One thing that even the Void couldn't destroy, unfortunately, was the moment of awkward silence as I sat there with The Resident. We were both completely quiet. I could even hear the entire Void shifting around us.

"So... are you feeling better?" I asked a very neutral question.

"Define better."

"Well... not like you'd want to blast my friend's hand off? Or... I don't know, destroy a world or two?"

"I never felt like that. If it was up to me, I wouldn't have done anything to your friend. But she was so... aggressive. I had to do something."

"Right, I can understand that."

The silence once again started to slowly creep in. Fortunately, this time, the Resident managed to stop it and quickly save our frail conversation.

"And I wouldn't destroy a world either."

"Really? Isn't that what you Residents do? You go to a world and wreak havoc?"

"No... Well, yes, but it's not so simple. It's kinda... automatic."

"Automatic? As in... you go to a world and it automatically gets destroyed?"

"It decays and breaks, yes."

"Well, why not just stay away from the worlds? Why invade them when you have the whole Void?"

"That's not something a mortal would understand."

"Oh yeah? Try me. I've been able to understand everything about this place so far. Oh, just one thing. If I look like I'm going nuts or thinking too much about it, can you kill me real quick?"

"Umm... yes, I suppose I can do that."

"Good. Then come on, I'm all ears. Why can't a mortal understand that?"

The Resident looked to the ground for a moment and took their time with the response. "Do you hope I will give you something you can use against the one who invaded your world?"

"Ah, shit. Is it that obvious?"

"Very much so. You are willing to hear me out, but not out of friendship. Instead, it's just for your own profit."

"Not only that though. I am genuinely curious. You are... different than the Residents my friend described. I wanna know why that is. But you must also understand that my world needs me. Every bit of information can come in handy."

"Why don't you just go home then? Why do you bother staying here with me?"

"Well... Ah, to be honest, I'm just scared of confronting the guy back in my world. No offence, but your kind is kinda freaking me out."

"None taken. Yours is pretty disgusting too."

"Hey!"

"It's true! You leak! Like... all the time. You can't hold a mortal without some liquid leaking out. And it comes in so many colours... Bleh! But I don't blame you. I am not quite happy to be a Resident either."

"Why not? Come on, tell me what you've been hiding. Why are you different and don't want to destroy any worlds when others do? And what's with that not wanting to be a Resident bit, huh?"

"Well, it's just a matter of time really. You said that we have the whole Void for ourselves, but that's no prize. The Void is growing all the time. Just from the time you came here, over thirteen million new rooms have been created. But I can always see them all. I know what this whole place looks like. For example, if we travelled seven thousand rooms in that direction, we'd find one that has a tree-like structure in it that looks like it's made of infinitely flowing gold."

"At least you don't get lost, no? And this place doesn't drive you crazy."

"That doesn't matter. Knowing where everything is at all times? It's boring. Nothing surprises me. Besides, there's nothing here. No smells, no chill or heat, no tasty foods or yummy drinks. This place is always just empty. Not to mention that we can't see where our siblings are. And since most of them just wanna eat you for more power... You live an eternity in fear and boredom."

"I guess I can understand now. So it's boredom that drives you guys into the worlds?"

"Yeah. You mortals don't know how good you have it. In your worlds, there is always something to see. It's always changing and brimming with life and everything pretty. It's just... so tempting, knowing that we can go there. And the more powerful one becomes, the stronger the temptation is."

"The power corrupts you. You can resist it, but you live eternally. So you either die by getting eaten or you get so tempted by the power you eventually trick someone to open the door."

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

"Exactly. I am sorry if we seem like monsters to you, but that's not our nature. But you can't imagine how long we live. Some of us manage to outlast entire universes until this temptation overcomes them. But it always wins. No matter what."

I didn't know what else to add to that. Now it all just seemed so messed up. The cycle of worlds that are always being born, and creatures who get so bored they eventually turn evil. Of course, they wouldn't just leave the worlds alone. For them, it's the ultimate tool of escapism. Like a drug too powerful to resist.

"Hey! Eddie? Where are you?" I heard Flic call out from a distance. When her voice reached us, I saw the Resident twitch and shake.

"Hey, don't worry, she's a friend."

"No, she's not."

"I can reason with her. Nothing else will happen to you, I promise." I reached out with my hand towards the horrifying being. It took a while, but eventually, it indeed grabbed me and let me lead it outside.

"Well slap my ass and call me milady... he's holding hands with a bloody Resident," Flic uttered when I led the young creature out of its hiding. Though young only in their mentality. The thing was most likely millions of years old, and towering over me with its almost three meters in height.

"Don't attack! It's fine. They're harmless," I immediately tried to persuade Flic not to do anything rash.

"Harmless... well, that's a first."

"It's true. I do not want to hurt you. I was just bored, so I thought you could play with me. You have no idea how boring the Void can be when you're always alone or threatened by your own kind.

"Edward, you can't ask me to play some childish games with this creature. I thought we were going to save your home, not start a kindergarten!"

"I didn't want to play childish games! I have some perfect ones in mind that would be great for grown-ups too! You'll love them!" the Resident argued.

"Not interested."

"At least hear them out," I tried to persuade her.

Flic rolled her eyes, but couldn't win an argument of two against one.

"Fine. Speak, creature. What is it so great that you'd want me to play?"

"Live target!"

"Edward, hold it and I'll put it out of its misery!"

"Wait! I'm sure they didn't mean you would be their target!"

"No, that is exactly what I meant," the Resident replied.

"See? It wants to kill me!" Flic waved her blade through the air and started approaching us with an aura of murderous intent floating all around her.

"Come on! You won't die if I hit you. And we can then swap places. But your friend would have to... look away." The Resident squinted at me. I didn't blame them. Considering that I accidentally took away half of their life, it was no wonder they didn't trust me.

"Wait, you'd let me shoot at you too?" Flic asked.

"Of course."

"Could I go first with the shooting?"

"Why not."

"And will you play with your organs at stake?"

As she said it, I could feel the Resident's grip around my hand tighten.

"Umm... Flic? Maybe leave the organs out of it, okay?" I tried to change her mind.

"Come on! I'm at risk of being eaten by it. I want it to feel the same thrill as I do!"

"No, that's really not a..."

"It's fine. I accept," the Resident interrupted my argument.

"But you only have..."

"It's okay. As long as you're looking away while we play, then it's fine. But I will insist on giving you some harmless projectiles, Eddie. Unlike your friend's powers, yours are... scary."

"He will not be playing with us," Flic spoke before I could react in any way.

"What? Why not? You're excluding me from the playground?"

"Yeah. Aren't you forgetting something? Don't you have like... I don't know, duties as a god, by any chance?"

"Yeah... My world. It really can't wait, can it?"

"You're afraid, aren't you?" The Resident asked, to which I nodded. "I can tell. You're looking for a way to stall. Playing with us sounds better than confronting my sibling, I am sure, but an eternity here is not worth dooming all those people there. You have to be strong."

"Right. Easy for you to say."

"Not at all. I wouldn't be able to do it. To stand up against a much stronger sibling... It terrifies me. Which is why I admire you that much more. At the very least, you have courage."

"Thanks. I just really wish you'd come with me. It would be different if I had at least someone by my side."

"Dude, are you fucking kidding? What the hell would we even do there? It's the fight between a fucking Resident and a god. You think my super speed and Mr Archer over there would make any difference?"

As Flic said it, I saw the Resident sharply turn all of his eyes to her without shifting his head even slightly. "What did you say?" they asked.

"Huh? I don't know. Lots of words. I don't keep track of what I say. I speak with my heart, not my noggin'."

"You called me Mr Archer?"

"Yeah? You're not gonna be offended by that and slaughter us both for it, right?" she asked them with a chuckle, but still raised her blade ever so slightly.

"You... You named me..." they said with a gasp of awe.

"Huh? Well... that was more of a... random word. Not really a..."

"YES! I have a name! A name like a mortal! Archer! I am Archer!" the creature squealed and stamp its feet like an excited child. To think someone like that could destroy a whole universe was unimaginable. Though I had to admit that it wouldn't be the most bizarre thing I've seen in my life. Just the last few weeks have felt like one crazy fever dream.

"Oh god," Flic sighed. "See? I can't come with you. I named it. Now I have to keep it."

"Heh, yeah. I can see your point too. Besides, if I really die there, there's no need to take you with me. I've lost way too many allies already. I'd be much happier if I know you're both... well, existing somewhere out there. Can't really call it a life, can I?"

"Don't worry, I am sure you can do it. Well... not truthfully. My siblings are scary, but so are you so... Just be the bigger monster, okay?"

"Thanks, Archer, I will try to be." To this day, I am not sure, but I'd swear I heard the creature produce a tiny squeal as I spoke its new name.

"Well, this is goodbye then. Go give them hell, Eddie." Flic gave me a slight salute with two fingers, while the towering Resident waved at me so fast, his hand looked like it was vibrating.

"Archer? Any predictions about my path towards the door?" I asked them.

"Just go two rooms that way and then climb the widest slope. It has its own gravity, so it shouldn't be a problem. The wall is somewhere there, so be careful when crossing. You should make it before the next shift without any problems."

"Thanks. Well, you guys have fun here."

We exchanged a few more smiles before I walked off into the distance. It was almost stunning how automatic the process of searching for the wall felt to me. I had my hand extended out and the moment I saw it changing shapes, I closed my eyes. The next room was no exception to the rule of the Void. It was just as weird as all the rest. Looked like it was just a swarm of massive metal letters and symbols floating all over the place, interlocked and always shifting. I let out a sigh. "Here we go. From this point forward, it's just me. I'm all alone now," I mumbled to myself and then proceeded to walk, balance, and jump across the letters, slowly making my way towards the other wall.

"All alone? Eddie, you fool. With me, you are never alone," I felt a familiar voice whisper into my ear.