Chapter 18

Jaine pulled on the reins of her mount as soon as she realized that Anakin had fallen off. A large crack of lightening split open the sky and a torrent of rain fell, instantly soaking Jaine to the skin. Gritting her teeth, she jumped down from her mount, pulled the reins over her mount's head and started to back track. There pursuers had turned around moments before Anakin fell, probably finally realizing that the danger was too great to continue their pursuit. Which also meant that she should find shelter as quickly as possible too. Her eyes flaring with annoyance, she continued her search for Anakin.

A lightening bolt struck the ground a few feet away, causing her to jump and her mount to snort and rear his head back. "Shhh." She stroked the ceffyl's orange neck reassuringly. In another few steps she found Anakin lying on his back, eyes closed. Heart hammering in her chest, Jaine reached down and checked Anakin's pulse like she had been taught at school. "Anakin, wake up."

Anakin did not stir, did not even flinch when she pinched him on the neck.

"Anakin, we need to get to shelter!" Jaine shouted and shook his shoulder. "Wake up!" She looked up into the sky that was laced with lightening strikes. The storm was intensifying: the longer they stayed out here, the more likely they would be killed.

Making a decision, Jaine climbed back onto her mount. Closing her eyes she inhaled deeply and slowly exhaled like she had been taught. The power within her body swirled into action, exiting her body in a controlled stream of energy. Slowly Anakin's body lifted off the ground. Lightening struck behind her ceffyl, causing her mount to rear on his hind legs, making her lose her concentration and drop Anakin.

Uttering a curse she had once heard her father say, Jaine attempted to steady her ceffyl while also fighting back the rising fear. She didn't want to die. Her ceffyl stomped the muddy ground with growing agitation and shook its head. Shaking her head in frustration, she turned her ceffyl around and jabbed her heels into the ceffyl's sides. She was going to have to get help.

…

"Tell the class your name!" Miss Cobre told him, her hands on her hips.

Anakin looked up at the teacher, his face pale.

"Name! Now!" Miss Cobre harshly commanded him.

Words spilled forth from Anakin's mouth and then he heard the sound of pencils dropping. Looking back toward the class, he saw slack jaw faces staring back at him.

"Blasphemer!"

The students hurled books, pencils and anything they could throw at him. Anakin tried to moved but his feet were frozen in place. He pulled heavy arms up to shield himself from the projectiles.

"Blasphemer!"

"Blasphemer!"

"Blasphemer!"

"Blasphemer!"

Anakin closed his eyes and covered his ears with his hands as the chant continued and then the floor opened beneath him, a black gaping maw. Down he fell, falling faster and faster. Lightning sizzled and cracked within the vortex, crawling up and down his skin. Anakin screamed but no sound came out. Voices laughed harshly, mockingly at him and he pressed his hands still harder against his ears to keep the voices out.

"Leave me alone!" Anakin shouted, yet the were sucked away from him, vanishing as if they had never been.

"Destroyer!"

"You made Miss Cobre mad!"

"Mad!"

"Mad!"

"Mad!"

"Mad!"

"We don't like you."

"You!"

"You!"

"You!"

"The lightening will get you."

"Run...Run…RUN!"

Anakin's eyes flew open and he let out a sharp gasp as he sucked in sweet oxygen. Rain pelted against his face as he laid prone on his back, face up at the dark sky. The lightening lit up the black and red clouds in a fascinating, deadly display. Anakin shifted his legs and arms, his limbs feeling heavy and sluggish. His head throbbed and his stomach twisted as he made his way onto his hands and knees.

"Anakin."

Anakin lifted his head up, water running down his face and dripping off his chin. He saw a ball of orange light that slowly grew larger, parting the torrent of rain. Anakin stood to his feet, never taking his eyes off the glowing light that began to solidify into the shape of a person.

"Anakin Skywalker."

The being's face was shrouded by a tan hood and he wore a clothing similar in style to the Jedi. Fragmented blue orbs burned within the hood, its gaze focused on Anakin's eyes. Anakin felt drawn to the swirling orbs of blue, so much so that he forgot he was soaked to the skin and that lightening was still dancing through the sky and striking the ground. "Who are you?"

The being bowed his head, "It's not necessary that you know my name. Only what is necessary will be revealed."

Anakin frowned, "How do you know my name."

The being chuckled, "Names have power and your name is a powerful one. Yes. Your Master's name is also powerful."

Anakin shook his head, water flinging off his hair. "I don't understand."

"You don't understand because your name has no meaning to you except that it is shared with your mother." The being stated and walked a step toward Anakin and held out his hand to Anakin. "Come with me. There is something that you need to see."

Anakin took a step back, "I can't. I need to go find my Master and Siri."

"Come!" The being commanded, his voice booming amid the rolling thunder.

With a hesitant step forward, Anakin placed his hand into the hand of the mysterious being and found the being's hand gentle and firm with calluses that made his hand rough. The glow around the being traveled up Anakin's hand, up his arm and spread until Anakin's whole body was enveloped by it. The being and Anakin walked forward and then vanished.

Anakin found himself in a large cavern that was lit up by a greenish glow that emanated from parts of the wall.

"Welcome to my humble abode." The being said, now standing several feet away from Anakin and near a roaring fire in a pit. "Come on over to the fire. It'll warm you up and dry you off."

Anakin walked over to the fire and felt the heat wash over him and start warming him up. "Is this place what you wanted me to see?"

The being chuckled, "No. It is a location. A place where a lost little boy lives who needs a family. You need to find him."

"I don't understand. We're here now so I can find him now." Anakin stated, confusion in his voice.

The being smiled gently and rested his hand on Anakin's shoulder. "Because you're not really here. In reality you are still in the park, unconscious."

"So I'm having a vision?"

"No, it is a dream. A vision does not allow one to interact with another person. A dream however opens up possibilities and interaction." The being explained.

Anakin looked down at his wet clothing and then back up at the being. "Are you real?"

The being waved off the question. "We haven't much time. This boy you are to seek out is in danger and must be found quickly. Listen carefully. The Ja'Mak Kenobi estate is nestled in a little valley. You must travel northeast from there till you see a mountain peak that rises far above the other mountain peaks, That is the mountain you must focus on. There is a well worn animal trail at the base of the mountain where an old tree sits with a large hole in the middle of its trunk. That path will lead you to a cave and from there you will find the rest of the way."

Anakin nodded his head. "I'll find him and my Master and Siri will help too!"

"Good. Now you must awaken." The being said and then it was dark.