Once again, I found myself standing in an endless expanse of nothingness. Not even light was present. My mind was dazed and my eyes were glossed out, a blank expression on my face. I was having a hard time remembering….my memories were extremely foggy.
Something wasn't right.
I felt like something horrible was happening to me without me even knowing it.
Something…..wasn't right.
[Wake up, Morgan.]
The voice sounded so far away this time, as if something was suppressing it. Who even was it? Ah, right. I remember. I was with Emily and then somebody told me to wake up, after that….I saw reality shattering around me like glass.
[Wake up, Morgan.]
[Wake up, Morgan.]
[Wake up, Mor…]
[Wake up….]
[Wake up….]
[Wak…..]
The voice was just getting further and further away. I don't know why, but that voice sounded so familier to me. Who was it that was speaking? Why was it telling me to wake up? I was already awake, right?
Ow, my head…
It feels like somebody was hitting my head repeatedly with a hammer. The throbbing sensation just grew worse everytime I tried thinking too deeply about why my memories was foggy or what this place was.
Then, I heard a sound in the vast expanse of darkness.
The sounds of chains rattling.
I felt an intense pressure hit me. Something more vile and powerful than what I experienced with Movarathos—wait who was Movarathos, again? I didn't remember. Everytime I tried recalling something, a throbbing sensation in my head immediately replaced that thought with a blankness.
Worse yet, the pressure made me feel terrified for life.
"Who…."
I couldn't get the words out of my mouth. I was frozen in place. It was as if something so vast and ancient was staring me down from an unfathomable distance. I didn't dare move, assuming one wrong move could kill me. Whoever was staring me down….was something I would never be able able comprehend.
The chains continued rattling for awhile, before everything went silent. The pressure, as well, eased up.
"So….it's you."
A voice echoed out from the depths of the darkness. For some reason, the voice sounded quite boyish and cheerful.
"i have been wai—?"
The next words from that being was cut off by a sudden mist manifesting out of me, protectively swirling around me. It startled me, as I looked down in confusion. I don't remember how this mist got here, but it was vaguely familier….
"W–what….?"
The voice sounded startled and a bit fearful.
"You….it can't be!"
[Wake up, Morgan.]
It was louder this time. I didn't understand what was happening, but I had a sudden urge to listen to that voice. My mouth opening on its own, as drowsiness overtook me.
"Mhm, let me sleep a little longer…."
[Wake up, Morgan.]
[Wake up, Morgan.]
[Wake up, Morgan.]
It just kept on repeating over and over again, as the world around me blurred. Then, once more, shattered like glass.
The warm glow of the setting sun hit my face.
I squinted my eyes and looked around in confusion. It seemed like I had spaced out.
"Are you even listening, Morgan?"
I blinked, in surprise. Turning my head side-ways, I saw a beautiful girl a few years younger than me. She had brown eyes, a slender body, and dark hair that reached her waist. Though, there was signs of not eating regularly present and some scars on her skin by the skin exposed by the old dress she wore.
Emily.
That was when I realized where we were. Up at the top of an old building's roof, watching the sun set together in peace and quiet. Memories flashed inside my head.
I recalled moving to another street with her, living with her for awhile, scavenging food together, doing all sorts of odd jobs for money and clothes, protecting her from evil people trying to take her away. I recalled them all. That lead us here, where Emily and her family used to live. She wanted to see this familier sunset with me one last time before moving to another street together.
"Sorry, what were you saying?"
I said a bit sheepishly, scratching my head. I felt a bit embarrassed staring at her for so long. I don't know why, but everytime I see her, my heart tightens. To make things worse, my mind felt foggy. I vaguely recalled someone trying to get me to wake up and the sounds of chains rattling….
Emily pouted at the lack of attention I was giving her.
"I was pouring my heart out and you have the audacity space out?"
I laughed lightly at her reaction and leaned against the railings of the roof, my arms resting on the surface, as she stood beside me.
"Sorry, sorry. My mind just feels….a little foggy for some reason."
Emily sighed in exasperation and leaned against the railing as well, turning towards the sunset.
"Yeah, it does seem like alot has been on you're mind lately."
She turned to look up at me for a brief moment, I saw a hint of concern in her eyes that flickered for a moment, before she turned towards the setting sun.
"As I was saying….this was a place I always liked coming to when I was free. Watching the sun set like this, it makes me forget alot of things about reality. Kind of like an escape, y'know?"
I smiled softly and turned towards the setting sun, as well.
"I know. I feel the same way. When you stare at what's beyond the sky, it really makes you wonder if we really even matter."
Emily nodded her head. She didn't say anything and simply enjoyed the comfortable silence between us. I didn't break the silence, either. I had alot to think about—especially the recent issues with my memory I have been having. It was easy to ignore, but most definitely not a good thing.
I don't feel so good, either. Everytime I lock eyes with Emily, I feel an overwhelming amount of sadness fill my gut. I didn't know why, but….I just felt that way. What could it mean? Something was wrong with me.
Still, it wasn't like I could see a doctor. I would just be shoo-ed away like an annoying pest.
"Remember what you asked me when we first met?"
Emiliy suddenly said. She didn't look up at me, her gaze fixed on the sunset. Something complicated in her gaze.
"Hmm? Right. You never really answered it, you sly little gremlin."
I teased, trying to lighten the mood slightly. Emily offered a small giggle, but her face immediately went back to looking sorrowful and resentful.
"I was crying because my mother was taken away from me a few minutes before you found me,"
My breath hitched at the confession.
'How am I supposed to even respond to that?'
I didn't say anything and simply kept my gaze fixed on the sunset. That's right. What i need to do right now….is allow her to pour her heart out for me.
"A group of men dressed in black pulled up in a van while I was walking home with her. When she saw them, she immediately told me to run away."
I had a feeling I knew exactly where this was going. Emily's voice was growing quieter and more shaky, even without looking at her, I knew she was crying.
"I didn't listen at first, but when she yelled at me…."
Emily sniffled.
"I ran away. I left her behind to be taken away by them to whatever the hell they were gonna do with her."
I bit my lip, clenching my fists against the railing. I didn't know what to say to comfort her. I never had a good relationship with my mother, but even experiencing this myself would eat me alive for the rest of my days.
Emily looked down, as if trying to cover her tears. Then, continued.
"She was my everything, Morgan. The only person I had left in this world. She did the worst things just to bring me food, she shielded me from the harsh reality of our situation….and never, ever once abandoned me, even though everything would of been easier for her if she did."
I simply nodded my head, still not meeting her eye, my gaze fixed on the darkening sky.
"She was my everything…."
Emily repeated, her voice becoming even more broken.
My hand reached out and gently caressed her back. This was the only amount of comfort I could offer. Anything else I would say would just be empty words, or just pure hypocrisy. How could I understand what she was going through?
My situation was entirely different from hers. I could never understand the loss of losing someone so important because I never experienced it and she could never understand the feeling of abandonment I felt when I was thrown out by my family.
So, the only thing I could do was just let her cry it out.
My hand continued caressing her trembling back, as broken sobs escaped her lips. Silence filled the surroundings, only broken by the occasional whimpers and sobs from Emily.
A few minutes later, she had calmed down.
Her tears had dried out and when I looked down at her, I saw a hollow facial expression, her gaze fixed on the ground below us.
'This was the moment, wasn't it?'
A sudden thought occurred at the back of my head, almost like I experienced this before. Emily's asked, her tone emotionless.
"Morgan, do you think our lives have any meaning?"
'Yes. This was the moment.'
I had this terrifying feeling of Déjà vu as she said those words. I didn't know why, but I felt like my answer to this question would be very important. But before I could even think about it carefully, my mouth moved by itself and answered.
"No, I don't think so. It's like what the rich say. Our lives don't have meaning because we don't contribute to society."
Emily remained silent, digesting my answer.
'Why did I say that?'
I didn't know, but it felt like my body was moving on its own, like I didn't have any control over it. Then, once again, I thought to myself.
'This was the day my greatest regret was born.'
What did you say? Who was speaking in my head? And why did it sound so much like me? My hand flew from her back to my face, as if trying to hold back from something taking over my body. My eyes widening in panic.
"I think I understand now, Morgan."
Before I knew it, Emily had climbed on to the railing, now standing right on it. My eyes widened in fear and panic.
"W–what are you doing?! Get off! It's dangerous!"
I reached out to grab her, but Emily gave me one last look and….
Jumped.
'I killed her.'
I remember now.
I stared down at where her corpse was, blood splattered on the pavement, passerby's screaming. My eyes were hollow and my expression was blank. I was starting to recall everything….
It was true. I killed her.
Maybe if my answer had been different, this wouldn't have happend. Maybe then, we would of been together forever and got out of this life on the streets.
An infux of memories entered my mind, as the fog has been lifted. Everything I was doing before entered my mind. About The Mulligan, about Isabella, about the Dreadful Tunnels, about the Key Rush, about Nico….
It wasn't the end yet.
[Wake up, Morgan.]
[Wale up, Morgan.]
[Wake up, Morgan.]
[Wake up, Morgan.]
Everything I had experienced wasn't real. I was still inside the Blood river. Something hit me and was having me experience these illusions, i couldnt believe i fell for such illusions it was quite potent too, if it wasnt for this mysterious voice inside my head.
[Wake up, Morgan.]
[Wake up, Morgan.]
[Wake up….]
'Shut up.'
I'm awake now.