“You went out and got yourself into trouble again, didn't you, Nikolas?”

That voice, barely an echo of a memory, wrapped around me. The familiar scent of lavender followed, drawing me deeper into the comforting cocoon I found myself in.

I curled closer, relishing the safety these arms brought. Nothing could go wrong when she was here.

A distant instinct screamed that this was wrong, but I shoved the feeling aside. If there was something wrong, I'd figure it out later. I hadn't felt this safe in years, and I was going to enjoy it.

Her chuckle brushed against my consciousness like silk, and she held me tighter. “My brave little Nikolas, always the first to jump into harm's way to save someone else.” Thin, graceful fingers wove into my hair, rubbing my scalp until waves of contentment washed over me. Through the-mind numbing bliss, I muttered, aware but uncaring of how much higher my voice was.

“I had to. I couldn't let them hurt her.”

Who was ‘her’ again? Everything felt so…disconnected and airy. A distant alarm fought to break through the fuzz of contentment wrapped tightly around me.

I was forgetting something important. I needed to do something, be somewhere that wasn't here.

But couldn't it wait just a little longer? The safety and warmth all but rocked me, ripping away any concerns before they could form.

A few more minutes couldn't hurt.

Burrowing deeper into the familiar arms, I threw aside the odd feeling, soaking in the moment instead.

The woman continued finger-combing my hair, her voice soft, lulling me into near sleep. “Those bullies are a menace. Look at you, covered in bruises for the second time this week.”

Bullies?

The alarm sharpened, jabbing holes in the lethargy holding me still.

The girl I saved hadn't been attacked by bullies. There'd been an army of undead–no. That wasn't right either. I'd been lied to. I'd killed hundreds before realizing the truth, Maya’s father included.

I'd called Time to fix my mess.

Like a bucket of ice water, the truth hit, dispelling the warmth and safety I'd been sinking into like quicksand. The fog around my mind disappeared in a snap, the arms around me now suffocating instead of comforting. Their grip tightened, leaving bruises in their wake.

I knew the owner of that voice, something deep in my soul would never let me forget, and last we spoke, she was far from loving.

Ripping away from the painful hold, I stared into the face of my mother. Her expression wavered between the loving one she'd worn only once and the twisted sneer I was far more familiar with.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

“You always have to stick your nose into things, don't you? Everything would have been perfect if you just minded your own business that day.”

I turned away and started walking. This wasn't the first time I'd had a nightmare about her or the event that had landed me in the orphanage, but the sting burned as strongly as ever.

Usually, I'd wake up immediately upon remembering who my mother was.

Her taunting voice floated over my shoulder, rubbing in the fact that she was still there. “Running away from your problems, Nikolas? How like you.”

I bristled, but didn't turn around. There was no point arguing with a figment of my imagination. It was a waste of time, and right now, I couldn't afford to linger here.

“Show me my wife wasn't wrong to choose you.”

Time's words echoed through me, driving my determination deeper. I'd slept long enough. It was time to get a move on.

Ignoring the taunts still flowing freely from behind me, I slapped both hands over my cheeks as hard as I could.

The voice disappeared in a snap, and with a jolt, I lurched upright, freed from the nightmare.

Relief washed over me, only for confusion to drown it in the next second. Something grainy fell from my hair, resting softly in my lap. I pressed it between my fingers and frowned at the black sand.

Where had that come from? The castle was surrounded by grass and dirt. Looking up to take stock of my surroundings, I froze.

This…was not the castle.

Sand was everywhere. Rolling dunes, like the deserts on Earth, stretched without end into the distance.

I took a few steps and froze as the sand I stepped on turned black. Kneeling, I picked up a handful and let it slide between my fingers. The gold bled into a pale yellow before graying. Stepping back, I watched mesmerized as it went back to gold.

It was fascinating.

Glancing up at the sky, my mouth fell open at the swirling mass of blueish-gray sand. It moved and shimmered like water, the gentle sway reminiscent to the Northern Lights.

I walked a few paces and bent my head back, looking from different angles.

It almost made me dizzy from the swirls of color, but I couldn't look away. The colors and pace of the swaying captured my attention as I darted back and forth.

Until I sank to my knees, nearly throwing me forward.

I regained my balance and stared at the ocean of dark purple and silver sand that hadn't been there a minute ago. This sand felt different, denser and almost cool to the touch.

Further out, waterfalls of sand flowed in reverse, linking the sea to the sky, and the bizarre beauty of it all stole my breath away.

Before I could think better of it, I reached forward and touched the sand ocean. Instead of sticking to my fingers, the mass rippled. I did it again, a massive smile pulling across my lips as it settled.

This was amazing, but where exactly was I? Last I remembered, Time was going to rewind Nexus and put me back to when I first got there.

This was definitely not Nexus.

Clearing my throat, I spoke aloud, hoping he could hear me. “Time?”

No answer, and a kernel of unease twisted in my gut.

Had he left me in this acid trip of a world as some kind of payback for cursing him out? It was beautiful, but I wouldn't want to stay for long.

A snort came from nowhere, and something brushed my shoulder, a ghost of a hand, there and gone in a blink. Then, his voice echoed through my mind.

"Be at ease. Nothing will harm you while I am here."

Relief washed away the start of panic, and I turned, frowning at the open air I'd sworn I heard him speak from.

He chuckled this time, though it was weighed down with exhaustion. “We are still connected. As such, I can speak to you without needing to be physically present.”

Right, I forgot about that… Setting that aside, I gestured to the sand wonderland and asked, "What is this place?"

He hummed, fondness lightening his tone. "This is The Inbetween. The space where spirits dwell. You are currently not far from Karma and my home.”

Oh… the sands of Time. The changing colors and landscape made so much more sense now.

One question down, a few thousand more to go.