Phoenix raises his head. Footsteps, he had heard footsteps. There's someone coming.

He takes in his surroundings but he's imprisoned, there is no way to escape to hide. The room he's in, is poorly lit by some torches hanging on the stone walls, there are no windows and it is very draughty. It wouldn't suprise him if he's somewhere underground. Besides, the room looks more like a cave than a room. Perhaps it is a cave? Maybe it is a dungeon, why else would there be more cells next to his? But he's the only one here, there are no others imprisoned.

The footsteps are coming closer and then the wooden door with iron bars on eyesight, swings open. Phoenix recognizes the person who's stepping inside.

"You," he hisses and the black-haired man chuckles.

"Are you enjoying your prison?" the man asks on a soft but deadly tone.

Phoenix crosses his arms, letting go off the bars and determined not to show any fear. "No, not really. Why can't I use my powers?" He had an idea why, but he wanted to know for sure.

The man shrugs, as if that wasn't obvious. "My dream, my rules."

So it is true, but... "How did you get me in this dream without me knowing?" But then Phoenix realizes something far worse. "Wait... Where is my body?"

Why was it so hard to remember what had happened? "Tell me, Darkness!" he demands but the man holds up his index finger.

"I've got another name now," he corrects Phoenix.

"You have changed it again?" Phoenix huffs.

"Come now. You of all should now it is dangerous to keep the same name for centuries."

Phoenix falls silent. "Then what are you called now?" he eventually asks.

"It's Cynar now."

"Very well, Cynar," Phoenix spits. "Where is my body?"

"Somewhere safe. And do not try to absorb your spirit in this world, this prison will obstruct that."

"O no. There goes my grand master plan," Phoenix remarks sarcastic and Cynar glares at him, his eyes burning as fire. No matter into what creature he changes, his eyes always remains the same. Phoenix smirks at his angry reaction. He knew he would get out of here, no matter what. No prison nor pathetic dream rules could prevent him from escaping.

"Just join me, Phoenix, and I will let you out of here."

He snorts. "What makes you think I'll join you? I have no memory of the last few days, you dragged me inside a dream without me knowing, and made a rule so that I cannot use my powers. You must be mad when you think I will help you." He pauses for a moment, observing Cynar's face but he shows no emotion, and he continues. "I do not even know where we are."

"Earth."

"Earth," Phoenix repeats. "Humans... How many are inside the dream?" He fears for the answer but he had to know.

"All of one continent. And when they're all brain death, I will move on to the next continent until there's no human left on this godforsaken planet."

It is as Phoenix had feared. "Why are you doing this to them?"

Cynar turns around, getting tired of getting nowhere with him. He set course back to the door but Phoenix isn't done with him yet. He needs to know more.

"What would our parents think?" Phoenix says against his brother's back and he can see him tense.

"Nothing, because they're dead." Cynar turns around and the torches against the wall, lit up brighter, shedding light upon his furious face.

Phoenix unfolds his arms and puts his hands around the bars once again. "This is not the answer," he tries to reason with him.

"It is. They're dead. Our race is dead. Our planet is destroyed. The universe will pay. Everyone will pay." Cynar raises his left hand at him, offering his palm and his expression becomes softer. "We can let them pay together. No one will be able to stop two Dreamwalkers, fighting side by side." He really wanted this time his brother on his side, but Phoenix shakes his head. He had loved his parents, his friends, his city, but he knew this wouldn't help them getting it all back.

"This madness has to end, brother. Hasn't this solar system already payed enough?"

Cynar grits with his teeth. "Can't you see they're the same as the Neptunians? They need to be destroyed."

Phoenix flinches by the name of the extinct race. The Age-Long War between Dreamwalkers and Neptunians was long over, but they all had made sacrifices. He and his brother more than anyone.

"They're not the same," Phoenix states. "Humans are still young, they yet have so much to learn and discover. You have no right to take that all away."

"The humans fight each other, they don't respect each other. They slaughter each other in droves. Tell me, how exactly can they still learn?" Cynar glares at his imprisoned brother who has got nothing to say.

"You're right, Phoenix," he continues and Phoenix raises his eyebrows curiously. "They're not the same as the Neptunians. At least they knew how to work together. Humans are more idiotic. They do not deserve to live."

"It's not up to you to decide that. Let them go or when I get out of here, I'll stop you," Phoenix threatens and Cynar starts laughing.

"You? You're going to stop me? It took you centuries to find me again and in that time I have destroyed so many worlds. What makes you think this time will be different?"

Phoenix drops his gaze, his brother is right. So many lives lost, and this time, Earth is next in line.

"After every human is dead, I will let you go. And then flee, brother dear, or when we encounter again, I will not be merciful." And with that warning, Cynar turns around and he opens the wooden door with his mind. Slamming it shut behind him and blowing out all of the torches, leaving Phoenix all alone in his cell, in this dream where he had no power at all. How exactly was he going to escape when he couldn't gather all of his mind in this world? Cynar had said the prison will prevent him from doing that and by it, his certainty had disappeared as snow does to the sun. Only a miracle could save him now.

-

A/N: Much, much information in this chapter! No worries, every answer you still might be having, will be answered by the end of this story... At least, I think?

Anyhow, let me know what you think of it all!