"AGGGHH"

My eyes opened wide, the pain throughout my body was so intense that I couldn't help but scream as soon as I woke. I could see trees all around me. I'm moving backward.

"AGGGHH"

The pain came in another wave. I couldn't help but squeeze my eyes closed, sweat was pouring down my face and back from the sheer amount of agony I was in. In that brief moment of consciousness, I realized something or someone was carrying me. The jostling from their movements causing the waves of pain. I embraced the respite as I once again blacked out.

I awoke confused, my mind in a fog and my surroundings hazy. Suddenly a young Brad came up and embraced me.

"Brother what are you standing there for? Let's go and play."

"What? Brad?"

"Come on big brother I want to play in the sandbox."

"Ok. Ok. I'm coming."

I let him lead me by the hand into the sandbox.

"Brother help me build a sand castle."

"Ok. First, grab that pail. Now fill it with sand. You pat it down like this. See you can use your shovel to make little windows or a door."

I instructed Brad on how to make a sand castle.

I looked off into the distance. I can't remember the last time we simply enjoyed a day together. Wait, something's not right. I'm missing something.

"Brother I want to build a moat around the castle"

I turned towards him, "Ok. You have to....."

When I turned towards Brad his shovel had become a dark dagger and he was stabbing it into the sand like he was trying to dig a moat, but instead of sand, a dark red liquid was bursting out all over him. With every stab the blood spread to more of his body until he was completely covered.

I looked at where he was stabbing. It began to twist and morph, coalescing into a human shape.

It was..... me.

"This is your fault you know."

Distracted by the image of my own body covered in bloody stab wounds, my eyes jerked back to Brad when he spoke.

One corner of his mouth arched up into a smirk. It appeared especially eerie as the blood dripped from the corner of his mouth.

"What... What are you talking about?" I couldn't help stuttering as I stepped backwards.

"Ughhhh, isn't it obvious?" He replied while rolling his eyes. Blood began to drip from everywhere as he stood and moved towards me. Blood seemed to flow towards the dagger in his hand as if the blade was sucking it in. Soon all the blood was coalesced on the dagger like a slim layer coating it.

He began twirling the dagger with his fingers. The blood rolling off the edge creating streaks of blood in the air before it splattered on the ground around him. However, blood still coated the blade. He looked at me with eyes cold as ice.

"Everything."

I couldn't understand what was going on. I took a another step backwards.

"What do you mean?"

He leaned forward.

"You know exactly what I mean."

He leaped and made a lateral slash towards me. I stepped back to dodge. The blood coming off the dagger splashed on my face and chest.

"It's your fault mom and dad left!"

He jumped toward me making another slash.

I dodged then shouted, "That wasn't my fault!"

"It's your fault I was lost in Agartha!"

He jumped, slashing at me again.

I sidestepped, "I looked for you every day!"

"You didn't try hard enough!" He shouted as he leaped into the air plunging the dagger towards me.

I twisted out of the way and shoved him, "I did everything I could!"

Brad stumbled away from the shove. After staring at the ground he looked up, a maddening scornful rage overwhelming his features.

"I had to kill you! Something as weak as you doesn't deserve to live! It's your own fault! You couldn't protect me! It's all your fault! Pay for it! Just let me kill YOU!!!"

I couldn't bear it anymore, it was my fault.

I am too weak.

I couldn't even protect my little brother.

I stood still. Brad ran toward me, dagger raised overhead, a sadistic murderous smile spread across his face. With every step closer he grew until he looked just like the Brad who killed me that day.

"It's ok little bro. If this is what it takes." I softly whispered.

Suddenly a gentle light obscured my vision. Brad dispersed like fog blown away by the wind. My eyelids weakly opening. Above me an arched ceiling, brown with a wooden texture, sprouts of branches intermingled with tiny green buds. I could hear running water in the distance. There was no more pain and it felt like I was laying on clouds. I took a deep breath, it smelt like spring after wisterias bloom.

"Welcome, back to, the living. We weren't sure, you would be, joining us again." A gravelly voice said very slowly beside me.

I turned to look at the source of the voice. It was sitting in a stone chair to my right. It's torso comprised of gnarly knotted vines twisting upwards. The vines bundled up at it's shoulders then twisted down, falling and thinning like a willow to form it's arms. It's face looked like the branches of a Socotra dragon tree, that had been shaped to look human. He had deep green emerald eyes with what seemed to be cape lilac leaves with browning edges for eyebrows and hair. His legs like the trunk of an oak sturdy and solid, with roots spreading at the base.

It was an elderly G'eth.

I blankly stared at him for a moment trying to understand what was going on. Just a moment ago I was prepared to let my brother kill me and now a G'eth was talking to me. I needed a moment to comprehend what was happening.

Then it all rushed back. The desperate fight with the Grootslang, the feeling of being carried. I realized what happened with my brother was obviously not real. It was nothing more than a horrible nightmare. I became aware of my body which should be crippled at very best.

All of the pain was gone. I flexed my left arm afraid to look at it.

I could feel everything down to my fingers. The muscles tightened and relaxed.

I quickly sat up and looked at myself. I was in what appeared to be a toga, the fabric coming over my right side before wrapping around my waist and going down. My left arm and side were exposed. I looked them over, not even a scar.

How?

This G'eth must have played some role in saving my life. Even in the past timeline, I had never heard of the G'eth possessing such amazing healing abilities. As a matter of fact, no race should have been capable of healing someone to this extent.

"You are, completely fine, I assure you," said the elderly G'eth.

I quickly stood up from, what appeared to be, a giant pile of moss and bowed towards the G'eth.

"Thank you, sir, for the immense kindness you have shown me."

"Hahaha, I did not expect, someone of, your kind, to react, as such." He slowly said with a deep and jovial voice.

"The majority, of your kind, act with wariness, if not hostility, towards my people. From what I, understand, that gesture, is a show, of respect, in your society."

It was no surprise he knew this. The native races of Agartha were aware of humans long before the migration occurred. Just as we studied them, they studied us.

I straightened locking eyes with him.

"Yes sir, and I apologize for my fellow humans while some of us may act thoughtlessly, not all do."

"Indeed, your actions, prove as much," he said as he raised his large frame out of the chair. He was at least a meter taller than me.

"However, our treatment, of you, was not due, to the, whimsical nature, of which, your kind, claims us to be. Rather, it is because, of your actions."

Confused I responded, "Sir, I apologize for my lack of understanding. What exactly have I done to merit such treatment?"

A slow deep chuckle emanated from him.

Then he said, "Were you not, the one, who slew, the Grootslang?"

I nodded.

"That creature, has been, terrorizing, my people, for centuries. We simply, had no way, of getting past, its defense, and were helpless, in front of, it's strength."

That made sense, I'm sure this G'eth's strength far outstrips mine. However, without knowing the critical point a G'eth would have a hard time killing it. This is mainly due to the nature of their attacks versus the strengths of the Grootslang.

"However, yesterday, one of, my warriors, was patrolling, the area, around the, Grootslang den.

He heard, the Grootslang, hissing, and thrashing about. To his, great surprise, when he looked, inside, he saw, a barely alive, human, leap at, it's head, slaying it, with one strike."

The elderly G'eth looked me over then continued, "He brought you, back to, our village, to me, begging me, to save, your life. At first, I did not, believe him, and, it would, be costly, to save your life. However, upon hearing, his story, and after, twenty, warriors, hauled the, Grootslang's, corpse back, I had no, choice, but to acknowledge, the service, you rendered, to my people."

He took long moment as if talking this much was painful.

"This was, no small debt, you have saved, many lives. I would, like to know, how you, could achieve, this feat? I sense no, great strength, from you."

"Sir, during a fight with the offspring I noticed there was a scale, facing opposite the others, which was significantly softer located two inches below the head. After being mauled by the Grootslang, I made a last ditch effort to hit that scale and luckily managed to pierce through, killing it."

Obviously, I could not tell him the truth, that I had the known this because of a past life.

"This knowledge, is truly, valuable. It will be, of great assistance, to our warriors, in other, territories, that are, under threat, from a, Grootslang. You must, have a, keen mind, to notice, such small details."

"Thank you for your kind words, I was merrily doing my best to survive."

"Nevertheless, it took, great courage, and determination. Please stay, in our village. Valerian, will guide you, to a room. He is also, the warrior, who found you." He then raised his arm gesturing behind me.