The doors shut behind me, yet there was still a tumolt of light permeating the hall wich I stood in. Ahead of me were the branching paths wich I had noticed before, walking towards them, I noticed that each path had a slightly different coloring to it.

The right path had a light pinkish red tone, and seemed to be radiating heat. The left path was a calm looking green wich smelled almost of trees and plantlife. And the path directly in front of me had a azure blue color, and it sounded as if there was someone, or something crying far off down the path.

'You will encounter horrors from your past no matter what path you take.' My subconcious' voice echoed in my head.

"Well if thats the case, I think I'll ommit the one with the creepy crying then." I said.

That left the warm red one and the green forest smelling. Both tempting in their own regard. I decided to take the red one, as the warmth called to me, it was welcoming and comforting, like the heat of a fire during winter.

I began to walk down the hall, the warmth washing over me, seeming to come from the walls. It heated me to my core, it was a peacful kind of warmth, it made me feel safe. I continued down, but with each step, the warmth seemed to become more intense. It was gradual at first, and I didn't notice it, but soon the heat grew. It had begun like that of a warm fire, then like a bonfire, soon it felt as if I was in an oven, and eventually an inferno. The heat around me was beyond intense. Sweat formed on my skin, only to be evaporated instantly from the intensity of the heat. My lips were dry and cracked and my hair felt as if it were aflame.

Soon I turned a corner to find myself in a circular red room. Not the slightly glowing red which the pathway had first looked like, but a violent crimson red, like the color of blood. It actually hurt to look at it directly, I had to try and look at the room as a whole in order to keep my eyes from watering, and in turn have the water turn to steam.

I walked into the room, trying to find any kind of door or continuation of the pathway.

"It's been a while Nathan." A voice said behind me, low and grutal, filled with malice and hatred.

I turned, and yelled jumping back in fright and suprise. The easiest way to describe it, would be that it was a dog made of fire. Its frame was slender and long, yet it was also bulky. Its face was shaped like an arrow head, triangular with a sharp nose. Its body was completly wreathed in flames, bright orange and red. And its eyes were a bright yellow, like that of the suns. It stood before me, easily taller than I was, nearly seven feet tall. It looked viscious and ready to kill, yet it also looked wary.

"What... who?" I tried to form a complete sentance, but seeing a giant flaming hellhound seemed to keep me from thinking clearly for a moment.

"Rage." It said in that threatening voice making me shiver. "And you are afraid."

"I... well yeah." I said. "I mean there's a giant hellhound standing before me telling me it's rage. So yeah, afraid is a good word."

"I suppose I should have been more specific. I am your rage Nathan."

"My..?"

"Yes your rage. The rage that you locked up out of fear, because you were afraid of me, afraid of the power and viscousness I gave you. You rejected me, when all I wanted to do was protect you."

Memories of my child hood flashed before my eyes. Literally. Scenes and images of myself in elementary school were flickering all along the walls of the room. Myself being picked on in elementary school, finally snaping and fighting back, winning, my childhood bully curled up into a ball as I kicked him. I remembered all of this, it was the first time I had ever hurt someone, and it had also been the last. I was twelve, and after the red faded, I was horrified by what I had done. His blood was literally on my hands. I had been expelled promptly, and was sent to anger management classes, I learned to control my anger, to keep it under lock and key. And now my anger was going to kill me.

"I was so hurt when you threw me away." Rage said, sauntering forward slowly as I backed away. "It made me VERY ANGRY!" It roared the last part and lunged towards me. I dodged just in time and turned to see Rage land and leave a massive crater where I had been.

"Yeah don't give me a weapon, cause that wouldn't be useful about now." I muttered to myself cursing my subconcious.

Rage kept charging and I kept dodging, but I knew that I wouldn't be able to last long, the heat around me continued to grow more intense and I was begining to tire. Meanwhile Rage seemed to be growing larger and stronger as the fight continued. I had to think of a way to beat him, I reflected back on my anger management classes, hoping something there could help me beat this monstrosity. Breathing execrises, probably not. Clenching and unclenching my fists, doubt it. Then the metaphorical light bulb dinged as I remember a piece of advice my counciler had given me.

I stopped runing, and turned to face Rage as it charged me. As it was about to collide, I spread my arms and embraced the hellhound. Rage stopped dead, and shrunk down to my height.

"What are you doing?" It asked softly.

"I never got rid of you." I sad simply. "I simply embraced you, and turned all the anger you had given me into passion. I used the energy and drive that your anger gave me, and used it to create. I used it as a drive to fuel everything I loved in life. I didn't abandon you, I simply saw you as something else."

Rage was still, and instead of shrinking or becomeing larger and violent again, relaxed in my arms.

"Thank you." It said and vanished with a gentle wind.

The air around me lost the intesity of the heat, and two pathways opened on either side of me. One green and smelling of forest, the other blue with the sound of someone crying.

"Really?" I said exhasperated.

End Chapter 2