Ali "Lee" Goodwin

Someone is walking along a black and white tiled floor. It is well lit by the bright sunlight shining in from outside. The person stops looking at the floor and turns his attention to a window. The individual is Ali Goodwin, but he doesn't like his full name. His parents and he aren't close; the last thing he wants to do is have his name tied with theirs. As for his first name, it's never been a name he's been proud of. When he was younger, he started going by the name Li for short, but it soon became Lee out of misinterpretation and he just never cared enough to correct it.

When Lee looks out the window, he sees in the courtyard two people he once knew. It's been a while since he's seen either one of them though, nearing three years. That was his life before being shipped off to military school by his parents. Even though he's been on his own for close to a year now, that's a life he put behind him. However, if he had truly put it all behind him they shouldn't be there now. Both of them are talking about something, but he can't tell what. All he hears is dead silence as their lips move.

The first is his friend Sullivan Daly, but he just goes by the name Van. Best friends and they use to get into trouble together back then. As for the girl Van is with, she's another story entirely. There is the menacing sound of metal being twisted by extreme force. It gains the attention of Lee for a moment. When he looks back both of his friends are gone. Down in the courtyard there is absolutely no sign of them or that they were ever even there at all. This is a fact he finds troubling. Even if they are part of his past, he can't help but be worried about them.

He hears the sound of metal again and starts to move to investigate. Nothing about this is right; perhaps the source of the sound has some answers for him. If so, those are answers he intends to attain by any means necessary, even if it means beating it out of the person. His pace picks up as his anger starts to rise. Someone is messing with his friends and he doesn't like it one bit. As he continues on, his attention is suddenly broken by the scream of a woman from one of the halls. She sounds scared. It is a hall he was just in.

The anger that was building vanishes and is replaced with concern. If there is someone else in trouble, he can't let anything happen to her. He wouldn't be able to live with himself if he just ignored it. From around the corner Hannah comes running right in his direction. It looks like something is chasing her. Behind her the hall is cast in darkness. The darkness is so black that nothing can be seen within it and is moving closer and closer to her.

"Damn it!" Lee starts to run towards her. He doesn't know what he can do, but he has to try. If there is even the slightest chance he can help, he has to try. Before he can reach her the darkness starts to consume her. It moves fast. Soon all that is left is her hand reaching out for him. He tries to grab for it, but he's too late and the darkness consumes that too.  The darkness doesn't stop there however. It continues to move forward and then swallows him as well. That's just fine with him. If he is to save her, then he has to be willing to risk himself in order to do so.

He can feel himself drifting away, lost in the darkness. There is only one thing helping to keep him tethered to outside. Within the darkness he finds himself continue to whisper her name over and over again, "Hannah. Hannah." The whisper turns into a loud booming shout, "HANNAH!" As he screams her name, he feels something awakening within him. There is a crackling noise and suddenly a bright flash of something he can't quite make out.

Lee jerks awake from his dream. After slowing his breath he rubs his eyes and looks around. He's on a train that's pulling up to a stop right now. That's right, he remembers now. This is home, the one he tried to leave behind him at least. As hard as he tried, it just wouldn't stop haunting him though. Those dreams won't stop haunting him. No matter how much he'd like to, he just can't ignore them. They mean something, even if he doesn't know what yet. There is only one course of action he could think of, return home and find his friends. Once he does that, he can prevent his dream from coming true.

When he steps off the train and onto the platform he sees someone waiting for him. It's Van. Lee can't help but smile. Van smiles in return and says, "Long time no see, Ali."

Lee shouts back with his temper beginning to flare, "Cut it out with that Ali crap already before I kick your ass, Sullivan!" His fist is raised in front of him.

There is a moment of silence between the two. Then the silence is broken and both start laughing. This is just their odd way of saying hello after such a long time. Van continues, "It's been a while, glad to see you haven't lost your spirit." He holds out his hand for a shake.

As Lee thinks about reaching out to shake his old friend's hand, he feels an odd sensation that instinctively gives him pause. He asks himself, 'What is this feeling? Why am I hesitating?' Before even a second can pass he pushes the feeling out of his head and shakes his friend's hand. They pull towards each other and give a half hug with a pat on the back. The pause probably wasn't even visually noticeable, but it continues to trouble Lee regardless.

After the greeting Lee steps back and takes a good look at his friend. "So what's with the all black hair anyways? You go Goth on me while I was gone."

"It's not something I gave any thought to before it happened really; it just seemed natural one day."

Lee laughs and adds, "A dye job like that natural? You really have changed."

Van smiles as he replies, "Yeah, I guess so. Lots of things have changed since you left."

Once the initial pleasantries are out of the way, Van gives drives him into the city from the train station. As he drives Van continues to talk with his old friend, "So what brings you back here anyways? I would have thought you never wanted to see this place again."

"What are you talking about? I love this place," responds Lee with clear sarcasm. He doesn't know how to admit what he's been dreaming. For now, it'll probably just be better to keep off the subject. "So tell me, have you seen Hannah lately?"

"Wow, that's a name I haven't heard in a while," replies Van. "I didn't really see her much after you got shipped off. To be honest, haven't even thought about her in a couple years. She was a good kid."

"Yeah," says Lee as his attention wanders off. He starts to look out the window. They're driving passed their old elementary school.

The car comes to a stop at a light. Van turns his head and looks out the school as well. He asks, "Hey, remember that place? Lot of good times together, eh?"

"Yeah, I remember saving your butt a few times back then."

Van lets out a forced laugh, "Yeah right. Like I ever needed your help?"

"Well I seem to remember one time with Gage after you ..."

"Yeah, okay, maybe that one time."

"And then what about when ..."

Van cuts him off quickly, "All right, all right, let's just let it drop." Lee just lets out a laugh. Trying to change the subject Van glances over to the giant field next to the school and points, "Hey, remember back in the 6th grade when they had the huge carnival?"

"Yeah I remember it," answers Lee. Then he continues in a joking tone, "That was one of the days I actually went to school. How could I ever forget something like that?" The comment is followed with a brief laugh.

"Hey, didn't we see some whacked-out fortune teller how gave both of us some kind of cards?"

"Yeah, I remember that."

There is a beep from behind them as the light has turned green and they have yet to move. Van steps gently on the gas and starts driving again. Now with looking back at the road he asks, "Do you even remember what card she gave you?"

"Yeah, oddly enough I still remember it like it was yesterday. It was the card of the Lightning God. Then she went on about the strength and power that it was supposed to have possessed. I don't know; it was kind of a weird experience. I guess you just don't forget something like that. So do you remember what card you got?"

"Uh ... nope, can't say that I do. Hey, do you remember who else she gave cards to? There were a few of us, weren't there?"

Lee thinks about it for a bit. "Hmm ... me and you, but I can't remember any of the others off hand."

"By any chance, do you still have that card on you?"

Lee looks at him oddly after the question. Something feels wrong about the question. It's that same strange feeling he had back at the train station, "No, can't say that I do. Any reason you ask? That's an awful lot of questions about that old lady and those cards."

"No reason. Like you said, it was just one of those weird experiences that crossed my mind." Then there is a brief pause as Lee looks out the window. As he does, he can hear Van continue by saying, "Damn. That still leaves one card unaccounted for and on top of that he lost his. It'll be dangerous to continue without knowing who it is. Ah well, at least I know the rightful owner of the lightning card now."

Lee whips his head back around at the last comment and quickly asks, "What was that?"

Van turns his head partially to look at Lee slightly confused, but trying to keep his attention on the road at the same time. "I just said that it was a weird experience that I happened to think about."

With a tone of frustration Lee responds, "I mean after that damn it!"

As a result of Lee's outburst Van pulls over to the side of the road and stops. He looks at his old friend with an expression of worry, "I didn't say anything after that. Are you okay man?"

Confusion starts to set in on Lee. Now he is starting to doubt himself thinking, 'I could have sworn I heard something. But Van's not lying. I could always tell. He really didn't say anything. But then ... what did I hear?' He lets out a loud mental scream as he thinks, 'What's going on?! Am I completely losing my mind? None of this makes any sense!'

"Lee?"

That's Van. Lee realizes how weird he must be acting right now. He forces on a false smile, "Ah ha! No worries. I'm just messing with you is all. Come on, let's get going. I guess I should say hi to my folks or something like that."

There is some slight hesitation from Van as he is still worried about Lee's outburst. However, he puts the car in drive again and takes off. The house of Lee's parents isn't very far from the school and it's a short drive. When they pull up in front, Lee notices how different the place looks. Lee says out loud, "Well that's strange, my parents were never the white picket fence type before. And what's with that paint job?"

"I was going to tell you, but somehow I felt it would be easier to make you believe me if I showed you in person. Your parents sold the place and moved. I don't know where, somewhere out of state though."

It takes a moment for Lee to take it all in. However, in many ways he isn't really surprised. His family and he never got along very well. In curiosity he asks, "How long?"

"About a year after they shipped you off."

With a slight laugh Lee adds, "Figures, they just couldn't wait to get rid of me."

Van smiles, "Hey, I got something for you."

Lee looks at him, "Oh yeah?"

The two drive off. After a short drive they pull up to a storage building. Van stops the car and gets out with Lee following suit. They walk up to one of the storage units and Van opens up the door. Inside is a Harley Davidson motorcycle. Lee's face shows his joy. As he runs up to it he excitedly says, "My bike! You saved it! How can I ever thank you?"

Van smiles and says jokingly, "Oh don't worry about it. I'm sure I'll figure out something later."

"Yeah, you just name it."

"Well, I guess I'll just let the two of you get reacquainted or something. Maybe we should get together later or something for dinner and catch up."

"Sure thing," replies Lee. He takes a seat on his motorcycle. It was a gift from his grandfather before he passed away. His grandfather is probably the only member of his entire family that he ever got along with and this is the only thing he has to remember his grandfather by. He has great sentiment for this bike and is truly grateful that Van was able to save it before his parents could sell it off. It's doubtful his parents just let him take it and there is no doubt that Van had to go through great lengths, probably illegal at that, to obtain it. One day he'll have to make sure to return the favor.

Once Van leaves, Lee gets a depressed expression on his face. He reaches into his leather jacket and pulls out a card. On it is written "Lightning God" with a picture of a strange creature. The creature is hunched slightly forward and the head is shaped more like an animal with a long muzzle. There are also quills on its back. However it doesn't appear to be composed of normal flesh and bones, but instead is composed entirely of lightning. It's a strange looking creature indeed, but somehow it is a picture that's always made him feel at ease when he looks at it.

This is the card that Van asked about. Since that day he's always kept it with him, he doesn't know why. The fact that he lied to his friend about it troubles him, especially after Van saved his bike. He's not even fully sure why he lied about it when asked; it just felt like the right thing to do. No use dwelling on the fact now. Then he places the card back into his pocket and starts up the bike. It's time for him to take it for a ride for the first time in almost three years.