightly, smiling from ear to ear. She kissed my cheeks and muttered,

"I love you."

I jolted awake, still underwater, trashing nonstop, trying to escape the clutches of the invisible force, but it was not there. I looked over and saw Lust, Wrath and Maia still in the water. What had my dream meant? I swam forward, trying to get out. Finally, Oxygen entered my body. I saw some of the sins gasping and coughing, helping each other to stay upright.

What had just happened? What did that vision mean? I'm so confused right now.

My thoughts got interrupted by a raging Lust, who emerged from the water.

Lust's POV:

I never dream. Never. Not once and there was nothing wrong with that. However, I knew that tonight I will dream once I enter the waters of Cupiditatem. It was inevitable. The waters pry open your mind, digging for the deepest of desires and portray them as horrors to haunt and curse you. Once someone sees their deepest desires, they go insane, begging to change it. The truth hurts, but desire hurts even more.

I stood in front of my brothers. Each of them smiling. They all thanked me with open hearts.

What was going on?

They were bruised up but happy. They each hugged me, whispering words of gratitude. The last was the smallest. Wrath. He looked the worst, blood smears everywhere, bruises painted his body with purples and blues. This hair was black with soot and he limped when he walked over to me.

"Thank you brother," he said, pulling me into an embrace. I remained still, confused on what to do, but I hugged back.

I heard footsteps coming from behind me. Father. I immediately push Wrath behind me.

"No Lust, you don't have to protect me anymore," Wrath informed, "Father is gone."

"N-no he's not," I replied, tears welling in my eyes, "he's never gone as long as his body still exists."

"My boy," Lucifer began, "you've done well. You've protected your brothers as you were instructed. Wrath is correct: I am gone. Now it's your turn. Be the ruler you wished I was. Give the love your brothers deserved."

Father just vanished, disintegrated. Gone. Leaving me with all the scars he couldn't see. All the scars he caused. Gone. Stupid. I hate him. I...I hate him so much.

"Lust?" A voice called out. When I turned around, I saw the child version of Wrath, probably a few hundred years old, "I'm scared."

I hugged his frail body, "it's fine, I'm here for you. Fathers gone."

He cried into my shoulder, "he's not gone."

"What do you mean?" I patted his head.

"You've become Father," he sobbed.

I jolted awake, screaming, but no sound came out rather, bubbles formed around me. I thrashed until I reached the surface, I screamed, emptying all the newly regained oxygen.

"Calm down Lust," Pride said, with sad eyes, "it was just a dream."

Wrath's POV:

I knew my deepest desire already, so the basis of my dream wasn't a shock to me at all. It was just the ending of it that shook me.

I faced the black throne. It was always this throne. This throne watched me whither in pain, yet sat there, doing nothing to aid me. However, today the throne wasn't as black as it was before and neither was the person sitting on it. The man, who cursed me with scars, approached me. I immediately became defensive. I had to protect myself, but what he did shocked me. His arms made its way around my shoulders, holding me close to him.

"I'm proud of you son," the velvety voice said, "and I'm so sorry for hurting you. I know you won't be able to forgive me but at least I've apologised."

I wanted to say something but I was cut off by a small voice, "hey Wrath."

I turned around to see Azazel standing, unharmed. Tears streamed down my face as I looked at my best friend, my partner, my brother. Azazel and I were bonded, by blood, through the amicitia bond. It was a bond that binded our souls to each other, making us inseparable. When Azazel died, a part of me died as well, but I was taught not to show emotion, and I didn't. It actually pained me as the bond deep in our blood was extracted.

"I missed you Az," I sobbed.

"I missed you too, Rash," he teased. For about a year, Azazel thought my name was Rash, hence the nickname, "but you know I'm not real right?"

I sighed, "yes."

"Wrath, you know that I'm always going to be there for you, as your shadow, as the stars above your head, as the breeze you feel on your face, I'm literally running in your veins. I'm always there, even death can't separate us. You're stuck with me whether you like it or not," he punched my arm.

"I do like it," I whispered.

"Go save her," Azazel commanded.

"I'm sorry what?" I asked.

"Maia," he explained, "save her."

I shook awake. I scanned the area for Maia but she was nowhere to be found. I swam to the surface asking for Maia.

"She's been there for too long," Gluttony yelled.

"Joshua go save her!" Lust yelled.

"Why me?" He cried.

"Because your her boyfriend. Only the person who the river thinks is her deepest desire can save her!" I yelled. Anger building up in me. He's her boyfriend. He should save her no matter what. I would do that in a heartbeat.

"But she doesn't desire me!" Joshua yelled.

"Stop being a baby and go!" Sloth yelled. None of us took notice of the sentence he said, except me. She doesn't desire him? Impossible! Right?

Joshua jumped in the river but came out flying within seconds. The river isn't allowing him to enter! The river knows Maia doesn't want him. The river is bending to Maia's will!

I found Maia, slowly sinking to the bottom of the river. If she reaches the bottom, she can never escape. I ran and dived into the water. The current seemed to ease around me as I swam towards her. My only thought was Maia.

Maia.

I swam faster and harder.

Maia.

I pushed myself beyond my limit.

Maia.

I reached out and grabbed her, pulling her close to my chest.

Maia.

I brought her to the surface and she coughed out water.

Maia. Thank God.

Maia's POV:

My vision darkened and I passed out. The strangest thing happened. I began to dream.

The first thing I saw was my mum. Valerie Sterling. She sat in front of me holding the hands of a man. Dad? Was that my father? It can't be. Leonardo Sterling had left me at the age of six but here I am, eighteen years of age, standing in front of both my parents.

My mum's hazel eyes gleamed with happiness. Her long black hair was tied into a bun as her held hands with my dad. He sat there, smiling with his blue eyes. His black hair was swept back as he caressed my mother's cheek.

"Don't touch her!" I yelled, "you don't deserve to touch the cheeks that were stained with the tears you caused."

"Maia, calm down," my mum spoke. Oh how angelic her voice was, "I never cried because of your dad!"

"Of course you did! You died! And dad left us!" I yelled, crazily.

"Honey, what are you talking about?" My dad, no, Leonardo asked.

"No! Don't you honey me! Don't you remember?" I fantically yelled.

"Maia, take a deep breathe in, nothing happened. I'm alive see? Dad is still here!" My mum consoled.

"No! This is fake. You died because of cancer! You left us. Where's Joshua?" I asked.

"Joshua? That pastor kid?" Leonardo asked.

"Yes! He's my best friend."

"You've never even talked to him before. How is he your friend?" Leonardo said.

I stumbled back. Joshua isn't my friend? I never met him. This isn't real, Maia. I need to get out of here.

The scene dissolved and I was floating in emptiness.

Falling...

Falling...

Falling...

Falling...

Just Falling.

Oxygen entered my lungs allowing me to breathe. I looked up and saw Wrath standing, staring at me, face contorted with concern. I coughed out all the water in my body. I managed to stand up and dust myself. I wasn't wet at all.

"Are you alright?" Wrath asked.

"Yeah. What's the matter?" I questioned.

"You've been in there for an hour," Envy explained, "people only stay in there for about twenty to thirty minutes."

I ignored the statement because my eyes drifted to the vast land ahead of me. A field of nothingness stood in front of us.

The fields of Incompertus.

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Authors note:
Damn this chapter is so long! I really liked this chapter. What do you guys think each persons vision means? Like what do they desire the most?

Eventually I'll explain the prophecy and the visions throughout the rest of the book but for now you have to wait.

Damn I'm so tired! I have maths homework :') sad.

Lxrxib.