[center][b]Alexei Dragunov : Crypt of Hopes and Dreams[/b] [/center]

The fall was a bit harder than he had prepared himself for and Alexei took sometime to settle. He watched on as his doppelganger turned into something grotesque, something he could vaguely figure out. As others fought it off in this bizarre situation. He could make out their faces. They were all from his school and ironically, all of the earlier kidnapped.

Was this some kinda game, or an alternate dimension. What was going on? 

Alexei had many questions and as he pondered on them and noticed phantasmal beings work in tandem with his acquaintances, he wondered what this world was. It didn't take long to beat of the Goliath than was once his look alike and upon defeat, astonishingly it turned back to its revious form. The others backed out, making it seem like his job to do this closure.

Alexei got up a bit gingerly, still a bit shaken from the fall. He was in a mental mess, a rather rare occurrence. He usually had this unearthly calm. Perhaps, Elena's absence was still worrying him. As he walked closer to his look alike it spoke up in its shrill voice, the snide grin from earlier absent.

[color=fff200][b]"The world isn't that had a place you think it is, bub."[/b][/color] his tone a bit somber and low.

[color=fff200][b]"You don't need to give up on your life to let others lead theirs, you feel me brother."[/b][/color] this sudden change was certainly perplexing but Alexei could feel meaning behind those words and that meaning seem to hit him like a train. He had been consumed, quiet literally, with the thought of providing a normal life for his sister and mother, it was on a similar path that his father did. Busying himself with work and avoid giving his presence for them to heal them. He had meant well but had gone about it all the wrong way.

[b][color=ed1c24]"Yeah"[/color][/b] he said in his low baritone. [b][color=ed1c24]"I guess letting your hair down sometimes won't hurt."[/color][/b] he admitted.

[b][color=ed1c24]"No one asked me for this role, I took it up myself. But I feel that I have failed remarkably."[/color][/b] he said in a low voice, tears seem to well up in his eyes.

[color=fff200][b]"Nooo! No! No!, you have done a remarkable job but what they want is a man who doesn't treat them like a burden, who has his own life and interests. One, who they can depend upon in their time of need but one who has his own dreams and aspirations."[/b][/color] 

[color=ed1c24]"Yeah, I know. I think I can still be that if I try hard enough."[/color] the other Alexei got up shakily at this and walked on towards the real one, a genuine smile on his face this time. A blue light slowly started enveloping him as he stood closer to Alexei and soon it momentarily obscured it from view as the figure changed to a [url=http://i.imgur.com/2cw0lHL.png]large man with fiery hair red knightly armor.[/url]

[color=fff200][b]Thou art I, I art Thou
I am Prometheus, the ever enduring.
[/b][/color]
The figure soon dissipated and its place a card was left in the palm of Alexei's hand. He wondered if this was his phantasmal companion, much like others had used earlier. He wondered what he knew about this being and how could he handle it. Perhaps this was best left to the crew who already had experience.

So he turned towards the group and spoke[color=ed1c24][b] "I am sorry to come across as over-bearing but my sister is still here somewhere. If you all don't mind, could you please lend me a hand once more."[/b][/color]