《Alceria》


 Chapter 1: Homecoming

    "First and only stop, the middle of nowhere!" An aged feminine voice resounded throughout the bus.


    I''m actually back. It''s still so odd. I never imagined I''d get permission to come back. I was fully prepared to have to hike it back to the states on foot as soon as I turned eighteen. And that entails finding a way across the Atlantic with no money.


    But no. After years of pestering, Dad just sent me back like it was no issue at all. I''m not sure what changed his mind, but something did. He just completely flip-flopped one day.


    He may be trying to get rid of me. Wait, that couldn''t be it. He put up with my begging for seven years. He''s not gonna crack out of nowhere. I''m gonna have to remember to call them though. Especially Violet... and Mary and Katy and Alexis and Claire and Rylee. I''m fairly confident they''ll hurt me if I claim I ''forgot'' like that one time in Switzerland.


    In my defense, I lost track of ti-


    "Ethan! Time to get off!" Was what tore me from the abyss.


    "Oh..." I mumbled as I rose from my seat in the back of the bus. Right, bus ride. I forgot about that.


    Slowly, I made my way towards the front of the bus, only stopping once to cast a goodbye to a guy slumped against the (by now) cold window. He shrugged with a yawn and drew his hoodie down over his face.


    "Welcome back, Ethan." The bus driver presented me a warm toothless grin as I reached the door.


    "Alicia?" I questioned with raised eyebrows. "Did people actually get you to start being nice?"


    She snorted and shook her head. "No, I''m just not in character yet."


    I nodded. "Noted. Anything change in the last eight years?"


    "You know it hasn''t." She assured me as she opened the door to the frigid night air. "Are you sure you want let off here, dear? I can drop you off at your aunt''s if you like." She motioned towards the mostly deserted seats. "As you can see, not much going on this gloomy December night."


    I waved her concern away. "It''s fine, really."


    "If you insist."


    I turned to walk off only to be stopped with a parting parcel of advice.


    "Ethan, dear, if you and your friends end up going to Centralia." She flashed a look of concern. "Do wear a gas mask. The fumes there will do you no favors if you breathe them in."


    "I don''t have much intention of going there?" I spoke in a manner that suggested a question. "Why are you giving me advice about it?"


    "I know how bored kids can be some days. Just a warning if you find yourself in the area."


    Starting my descent down the stairs, I dropped behind an "I''ll keep it in mind, thanks."


    "Oh, one last thing!"


    Glancing back with pursed lips, I asked, "hm?"


    "I suggest staying away from your old elementary school." She wagged a wrinkly index finger at me. "I''m sure it''s in shambles by now."


    I walked into the sleet-coated night with, "will do."


    Waving, her face morphed into a scowl as she spat, "now stay off my bus."


    I waved back with a laugh and pulled up my dark blue hood as she drove off. I turned to the bus stop and wiped the ice off the green wooden bench before taking a seat.


    Pulling out my phone, I mumbled, "9:32." I got about three hours yet so that should be enough time.


    I wonder if any of them are at the old school yet. And yes, Alicia did tell me to stay away, but I''m going to check it out and see how it''s holding up after that fire sevenish years ago.


    Step one, indulge myself with a stroll down memory lane. While step two is to get settled in. After that, I guess I''ll just slog through the rest of my educational days... as usual. Thankfully, I''ll at least have friends coming into school this time around.


    Almost as if on schedule, my phone buzzed three times in quick succession. There they were. Texts from my eldest sister, aunt and a close friend of mine.


    Come home immediately after you get off the bus. I don''t need you getting sick not a day after you get here. - Aunt Renee. Yup, she hasn''t changed a bit. Still pretty much treats me like her own.


    Call me immediately after you put your computer back together! I wanna make sure your flight went okay! - Violet. And there''s Violet. Just as protective of me if not more than Mom. It''s annoying at times, but I suppose I''d rather have them care too much as opposed to too little. I still get shudders whenever they ambush me, though. Seven on one is in no way fair, and they''ll never convince me to the contrary.


    Meet halfway? That pothole under the streetlight is still there if you need a marker. And yes, the light''s still lit shockingly.


    In silence, I took a look at my left and was already starting to dread what was coming. A deserted road surrounded by forest with only the occasional flickering streetlight to free it from the night''s hunger.


    I peered down at my phone and committed.


    On my way.


    I got to my feet, hit send, slid around a bit thanks to the ice coating the road and drooped, "hello hypothermia, the name''s Ethan."


    - - - - -


    "Where is he?" I mumbled aloud with a glance at my surroundings.


    Sure enough, the pothole was here. The pale amber streetlight too, but no Gael. Most of the trees don''t have leaves, so he can''t use them for camouflage.


    Coming to a halt at the edge of the pit, I called out through the ever-increasing sleet, "Gael!"


    I still remember this. Alicia would bitch and moan every day about having to come through here, but nothing was ever done about it. Hell, the hole''s large enough that you could probably convince me a grenade was responsible.


    "Gael?!" I screamed as the light flickered, my gaze finding its way to my phone straight after.


    Where are you? I typed out.


    Or tried to. Right before I finished an arm wrapped itself around my neck, a knife''s glistening blade finding its home firmly against it.


    My heart leaped straight up my throat and threatened to jump out of my mouth and flee for help. How am I this unlucky? I''m getting mugged in some rural town?


    I might as well be in the middle of nowhere! It''s not like I have cash!


    "H-hey..." I stammered, "t-take whatever you want. J-just, I don''t have cash!" Why would you tell him that?! You have nothing to give him and now he knows that you dumbass!


    "Hey, Ethan..." A boy sputtered with a tone that implied laughter was about to ensue. "G... g-give me your..."


    That piece of shit. I am going to murder him. It''s not gonna be quick either. He doesn''t deserve that mercy.


    "Gotcha!" He snorted after he pulled the ice-cold knife away.


    "Screw. You." I growled.


    With a hand against his face, he continued cracking up, "y-you! You should''ve seen the look on your face! Priceless!"


    I scowled. "Of course I''m freaking out you asshole! You held a damn knife up to my throat! You could''ve killed me!"


    "Oh?" He smirked and pressed the knife against his palm with a sawing motion. "The blade isn''t even sharp anymore. See?"


    Not a single word left my lips after that. It wasn''t sharp? Why didn''t I notice that?


    I was quiet for maybe fiveish minutes? I didn''t need to speak. He simply stood there and filled the silence with his hyena-like cackles.


    "You done?!" I finally yelled as tears started to form in his eyes.


    Wiping at his eyes, he dropped the knife into his green backpack and gave me a stern pat on the shoulder.


    "Y-yeah," he wheezed, "I''m done but damn you haven''t changed. It might be true what they say."


    I rolled my eyes and started walking onward, "and what''s that?"


    "Your friends really never do change!" He screamed after me as he jogged to keep up. "They act the same way the day you met them!"


    "No that''s wrong," I replied, just barely repressing my venom. "Last I checked you never held a blade to my throat!"


    "Semantics!"


    I spun on my heel, middle finger raised, only to cause him to chuckle harder.


    I redirected myself and was about to stomp off, but he performed his usual routine. He pulled me into a hug from behind and gave it everything he got.


    "Seriously though," he rocked my shoulder as he did his best to recompose himself. "It''s nice having you back. It''s been a boring eight years."


    "Love you too... you ass," I groaned. I despise him... and myself. I genuinely can''t bring myself to stay mad at him when he''s like this. I haven''t the slightest clue why either.


    I mean, come on Ethan! All you gotta do is hate him. It''s not that hard to find a reason... and yet you can''t.


    Resting his head on my shoulder, he grinned, "by the way. You ever go to Australia during your time away?"


    "Yeah?" I fought the urge to scratch my head. Why is he... oh.


    Nevermind, I know exactly why. He remembers our joke.


    Nodding, I replied astutely, "Yes, and I can indeed confirm that Australia isn''t a government conspiracy and it does in fact exist."


    "Well that''s no fun." He sulked and targeted the cracked asphalt with a kick. "I''ll figure out what''s really behind you Australia. I mean it." His dedication to a joke is something else. I''m pretty sure he asked me that about four years ago.


    "Alright, genius," I called over to him, successfully snaring him in reality''s net.


    "I''m just lamenting having my viewpoints smashed," he retorted with a sigh like I was unbelievable. "Next thing you''ll tell me is that the planet isn''t actually in the shape of a velociraptor."


    It was inevitable. Another smirk sprouted on my face as I waved him after me.


    "Let''s go check out the school. Oh, and everyone knows we''re actually on the back of a giant tortoise."


    - - - - -


    "Dang, hard to believe that''s really it." Whistled Gael at the darkened elementary school building down below.


    I walked forward in silence, leaning on the iced-over guard rail overseeing the crater beneath us. "Yeah, it''s surreal actually."


    "Never thought those days would end." He reminisced, joining me on the rail.


    "Neither did I," I let out a nostalgia-soaked sigh. It''s kind of depressing to see it all like this. It''s just... hollow? I''m not sure if that''s the best way to describe it. It''s like a part of my life never properly finished.


    And yet... here it is.


    I dug out my phone, scrolled to the gallery and took a peek at the old photo. A small red brick building with a metal roof dressed in blue. It was the only building and thinking back; it''s probably nostalgia making me remember this place fondly.


    Only six classrooms exist. One for each grade, kindergarten to fifth, and a cafeteria. As for staff, an office, and a lounge. Nothing more nothing less.


    "Let''s get a move on." Nodded Gael with a punch aimed for my shoulder.


    Dodging out of the way, I granted him a sarcastic bow complimented with, "Lead the way."


    With a glance to the rainy night sky, he mumbled, "Sure thing. Just be careful on the hill down. Probably a nice sheet of ice over everything."


    I tightened my hood and replied, "Same goes to you. Really don''t wanna be carried back home."


    "Nah," his brown eyes lit up under the few streetlights. "Definitely dragging you back if it comes down to it."


    I gave an eye-rolling laugh in response as we broke into a brisk jog to a small roof projecting over the school doors, only stopping once to comment on how strange the area around the school was.


    There were sprawling hills for miles, then an entire forest of oak and spruce only parting for a crater that held a lone school building. The entire thing was just uncanny in every stretch of the word.


    "And feet dry!" Gael laughed, that same chippy laugh he always used when we were in an awful situation. "Whoo! Gonna be hell to get back home, huh?"


    Rubbing my hands together, I breathed into them, "That''s putting it lightly."


    "Shit." Gael shivered with enough force I could swear his pearly white teeth were chattering. "I was banking on the storm lightening up by now. Maybe we should''ve called it quits for tonight."


    "Nah. I''ve been dying to see it." My eyes lit up at the decrepit parking lot. If I try hard enough, I can picture the times we spent during recess surprisingly well. Dad just had to relocate overseas.


    No, I shouldn''t think like that. He did it for the family.


    I''m still amazed they haven''t simply filled in the crater and called it quits. The parking lot hasn''t seen any cars in years apparently, and it''s coming up in bits and pieces. You can''t even see any of the lines anymore.


    Most of the street lights are in decent condition, but that''s ignoring the fact that the only ones that function are at the top of the hill. Hell, some of the ones down here were torn out of the ground which was disturbing to keep it brief. Although, that unmistakably fits the theme of the school now.


    There''s one... odd thing though. That''s the front door to the school. There was a crimson emergency light on, which implies the school still has power. Gael''s not mentioning it, but I know he''s thinking the same thing.


    This building hasn''t been used since the fire. Power should be a foreign notion to it by now.


    "Ga-"


    "I know," he shot me down. "We''ll talk about it when everyone gets here."


    Sliding down the building, I picked up a piece of chilled asphalt and tossed it into the sleet. "Any of them answer back?" I asked in an attempt to change the topic. It''s been an hour and they can''t give us a status update?


    "Just texted ''em again." Said Gael as he plunged into his backpack.


    "What''d you bring?" I probed, wringing the moisture from a large lock of my brunette hair.


    "Towels." He answered, smashing any doubts of it being a farce as he slugged an orange towel at my face.


    If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    I caught it and fought the urge to let my eyebrows leave my face. "What, you got shampoo in there too?" I shook my head, mostly kidding.


    Peering into the darkness of his bag, he nodded. "Yes, actually. Sun-ripened strawberry. " Always one step ahead Gael I swear.


    "Why... do you have shampoo?" I asked, drawing out my words with a blue-eyed gaze of confusion.


    "My reasons are my own!" He proclaimed into the rainy night, his eyes somehow mimicking his confidence.


    Turning to him, I conceded with a shrug, "You know? I think I''m already done second guessing you when it comes to packing."


    "See? It''s not that hard." He laughed, brushing the frost from his short black hair. "Now if only Ash and Zay could do the same."


    "I wouldn''t count on it," I smirked as we slipped into silence.


    "Still no ans-" Gael attempted to speak up roughly ten minutes into our solitude.


    Hushing him, I cupped my hand up to my ear. "You hear that?" It was clear as day to me: Music.


    "Um... I still do-"


    "Shh!" I glared at him with the implied threat of duct tape. He probably has some in the bag honestly.


    I got to my feet and looked to the dimly lit ridge to see him.


    He started rattling the guard rail until it broke off. His silhouette shrugged and propped it up at the top of the hill.


    "Is he gonna?" Asked Gael like he was unsure if this was reality.


    "Yeah... I think he''s go-"


    The lunatic did it. He actually used the guard rail as a throwaway sled. It''s official. He might really be trying to get himself killed.


    Gael and I looked at each other, a look of bewilderment stapled unto our faces.


    "What''s up?" A baritone voice called from the shadows, its red-headed owner following suit.


    He stopped before us and nodded at Gael. He stared at me and lumbered over, arms outstretched with a heart-stopping grin stuck to his face.


    "Ethan!" He guffawed and squeezed me as tightly as he could. "God, it''s been eight years since we talked in person."


    "Y-yeah," I stammered, never the more thankful that neither he nor Gael could see the dumb smile on my face right now.


    "Nice to s-see you." Get a grip, dumbass. The sooner you''re over it the better. It beats gushing over him as you have been for the last five years.


    "God, that sounds even sadder in my head." I internally sulked as Ashton released me.


    Motioning towards me, Ashton brought out his phone and asked, "Hey, you hear this?"


    "Yeah, I''ve heard it plenty," I assured him. " The album''s Helix."


    Acting impressed, Ashton clasped a hand over his heart. "Nothing gets by you, my short friend." I''m five foot seven. It''s not that short. He''s just six foot two, so he insists on bringing it up... the dick.


    "You know where Zayden and Danielle are?" Questioned Gael with another glance at his phone. "They aren''t responding."


    "Oh, that? They''re inside." He waved us after him towards the door. "Probably sucking face or something."


    "One, they could''ve at least told me." Sighed Gael with exasperation, "two, I have flashlights, so here." Of course, he does. How do you get a guy that always forgets to study, but never neglects items that you may never need?


    No, really. How? I''d like to know.


    "Anything else?" Ashton rolled his blue eyes as the rusted metal door scraped along the floor.


    The door opened, splashing the dull amber light onto the mostly flawless (what?) black-speckled white tile floor.


    Why aren''t there any scorch marks?


    Grabbing Gael by the shoulder, I whispered, "I thought you said an electrical fire broke out?"


    "Yeah," he nodded sluggishly, "that''s what we were told. It was even on the local news. I remember the report."


    Taking a step back, I shuddered a bit, "Ashton? You don''t have any idea about this, do you?" It''s a long shot, but... maybe?


    "No, I don''t." Replied Ashton, drawing out his words.


    Before we could say anything else, Ashton reached out and flipped a light switch. I''d be lying if I said nothing happened. On the contrary, the lightbulb blew.


    "The whole thing has power?" Muttered Gael like he had a headache. "Thought it was just..."


    "It loo-" Ashton was cut off as a light came to life in the second classroom to the right.


    "Gael," He tensed up, "you still got the you know what? Might need it if it''s some drugged up homeless guy."


    "Yeah," confirmed Gael with a reluctant step forward, "should be able to knock him out if it comes to that."


    "Oh, it''s you guys." My cousin Danielle let out a sigh of relief as her head rounded the door frame to see us. "I thought I recognized Ash''s music."


    We all stopped and looked amongst ourselves as relief rained down upon our heads.


    "The term is perfection, not music." Ash corrected with a raised index finger.


    Doing our best to play off our scare, we casually strolled into the third-grade classroom to meet up with Danielle, now plopped in a desk''s chair, and Zayden sitting atop the teacher''s metal desk.


    The room wasn''t right. Nothing was wrong with it. No ash like I expected. No holes in the roof, just black mold here and there. No broken floor tiles. No desks rotted to near nothing with filing cabinets rusted shut. The equipment was clearly aged, but it all seemed to be perfect otherwise.


    Propping his chin up with his arm on his leg, Zayden adjusted his glasses and ran his fingers through his short black hair. "You noticed it too?" He asked right as he noticed our gaze.


    "Yeah," Gael spoke for us. "We weren''t imagining that report or anything were we?"


    Shaking his head, Zayden replied, "no. Got the whole thing on a tape if you want it and still got a VCR. My mom was recording a show of hers when the broadcast interrupted it." He lowered his gaze to the floor, "whole thing''s on it."


    "Then if the school''s still functional?" I aimed a finger to the cracked windows behind Zayden. "Why does the outside tell differently?"


    "Great question, man." He responded like he was unsure of it himself. "Two things are obvious: The fire, if any, didn''t do much at all. And this stuff definitely hasn''t been wasting away for eight years."


    Gesturing to the lone lightbulb illuminating the room, he continued, "entire thing has power. Plus, it looks like it''s been maintained."


    "Um... backup power? Or maybe they just forgot to shut off the power to the building or something?" Suggested Ashton as him and Gael took a seat by Danielle, clearly realizing it was a long shot at the absolute best.


    "Doubt it." Zayden shrugged, "and even if that were the case, it wouldn''t explain the maintenance."


    "How long do yo-"


    "S-stop it." Danielle shakily spoke up, cutting me short. "None of this weird shit we fantasized about as kids, okay?" She cast me a pleading blue-eyed gaze that implied she might need backup. "Ethan''s back in person for the first time in almost a decade."


    Getting to her feet, she strode over to me and wrapped me in a hug. "Let''s just explore the school and get out. Then we can have his welcome back party first thing in the morning."


    Leaning up to my ear, she giggled, "by the waay, Aria. I still have a spare in my bag. Just in case you wanna relive your glory days."


    I felt my heart basically shrivel up and die right then and there. Of course, she brings that up. What kind of fool am I to think my past would stay buried?


    Blushing, I shot back quickly yet quietly, "You keep quiet about that. They still don''t know."


    "Really?" She asked, clearly awed my secret never got out. "That''s rich."


    "Yes, now shut up about it." I pleaded, "please. I''ll never hear the end of it."


    "Don''t worry," she assured me with a gentle tug on my ear lobe. "Your secret''s safe, I''m just teasing."


    Disentangling herself, she left off with, "and don''t let Gael or Zay see the holes in your ears. They still haven''t closed."


    Reaching for my earlobes, I murmured, "Thanks, Dani."


    She smiled and led the charge to the last place I was expecting, the cafeteria.


    I looked back to the rest of the group to get their sign off and more or less got it. Zay just shrugged and followed Dani into the darkened hallway.


    "Knew these would come in handy!" Gael beamed as brightly as his flashlight when we echoed their actions.


    We were silent throughout our journey down the hall. The school''s condition was clearly freaking us out.


    Why would they lie about this? It''s not on the internet for some reason. It was never reported on outside of the local news. Did they just misreport or something?


    "What''s up?" Ashton called forward as Gael''s flashlight landed on Zay and Dani, both inspecting a glass display case in the hall.


    They were silent until we caught up, silent and smiling.


    "What are you..." I trailed as my eyes recognized the contents in the case.


    Class photos. One for each teacher and their class for that year. I tore my gaze over to our third-grade photo, our last one.


    As expected, the photo was identical to the copy I have in my bedroom. All twenty-four students hastily lined up, some just barely getting into position as the photo went off.


    We convinced our teacher, Ms. Clark, to forgo the alphabetical method she was using and just let everyone stand wherever they wanted. The results were probably the most chaotic out of all the pictures, but I''d say we looked like we had the most fun.


    Laughing softly, Zayden grinned, "those were the days," and kept on.


    "Ms. Clark was objectively the best teacher." Gael chimed in.


    "I second that," Ashton added as a tile crunched beneath his foot.


    We followed Zayden''s lead slowly. It was almost as if we were recalling a group of kids roughhousing in the hall, so we were taking it slow for them to get broken apart like always.


    We emerged into the cafeteria right as Zay flipped the lights. A good chunk of the lights came on, and out of those, the majority were producing a low buzzing sound and flickering.


    There weren''t any tables set up, they were all folded against the large glass windows on our right. The spot we''d typically stand for lunch had its familiar metal shutter pulled down.


    "We all know what we''re here for." Danielle took the lead as she tied her brunette hair back into a ponytail.


    We found our prize immediately; floor tiles. The entire cafeteria had floor tiles identical to the hallway except for the far end. Each teacher had their own style they''d use and their class for that year would imprint their names onto them.


    "Found it," Ashton called over to us from the middle most row.


    I walked over, crouched down, and saw our names in Ms. Clark''s cosmos themed flooring.


    Zayden Parker


    Danielle King


    Ethan King


    Gael White


    Ashton Frazier


    Tracing his finger around each of our names, Gael chuckled, "Remember how painful it was for her to put our names out of order?"


    Signaling Gael after him, Ashton laughed, "Oh yeah, definitely. You could tell we hurt her with that. Help me with this shutter, will ya?"


    "Got it." nodded Gael as him and Danielle followed suit.


    I went to join them but was stopped by a brightly smiling Zayden, hand outstretched towards me.


    I accepted with an eye roll and we shook hands only for him to pull me into a hug with exactly three pats on the back.


    "Good to have you back rich boy," he teased.


    "You don''t know when to quit, do you?" I groaned. Every time I swear.


    Releasing me, he continued, "You know I don''t. How was the trip around the world?"


    "If by around the world, you mean mostly Europe and Australia, then just fine." I shrugged.


    "Eh, close enough." He gestured me after him, "I mean it though, it''s really good to have you back. It''s been a long eight years."


    "It''s great to finally be back. We moved a lot, so I didn''t exactly have the luxury of close friends." It kind of killed a lot of my traveling for me in all honesty.


    Arms outstretched, he assured me, "well we''re here now. Our little band of misfits is back in force."


    We joked a bit with each other on our way towards everyone else. It looks like the only thing different about us was our age. That and Gael''s knife incident... That better not be a recurring gag.


    Zay, Dani, Ash, and Gael? They haven''t changed a bit.


    "What''s up with you guys?" Said Zay as he climbed over the metal counter towards everyone else. For some reason, they were all stopped and gathered around something on the floor.


    Scratching his head, Ash called back and pointed to the ground. "Hey, do you remember this?"


    "Um... no?" Zay asked as we reached them, never the wiser of what was before us.


    "What are you..." I trailed as my eyes landed on what they were talking about.


    A manhole; rusted and shut from what appeared to be years of neglect.


    We were all draped in silence. No one had to say it. This was never here. It''s either new or it''s been hidden from us. Every single day we passed by this if the latter is true.


    "Ash?" Questioned Dani with a step backward as Ash leaned down. "Maybe we should head back now. We can take some pictures and call it quits."


    "Gael, help me with this," Ash tapped the lid with his foot as he lobbed a nod Gael''s way, deliberately ignoring Danielle''s voice of reason.


    Gael tossed it back and dug his hands under the manhole.


    With surprising ease, they pried the hatch from its rusted shackles, revealing nothing but the pitch black shadows down below.


    Ash stood up and cast a glance at each one of us before clearing his throat.


    "So who''s first?" He grinned with zeal.

 Chapter 2: Curiositys Depths

    "What the hell?" Zay mumbled.


    "And stuck the landing!" Gloated Gael as the noise from his thud reverberated around us and down the tunnel''s veins.


    "Did you just hang off the manhole to break your fall?" Asked Ash as Gael''s flashlight pierced the umbral veil.


    "You bet your ass I did." He grinned and took the lead with nary a moment''s hesitation. He''s not bothered by this in the slightest? Why am I not surprised by this?


    "T-thirty m-minutes." A trepidation-laced Dani mumbled as she rubbed her shoulders. "No more than t-that."


    Zay realized what was up and spun around, "Dani, what''s wrong?"


    Shivering, she responded, "I''m fffucking freezing and freaked out. That''s what''s wrong. You''re telling m-me this was under our school the whole time?"


    Nodding, Zay flipped on his flashlight and handed her his coat.


    Her expression softened, "I don''t want your coat."


    "I''m not taking no for an answer." Zay insisted, resting the coat in her hands. "Besides, cold doesn''t bother me all that much. I''m the guy who wears shorts in the winter, remember?"


    Reluctantly, Dani slipped his coat over top of hers, "thanks."


    He assured her it was no issue and they followed after Gael, hands intertwined.


    "How long have they been a thing?" I questioned as Ash and I followed suit.


    "Two years now, I think?" He shrugged as he came to a stop, his flashlight following his gaze around the tunnel.


    I joined him, mimicking his light with my own as I absorbed as much of the tunnel as possible.


    In front of us rested a rusted metal bar keeping us from a corroded railroad in the center. None of this makes any sense. Why would tracks be running under here?


    Everything else seemed to be fine. The concrete ceiling seemed to be stable more or less, just a few cracks here and there, permitting water to spill down from the sleet above.


    I wonder what angle the tunnel is running under the school. I may have even walked over it at some point. If I did, I''m sure I would''ve felt the hollow ground beneath me. Either that or the concrete''s too thick to make a difference. I''ll have to check when we get out of whatever this is.


    "Let''s..." Ashton trailed as his words seemed to succumb to unease.


    "You two done staring into the void?!" Shouted Gael from up ahead. "Zay found something!"


    "Guess that''s our cue..." Ash cast a half-hearted smile wrapped with a hint of unease.


    I started after him. I didn''t need him to explain that smile. It was clear as day. He probably figured something along the lines of a boiler room being down here. Truth be told, I imagined the same. Never this.


    I wonder how long the tracks go on for and what purpose they serve. This place is hardly urban. A subway shouldn''t be needed. Especially under the school.


    "What are we looking at here?" Ash probed, hand outstretched, as he approached Zay.


    Gael was sat atop the metal bar, watching Zay as Dani stood directly behind shining a light on whatever laid there.


    With a brief look, Zay inquired, "either of you recognize this?"


    We made our way over and crouched down beside him.


    "You guys carving gibberish on walls now?" Joked Ash as he ran his hand along the markings engraved unto the concrete.


    I leaned closer for a better look and only fell further into the well of confusion.


    LQ FDVH RI ORFNRXW: ZKR VZDOORZHG EXUQLQJ FRDOV?


    NHB = WKUHH


    What? This literally makes no sense. There''s not a single word I can think of that comes from ''RI'' or ''LQ''. Nevermind, scratch that. There''s not a single word I can make out of these letters. Except door, and that''s purposely dropping characters.


    "Anything?" Zay asked, prodding my shoulder.


    I shook my head. "No, nothing. Looks like nonsense."


    "Maybe it translates into something?" Gael spoke up, seizing our attention.


    "This isn''t a game, Gael." Zay shot his suggestion down. "I''m not sure if there''s anything this translates into. It uses the English alphabet so another language is doubtful at best."


    "Oh come on Zay Zay!" Gael insisted, causing Zay to wince. "You know I''m taki-"


    "You call me Zay Zay one more time, "Zay inhaled deeply and slowly, "and I push you off that rail onto the tracks."


    All right. He still loathes that nickname with every fiber of his being. Noted.


    With hands raised in his defense, Gael conceded, "okay. So you do still hate that." He tapped a finger against his temple. "Gael''s taken mental note of that and Gael will make sure to never call Zay that again."


    "Gael better," Zay grumbled. "Zay doesn''t need his scars being ripped open again."


    "Hey," I rested a hand on his shoulder. "Try not to get pissy about it."


    "I''m not," he cast a nod of assurance. "Yet anyway. If Gael does it again though, it''s on. You got that, Gael?"


    "Sir yes, sir!" Gael simpered with a salute. "I will never call you Zay Zay as long as I draw breath!"


    "That might not be very long at this rate." Zay rolled his eyes as he got to his feet.


    "Onward!" Gael motioned us after him as we started our journey once more. "So I don''t get murdered!"


    "So what do you think it is then, Zay?" Muttered Ash to the white concrete ground.


    "You know what I think?" Answered Zay with a quick glance behind. "A group of people like us found this tunnel and decided to mark the wall for fun."


    "What about the rusted manhole then?" I questioned as I flipped my flashlight on and off repeatedly. "Wouldn''t it have been good to open if someone was here before us?"


    "Who knows?" Zay shrugged, "they could''ve found a different entrance to the tunnel or just opened that up years ago and it rusted shut again."


    "Ah," I nodded and followed through with a topic change. "Dani, you''ve been quiet. You alright?"


    "Yeah..." She assured me as Zay nudged her and they locked hands again. "Just been deep in thought is all."


    I didn''t bother asking her what she was thinking about. I had a feeling. Plus, that''s her way of saying she''s not in the mood for words right now.


    I can''t blame her.


    - - - - -


    "Gael!" Zay shouted after him. "Chill out!"


    "Hell no!" He shot back as he tore off down the tunnel, passing directly through a torrent of water from the cracked concrete above. "There''s light up here!"


    "Up we go, I guess." Suspired Ashton as he trotted along after him.


    In silence (and slight annoyance), we echoed their trail. Unfortunately, that involved going underneath the ice-cold downpour from above. There wasn''t a promising way around, it consumed our entire path, leaving no dry passage.


    Hopping the rail was tempting, but the drop-down to the tracks was rather deep. Getting back up could prove to be an issue as well, doubly so if the railing is wet enough.


    "Damnit, t-that''s freezing!" Dani bemoaned, visibly battling the urge to curl up into a ball for warmth.


    Zay did her best to calm her down, mainly ensuring her we''d be out sooner rather than later. Thankfully, that seemed to work for now. I''m curious (and worried, maybe?) about what''s in this tunnel. If anyone can dissuade us from something along the lines of this, it''d be her without a doubt.


    Enveloping Gael in illumination, I yelled ahead, "Gael, what''s the hold-up?"


    He paused for a moment as if to consider if he truly wanted to answer.


    "Gael?" I repeated as we came to a stop.


    "Would you believe I can''t fit through that?" He directed an awkward point towards a pristine (galvanized?) steel door, jammed open by what appeared to be nothing. It was stuck on a track, unable to close and allowing a faint orange light from within to be exposed to the world.


    "You try taking off your pack?" Suggested Ash as he crouched down and started inspecting the door''s track.


    "Yeah, nothing." Gael backed against the wall and sank to his knees.


    Stopping just behind Ash, I questioned, "Anything important? Or just a random maintenance room maybe?"


    Ash let out a single chuckle. "Nope, whatever genius made this room had a turn just in front of the door. All I can see is a hallway."


    "Turn back? Not much else to see if we can''t get through the door." Dani recommended with a shudder.


    "Nah," Ash shook his head. "Gael''s not the smallest one. You and Ethan might be able to squeeze through this gap."


    I opened my mouth but had my words torn to shreds in an instant. Nothing would come out. I couldn''t think of a way out of this. I mean, yeah, there''s always just saying no, but I''d feel bad in a way. We''ve been walking for at least twenty minutes, so turning back would be the absolute pinnacle of a buzzkill.


    Everyone but Dani''s looking at me right now too. They want me to...


    "Fine," I mumbled and brushed Ashton aside.


    "Wait," Dani spoke up, her eyes darting between each one of us.


    "What?" I replied, leaning against the door. "I''ll go inside and find a way to open the door or at the very least take a video and some pictures."


    In silence, Dani threw her hands up in frustration complimented with a gaze that screamed ''Ethan, you''re insane.''


    "You are not going in there alone." She asserted. "There could be someone inside. They could hurt you."


    "Dani," I laughed slightly. "If there''s someone inside they''re incredibly quiet."


    "No shit," She retorted with a face that implied I just proved her point. "Gael''s scream earlier? If there''s someone inside, they obviously heard it. Do you think someone in an abandoned maintenance room is just gonna come out and ask us how we''re doing?"


    She had us pinned. Even Gael, and he''s the guy who''ll talk solely to hear his voice and break an awkward silence.


    You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.


    Dani seemed to be overcome with relief when she realized we didn''t have a justification to send me in alone. It''s just a random maintenance room, I guess. It can''t be anything that important.


    I looked to Zay only to fall into a river of intrigue. His arms were folded, his head cocked slightly to the side. What''s h-


    "Dani," Zay jumped out of his stupor towards the wall where Gael rested. "This isn''t a maintenance room."


    With a crinkled brow, Gael gazed upwards with a mix of intrigue and uncertainty. "Hm? How do yo-"


    "What maintenance room has a keypad by its door?" He replied with two rapid taps above an unpowered keypad. Nevermind. There might legitimately be something of interest.


    No one had to ask. Gael rose up and shined his torch on the keypad.


    It was about the size of a fire alarm, its glass and numbers tinted with a light lime green. It featured the standard input every English keypad I knew wore. The number one with the letters "ABC" underneath. The number two; "DEF" and so on and so forth.


    And with that realization went everyone''s reservations. This is too good to pass up now. Even Dani, I can see the look in her eye. She''s curious, although I can''t see her admitting it.


    "Well," I broke the silence with a crack of my finger. "I guess that''s a yes on me going in."


    Dani slapped her hand against the metal rail and conceded. "Damnit... fine. You can go in, but I''m coming too."


    "Thanks, Dani." I smiled. It''s nice to know someone has your back. I''m tempted to talk her down in case there genuinely is someone within but I can tell I don''t have a chance. She''s not ready to accept that risk.


    Gael dropped his bag to the ground and retrieved the dull knife from earlier, handing it off to me with a murmur. "You already know what''s up with it. At the very least you might be able to keep ''em back. Scare ''em, you know?"


    I thanked Gael, tucked the knife in my pant pocket and lined up with the small gap.


    With a deep breath, I locked eyes with them, "wish me luck," and slid through relatively flawlessly. My shirt got caught, but that was sorted quickly.


    Dani followed through and allowed her flashlight to devour the shadows ahead.


    "Backup power?" I suggested as we glanced to the dimmed bulbs above us.


    "Yeah," she nodded, "let''s look for a light switch or something better."


    I agreed and we rounded the corner to a room that stole our voice from us.


    The floors were a polished brown, so much so that it seemed unaware to the very concept of dirt. The room, medium-sized with circular walls and three exits. One at the back, another to our left, and finally, one to our right.


    The center of the room was empty, its lack of contents only being revealed by the faint orange bulbs above.


    An exchange of words wasn''t necessary, Dani and I were both on the same page. We continued on to the room just ahead, only stopping for a second to make a mental note on the pitch black that was our alternatives.


    "Beds?" Murmured Dani upon discovery of the room that laid ahead.


    Why are there so many beds here? There''s at least twenty of them, both singles and bunk beds. They''re lining the far left wall opposite of what seemed to be a small kitchen, complete with the general commodities. Fridge, cupboards, stove, microwave, and a counter wrapping around in such a manner it served as a separation between the two spaces.


    Dani and I split up in our expedition around the room, ensuring we kept each other within sight.


    It couldn''t have taken more than five minutes total when our goal revealed itself. A red generator in just as good a condition as the entrance. Roughly Medium-sized based on the ones I''ve seen. This has to be our best bet at letting them in.


    "Dani?" I called out with a blend of both a whisper and a shout.


    Turning to face me, she answered from a bed she was investigating. "What?"


    I waved her over appending it with. "you see any fuel?"


    "Fuel? What are you..." She stopped as the pieces fell into place. "Oh, no." She shook her head. "No. Look around for some. Has to be a jerry can someplace."


    Walking off, I tossed a, "I''ll be taking the left side if you''re looking at this room from where we came in."


    "Ethan?" Asked Dani as she made her way towards the kitchen, complete with a look of bewilderment. "We are not splitting up."


    With a casual throw of my hands, I assured her. "Dani, I''ll be fine. I''ll check out that room and then we can wrap up the right side if we still haven''t found fuel." It''ll be quicker this way. We are on a timer after all. At least I am. My aunt''s expecting me sometime between midnight and one.


    "Fine. Just be careful, please?" She caved with a breath of clear reluctance.


    I promised her I would. It helped soothe her nerves, but not completely. Nothing shocking in that. I strode out to the central room and, while casually taking my time at first, eventually ended speeding it up after Gael cried out.


    "At this rate, Dani might end up joining in on Gael''s murder." I thought to myself. Honestly now, it wouldn''t kill him to be quiet for at least ten minutes. Although, to be fair, I''m pretty sure that was a cry of pain. I have a hunch he was doing his best to irritate them. Thus, resulting in a slap upside the back of his head.


    Yeah, that sounds about right.


    I sped down the darkened hall, my "torch" serving as one of the few items that would gnaw away at the shadows.


    The corridor seemed to extend for miles. Whether that was the darkness screwing with me, or something else, I''m unsure. The one thing I am certain of is my paranoia. This place... feels off, out of time even.


    If you told me we were the first people here in years, I''d absolutely believe you. I''m uncertain why, but I would, without a doubt. I couldn''t tell earlier thanks to the lighting but I''m positive there''s a coat of dust over everything in that rear center room.


    "Please have fuel," I pled with crossed fingers as four rooms revealed themselves. I just wanna get the damn lights on and explore the rest of this place. I''m sure it''ll be a lot more welcoming when I''m not drowning in darkness. Maybe coming down here alone wasn''t the greatest of ideas. Paranoia''s a bitch and a half...


    I stopped before the first of the rooms on my right and steeled myself but not before grabbing Gael''s knife with my spare hand.


    I should act under the assumption that someone''s here. After all, what better place to hide than in one of the lightless hallways?


    Nice job, Ethan. Your nerves hate you.


    My legs carried me around the doorway with such speed that I almost ran face-first into a wall?


    This... "room" isn''t exactly what I was anticipating. If I had to describe it in a word? Underwhelming. It was simple; a tiny square room about the size of your average broom closet, complete with a metal vent in the center of the black-tiled floor, and a window to my left painted in dirt, but not so much you couldn''t gaze a room over.


    "Hm?" I squinted as its presence threw itself at me. A dry erase board, marker and all. The marker''s uncapped, so it''s definitely dried out but why is the board here in the first place?


    The board was clean so I ultimately chalked it up to nothing and went to the next room. Must not be important if nothing''s on it.


    Rooms two and three? Three was the exact same as one, barring the dried out marker. Two, the board was dropped to the ground displaying a metal panel behind it. Sadly, I didn''t have the luxury of figuring out what was hidden within if anything.


    "Still no fuel?" I let out a sigh as I took room four''s board off the wall. "The hell?"


    12/4: QDSN SXHEAPRTBTCI XC EDS UDJG. ZTTE P RADHT TNT DC HFJXGGTA. LT CTTS ID TCHJGT IWPI IWXH SDTHC''I RPJHT PCNIWXCV JCSTHXGPQAT.


    12/25: LTTZ IWGTT. HFJXGGTA HTTBH ID QT UXCT. CD CTL ETGHDCPAXIN DG IWT AXZT. P UTL BXCDG FJXGZH, QJI CDIWXCV ID LGXIT WDBT PQDJI. WXH QDSN WPH QTTC ADRPITS LXIWXC IWT RDGT GTVXDC PH LTAA. BPNQT BPZT IWT SXHEAPRTBTCI PH PC DEIXDC UDG IWDHT IWPI CTTS XI? XI''H PC DSS QJV, NTH, QJI IWT EDHHXQXAXIXTH LXIW IWXH... XI''H XCSTHRGXQPQAT.


    ZTN = UXUITTC.


    1/3: MFSTDW LG JWEGNW LZW VAKHDSUWEWFL LZSL GUUMJK OALZAF JGGE XGMJ. HGKALANWK, AL''K UGFKAKLWFL. LZW AFVANAVMSD SDOSQK WEWJYWK SK LZWAJ UZSJSULWJ SFV ZSK LG JWLJAWNW LZWAJ TGVQ LG UZSFYW TSUC. A KMHHGKW OW USF BMKL SNGAV LZW MKSYW GX JGGE XGMJ. HWJZSHK VWDWYSLW AL LG LZGKW OZG DSUC LZWAJ GJAYAFSD TGVQ. SXLWJ SDD, LZWJW''K FG FWYSLANWK SKKGUASLWV OALZ MKAFY AL LOAUW.


    CWQ = WAYZLWWF.


    "The same markings as outside?" I thought, returning the board to its hook protruding from the wall. It was written in red, and it seemed to be so long ago that the marker and board may as well be one.


    I returned Gael''s knife to my pocket and pulled out my phone to take a picture.


    "There we go," I nodded as a seed of success flourished inside my mind. At the very least we know those markings aren''t nothing. If it comes down to it we can come back another day.


    I''ll need to grab a photo of the one outside though, just to be safe. Maybe matching them will yield som-


    "Wait, did she?" I felt relief and excitement flood me as a light above sparked to life.


    "Nice job, Dani." I smirked as the light flickered a few more times, ultimately staying lit.


    I went to take my leave only to have my excitement and relief be swallowed up in the maw of my fresh anxiety.


    My exit. It was a no go. I didn''t even hear it shut.


    Nonetheless, here it is. A steel door, akin to the one out front.


    And I''m not seeing a handle or button to let me out.

 Chapter 3: Black Sand

    "Hey!" I shouted, pounding away at the door ever the more frantically.


    Come on. Please be out there!


    "Dani!" I slung my words with such a force that cracking sound didn''t look to be far off.


    I pressed my ear against the door, praying I''d hear her down the hall, but nothing came. I had an awful feeling about that. For all I know, this room could be soundproofed.


    "Okay," I inhaled deeply, clenching my fists as tightly as my chest felt. "Rattle the frame. It can''t be that strong." Even if it''s soundproofed, rattling the door is my only hope for a quick escape.


    I nodded, backpedaled to the whiteboard, and started stretching. That door''s steel, so my demand for noise will be more than supplied if I manage to shake it.


    Three, two, one.


    "Please work..." I sighed with worry as I charged the frame with a flurry of kicks.


    Of course, to no avail. Kick after kick impacted the frame, but it stood fast.


    Throwing my weight at the door, I cried out, "Would you just budge!? "Come on!" I heaved as my resolve withered away.


    "Fuck..." I croaked as I slid to the floor and pulled my knees to my chest.


    Hopefully, they find me soon. I don''t need to be in here longer than I have to.


    I guess I''ll just blare music and see wh... wait, my phone. Why didn''t I think of that sooner?


    Almost instinctually, my hand darted to my jacket''s pocket and withdrew my salvation.


    "They better have their pho..." I trailed as my faith for rescue was pulverized by futility.


    Goddamnit, there''s no signal. Why would there be? Positive things seem to be foreign lately...


    "Look at the bright side, Ethan..." I mumbled as I set my phone on the ground.


    That vent in the center? It''s emitting heat, so you aren''t freezing. That''s a plus, and you''re not claustrophobic, so you aren''t freaking out. Always a shining light in the darkness.


    That''s two positives. What else? Right, I have a fancy reinforced window that I''m pretty sure I can''t break, so I have a ''beautiful'' view. It''s not like I''d want to shatter it either. Getting peppered with glass shards isn''t on my to-do-list. Besides, I''d be better off trying to ask the window to open than using that...


    The whiteboard... maybe that panel''s open now?


    "Doesn''t hurt to check." I reasoned as newfound optimism was planted. The worst-case scenario is that there''s nothing.


    I got to my feet, practically ripped the board off the wall with my budding faith alone, and felt a smile take me.


    "It''s open?" I beamed as blossoming hope wrapped me in its tendrils. There''s a single red button about twice the size of a United States Half Union coin.


    "Yes!" I dropped the board to the floor, just barely repressing the urge to jump for joy.


    I reached forward and slammed my hand down, a spin towards the door following it.


    "Okay," I sulked and started pleading as reality kicked me in the teeth. "You don''t need to fuck with me, Door! I get it! You have me trapped," I paused for dramatic effect. "Now, if you could<em style="color: #1c1e29; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt">pleasejust let me the hell out, that''d be appreciated!"


    It didn''t do anything. The door didn''t move, and the window lacks change. Hell, the vent''s still shooting out warm air too.


    "Lime?" I wrinkled my nose as a fragrance worked its way up my nostrils. Why am I smelling... it''s coming from the vent. Is that all the button does? Who sits down and goes: "Hey, that button we''re designing? It''s actually just an air freshener."


    "They better find me so..." I faltered mid-sentence as a yawn stomped on my words. "Jeez, why am I so ti..."


    So exhausted all of a sudden. Did that vent? Why would it though? If these rooms are meant to keep people in here, why give them the option to put themselves out?


    Sluggishly, I cast a glance back at the button as my eyelids took on the weight of the sky.


    "Maybe..."I let another yawn flutter through the air. "Take a nap."


    I went to slump against the door, but instead, slammed against it with such force that bruises were a feasible future.


    My legs crumbled beneath me, the floor letting out a thud in response.


    I nuzzled into a corner right when my vision started to blur. It''s... so hard to think, feels like I''m a million miles away, and my brain''s trying in vain to catch up.


    To say I fought my desire to sleep would be an outright lie. To say I fought anything at all would be pushing it. It was a minute, at best, before I embraced warm slumber.


    - - - - - -


    Black sand. Black sand adorning specs of shimmering silver is what graced my vision.


    "Ow..." I winced as my neck cracked sharply.


    Brushing the brunette hair from my eyes, I propped myself up into a pushup position.


    My hand, it''s smaller, a bit more slender too?


    "Oh..." I let out a sigh as the pieces fell into place. I''m asleep. Yeah, nothing unusual here.


    I got to my feet, staggered a bit, but did (thankfully) manage to catch myself before I faceplanted.


    "Balance is a bit off?" I scratched my head. It''s typically fine whenever I have a dream similar to this. Probably just a coincidence or the dreams are doing their best to make things feel real for me. All those years of keeping a dream journal paid off in the end. Full lucidity about two or three times a month. And I get to recollect them with ease. The catch is that faces are never easy to make out within them.


    "Whatever." I shot my concern down and allowed my joy to take flight. "A decent dream... well, not yet. I have some changes to do, but it will be."


    I cleared my throat and began testing my voice. "Ahem. Testing, one two three. This is... Aria."


    Yup, that''s her voice. That same feminine voice with a hint of frailty to it. Certainly not passable as a guy''s. Ethan is a product of reality, and right now, I''m anywhere, but.


    "I wonder..." I trailed with a shake of my head. "I''ll check out my face in a bit."


    I peered down at my clothing to be hit with displeasure. Generally, it starts me out with something more pleasing to the eyes, but I guess my brain is a bit off today. All it provided me was an ordinary white garb. Nothing impressive, just something to keep me decent.


    I snapped both my fingers above my head and swung them downwards, appending it with, "surprise me!"


    "Well, I guess that is technically a surprise." I murmured at the still ever-present garb. Apparently, being a smartass is second nature to my mind.


    I glanced up and felt my eyebrows attempt to leave orbit.


    A menu?


    I motioned towards the hexagonal rectangle box, causing it to fly towards me and stop just before my face.


    Open was the only thing plastered on the box.


    Tapping the silver hexagon, I muttered, "my dream a game or something?"


    The box burst open with a cloud of confetti, a loud metallic clink, and a message.


    Welcome back! We have good news and bad news! We''ll start with the bad news so we can end on a positive note. Bad news: You lost your progress when we tried to import it </img> It appears alpha progress isn''t compatible with the main game. Terribly sorry! Onward to the good news, though!


    We did successfully import the basics of your character! Go us! Anyway, they are as follows:


    Name: Aria King


    Age: Sixteen


    Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    Sex: Female


    Facial Features: Blue eyes, Brunette hair (Long. It ain''t curly, you''re welcome.) Oh, there''s some beauty marks too. Mostly on your earlobes.


    Starting Items: White Garb (Clean). One gold cirn (first era).


    Starting Location: Pass... what? Fine. I don''t know, okay?!


    System Narration Type: Overly enthusiastic... Hey! Actually, nevermind. I''d say that''s accurate. Just add a drop of narcissism in there, and everything''ll be all pickles and rainbows! Why yes, I am self-aware in addition to charming, witty, beautiful, courageous, pleasant to be around, and of course, dependable.


    Oh, and humble, almost forgot that.


    One, I give the narcissism a ten out of ten and two, credit where credit''s due. My head went all out for the dream. It''s typically an average night within some big neon city full of a bunch of faceless people, but never nothing like this.


    "Um... objectives?" I said aloud as the message box changed to a status screen.


    Objective: Find the boatman.


    He should be able to get me into Southern Alceria. He only accepts money from the first era, so do not lose that coin. Assuming he''s not fake. There are rumors that Alceria might not even exist. I don''t buy it. It has to be real. It might just be what I need to turn everything around. I can make something out of myself there, I''m sure. Grandma always insisted I was good with a bow, and I intend to do her proud as soon as I get my hands on one.


    I guess I can go along with this dream. It seems like it could be fun. That and my mind seems uncooperative currently, so adjustments may be a luxury.


    I started my stride, allowing the warm sand to squish between my toes along the way. It was so relaxing. The sand was pure, unlike the beaches I''ve been to in reality. Perfection was second-nature to this place.


    The shoreline, too, blessed with an untainted emerald green water hugging its edge. It took everything I had to fight the water''s lull into a daydream.


    Even then, that still wasn''t enough to free me from the curiosity''s grasp. I strolled over and fell to my knees, peering into the water to meet the pair of crystalline blue eyes staring back.


    She''s so... clear. The long brunette hair, curling up at the bottom, with a strand sticking up here and there. The reasonably thin eyebrows, and fuller lashes (that''s not saying much when compared to Ethan''s). Top that off with a small mole on each of my earlobes, granting the illusion that they''re pierced. Honestly, though, I got a fair bit of Mom''s looks. I can see some of Dad in there too, but not nearly as much as before.


    More importantly, however:


    "I can see faces now?" I murmured as awe wrapped itself around my words. I could never see faces in my dreams. I would know who the individual was supposed to be, but in the dream itself, the face was never apparent.


    What changed? Am I in a deep dream, or did I just get lucky?I could sit here and lose myself for an eternity.


    Unfortunately, I couldn''t make out much past the immediate shore and maybe twenty feet ahead of me. There was a thick fog swallowing up the land. Seeing beyond was clearly a no go. It''s somewhat annoying, I''d like to get a view of the whole of this place.


    "Oh, well." I smiled slightly and shuffled a bit of sand around with my foot after the rise to my feet.


    This dream is amazing. I''ll have to remember to recreate it when I get a chance. The environment itself was love at first sight.


    The silver specs in the sand were like stars, calling out to their brothers and sisters in the darkened violet sky above with each twinkle. The black sand; a warm void one''s thoughts could swim in until time''s end.


    I continued my stroll at the pace of a snail, pausing here and there to admire the shimmering stars at my feet. I wonder how long I''ve been out. Hopefully, not too long. My aunt will tear me a new one if I show up at say, three in the morning.


    I don''t intend to tell her about the structure under the school, either. That would be an entire world''s worth of questions that I couldn''t hope to answer. And that''s ignoring the fact that she''ll rip us to shreds about exploring an abandoned building.


    A few minutes of walking passed me by with nothing eventful. All that lived was the blowing of cold wind... and a person?


    "Is that?" I squinted in a laughable attempt to get a good look at a white lump ahead of me. It seriously is a person. A girl, curled up and unmoving.


    "Please don''t be hurt." Were the thoughts that ran through me as I began my mad dash to her, kicking up sand along the way.


    "Hey!" I waved towards her crumpled body but received no response.


    Sliding to my knees, I shook her paired with the words, "Hey! You okay?"


    No response. She was so still I pressed my fingers against her neck to check for a pulse. Her breathing, it''s a bit on the slow side. That can''t be good.


    "You alright?" I inquired once more, another shake complimenting it. Come on, please don''t be injured. I haven''t the slightest idea of how to deal with that. And it looks like no one''s around to help.


    I was about to opt for drenching her in water, but as I rose to my feet, she started coughing.


    Turning on her side, she hacked up spit and rubbed her eyes, "Mh... just five more minutes."


    "Hey," I insisted as hope took hold, "wake up. You might be hurt."


    "Mom, I don''t care if I''m late." She grumbled and swatted at the air. "I''m sixteen, being late won''t cause all hell to break loose."


    I braced myself for a potential slap in the face and continued shaking her until she eventually faced me with a glare.


    "Mo..." Her glare crumbled to pieces with a single blow from curiosity. "Aria? Is that you?"


    "Yeah?" I raised an eyebrow. "You ar-ow!" I was cut off as she tackled me to the ground, earning a whimper from me.


    "Aria!" She beamed, her blue eyes flooding with glee. "God, it''s been..." She trailed as her words seemed to escape her. "eight years! I got to see Ethan today, and you!"


    Wait, Ethan and me? Is she... Ashton? Red-head, blue eyes, even the same dimples Ashton has, incredibly prominent.


    "Ashton?" I whispered to be met with the same grin he always gave me. Why is he a girl, and why am I dreaming about him?


    She let me up and pulled me to my feet with a hug just as firm as earlier. "In the flesh."


    "Ash, why are you a?" I questioned as the words tried to escape me. I get why I am. I have dreams as... well as Aria here and there, so this isn''t exactly unusual. Still, though, Ash shouldn''t be in my thoughts.


    Her eyes widened in confusion as she looked down.


    "How did you not notice that?" I asked slowly.


    She started patting herself down, mumbling with widened eyes, "I guess I just didn''t notice." She held her throat. "I wasn''t really listening to my voice, and you kinda took my attention. Can you turn around for a second?"


    I didn''t have much of a say in the matter. She spun me around, and all I overheard was a high-pitched squeak.


    By the time I turned back around, Ash was beet red and motioning me after her.


    "Um... Ash?" I called ahead. "Why is your face red?"


    Stammering, she stopped in her tracks, "because I thought this body was fake! And I just found out it wasn''t!" She threw her hands up in the air. "Or this is a really fucking weird dream that you''re in for some reason!" Is she not a figment of my imagination?


    "So, you''re finally back?" She changed the topic with a forced grin, the blush maintaining its intensity.


    We continued our walk, all while unease bloomed within my mind. Ash is gonna ask, especially if it''s really him. There''s no way around it.


    Before I could brace for impact, she dropped the bombshell I was hoping to take shelter from. "How was Russia?"


    "It was... nice," I mumbled as a shooting star passed overhead. How do I say, ''Yeah, I was lying to you the whole time? Aria wasn''t even real. It was me, Ethan, the entire time.''


    Ash''ll be pissed. Dani and I, we never told them. She and Violet are literally the only ones who know.


    "Hey," I grabbed Ash by the shoulder to be met with a look of intrigue as her blush slowly faded. "How did you get here, by the way?" Come on, take the topic change. I can''t deal with an interrogation right now.


    "Oh," she nodded sluggishly as it seemed to click for her. "Oh! That''s right!" A moment passed, and she drooped with a sigh before perking up like it was no issue at all. "Look, it was really nice talking to you again, but Ineedyou to do me a favor."


    "That is?" Why do I have a bad feeling about this?


    Pointing to her face, she proclaimed, "I need you to hit me in the face!"


    "W-what?! No!" I shook my head, fighting the urge to check her for a fever. "I''m not gonna hurt you!"


    "Look," she pleaded with me. "I passed out in a small room I was locked in. I saw Ethan''s phone through the window. Hehasto be out there, and I need to find him."


    Wait, he ended up in the room next to mine? How long was I out? This seriously might not be a dream? But what else could it be? A place with a violet sky and shimmering black sand. That doesn''t exist in real life.


    And that''s disregarding the drop-down menu.


    "Ash..." I pursed my lips together and grabbed her hands. "Ethan''s fine. I saw him earlier." I lied. Telling him the truth is not happening. No one is going to find out about Aria. She''s going to the grave with me if it''s the last thing I do.


    "Aria," she shot back, never the one to be dissuaded when it comes to her friends. "I need to see for myself if he''s all right. So," she squeezed my hands, "please, hit me in the face."


    "Ash, that''s not what I meant," I replied with a shake of my head. "Ethan passed by me. He introduced himself and went on without me after I insisted I needed some rest. We were walking for quite a while."


    "I''m sorry?" She stared at me as skepticism overtook her gaze. "Ethan wouldn''t leave you behind."


    "No," I continued pouring it on. "You''re right, he doesn''t seem like it. That''s why I had to pester him about it. He was still insistent that we''d meet up again, though."


    She hesitated for only a second, thankfully crumbling under my pleading gaze. "All right." She nodded. "I believe you." She took the lead as her gaze fell to the sand. "I''d like to know why we''re sharing a dream then, and why Ethan''s in it."


    I kept silent because, honestly, I''d like to know too.


    The fog thickened as Ash and I trotted through it with anything but silence. Saying we caught up would be a bit misleading. I mostly fired off a bunch of lies about what I''ve been up to for the last eight years. Aria now has a grandma that lives in Russia. Awful friend counter: one point to me.


    It took us maybe ten minutes to find it, the fog cleared away as if to guide us in the right direction; Aria''s goal, my goal, a dock.


    A small, beaten up dock, ample enough for two people, complete with a bell at the end.


    Its appearance drug our words into the now distant haze. We made our way toward it, step by step until we reached the first of four wood stairs.


    "Up we go?" Suggested Ashton with a confident nod in spite of the holes littering the structure.


    We traversed the dock, avoiding the occasional hole like they were the plague, and eventually arrived before the bell.


    I reached out and grabbed the thick, coarse rope extending from the bell and gave it a ring that sang out across the water''s surface.


    What happened next, surprised us both. More bells sang in response to the melody of their kin. Once, twice, thrice and so on. Each one in a different location and pitch as the fog peeled away to reveal a man paddling his way towards the dock.


    "You think Ethan went this way?" Questioned Ash with hope behind her voice.


    "I''m not seeing anywhere else he could''ve gone," I replied as the man reached us. That''s two points.


    In silence, he docked his dingy raft right next to us and glanced up with only apathy in his amber eyes. The man appeared young, but at the same time, his eyes told me he''s seen more than I can experience within two lifetimes.


    He sat his oar in his lap and spoke with a voice laced in boredom. "One gold cirn grants passage. Per person... and first era only."


    I looked to Ash and back down to the guy as a coin manifest itself in my hands. A flawless coin with an image of a king sitting atop a castle''s wall.


    It was almost instinctual, I flipped the coin to him, and he snatched it from the air before tightening his palm. The coin burst to nothing, a puff of gold dust shooting from between his fingers, and he motioned for me to take a seat.


    I obliged and took a seat across from him. The boat rocked in response to my weight, but I didn''t let it deter me. I steeled my nerves and looked up to Ashton.


    Reluctantly, she mimicked my actions and joined me in the boat. I should probably say something.


    "Do as I say." The man dipped his oar back in the water. "I agreed to your passage. Should you wish to cross in one piece, you''ll heed my words."


    Ash and I glanced at each momentarily before throwing a quick nod the boatman''s way.


    He merely grunted and began our journey across the water.

 Chapter 4: A Sapphires Calm Nothing

    Mumbling, she swayed herself from her daze''s grasp, "y-yeah. Somewhat."


    "Is it about Ethan?" I pried as she went to dip her hand in the water.


    "Stop." The boatman growled with the ferocity of a feral dog.


    She paused and stared at him with a disheartened, "what''s... the problem exactly? I just wanted to wet my face."


    "Don''t. Touch. The. Water." He asserted with a row ardent enough that water splashed around us. "Too long and a piece of you shall swim in perpetuity."


    "Oh," she nodded as unease weaved its way unto her gaze. "Got it, sorry."


    "Ash, something''s wrong." I prodded her shoulder. "I can tell."


    She hesitated for a second but eventually opened up with a bit more persistence on my part. She''s been mute the entire trip, and I''d like to know why.


    "Aria," muttered Ashton with a trembling breath. "Is t-this really a dream? Will I wake up if you hit me? And why are you and Ethan here? I''ve n-never had a joint dream." She gestured to her body. "And one where I''m... well... like this."


    "Ash," I paused as I hunted for my words. This place has to be a dream. I fell asleep after all. It''s just that Ashton said my phone was in that small room. Something must''ve happened while I was out. Could someone have actually been in the area? Did they dra... no, just stop. I am not about to think about that.


    "I mean, the fog right now. It''s ice cold." She shivered and breathed into her hands. "I''ve never felt a dream this realistic."


    My attempt for words crumbled to nothing while she stared off into the distant mist. The only things that remained on my mind were a means of waking, the fog''s ice-cold touch, and that menu from earlier.


    Curiously, I swiped down and watched a dust of hexagons in varying colors come forth from the aether.


    The menu was more defined now. There were six rows, top to bottom with a large window finished with wooden borders that featured the engravings of various birds atop their tree branches.


    Out of the six rows; one was lit. The overview tab up top was highlighted in a bold black, giving off the illusion of words being carved into wood.


    I peered at Ash for a second. She was still wallowing in her daydream. If this truly isn''t a dream, I wonder what''s going through her mind right now. I''ve dreamt as Aria various times before, so this is something I''m a bit more familiar with. Her on the other hand...


    I looked to the sky and water, noting the transition of colors in them. The violet sky, it was slowly dying green as we traversed the mist. The emerald green water? An ever-darkening violet.


    I tapped the overview tab to be met with a picture of myself, akin to that of a recording. Aria''s face would look around, but not much more than that.


    "And here we are." The boatman suspired with disinterest as he aimed a thumb towards the encroaching dirt shoreline.


    "Ash," I nudged her back to reality to be granted a slow nod. "Let''s go."


    "Thanks for the ride," I stretched a hand towards the boatman.


    He rolled his eyes and kept rowing with a, "hm? What''s the point?"


    I dropped the offer and slid back an inch, "I was just trying to show my appr-"


    "It''s business." He cut me off. "Nothing more. Thanks aren''t needed when it comes to business."


    "Right..." I mumbled and redirected focus towards keeping Ashton within reality.


    The shoreline arrived, and with it, our departure. We hopped out of the tiny raft and started making our way towards the entrance of a forest, but not without some parting advice first.


    "Hey!" The boatman shouted over as he started rowing away. "Keep to the gray stone path, the one lit by lanterns! You two are in no position for fighting! Your friend, especially!"


    I glanced at Ash. Is she gone again? It''s like there''s nothing behind her eyes. The very definition of "nobody''s home."


    I cupped my hands to my mouth and called after him. "Do you know what''s wrong with her?!"


    "Nothing serious! It happens to some!" He assured me, an intense row away following it. "Get to the shrine at the end of the path! It should be a clearing of sapphire blue stones! Keep her talking in the meantime. It will keep her in touch with reality somewhat!"


    "Got it, thanks!" I shouted out with a wave.


    "I told you!" He spat back with a drop of irritation. "No thanks necessary! It''s just business!"


    I decided to ignore that and grabbed Ash by the shoulders, ending with a lean into her ear.


    "Ash?" I whispered with a shake. "You still with me?"


    A presence found its way back into her eyes as she fell into reality... more or less.


    "Aria?" She responded with a tone that hinted she thought she was dreaming. "That still you?"


    "Yeah," I assured her and started marching her towards the stone path. "Something you need?"


    "J..." She murmured, "Jess. You remember her? Or didn''t... you meet her?"


    "Um... Ethan told me about her once, why?" Why is she thinking about Jess in a time like this? She talked to us maybe once or twice? Honestly, I wasn''t a fan of her. She just kind of looked down on us as a bunch of dumb third-graders, it was aggravating.


    "N-nevermind," she stopped almost as if she were fading in and out of reality. "Ethan?"


    I froze as we came to the entrance of a darkened forest. The trees ahead were thick, almost as dense as the dark that waited ahead.


    "Why are you talking about, Ethan?" My voice cracked. Please don''t realize. It doesn''t take an expert to recognize I look like Violet. And it won''t be long after, that two and two are put together. Especially from her point of view.


    "I can see him..." She pointed in her daze.


    I followed her fingers only to land in the shadows ahead. She''s really delusional, isn''t she?


    "Y-yeah! I see him too!" I forced an awkward laugh and kept pushing her forward. "Let''s go catch him, okay?"


    - - - - -


    Our lighting was obscured within the forest thanks to a dense canopy above. Occasionally a streak would pierce through and down to the gray cobblestone path, bringing my attention to the occasional firefly. Ignoring them, and the few strands of light, the amber-orange lanterns attached to wooden posts lining our trail were all that remained to save us from darkness.


    "I can''t see him anymore." Ash sulked, "Ethan''s gone now."


    "Oh?" I mumbled and kept leading her down the dimly lit path. "Let''s see if we can find him again, alright?"


    Ashton isn''t getting any better. She''s just delusional. She keeps going on about Ethan, Jess, and even Mark, a guy that was somewhat close with Jess. He wasn''t quite as bad as Jess, but he wasn''t exactly great either. He at least didn''t look down on us.


    "Hello?" Zay(?) spoke up inside my head. "Is anyone here?"


    "Zayden?!" My voice spiked in alarm. Why is he talking to me?! Shit, he doesn''t recognize me? Does he? Please don''t, for the love of everything holy.


    "Yeah?" He hesitated. "How do you know me exactly?"


    "Is Dani by you?" I shot back, deliberately ignoring his question. "Can I speak to her somehow?" Please, just let me speak to anyone else! Okay, only Dani! No way in hell, I''m explaining this to Gael!


    "Yeah, she''s right here, but can you answer my question?"


    "Just put her on first, please?" I pleaded with a fervent nod.


    "Um... fine." He yielded with a slight sigh. "Hey, Dani? Can you come here a sec?"


    I heard what sounded like shuffling around until eventually, Dani was the one in my head.


    "Hello?" She asked, followed by what sounded like someone muffling a mic. "Um... who is this? Why''d you want to talk to me?"


    I found a tree with a few dim lanterns and glowing orange flowers scattered around it and sat Ashton down. She frowned, but it didn''t hold true. It was a few seconds tops before she delved into her thoughts once more with a blank stare.


    Leaning against the tree, I answered Dani, "hey. Can you promise me you won''t repeat what I say back to you out loud? Like, try not to react at all, please?"


    "Okay, sure. Why?"


    "It''s me, Dani. Aria." That is weird to say to her. Regardless, I guess both facets of me are being shown off today.


    "Um... w-what?" She stuttered as if her reality were just shattered. "So you mean you''re... but you''re Aria."


    "Surprise," I said aloud, a nudge to Ash following shortly after. All I got was a pout back. How can I keep her talking? I''ve been trying the whole walk here, but she just falls into her own stupors if I''m not continually questioning her. I''m running out of things to ask her.


    "What happened?" She whispered with a tone that implied she was on the brink of alarm. "You aren''t hurt, are you?"


    Crossing my fingers, I quired, "Yeah, I''m just fine. Did you see the room Ashton got locked in?"


    "Wait, he got?" Did they not go with him?


    "Yeah, he''s locked in a room right now. It''s the two steel doors that are shut in the hall I went down. We''re in them... well I was. He said he didn''t see me."


    "So that''s where he went..." She murmured, "d-do you guys need help or something? Where are you now?"


    I glanced at the dense canopy above us and let out a sigh of exasperation. "I''m not sure exactly, some sort of forest. I think I can tell you guys how to get to us."


    "Alright, how?"


    I grinned awkwardly. "You''re gonna have to do exactly as I say. So you ready?"


    She confirmed she was, and I told her what the deal was. Now, of course, I made sure to specify that only one of them should go in those rooms at a time. If there is actually someone waiting, then it''s best if they can ambush them. Gael and Zay together shouldn''t have any issue. You can seal the deal if Dani jumps in with them.


    If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    I tried to keep Ash chatting, but she was too far gone. She was more concerned with droning on about trying to get Ethan to speak to her as she fought off sleep''s embrace.


    "Um... are you still there?" Questioned Zay, successfully pulling my attention from Ash.


    Plucking a bright orange flower, I blew its petals into the air, "Yes, aren''t you supposed to be in those rooms?"


    "There were only two vacant rooms, so I came back when they wouldn''t open. Dani insisted that she was the one to go inside."


    I opened my mouth, but Zay beat me to the punch with, "I''ll be right back. I''m gonna try to find a manual. I''m getting a bunch of popups on-screen that... well, they''re definitely not anything I can read. A bunch of gibberish."


    "Wait, Zay, gibberish?"


    He''s not responding. He probably took off whatever he was using to talk to me. He said something about popups, though. Did they find a computer or something? And if they did, how are they talking to me like this? Their voices sound like they''re implanted within my mind. What''s more, it seems the computer might have the same style of letters we found earlier.


    "Ash, you..." She''s asleep? I did notice she was getting quiet. I''ll wake her up after Gael, and Dani get here. If they get here.


    Thankfully, it was much warmer than when we were out on the water. So much so, that if I didn''t know any better, I''d said the seasons swapped in a heartbeat.


    I got back to Ash and couldn''t manage to rouse her from slumber. At this rate, I''m going to have to carry her. I hope she isn''t heavy. Regrettably, she''s still larger than me in general. I was hoping to get a height advantage in some way. Pretty sure I might''ve lost inches actually. Positive things are looking to be in short supply today...


    "Just hang in there, alright?" I smiled at her.


    "Aria!" I heard Dani''s voice call out from behind me. She made it? It''s all but confirmed now. This place isn''t a dream. It can''t be.


    But then what is it?


    "Hey!" I beckoned her and Gael over.


    Unlike Ash and I, she and Gael looked almost entirely the same. The only differences were their slight facial imperfections, all of them vanished.


    Dani sprinted to meet me at the tree''s base and dropped to her knees with a gaze of wonder. "Holy shit, you weren''t kidding."


    "Yeah," I mumbled to the ground. "So, did it happen like I explained?"


    She opened her mouth, but Gael spoke in her stead.


    Scratching the back of his head, he stared at the canopy above in pure surprise. "Okay," he looked towards Dani and me. "I haven''t eaten or drank anything in ten hours. So how did..." His eyes focused on me for a moment before jumping over to Ash. "Dani, who are these people?"


    Pointing to me, Dani ''introduced'' us, "that''s Aria. She was the one on the headset earlier."


    Gael mouthed an ''oh'' and offered me a grinning handshake. "Nice to meet you, Aria. Name''s Gael."


    If there''s someone out there in the void looking out for me, thank you. He doesn''t seem to notice anything. And there''s definitely fuel for theories.


    "And who''s her?" He gestured to a now-snoring Ash. She was on her side, curled up into a ball without a care in the world.


    "That''s Ash." Dani dropped the first (and hopefully only) truth bomb to be met with a silent wide-eyed Gael.


    "Sorry?" He questioned, pulling at the collar of his white t-shirt. "You mean, our Ash?"


    "Mhm," Dani smirked, breaking eye contact with him as Gael turned and took a few steps away.


    "You know what?" He threw his arms towards the sky. "I''m not even gonna ask! Let''s just find the place that dude told us to find!"


    I''m actually kinda astounded he''s dropping it so quickly. I expected an artillery barrage of inquiries. My best guess is waking up inside another world(?) is a bit more concerning to him. I''ll take it either way.


    Gael strolled over to Ash and lobbed a kick into her side to be met with a cry of pain.


    Writhing back to consciousness, she clutched at her side, "the fuck was that for?!" She seethed in between her squirms.


    "You and I both know you''re a pain-in-the-ass to wake up." Gael attempted to swat her anger away. "I''m not dealing with that."


    "You could''ve been more gentle, you know?!" She shouted with a jump to her feet.


    "That," Gael poked her nose. "Was payback for punching me earlier. You weren''t gentle, so you had that coming."


    If she slugs him, I won''t be surprised. They have genuinely gotten into fistfights before. Surprisingly, it didn''t seem to matter what they were about. All they had to do was beat the shit out of each other, and they''d laugh it off like there was no issue. Zay was always eager to referee for them as a side note.


    Massaging her side, she conceded with a sulk, "fine. You have a point there."


    "Ash, are you back among the living?" I questioned, ensnaring her attention and an eyebrow raise.


    "Yeah?" She cocked her head to the side. "Didn''t go anywhere? And I don''t have any autographs from dead people either?"


    "Nevermind," I turned and started down the cobblestone path. "Glad to have you back." I''ll take a kick from Gael, bringing her back from whatever she was just dealing with. It beats carrying her while hearing tales of the "fabled" Ethan as we traverse this place.


    "Glad to be back!" She called after me. "Whatever that means!"


    - - - - -


    "Hey," Dani pulled me to the back of our group, just out of their earshot.


    "What''s up?" I quired as the air started to grow progressively colder.


    "How are you doing?" She shivered as her eyes started to seemingly inspect my face.


    Glancing towards Ash and Gael, I answered, "Fine, why?" Gael seems to be interrogating Ash right now. Earlier, he was listing off question after question. Both involving if she felt all right and this whole gender swap ordeal.


    She shook her head. "It''s just. I figured you might''ve been thrown off a bit by this whole thing."


    "No, I''m fine," I assured her with a confident smile. "A bit weirded out, but fine nonetheless."


    She looked like she wanted to keep talking, but right as her mouth opened, Gael shouted to us both to hurry up. Next thing I knew, I was being dragged along partially against my will.


    After a few minutes of wind blasting in my face, we broke into a clearing, specifically, the clearing of sapphire blue stones. It resembled a whirlpool without movement. The rocks beneath our feet peaked in size and progressively grew smaller in their path down to a crater in the center, each one sparkling in response to the sunlight.


    The air was the most unsettling. It was frigid, enough so that the water''s surface paled in every feasible way.


    Gael looked back to Dani and me while Ash seemed to be lost in the stones.


    "I would suggest we rush it to the center, but!" Acknowledged Gael with a raised index finger. "I have a feeling that would be in the top ten of my dumbest decisions this week. So who''s first?"


    "Um... Ash, it looks like." Dani spoke up for me as Ash took off towards the pit.


    Every stone sparked beneath her feet, but the thing is... it wasn''t when her foot hit the ground. It was sparking beforehand, almost as if it knew where she was headed.


    Gael turned back and took a few steps forward, topping it with, "you could''ve just told us you were going first, you know?!"


    "Ash!" I called after her. "Where are yo..." She''s gone? She just sort of fell through the ground? One bright spark, and she vanished.


    Gael took a few steps more when regret strangled him for that decision. A pair of spectral blue hands rose from the ground and started pulling him under.


    "What the?!" Gael panicked and started trying to kick at the hands. They wouldn''t give in. More of them sprouted from the ones that fell, quickly overwhelming him as he sank into the sapphire stones.


    Dani and I both had the same idea. We charged into the stones in a desperate gambit to help Gael from his attackers. How foolish it was didn''t cross my mind. And even if it did, I can''t say I would''ve picked otherwise.


    I kicked a hand from Gael''s face as Dani started trying to pull him out of the pit.


    "Did that guy trick us?!" I screeched as I pried hand after hand from Gael''s face. Dani couldn''t get him up. He was chest-deep and only sinking lower.


    "Guys, just get out!" He shouted right before a hand covered his mouth. I went to wind up a kick but was grabbed right as I let it fly, tripping me with ease.


    I fell to the stones and tried to get up, but looked back and saw them. Hands, they were coating my legs.


    "Dani!" I squirmed in a vain effort to shake them. Nothing. They were squeezing as tightly as a starving anaconda with fresh prey.


    She noticed it right as Gael got pulled under.


    Darting over to me with nary a moment''s hesitation, she kicked a horde of hands off my legs. "I gotcha, Aria!"


    She ran up to my shoulders and desperately tried to pull me up as my hands succumb to the stones. It felt like... nothing, but not in a negative way.


    A welcoming sort of nothing. The kind of nothing you want to see when you come home. The type that lets you know nothing''s changed, that there''s no intruders wading in the dark.


    "Dani!" I shot a nudge towards her legs. They had her ensnared too.


    It was hopeless. All I could do was look up at her horrified expression as her feet sank along with me. The only thing to even slightly ease our worries were the gazes of confidence we gave each other. The gazes that insisted we''d be all right in spite of everything.


    And then, nothing.

 Chapter 5: You. Will. Die. (Seriously.)

    "Ow..." I coughed harshly as my vision began to adjust. "That was one hell of a," I winced as another cough shot out of me. "f-fall."


    I raised myself into a pushup position and started a rhythmic breathing to soothe my nerves. In through the nose, out through the mouth and vice versa every five times.


    My vision came back and with it, a set of black hexagons. Midnight black hexagons outlined with a vibrant, glowing orange. I looked up, and that was all that existed. Black and orange for miles... but no life.


    "Where did everyone go?" I whispered as I got to my feet with caution.


    I placed one foot forward and out came a ripple of white through my surroundings. One with each step as if to suggest I was a stone skipping across water. I knew that wasn''t true. This floor, it''s something metallic. So this is purely aesthetic.


    "Hello?!" I shouted only to hear my voice echo back for a few seconds before silence struck.


    Did they vanish? I can''t remember much from when I was pulled through. All that''s coming to mind is Dani''s last-ditch effort to pull me up until nothingness consumed me. And then, extreme pain from slamming into the ground. I''m relatively confident I passed out when I crashed into the floor.


    I guess I''ll start walking. It beats standing around twiddling my thumbs while I wait for something entertaining to transpire.


    And so I did. My journey began in unison with a high-pitched whistle to keep the quiet at bay. I wasn''t sure where I''d end up, but I''m not sure it matters at this point.


    "Hm." I nodded in confirmation as another feature of this place revealed itself. The ground looks to be pressure sensitive. When I walk, it ripples white. Stomping, yields yellow.


    Leaping through the air, I brought all of my weight down, "And jumping gives me red!"


    I wonder what else I can do.


    I must''ve tried everything I could think of. Crawling, crouching, even a belly-flop, but no new colors or results.


    Massaging my abdomen, I winced in my rise to my feet, "that might not''ve been worth testing."


    Wait, a menu? A menu with glowing yellow text. Was that there the whole time?


    Class Selection


    I pressed my finger against the box, mumbling, "Class?" As it grew bright green and burst open into ten smaller wooden boxes.


    Arcanist: Knowledge both torturous and forgiving flow through an Arcanist for not do they care about what others loathe or adore, only that the mind remains intact at day''s end.


    Blademaster: Forge what ravages your flesh and unleash it ten-fold upon your foes.


    Graverobber: Not a hindrance nor a boon, a Graverobber merely exists within a party, the only commonality among allies being the gleam in their eye as opportunity presents itself.


    Hunter: One that wishes to perform with nature, and even outsmart it, must heed her children''s message. (Hey, Aria. You should pick this one!)


    Jester: The best distractions make for strikes of the utmost lethality.


    Keeper: Their beasts are both docile and kind, unforgiving and unrelenting.


    Leper: A child cast out and left to face winter''s cruel touch alone will burn down the village to feel its warmth one final time.


    Revenant: The dead will never be forgotten, for their unsung dreams, both pure and tainted live on within your blade''s whisper and sing during your swan''s song.


    Twilight Knight: Their presence, a serene glimmer of hope within the onset of dusk''s oppression.


    Void Watcher: Day by day, hour by hour, the longer one stares into the silent void, the longer its shadowed gaze peers back.


    It really is a game. I had a pretty good feeling about that, but I wanted to give it the benefit of the doubt. Mainly because why would someone make a game under our school? As a matter of fact, why is any of this under our school?


    I''ll play along. Worst case scenario... actually, I''m not sure what the worst scenario would be. But what other choice do I have right now? This void isn''t getting any smaller. I haven''t the slightest idea of how to escape this place either.


    I scrolled down to the bottom and pressed on Void Watcher only to have the menu jump to Hunter.


    I said, you should pick Hunter!


    I tried again, this time choosing Twilight Knight, but no, it just jumped back to Hunter. Every single class without exception did this. Needless to say, it was getting annoying.


    "Hunter, it is..." I let out a sigh drenched in irritation as I selected it. I would''ve at least liked the illusion of choice.


    Let''s look at the positives, Aria. It mentioned nature, so that''s something you can get down with. You were always spending time outdoors when you were younger. Plus, these classes are a bit vague in their descriptions. You''re entirely in the dark about what they do, so it might not matter what you pick in the end.


    You''ve selected Hunter.


    Starting Trait(s): Wildlife Whisperer 1 of 4: You can talk to animals. Did you really need that explained? Oh, right. I''m supposed to be overly enthusiastic. Ahem, wow! You can talk to animals! Isn''t that super neat?!


    Hawkeye: All right! Stick with me here. Picture a rifle. Whatever you prefer, I ain''t picky. Now attach like an eight times scope to it, and that''s what this does except it''s not as cool. So picture a makeshift sight just appearing out of thin air on a ranged weapon. That''s what we''re dealing with. Oh, make it thematically relevant with nature too or something.


    Items Added: Makeshift Bow. Condition: Laughable. Flimsy Blade. Condition: Calling it a blade would reaallly be pushing it.


    ????''s Ring. Condition: Those question marks aren''t there for funzies. Funsies? Meh.


    My brow scrunched up in concern as the text continued to cycle. "Can I change the narrator?"


    You may not. And yes, I can hear you. Unfortunately, we''re stuck together, kid! And guess what? We''re gonna see shit! All sorts of shit! There''s gonna be a dragon somewhere! And we''re gonna fight it! I''m not sure where, but I''ll find some way to get you to agree to that dumb idea, mark my words!


    This game has dragons? So it''s fantasy then. I''m praying it''s not dark fantasy because I''m confident my stomach can''t handle that. Let it never be said that something beneficial comes from being squeamish.


    Okay! Onward to them, sweet deets. Oh, I... I seriously just said deets instead of details. Welp, I''m going to act a bit more serious for at least the next few minutes while that cringe filters it way out of my head. Nevermind, that''s probably a lie on my part.


    Open your menu, puhlease.


    I obliged and swiped to be greeted with the familiar wooden menu, except this time, the skills/class tab in the third row was lit. I selected the newly lit tab and watched the wood menu go up in flames to reveal four medium diamonds connected to one another to form a single large diamond.


    Well well! We are on a roll today! Now let me strike while the iron''s hot! I, in my infinite wisdom, ''persuaded'' you to pick Hunter, so you don''t have to jump through any necessary hoops thanks to me! Onward! To the, in my opinion, over the top descriptions! And no, I won''t be sticking around the whole time. I have a life to live people!


    Class: Hunter.


    Starting from the top, they read:


    Nier''s Nurture


    Nier, a woman not without purpose. She sought not to take life but to preserve it when, and if, at all possible. Never did her friends feel defeat''s touch with her backing. She kept their spirits high and their vitality higher. Her actions carved a permanent love within her companions. When she inevitably succumb to time''s cruelty, her friends commemorated a tree in her honor. A tree just as loving and motherly as her touch.


    Requirement: Nier''s Nectar


    Yuul''s Yearning


    A hunter is rarely much a threat when stacked against the vicious dance his allies perform in the maw of combat. Yuul yearned to change this. He succeeded. When his end fell upon this land, Alcerians far and wide sang tales of his valor. The creatures he slew? They took refuge, whimpering in anticipation for the return of his blade''s violent whisper.


    Requirement: Yuul''s Admiration


    Dismas'' Duality


    Dismas, an altruistic maiden, if one was ever witnessed. Her selfless acts were ones to inspire even the most stubborn of children. She, in the end, dawned the bow not out of defense for her wounded. She adorned it with the passion of felling her foes with such vindication that never would the thought of her allies raising their blade come to pass. By her life''s close, she was known as an archer that would feed her bow''s hunger with such voracity, one might think she''d fire twice within an eye''s blink. What inane drivel. Others? There exists a rumor she merely wasn''t fast. Rather, that she struck from another realm entirely.


    Requirement: Dismas'' Drawstring


    Respec: One Available.


    Pressing my finger on the forest green diamond known as Nier''s Nurture, I murmured, "Skill trees."


    "Damnit," I cursed in frustration as a set of chains barred the diamond away from me, a lock''s rattle cementing the results. I tried the same on Yuul''s crimson red diamond and Dismas'' cosmic blue, but nothing. I wanted to at least see what was in each tree.


    And now that you''re done ignoring the item requirements that were blatantly spelled out before you, we can move on! It''s a questing time! Specifically, the tutorial quest! The second one mainly. We''re skipping the first one because I''m about forty-five percent positive (fifty-five percent margin of error) you know how to walk and look up and down. We good? Yes, we''re good. So here ya go!


    The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.


    I didn''t get a chance for input. Square by square, a contract of crisp white paper came to fruition complete with a quill dripping fresh blue ink.


    The contract read as follows;


    Contract (duh)


    Quest Title: Escape (or die trying, you do you.)


    Description: No, seriously, escape... fine! I''ll describe it somewhat. Beaten and battered, you''ve awoken outside of the betrayed king''s domain. Trying to escape would be ideal.


    Difficulty: You. Will. Die. (Seriously.) Good luck have fun!


    Do you accept? Yes or Yes. There''s no way out of this.


    Massaging the bridge of my nose, I circled yes with a groan, "yes, it is. Gotta love my options."


    As soon as I circled yes, the contract burned to nothing along with the floor. The floor started to progressively dissolve, almost as if someone were dripping acid onto it.


    I was expecting to fall again when my section of flooring''s time came, but no. It merely changed to a cracked stone floor.


    "Aria?" Dani''s voice brought me back to wherever we were.


    I shot my eyes up to her and started frantically scanning the area. She was looking at me with pure relief while Ash was rubbing her eyes, insinuating she just woke up. Gael, on the other hand, was missing?


    Behind was the remnants of a section of the ceiling. Its appearance signifying its collapse some time ago. It was thorough as well, my eyes couldn''t hope to pierce the rubble''s veil. Add to that the cracked floor in various areas thanks to thick tree roots penetrating them.


    I turned and felt confusion swallow me whole. A large gate existed before us, one composed of black sludge. The muck swelled and moved in a manner similar to that of dripping tar.


    "Gear?" Muttered Ashton. I glanced over and saw it, a loosely bound burlap sack with leather armor pieces poking out the top.


    "Huh," Dani said, inching closer to the gate. "Maybe that quest lied. We might not be screwed if we''re getting free armor."


    "Any weapons?" I asked as a bubble on the gate popped. Dealing with my starter weapons is something I''d rather avoid. Based on their descriptions, I''m not too keen on them.


    "No," sighed Ash as she pulled open the bag. "We aren''t that lucky."


    She reached for a chest piece only for it to burst into a bright blue flash. Before I could ask what happened, a light menu, one just barely visible, appeared before me with my new items.


    Leather Armor Set (Complete) Condition: Well, it''s not garbage.


    Swiping downward, I opened my menu and navigated to my armor. Within moments my body was enveloped in bright green light, revealing a suit of scratched leather armor with the occasional chink on my person.


    My legs and arms were still exposed for the most part, but my center was covered, so better than nothing.


    Expecting a stiff welcoming, I stretched each of my limbs only to have my equipment spit in the face of my doubt. The armor, it bent with me entirely. I didn''t need to break it in. It''s like it was made for me. As a matter of fact, there''s nothing uncomfortable with it either. It feels like regular clothing, just thicker. I never expected armor to feel so comfortable... is everything going to be like this?


    Dani and Ashton followed suit, and their faces spelled it out for me. They''re thinking the same thing.


    Wasting no time at all, Ashton shuddered at the sight of the gate. "Guess it''s time to go fetch, Gael." She made contact with the entrance. Slowly, the tar-like substance extended forward and wrapped itself around her as she pushed herself through.


    "Would it have killed him to wait for us?" Dani tossed a rhetorical question my way, one laced in annoyance.


    Stopping just before the gate, I replied with a smile, "you know how he is."


    "Did he even read the damn quest description?" She massaged the bridge of her nose as she pressed against the tar.


    "Probably not," I answered with a dismissive shrug as I joined her. "You know he prefers gameplay over story."


    "Yes, but he cou-" Dani was silenced as her face phased through with a sickening pop, her body following in an instant.


    I was alone now. No people, animals, not even insects.


    Perfect.


    I slammed my hand against the barrier and gave it my all to escape. The tar started to solidify around me as I wrenched my other hand free, finger by finger.


    Unlike my arms, my body was pulled inward an inch. I retrieved my lost distance, but the tar was getting aggressive(?) I''m not sure how I know, but it feels like a predator stalking prey.


    Aria, relax, it responds in tandem with your emotions. Being calm allows a smooth withdrawal.


    "Relax?" I questioned as the gate consumed my other hand once more. "Alright." I nodded with a deep breath.


    It happened in real-time. As soon as I started soothing my nerves, the wall changed to the viscosity of water. It was so easy to remove myself that I ended up stumbling backward.


    Staggering to a stop, I caught myself and said aloud, "Okay, Now, let''s talk. What is this place?"


    The narrator''s my best bet for answers. They would know best.


    Hm? You''re outside of a boss arena. I told you already.


    "No," I shook my head as I tapped on the dimmed Map section of my inventory, biting back a sigh. "This world. What it is? Where is it?"


    Oh, that? Sorry, Aria. I don''t answer stupid questions... personal gripe of mine.


    "How was that stupid?" I shot back, scarcely biting back a scowl. That was unnecessary. "I''d say that''s pretty standard."


    If you were almost literally anyone else, then yes, you''d be correct. But under these circumstances. Well, you five should know more about Alceria than most. You specifically... tell Zayden I said hi by the way.


    I choked on my words. What the hell was that? Alceria? I don''t know a damn thing about this place, hence my asking. It has to be screwing with me... but even if it is, how does it know about Zay? Did it hear me mention his name earlier?


    "You can stop messing with me." It heard me earlier, that has to be it. "I''m not buying it. You heard me say Zay''s name when he talked to me earlier."


    Hey, you do you boo! Denial''s a fun thing to a lot of people... but, because I quite enjoy shattering delusions. I''ll leave you with this;


    Book One: Initial Draft


    Date of Inception: 10/17/09


    Motive for Writing: The owner should know.


    Page Seventeen


    Time of Writing: 11/14/09


    Depictions: Faemon. Zone(s) 1 of 4. Alceria''s Capital.


    "Look," I exhaled as my annoyance spiked. "I''m not in the mood for books. I don''t care if they''re stupid, just help me find some answers."


    Yeah yeah, whatever I gotta say this before I forget, so a bit of a tangent here. Equip your ring, and break the gem in it if you end up fighting anything.


    Navigating to my equipment tab, I selected the ring with a murmur. "Okay, thanks, but will you please answer my questions or help me find some?"


    Who said I wasn''t?


    The menu dissipated in that instant, leaving me to my thoughts.


    "Who said I wasn''t?" I muttered, turning to face the gate.


    I pressed myself against the gate and was embraced in moments. My vision went as black as the gate. The inside of the passage felt warm and damp, uncomfortably so.


    What book is it talking about? It never specified whether it was a part of real-life or in-game. I haven''t seen anything pointing to this game having readable books in it. I imagine it does, but that still doesn''t guide me in any way, shape, or form.


    I burst out of the gate, narrowly avoiding a fall.


    Glancing up, I noticed Dani and Ash.


    "That''s still disgusting." Ash shuddered and started trying to shake herself off. From what, I haven''t the slightest clue. She''s completely clean.


    "What happened to you following me?" Dani asked


    "Um... the gate wasn''t letting me. The game told me it was something about me being nervous, so I couldn''t pass all the way through." I lied. Should I tell her? That tangent was concerning to keep it brief.


    "Oh," she nodded, taking in the environment. I joined her gaze as Ashton continued shaking off whatever phantom substance was on her.


    The floor, walls, even the ceiling was a dark purple crystal mixed with white marble. Rows of wooden seats dotted our flanks while the marble beneath us seemed to represent a path. At the end was darkness. All I could make out was a flight of stairs beginning before darkness consumed it. Midway to the ceiling were booths ingrained in the wall with railings.


    Before more words could escape my lips, the darkness ahead lifted to reveal him, Gael. He didn''t seem to notice us, because he was walking through a sea of bones toward a slouched over skeleton. The skeleton was sporting tattered gold and purple clothing with a rusted dagger in its hand.


    Cocking his head to the side, Gael stopped just before the skeleton with a reach for its blade.


    Wait, did that skeleton just? Did it just twitch?


    As soon as the pieces clicked into place, I shoved Dani aside and started sprinting toward Gael.


    That''s our enemy, it has to be.


    "Gael," I shrieked right as the skeleton seized his hand, yanking him closer. "Move!"

 Chapter 6: Viennas Venom

    "Psyche!" Gael laughed with a bow as he turned to face the archer. "You really don''t think I didn''t notice you earlier, fella?"


    He waved his hands around the giant he approached and gave the archer a thumbs up. "Nice job. You hit him right in the stomach."


    He looked towards us and winked. "Come on guys. You didn''t think I was that oblivious, did ya?"


    No discussion was necessary. We all looked amongst each other and unanimously agreed.


    "Fuck you too." Drooped Gael as the giant next to him seemed to finally realize what had happened. He glanced down at the arrow protruding from his stomach and grunted before yanking it out cleanly with little concern for the potential discomfort.


    "Now we should take Aria''s advice." Insisted Gael with a skittish nod as he darted passed us towards the gates.


    The rest of us high-tailed it after him, our only parting vision being the giant whipping the arrow back to its owner and striking them fatally in the neck.


    Thankfully, we got through the doors with no issue. What I''m not thankful for was the horde behind us.


    "Are the-" Ash was cut off by a myriad of differently pitched roars rocked the forest. "Yes, they''re following us! Great!" She bemoaned and started pouring on more speed.


    I glanced back and felt my heart raise a white flag when I saw them. There were at least twenty. The biggest of them were backing up the smaller ones as a group of three held archers on their backs. They didn''t give a single solitary fuck about the trees. They plowed through them as if they were twigs.


    Tightening my grasp on her hand, I shouted with enough force my voice felt like it was about to break. "Dani! Do not let go!"


    She glanced back briefly and looked to me with a shake of her head and gulp, "n-no intention t-to!"


    "Aria!" She followed up as an arrow narrowly avoided Gael.


    "Why can''t life be simple?!" Shouted Gael to the heavens as he jumped a large rock in his path. "Do I have a target on my back?!"


    "What?!" I asked as a clearing in the trees rapidly approached us.


    Ducking a tree branch, she continued, "How heavy do you think you are now?!"


    I shook my head in disbelief, laughing partially. "Really, Dani?! Now''s the time for that!? Like a hundred, a hundred ten tops if you must know! Why?!"


    She frowned and pled with me via her eyes as her grip tightened. "I''m so sorry! I hope you don''t hate me for this!"


    "Wh-" She''s dead. As soon as safety is a reality, murder. No compromise. She yanked me back to her and hoisted me on her shoulders as she gave it her all to keep up our speed.


    "D-Dani!" I stammered, just barely biting back the urge to grab a tree branch for an escape. "P-put me down!"


    "No!" She shouted back and shot a nod back to our ''friends''. "Just use your bow! I saw you selected a hunter! I''m assuming they start with something ranged!"


    We broke into a moonlit clearing full of tall grass behind Ash and Gael. I hated myself for agreeing to it, but I did go along with her request. She probably wouldn''t let me down otherwise.


    "Fine!" I screamed down to her. "Let it be known that I despise you for this!" She knows I loathe being carried. We did a tower in first grade once and I was on top. No, I didn''t get down safely.


    "Aw..." She acted touched. "I love you too, Cuz!" She''s lucky Gael and Ash didn''t seem to hear her say that, because if they did she''s getting an arrow first.


    Frantically, I swiped down and brought the menu out to notice the new tab directly in the center. I tapped it and observed an animation of four tree branches growing from the wooden box to form a pedestal for the items.


    Equipment/Items:


    Makeshift Bow


    Flimsy Knife.


    ????''s Ring.


    I practically punched all three items with how nervous I was. An arrow can nail me at any time and that''s the end of Aria. I have no idea what happens when you die. You can feel pain though, that''s for sure. At least in that void, you could. Needless to say, I''ve no intention of finding out the hard way.


    I closed the menu and watched as my items came into existence. The ring weaved itself around my finger with a transparent gem solidifying within. The blade materialized on my hip in a beaten-up leather holster, sporting a variety of holes.


    And finally, the bow. Saying its condition is laughable would actually be putting it politely. The limbs were scratched and appeared ready to cave in some areas while the string looked ready to snap. Nevertheless, I turned towards the archers and reached for an arrow in the quiver on my back.


    The front three broke into the field in sync with the nock of my arrow. I pulled back the string as a green sight materialized on the left side. The sight was simplistic; a midnight green circle with four lines spread perfectly apart from each other.


    I aimed for the center archer and felt confusion murder my ambition to fire.


    "What''s?" I mouthed as a "giant" broke into the field. It was maybe four feet tall, but it looked exactly like its family. It was bearing a yellow banner?


    With clear delight in its eyes, the beast leaped through the air and stuck the banner securely in the ground. The creature looked back to its family for approval and secured it with roars of what I could only describe as victory? Why are they?


    The banner sparked and started to radiate yellow. Upon its peak, came regret''s arrival. Harsh gusts of winds shot out in every direction, obliterating the few trees that existed within the clearing and erasing the long grass in seconds.


    "What the hell?!" Dani grunted as my back slammed into a wall?


    I tumbled to the ground but managed to snag a peek at what stopped us. A wall of wind? The outside, it''s like a hurricane''s out there. The trees are flailing everywhere and it''s a torrential downpour. Did that banner do this?


    "Guys!" Ash called our attention back to the borea. "They''re glowing for some reason!"


    I rolled onto my elbows and glanced at the borea. They''re not just glowing. Sparks of yellow are glistening around them.


    "Does anyone have a weapon?!" Shouted Gael as he closed his distance between us. "I''ll take anything! Even a really big stick!"


    I looked over to him. He was doing everything he could to find something that was left on the ground but to no avail. That banner destroyed everything. The field''s clean now.


    I whipped my blade from its holster and almost didn''t want to hand it over when I saw its condition. It was rusted to such a degree there were physical holes ''decorating'' it. Regardless, I did part with it.


    Tossing it towards him, I called out, "Gael, catch!"


    He caught it with ease and gave me a thank you via a confident smirk. A smile that screamed we''d somehow get through this.


    I felt a hand on my shoulder, "sorry for dropping you. You good?" Dani pried as she drew a rusted greatsword from her back. It was in roughly the same condition as the rest of our equipment.


    "I''ve never played a lute..." Ash mumbled to herself as a frown blossomed on her face.


    That got my attention. I turned to face her to see her disposition. Her weapons were a corroded sickle that appeared to have snapped at some point based on its length and a lute that was all too familiar with the concept of wood rot.


    She saw me eyeing her and tossed me a nod appending it with a deep breath as the lute found its home on her back. "It''s better than nothing I suppose." She forced a smile as she brandished her sickle toward our foes.


    Dani lightly pushed me back as she stepped forward. "Aria, stay back and pick them off from the back. We''ll try and keep them at bay." She gulped down what seemed like fear. I can''t blame her. These things look ready to tear us to shreds. They aren''t some rabid animals either. They''re clearly waiting for us to make the first move.


    I retrieved my bow and fell back to the wind wall, the nock of my arrow cementing my current disposition even further.


    The sight reformed and with it, came my doubt. I''ve never shot a bow before. I have nothing to compensate for my lack of experience either. Target practice is completely foreign to me. How am I gonna hit a target from this distance? They definitely won''t stay still.


    The borea didn''t strike as I expected them to. Instead, they knelt and made way for the giant that was injured earlier. He came into view with green blood trickling from his stomach.


    It didn''t last. As he came to the front, he was enveloped in gold, causing his wound to weave itself shut. The large borea was clearly their leader and he wasn''t pleased. He pointed his spear towards Gael and snorted.


    "You want me?" Gael pointed to himself. "I''m flattered really, but I want to be positive about this. Can you understand me, big guy?"


    The giant nodded and raised his hand, signaling for his back up to fall back towards the wind wall.


    Gael glanced back to us and his face said it all. He didn''t have a choice for demands. If the giant wished, he could slam us with the full force of his tribe within a fraction of a second. Gael parted ways with a high-five and made his way toward his challenger.


    Before anything could unfold further, a menu burst open before me with the text:


    Aria. Tell Gael to equip the ring in his inventory. Make sure he breaks its gem and drinks the liquid within.


    The narrator''s helping me? I''ll take it. I don''t need a reason why. We need all the help we can get. Especially if what I think''s going to happen, happens.


    - - - - -


    Gael


    "Gael!" Shrieked Aria over the winds. "Equip the ring in your inventory and break its gem. Drink the fluid that comes out!"


    I shot a quick look back out of confusion before it clicked. Oh, that question mark in my inventory? I think that had ring tagged to the end of it. I wasn''t paying attention to the monologue the narrator was giving me. The only thing I read was the class names.


    I threw back a "got it, thanks!" to Aria and opened my inventory, my navigation to the equipment tab following.


    Equipment/Items:


    Flimsy Blade (Borrowed + Equipped)


    Ragged Forging gloves x2 (Equipped)


    ????''s Ring.


    Gael. Name a skill tree after you break the ring. Don''t ask me why.


    It''s helping me, now? You know what? I''ll do as it says. No questions here.


    I selected the ring and watched it piece itself together around my index finger.


    Slowly, I brought the ring up to my mouth and bit into its gem fiercely. My composure didn''t last long. My face scrunched up in disgust and to say I had to fight the urge to puke would be putting it lightly. It tasted like... rotted fruit? It was foul. Luckily, my face was short-lived. I glanced back, gave them a thumbs-up and a grin before cracking my neck to face my "friend".


    Huh. That''s... interesting? Yeah, I''ll phrase it that way.


    Aria kind of looks a lot like Ethan''s sister, Violet. If I didn''t know any better, I''d assume they were related. That brings up another question, though. Where is Ethan? He wasn''t in whatever that place we were just in was. He''s not here either... I hope he''s all right.


    The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    "Vienna''s Venom," I said with an edge of confidence in my voice. This guy is huge. I''m not all that good with a blade either. Dani showed me how to fence a bit, but that''s all. I should''ve picked what sounded like a ranged class. I''m actually good at shooting targets. Yeah, the narrator was screwing with my selection but I''m sure it would''ve given up eventually.


    "Okay big guy." I nodded with a step forward. "I have a friend I need to hunt down, so let''s keep it short."


    He snarled and jammed his spear into the ground with such force that dirt was kicked up. What he did next made my skin crawl with unease. He slammed both his hands together to reveal a sword''s hilt. Bit by bit, a topaz yellow sword came into existence. One far larger than me, and one that shimmered in unison with the moonlight.


    I looked at my gloved hands. My fingertips, they were glowing dark green. If I can poison this guy, I pray it''s with my blade and that poison''s stackable in whatever this game is.


    I pressed Aria''s warm blade against my glove and sawed into my hand. Nothing major, just enough to draw blood. That''s when instinct drowned my few reservations. I tossed her blade to the ground and swished my hands through the cool night air until I felt it. A pair of hilts. I seized them and pulled Vienna''s gift from the void.


    Her own venerable blades; an untainted dark green, the same as my fingertips. They spoke to me with every last detail of Vienna''s life.


    An alchemist with an accident that changed her life, everything that experienced her finger''s kiss would be poisoned. Thus, out of necessity, she started wearing gloves, those that would forge a blade upon enemy contact. It had a side-effect, one not even she could foresee, every blade she crafted was imbued with a venom. A venom so cruel it dwarfed the anger she exuded for her curse.


    By the time she breathed her last, the friends she met along the way cured her hatred. Nier, Nahshiim, Firnesh, and Tishael. People that turned her heinous venom pure and kind. People she''d cherish beyond the moment time itself shakes hands with Death.


    I snapped out of my stupor and looked up to the giant. He''s waiting for me to make the first strike. It''s clear as the section of night sky above. A lump formed in my throat, but not one of fear, one of courage. I can feel her. Vienna has my back. She knows exactly how to kill borea. She''s slain hundreds of them.


    "I am so gonna show off." I thought before charging the giant.


    I poured on so much speed that losing my balance wasn''t out of the realm of possibility, but I didn''t let it deter me.


    The giant raised his sword in anticipation and brought it down in perfect unison with my arrival. I shot both my blades up and caught the brunt of his blow.


    The clash of our blades rang out through the arena as my bones started to vibrate from the impact.


    "Gael, what are yo-"


    "Just giving him the spotlight before I kick his ass!" I cut Dani off with a wince. I stared back into his crimson eyes with defiance. Anything to piss him off.


    Running my spare pinkie finger along his blade, I nodded at him. "You get the next four swings, alright?"


    He wasn''t thrilled. He shot the sword in the air and attempted to slam it down again as I side-stepped and hugged his left side. His blade threw up a cloud of dirt as I skipped to his back and poked him lightly, not even hard enough to break skin.


    He whirled around, blade in toe, as his sword grazed my short hair.


    "Damn, that was close! By the way, you got two left!" I laughed as he kept spinning. I wasn''t about to risk the next blow. I jumped back just in time for the next swing and jammed the tips of my blades into my mouth.


    I bit down and broke a piece off each as I wormed the fragments under my tongue, their fall to the ground ensuing a moment later. As soon as the pieces settled, I felt it. The cloud my daggers emitted. It was building up in my mouth and quickly.


    "Yup, that''s a home run in the shitty flavor department." I shuddered as I raised my bleeding pinkie finger towards the giant to signify his last strike.


    He saw it and made his final one count. He aimed for my waist and swung so fast I almost didn''t make it.


    Almost. I dropped to the grass and pushed myself up with a strength I definitely didn''t have earlier.


    I returned to a standing position and blew a dense cloud of dark green poison towards my foe. Poor guy couldn''t handle his poison very well. He staggered backward and started swatting at the air in a desperate attempt to free his lungs.


    And that''s four. I rushed him and spun on my heel as I felt a pressure on my left hand.


    It came into existence right as I made contact with his stomach. An exact replica of his blade, weight and all. I drove the blade in with deadly precision and closed my eyes as a gut-wrenching sound reverberated through the night.


    Eyes shut, I spit the debris out of my mouth and turned to study my handiwork after clearing my mouth of smoke.


    - - - - -


    Aria


    Dropping her sickle to the ground, Ash mumbled, "How did he just do that?"


    Rubbing her eyes, Dani responded in unfiltered wonder, "I''m... I''m not sure."


    I was speechless. Gael dodged every hit and chained his strikes together to beat him in a single blow. Two if you count whatever that cloud was he just spit.


    Gael turned to us and waved with his typical laugh, "I''m not sure how I did it either. So don''t worry!" He looked up at the sky and shouted. "Thanks, Vienna! Whoever you are!"


    Vienna? Maybe one of his skill trees like mine?


    The large borea wasn''t budging an inch. He was clearly in shock from the blow. The sword sunk halfway through his stomach region, permitting a constant trickle of green blood.


    Before I could congratulate Gael the menu popped open yet again. What this time?


    Aria. Shoot Gael. Then the rest of your friends. Turn your knife on yourself after your done. It should be back in your inventory.


    I''m imagining this, right? I have to be. What reason would I have to shoot Gael?


    Damnit. Too late. Kill the rest of your friends, quickly. You should spawn somewhere safe then.


    Before I could ask what the narrator was talking about, it happened. A sight to make my blood run cold.


    The borea''s body started glowing bright gold. Not long after, the blood''s drip ceased. With a gleam of contempt in his eye, the borea snapped his finger.


    "Gael!" Dani shrieked as an arrow made contact with his body. It pierced his side with enough remaining force that he was lifted off his feet and catapulted straight toward us. His body whipped past us and slammed into the wall of wind.


    In spite of it all, he was still somehow concious.


    Sliding towards the ground, he glanced down at the arrow with a tremble, "h-hey. I am s-still alive." He coughed up blood and looked straight to me as Dani dropped to her knees and started inspecting his injury.


    "G-Gael." She stammered as she tugged on the arrow lightly. "y-you''ll be okay. I''ll help you through this.


    Gael looked me dead in the eye and shot a weak nod towards Ashton. "It doesn''t hurt if your friends do it, I''m told."


    Motioning me towards her, Dani got to her feet and gave me an assuring squeeze. "I-i''m not sure what he means. J-just make sure he stays conscious. Ash and I will do our best to hold ''em back."


    I sank to my knees as she and Ash trotted to the front in anticipation for the horde''s charge. The largest borea was still relatively still, only breathing heavily as if to process the agony now flowing through him.


    The arrow was huge. Way larger than an average arrow or bullet wound. At least three times the size of my own arrows.


    As I went to wiggle the arrow to gauge how tightly it was lodged, Gael grabbed my hand and gave it a shaky squeeze.


    "Kill Ash and Dani. They won''t feel any pain if a friend does it. The menu told me. They consider you a friend. I do too even though we haven''t known each other long." He whispered with a tone so serious he was almost like a different person. "Please. You can''t beat three on twenty. As soon as the big guy is back in action you''re screwed. I feel weaker now..." He words fell from reality for just a moment. "T-too, I feel w-weaker too... I think whatever was in that ring wore off, so it''s c-clearly not permanent."


    He was right. I didn''t want to admit, but he absolutely was. With the utmost reluctance, I drew my bow and nocked an arrow, aiming straight for Dani.


    Letting the arrow fly, I muttered, "sorry, Dani."


    The arrow impaled her from behind, straight through the heart. She spun around to face me as it all clicked into place.


    She didn''t last. She fell to her knees and eventually dropped face-first into the grass. She raised her hand in a last-ditch effort to grab a hold of something, but it was in vain. Her hand dropped as the color of her body turned grey and she started to dissolve to nothing.


    "T-thank," coughed Gael with a groan, "you."


    I nocked an arrow for Ash and pierced her just as easily as Dani. Dani was behind her so she thankfully didn''t notice when I hit her. She''s not one to back down so it''s best this way. I''m just glad they didn''t move too far away. I''m not confident I can land a long-distance shot.


    Her knees crumbled as a bright red light draped her, a dark purple smoke washing her from existence.


    I spun around to an ever-weakening Gael and prepped the arrow.


    "Hope to see you soon." He beamed as his eyes fell shut.


    "Likewise." I returned his smile as the arrow took flight with a chorus of roars so loud they pierced the downpour''s drum of noise. The arrow penetrated Gael''s heart and that was the last I saw of him.


    His body was drenched in a dark green cloud and by the time it cleared, he was gone.


    I didn''t dare waste time turning around. I drew my knife, thrust it into my heart and fell on my back into the grass. There was no pain. Only the calming image of a luminescent moon.


    - - - - -


    "Agh!" I cried out as my head bashed off the ground. I squeezed my eyes tightly and started massaging my injury in between my squirms. Of course, the door isn''t shut anymore! And I just had to fall asleep leaning against it!


    Wait, the door isn''t shut? We''re not in the game now?


    "Are... what? Why are you still?" Dani''s voice broke through my pained whimpers.


    I opened my eyes to everyone''s wide-eyed stare, everyone except Zay. Ash is a guy like I expected. Why are they all staring then? Actually, they could just be surprised that they "found" Ethan so easily.


    I looked up at Dani and shattered the silence. "Dani, what''s..." I trailed to nothing as shock buried my words. My voice? It''s still?


    I glanced down and had their stares and my suspicions confirmed.


    I''m still her.


    I''m still Aria.