How many times have I died? How long have I been here for? When will this end? I can't keep going. I don't want to die. Not again. Please, not again. How long is this place? How much more do I have to suffer?
Laying in the dark, cold room, I stared into the puddle right beside me. I could see my reflection within it. My beautifully straight hair morphed into a scruffy tightness. My lips were so dry it was like I had been dehydrated for years. My face grew paler the more I died. My once long and slender fingers were now frail and wrinkled. I felt as if I had aged by fifty years. Soreness spread across my body as the slightest of movements brought me immense pain. So, I lay. I lay in the dark pit, hoping that I would be pulled out of this hellish dream. Behind me, the wall was filled with marks, countless marks all indicating the number of times I had died by now.
Ten. Fifty, Hundred. Two hundred. Two hundred and fifty-eight.
That was how many deaths I had so far. Whatever that creature is, it killed me in so many ways that I didn't know existed. Threw me from heights, crushed my skull, severed off all my limbs, drilled a hole through my stomach, ripped out my eyes, killed me with my own body, and strangled me to death. Even after all my screams and wails for it to finish me off quickly, it didn't. It enjoyed torturing me. If it had a face, it would probably be smiling psychotically laughing as it flourished in my pain. I knew I stood no chance against it. It was too strong and fast, its body made of metal tougher than any on this planet. The movement was erratic and spontaneous, and occasionally, it would glitch, giving the impression that it can teleport. After a while, my body had finally recovered enough for me to move. I sat myself up as I flexed my fingers and toes to see if they could move well enough. The cold didn't help making my movement still slow. Several minutes later, I finally gained the energy to pick myself up.
Walking around the room in which I first woke up, I stared at all the marks on the walls. My mind was going insane as every mark reminded me of the excruciating pain I continuously felt. Dying so many times had made the next death much less hard to take, but it made sure I suffered enough before it finished me off. This place is probably a torture chamber for anyone who went against the Nobody. And for some reason, I have been stranded here. I stared into the dark abyss, my body bubbling with fear. I was reluctant to even step foot out of my sanctuary, but I knew that if I was to awake from this hellhole that my exit was through there. Half of the times I have died was due to forgetting the path, but I knew that even after all that, the labyrinth was insanely long. And that trial and error would only help me to a certain extent before my sanity finally loses its last string.
I grabbed a torch, took a deep breath, muttered a prayer, and advanced. My pace was much slower this time, as I continuously muttered prayers under my breath after every step I took. After a while, I finally reached the statue room where I relaxed for a while. Looking at the pictures, my interest in these beings started to grow. I walked up to the picture and brushed my hand over it.
"Where did you come from?" I whispered.
Standing in front of the gigantic gate, I reached my hand out hesitantly, my previous horrifying deaths popping into my mind. I struggled to breathe as I clutched my chest. After getting myself to calm down, I pushed open the door and made my way into my inevitable death. On the way here, I continued to remind myself of the pathway that I had to take. I walked, walked, walked, and walked to the point that my feet could no longer physically take the pain. My foot had blisters, and each step piled up more pain. But I knew that if I stopped now, it would eat me alive. I could hear its loud metallic steps that occasionally would change into bone cracks. It kept a fair distance from me, most likely because it enjoys the chase. After an hour of walking, I finally reached a new crossroad. My fear started to explode as I processed which path I should choose.
I haven't had a right in a while. But maybe they could be tricking me into wanting to go right. But even that could be a trick. Oh god, here goes nothing.
I took a deep breath and turned right.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
And I knew I had messed up. In an instance, my body shook with fear as I turned around to face the monster.
"WAIT!" I screamed, but it was futile.
It grabbed my mouth and threw me onto the ground. It then picked me up, my legs kicking at it, hoping that it would let go and threw me onto the wall. Struggling to stay on my feet, it zoomed straight at me and grabbed my jaw, and pulled it off. I felt intense pain, but I couldn't scream. My mouth was in its hands. Placing my hand on the bloody remains of where my mouth once lay, i fell to my knees, my eyes horrified by the sight. It walked over to me, my bottom jaw in its left hand as it crouched in front of me. Placing a hand on my head, it punched straight through my face with my jaw and left me in that position. I died. Again.
Jolting up, I screamed as I flailed my arms madly. I clutched onto my jaw, breathing intensely as sweat poured down my face. I could feel something exiting my stomach and flowing up my throat, and before I knew it, I was throwing up nonstop as tears flowed down my face. I wept for what seemed like thirty minutes, and my stomach did not feel any better after. Clutching onto my stomach, my tears came back as I continued to sob and wail. The pain that brimmed inside of me continued to increase and increase with each death. I knew that from now on, the aftereffects would be disastrous. Crawling towards the wall, I grabbed a rock and marked a line on the wall.
Two hundred and fifty-nine.
Another death. Another trial ending in failure. But I wasted no time. If I stayed any longer, I knew that my mind would succumb to madness, and I would never be able to escape. I braced myself and leapt into my next attempt.
Ripped in half. Dead. Throw up.
Face peeled off. Dead. Throw up.
Brain ripped out and crushed. Dead. Throw up.
Arms drilled into my head. Dead. Throw up.
Tied to vines and body stretched. Dead. Throw up.
Head crushed onto the floor multiple times. Dead. Throw up.
Stomach ripped out. Dead. Throw up.
Intestines pulled out and tied around my neck. Dead. Throw up.
Head cut in half. Dead. Throw up.
Spine torn from body. Dead. Throw up.
Throw up. Throw up. Throw up.
My body couldn't handle it anymore. After every death, every torture, every cry, every scream, every wail, every vomit, my body couldn't move. My mind descended into madness. My pupils zipped around inside my eyes, looking everywhere, fearing another death. My breathing became spontaneous to the point that I would forget to breathe and die from no oxygen.
Mark. Mark. Mark. Where's the rock? I need to mark. Find the rock. Quick. Quick. Where? Where? Where? Mark! Come! Mark!
Leaning against the wall tallied with an exceeding number of marks, I couldn't help but laugh. A loud, painful, hysterical laugh. I felt dizzy, the room spiralling out of control. Every step I took felt like I was falling into a deep pit. My eyes flickered on and off as I spun and spun and spun out of control. Arms drilled into my head.
Vines. Head. Arms. Legs. Eyes. Stomach. Heart. Heights. Jaws. Brain. Pain. Wail. Flail. Dead. Vomit.
Looping the same experiences over and over and over again. After every death, I would jump up and scream. Throw up and cry. Wail. Crawl to the wall and mark my death. Grab the torch and make my way through the long, narrow passageway and into the huge statue room. Stare at the pictures, cursing these beings for a few minutes, and then make my way through the gates of death. And after a treacherous walk, with the devil following my every footstep, breathing on my neck and whistling its demonic tunes, it would lunge at me and kill me in the most torturous and horrific way it possibly could. And then repeat. Over. And over. And over again.
"Passed three hundred deaths. Go me." I said wearily as I patted my shoulder.
My arms felt weak as my body felt too heavy to carry anymore. After the amount of physical and mental stress placed onto my mind and body, I wasn't able to function as usual. My walks turned to limps, my speech becoming more broken, and my breathing became more delayed. I grabbed another torch and made my way back into the face of death, determined to conquer it. I walked and walked and walked. And it followed and followed and followed. We continued for ages. It followed my movement as it whistled creepily. At some points, it would appear in front of me to try and scare me, but I ignored and stared straight ahead. The wind blew ferociously as the vines sounded like whips every time they hit the walls. The floor behind me started to crack, and I knew I was getting close.
It stopped whistling. And my heart sank. I thought I had failed again, and I was preparing for my demise. A few minutes had passed, and nothing.
Am I safe?
I thought to myself. Too afraid to look behind, I continued to walk ahead, gripping onto the torch tightly as I limped towards my freedom. I couldn't hear its footsteps anymore. The metallic loud thuds were replaced by the slow drips of water and the howling of the cold wind. My body began to freeze from the ice-cold temperatures, making it near impossible to walk. But, with hope, I continued to tread forward, placing all my strength into every step I took. Ice started to form on my face as the torch went out. I was lost in the dark and the cold, and deep down, I thought that this was another failure for me.
Slip.
Landing straight onto the floor, my head hit the stone, causing me to start bleeding. Not wanting to give up, I continued my journey by crawling forward. I crawled and crawled and crawled, clutching onto the floor to push myself forward. At this point, I could barely open my eyes, but I continued blindly. My fingers covered in ice started to fall off piece by piece from the tip to the middle until the whole finger came off clean. The pain had been minimised from the ice, but I knew that when I died, the pain would return to haunt me. I didn't want to waste this chance, and I didn't want to grow to anymore torment. After a while of crawling, I noticed in front of me were stone stairs. Hope filled me as I started to believe again. With a small smile, I crawled up the stairs, praying that my fingers would be able to hold on a little longer.
A few more minutes. Let me keep going for a few more minutes. I won't ask for anything else. Just don't give up on me. Don't desert me. I'm close. I can escape. I can become free again. Come on. Come on. Come on! Move. Move. Move. Don't stop. Don't look back. Keep pushing. Even if you can't move afterwards, even if the pain becomes intolerable, don't stop. Don't give up. Come on, Annabeth. Everyone is waiting for you. Your brother, Jolynn, Harold, everyone. You have to escape this time. We can't afford another death. We have already died too many times. Not again. I won't allow it. So don't stop. Even if all your fingers fall off, don't stop. Do. Not. Stop.
One by one, my fingers came off. First from my left hand. My pinkie. My ring, my middle, my index, and my thumb. All came off a minute apart. But I didn't stop. I couldn't stop. I slapped my palm onto the floor and pushed myself forward. Thankfully, my right fingers still had a bit more life in them. So, I kept climbing and climbing and climbing.
Crack. My pinkie fell off my right finger.
Crack. Now my ring.
Crack. Now my index.
Crack. Now my thumb.
In the distance, I could see a gate that was lit with torches. I knew I was close. I slapped my palms-which were bleeding at this point from the cold stone-and pushed myself forward, crawling like a snake. Hope fuelled me to continue pushing forward as the memories of everyone I knew started to flood my brain. Tears flowed down my cheeks as I started to feel immense happiness. But I knew that I shouldn't celebrate too early. Whispering prayers, I continued to drag my body as I neared the gate.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
My body froze. I stared behind me. Fear filled my eyes. Behind me, in the distance, an army of those creatures rushed towards me on all fours, whistling away. I started to scream as I crawled as quickly as I could. I could hear the metallic thuds getting louder and louder, their whistling becoming creepier by the second. My heart raced as I crawled like an insect. I couldn't let this chance go. I had to make it this time. The gate was only a few feet away. Looking back, they still seemed too far to catch me now. A smile appeared on my face as I knew I was safe.
I did it! I can escape. I can finally go....
"Ah...AHHHHHHHHHH!" I screamed in agony.
Looking back, I noticed a pole impaled into my left leg. The cold made it worse as I could feel the blood inside me beginning to freeze. I screamed and wailed and tried to break free. But I couldn't. I was stuck. It was over for me. All the pain I went through and all the effort was of no use. I had failed. Again.
"You know you truly are so inspiring, Annabeth."
"Huh?" I said, looking up confused as to who was speaking. It was Jolynn. Standing right there in front of me.
"But..." She said, crouching down. "You don't look too good right now." Her voice sounded a bit disappointed.
"I'm about to die again, of course I don't look good." I whispered.
"What happened to the positive Annabeth I met on the train?" She asked.
"She died." I replied.
"Really? It seems to me she is still alive." She said, sounding confused.
"Well, if you find her, tell her that she should come back." I replied, a bit angry.
"I am telling her." She said softly. "You know you can make it. You just don't want to risk so much for that."
"I don't have the strength to." I said with tears in my eyes.
"You mean the courage? You're the strongest person I know. You're amazing, and someone should tell you that sometime soon. We all need praise here and there." She placed her hand on my head. "You are amazing. Keep going. For all of us. Because that is what separates you from him, isn't it? Your bond? Prove him wrong, Annabeth."
"You always show up at the perfect times, don't you?" I said sarcastically.
"I know, I really am the best." She said pridefully. "Goodbye then."
And then she was gone. Looking back, the army of skeletons was getting closer. I stared at my leg, hesitant, but I knew what had to be done. I took a deep breath and pulled. I knew I couldn't lift the pole as it was too big to pick up, especially in this state, so I took advantage of my frozen body and pulled against the pole. I pulled and pulled and pulled. Screaming at the time of my lungs, I finally managed to break free, leaving my left leg impaled by a pole in the process. I turned and began to crawl closer and closer. Placing my hand on the gate, I waited for it to open. I waited. Nothing. It didn't budge.
"Come on. Come on. Come on." I whispered. "Open. I did it. I escaped your shitty maze, now open the god damn door!"
The whistling became fainter and fainter as my ears had completely frozen. I couldn't hear anything anymore. My eyes started to shut down, as did my mind. Gasping for air, my lungs filled with the frozen ice as my blood slowly stopped circulating my body. I was dying. Little did I know, the door had begun to open, but because I couldn't hear, I didn't realise the sound of stone grinding against each other. My hand slid fell to the floor as it lay on the doorstep, my fingers poking into the room. I couldn't move anymore. Behind me, a massive army charged my way. And I slowly drifted unconscious. I was dead.
I awoke suddenly and lifted myself up, bracing myself for the pain to kick in. But nothing. I couldn't feel anything. Looking around, I wasn't in the room I had started in anymore. It was different. The tables were lined around the massive hall, and in the distance, I could see an empty throne. Behind me, I could hear the loud thuds of the robots banging on the gate. Their whistles now turned into screams of anger.
"I'm surprised." A voice said. It sounded distorted yet so clear that I could not mishear a single word. "I didn't expect such willpower from a human. Well, done, you escaped."
"Who are you?"
"I'm the creator of this place. Do you like it?"
"No, it is shit." I said bluntly.
"Daring." It chuckled. "Well, I'll revert your body back to normal now."
"Wait, show yourself first."
Then, from the darkness, a pure black metallic robot appeared wearing a white robe and holding a long stick. It had no defining features. The only difference between it and the other was its colour, attire, and weird stick.
"You don't look like much." I spoke.
"Well, that's rude, isn't it? Now, why did you want me to show myself?"
I smirked as I lifted my right hand and pointed my last remaining finger at it. "Fuck you and your creations."
I could tell that it was smiling back at me. "You really are a wonder, Annabeth. I understand why The Scientist thinks so highly off you." It said as it walked up to me and crouched in front of me.
Placing its hand on my forehead, it muttered something I didn't understand, and my body started to glow. In mere seconds, I had recovered all my broken limbs and bones. Standing up, I stretched my body and wiggled my fingers ecstatically. The feeling of recovery was something nothing else could reach. It then stood up and made its way to the empty throne. I followed it curious to know about its kind. As it sat down on it, I stood in front patiently. I still had scars on my face and body from all the injuries, but I was thankful that I was back to normal. My hair still scruffy and my breathing still random.
"What are those things outside?" I asked as I could still hear the screaming.
"Humans and aliens." It spoke.
"Why are they so...insane?"
"I gave them power and the power ate them alive. Soon they were nothing more than mere puppets to the thing they once possessed. And it drove them to madness. To the point that they turned their backs on everyone, including us. So, I brought them here, to be punished." It explained.
"Not much of a punishment if all they do is kill the next person that gets teleported here." I remarked.
"They do. You just can't see it. Lemme show you." It spoke.
Standing up, it grabbed my face as my eyes opened wide. Memories flashed into my mind. Memories that weren't there before. I could hear the screams and pain of those things. They continuous begging to stop and just let them die. Them begging for forgiveness and yearning death. Their bones withering away, each step they took bringing them exceeding pain. It was brutal. Something that I would not wish on my worst enemy. I started to cry from all the pain, and I couldn't handle it anymore. As it let go, I fell to the floor gasping for air and wept.
"You're worse than him you know." I said through my tears.
"I know, but someone has to be a monster. Heroes and monsters. That is how the world works. Without them, we don't have any meaning to our lives. But even if you take those away, don't those who have sinned deserve punishment?"
"Only God decides that." I spoke.
"God, you say. I don't accept him. I decide my own purpose and my own life. No one chooses it for me. And if someone turns their back to me, I won't show any mercy. If you can't accept that the universe works like that, then you won't survive in it."
"Violence this. Violence that. What is it with people like you and violence. Have u never felt compassion or empathy. We are all the same. No one needs to suffer. No one deserves to suffer. Forgiving someone is the bravest thing someone can do. We can all hurt someone and vow revenge, but to forgive is something so beautiful that only a scant few can truly do. Even if someone hurts me to the point I can never walk again. I would forgive them. Because if I hurt them back then there is no difference between them. Whatever happens to them should also happen to me. When you start to forgive, you understand the beauty of having a heart. Don't fall down the wrong path. Don't."
"He wasn't wrong when he said you have a way with your words. You truly are a remarkable human being, Annabeth. I shall take your words into consideration. Now leave my realm." It spoke as it walked up to me and placed its hand on my hair. "Oh, and the pain you are going to feel will be terrible. Good luck."
"Wait what..." Before I could say anything else, I awoke back on my chair where I first fell unconscious.
Rubbing my head, I leaned back on my chair as I thought about everything. Suddenly, it hit me like a truck. I writhed in pain as I fell to the floor. I screamed and flailed uncontrollably, tears pouring from my eyes nonstop as I couldn't breathe. I tossed and turned and cried out for help begging the pain to stop. But it didn't. It was like I was being burnt alive and stabbed a million times. The pain went on for so long. So agonizingly long. Seconds passed. Minutes passed. Hours passed. And all I could do was take it. Vomit continuously left my body as I could fell my heart pump extremely fast. My blood boiled as I felt my brain would explode at any moment. I clutched onto my head as I screamed at him to come help me. But no reply.
I had this lingering feeling that he was watching and that he was enjoying ever minute of my pain. But deep down I hoped. I hoped that his words weren't just cheap flattery. That he genuinely cared. But I was left alone to suffer. My vision went blurry as I knew that I was going to lose it. My mind fell to insanity and after the continuous vomiting and screams my body finally gave up and I fell unconscious. And then I lay in my own pool of sickness, with tears in my eyes and pain like any other.
"Annabeth!" I said running in and moving her out of the vomit.
I cleaned her with tissues and held onto her like a baby. Tapping her face, I tried to wake her up, but she didn't react. Placing her onto the bed, I sat besides her, holding her hand as I waited patiently for her to awake. Hours passed and she showed no sign of recovering but I did not budge from her side. I waited and waited and waited. After a whole day, she finally started to mumble something. I leaned in and tried to make out what she was saying.
"S...Sc...Scientist."
I leaned back and smiled as I continued to hold onto her hand. For the first time in so long, I felt true happiness. This feeling inside of me buzzing with joy. I felt...love. After a while of sitting besides her, she finally opened her eyes. She stared at me and rubbed her eyes again making sure it wasn't an illusion. After realising I was truly there, she smiled and held out her hand, which I gladly took, and smiled back.
"Good morning."