Cincinnati, Ohio They stood on a small, floating mass of land overlooking the

Dreamlands. A year had gone by since the three of them entered

October 26th, 1979 11:55 pm the portal and now only the two of them stood. Gene was looking
Jenny and Zoso ran through the dark woods and started franticly to
out into the vast space, the Pearl of Infinite Dreams around his
climb a small but difficult rocky cliff. When they reached the top,
neck.
they found the friend they were looking for.
Besides him stood Zoso, now dressed in robes indicating an arch-
He stood, with back turned, wearing the wizard robe his mother
mage.
sewed.
“The Grand Ritual has been enacted. The next part will happen
“Gene!” Jenny belted out while catching her breath. She held up a
soon” Gene said in a matter of fact way.
letter half crumpled from her mad dash “This letter Gene. What is
Zoso looked over to his friend and said “It doesn’t have to. You
this about? We’re worried for you.”
can still stop it.
“Don’t be.” Gene said in a calm voice. He turned to them and both
“But I won’t” Gene turned his head to look into Zoso’s eyes. The
saw the necklace he was wearing “Soon I will ascend.”
two young men looked at each other, knowing that he was not
Zoso noticed right away that the necklace looked exactly like the
going to change his mind.
one Gene had drawn up for their Saturday night game. In the game
“This will Kill you” Zoso said.
it was called the Pearl of Infinite Dreams.
“This will transform me” Gene grabbed the pearl and started to
Gene grabbed the Pearl and said “Yes! I have it, thanks to the
focus his mind.
Shadow Lord, I can now enact my dream.”
Zoso put his hand on his friend’s shoulder and in a weaken voice
“Gene” Jenny thought carefully at what she was to say. Her friend
said “Please Gene, don’t...”
was obviously unhinged. “The Shadow Lord and the necklace are
Gene took the hand and held it to his lips in a long kiss.
just things you made up for our game. They’re not real. Please. Get
“I know you’re still angry about what happened to Jenny but
away from the cleft and come back home with us.”
believe me when I tell you the three of us will be together again, as
“Gene, does this have something to do with your brother’s going
if none of this had happened.
missing? Zoso and Jenny walked closer, now being in arms reach.
Zoso wrapped his arms around his friend in a last-ditch effort for
“He’s no longer here. He’s become the Shadow Lord.” A single
one more hug, but Gene pulled them separate.
tear ran down Gene’s face. He’s lost to the Shadow, but with this
“You must go. If you stay the Great Rite will tear you apart. “
(he grabbed the pearl) with this I’m going to create Pangaea.”
“But what will I do while waiting for your return?? I’ll be dead by
The two stood there not knowing what to do. It was obvious to
the time you come back.”
both that the game had made his mind snap.
Gene smiled and gently kissed his friend on the lips and said: “I
Gene closed his eyes and appeared to be concentrating on the pearl
give to you, Zoso, Master of the Magical Arts, the stewardship
in his hand. It was then that the Pearl started to glow with a bright
over all the Realms of Pangaea, and the immortal life that goes
light. Both of Gene’s friends were shocked, but Gene opened his
with it.”
eyes and was filled with joy.
Zoso’s eyes showed he was going to say something else, but Gene
“Look! It’s working!” Gene exclaimed.
cut it short by saying “Begone now! The Great Rite is here!” and
The air about them started to stir and the three looked around.
with that, Zoso was teleported out of harms way.
What happened next was the proof of what he was saying. Behind
The nebula of dream and matter created by the Great Rite had
Gene a hole ripped open in the very fabric of reality showing a
expanded and now was upon Gene.
vast, starry expanse.
He kept holding the Pearl and his lips moved with no sound
“I told you! I told you! Gene yelled out.
escaping them as he finished the Great Rite.
His friends were frozen in disbelief, but Jenny found the strength
As the cloud took over, Gene’s atoms started to break away and
to talk.
scatter into the cloud. The pain was unmeasurable, but Gene didn’t
“Gene, if this is true and he’s now the Shadow Lord then your
bat an eye as his whole being scattered and mixed into the Great
brother has been consumed by the Shadow and can’t be trusted.”
Nebula.
She grabbed his arm in a gentle way to reassure him. “If he gave
What happened next only took minutes but was eons in the making
you the Pearl then you know there are strings attached to it. Strings
as the Realm of Pangaea formed and transformed, and the life on
that will devour your very soul.
its surface and deep within along with it. Minutes later, the world
Gene looked at them both and then to Jenny and said, “The
of Pangaea was formed.
Shadow Lord didn’t give me the Pearl; I stole it from him.”
The revelation shook both of his friends. Jenny released his arm, a
fear for her friend started to overtake her.
“I must do this” Gene said, his sanity seeming to come back to
him. I’ve wanted this for so long.” He looked at them both “I love
you both so much. Remember me” and with that he entered the
portal before either of his friends could stop him.
Zoso and Jenny looked into each other’s eyes looking for an
indication of what to do next.
They had both known Gene for all their lives. Both had loved and
been in love with Gene at one time or other. The look in their eyes
answered what they were to do.
They walked through the portal, hand in hand, to find their friend.
As they finished walking through, the portal closed behind them,
on the ground a photo Gene had dropped. It was of him, Zoso,
Jenny and Gene’s brother sitting around the table playing their
Saturday night game. The picture betrayed the make up of the
group and was an indicator of what was to come.

The Edge of Dreams, October 26th, 1979 11:56

pm, One year later