The free world, the place that wasn't free, the place that was sealed, was opened to everyone and everything.

****

Nora woke up to a beeping sound, her entire body felt bruised. The ground under her was wet and sticky. Only one of her eyes works, the other one was covered in darkness. Her nervous system glitches she can only control a certain percent of her body. She wondered where she was. Her entire body pushing her to sleep, she wanted it tired and in pain, maybe it'll make a nice escape for her, Nora knew this was going to be permanent if she did it. Filled with regrets, things not going as planned. Things don't always go as planned, she didn't hate herself for the decision she made. It was what she wished for but.....

She closed her eyes, the calmness made her happy. Her head was not aching. The darkness welcomed her, and she accepted the darkness. Her scenery was going blank. Echoes of footsteps hitting the water that made the floor Nora was lying wet, it was getting closer.

“Hey”

Nora knew that voice, its too familiar. “ Don't you have unfinished business?” The voice said in a teasing tone, it moved the footsteps were cycling her. “ A lot of people are dead because of you but want to run and avoid it”

“Nora even death is a cheap price to pay for it”

She knelt down picking Nora up" Are you suffering?” The question made Nora's eyes wet, the question she was always asked. Maybe she could admit it to her guilt, she nods her head and buried her head on the chest of the girl who picked her up and started sobbing. Stroking Nora's head she said, " there, there we have to go back you know you can't just let it end like this” Nora nod her head, instantly the floor became water swallowing her. Nora gasped like has just been saved from drowning.

***

Felt like I was drowning, my throat feels sore, maybe I've been screaming.

“ Oh see you decided to wait up” Jane said apathetically. She was wearing a dark singlet with bulky trousers. I wonder where she got them. I can't feel her anymore, what happened to the link—

“Where are we?” I asked automatically. Jane shrugged "a cabin, sealed”

“ What do you mean by 'sealed'?”

“ Exactly what I meant” she said, feeling annoyed it didn't register on her face but being linked to her for a limited time made me feel like I can read her body language though it might be the most subtle shit ever.

“ How did we get here?” I said because the change of scenery seems so fucking absurd.

“ Why does it matter we are saved” said Jane, she's definitely angry, but her body language is as inexpressive as always.

The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

“ Because we were in a fucking desert why don't you get it” I said automatically I don't know what wrong—

“ I really don't care Nora ok?”

“Ok that out of the way, why is this room sealed?”

“ Because we are about to get killed by freaking monarks" she said unapologetically.

“ What the f—”

“ Wait how the fuck did monarks get inside here this place was sealed and—”

“ Because you messed everything up it's a free world exactly as he said because you let him get into your head and people are going to die, people you dragged here and the ones who came unwilling to save you everybody is going to die Nora. And it's because of you, you've killed us all” her voice lingering with emotions.

“ No that's impossible, it can't—” Jane stood up instantly and dragged me to the window by the back of my neck. “ Look, does this feel real to you?” She said, pointing at the monarks, stony creatures with tendrils, six legs, crab like claws for hands and a hammer head. Creatures spilled up by the planet as a form of resistance because it's dying, and we're the cause—

“ Do you how many people are dead Nora” Jane said with her voice breaking. Something I want to avoid seeing,I dare not look at her. Keeping my head steady. “I know” her grip on my neck tightens. “ I know Jane I know, didn't ask for you all to come I just wanted you— you could have given yourself in none of this would have happened—” she turned my head facing her, I closed my eyes. I didn't want to see.

“You set an obvious trap for them using me, they willingly came just because they saw a chance to save you. Nora they knew the risk and took it, same with you but as ignorant as you are. You foolishly allowed it, creating all this. You couldn't even contain it. You're unstable, but you still allowed us in. All your handwork for nothing, why did you do this Nora!?” Jane was breathing heavily I can't see it, but I can feel it, my eyes still closed.

“Hey Nora” she said with a calm and relieving voice. “ Ain't you suffering?” I opened my eyes instantly, her face was back to normal. “ See …the loraks knew how unstable you are, ‘a broken toy' they're just using you to get to me.” My throat was dried and tasted like salt.

“ Jane, how did we get here?”

She sighed and walked over to the chair she was previously.

“Me Nora”

“Are you a double —”

“No” so she's the same as me, I wasn't wrong then ah stupid.

“Can't you stop this…" I said point outside. " Since you brought us here” she placed her head on the table.” No”

“ I'm not like you Nora. I — made a big mistake and I can't take it back”

“ What did you do?”

“That's not the point right now” I stared at her without saying anything, she noticed it and shrugged.

“ See I took access of the place through you…."

“So the link stuff was just a ploy?”

She sighed and sat upright rubbing her temples.

“I did it to save you”

“ You could have just told me”

“ Ok fine I'm sorry”

“What about the mistake you said—”

“ That's not the main problem right now let's find a way to get out of here”

“Well you brought us here— what's even this… Where are we?”

“ I don't know”

“ Really?”

“Yeah” what is she hiding I need to find out.

It's getting dark and the monarks are still outside, unmoving like always.

The cabin was dry and cold.

“Hey, is the link broken?”

“Maybe I don't really know” I don't if that's true because I can feel something lingering inside me, an emotion that wasn't mine.

It's just absurd on how it came to this. I wonder what happened to the people in school. Mom and T—.

I closed my eyes and slept after a very long time, the floor was hard, dry, and cold, but I didn't care. I felt something wrap itself against me. “ Huh so you are cold you could have just said it”

“Shut and go to sleep” she said to my ear which gave out a tingling feeling.

I wonder what she is doing. I hope she's safe, I'm sorry I caused all this but can't keep on blaming myself. Stay safe T.

***

It pressed its face against mine. It was hot and welcoming. I was happy, it was happy. I placed my hand on her midsection and went lower, it let out a sound, it was embarrassing and funny. I moved closer to it but was met with some resistance, it was painful.

****

I woke up with some pain in my chest. I didn't open my eyes, but I knew, I've messed up really bad this time.