“Look at him.” The emotion in those words filled the air with dread, a tangible sense of danger welled up in the air and festered in the hearts of all who heard him. A being stared into a display that projected the object of his hatred.

“Look at him, Huilar.” The being turned to a slender tall figure that seemed to exist of living shadow. “Look at he who crawls through the mud and dirt like an insect.” Huilar doesn’t respond, knowing that while it may have been framed as conversation this was just his master ranting.

On the display is a man or boy really. A human at that. He appears to be walking through the woods, the sun shining down on him and the sky is blue and clear. For a human, it is a perfect day. For the being it is sickening. The joyful mood that the boy seems to be in, doesn't help his mood any either.

It was well known that looks could kill. Laser beams from the eyes, soul invasion spells, corruption magic, or even a mental magic cantrip would turn someone's brain to mush. However, this human was outside of the domain that this being controlled, and beyond outside of what many would understand as the universe, a lesser understanding and flawed, but an understanding nonetheless.

All of the beings in the room where at least one step removed from their mortal origins, even the rats, if there were any to be found, would possess qualities that most Earthly humans would understand, only as magic or trickery in the best case. All of this was known to the being who brooded over the image of the nemesis who, despite all of this had thwarted him repeatedly on a world where he chose to make a play for power. It just made his failing that much worse.

“And you know the worst part..” The being leans back in a throne that is made of red bones that creaks under the shifting weight. “The worse part..”

Another voice speaks up then, a huddled form that is tied to the throne by a chain of black iron, that glows with runic patterns that let off the bright glow of power. The form as not moved in centuries and simply lies on the soft bedding that has been provided for it.

"The worst part is that he doesn't know who you are or that you even exist." The mocking tone is clear, and the shaking is evident in laughter, which is a low croaking sound that fills the space even as it causes clear pain.

The being regards the form with a level stare. He had long thought that she had long since lost what had remained of her mind. Apparently not. That laughter causes his blood to boil and he clenches a fist. A wave of power floods through the chain in the shadowed form. The laughter cuts off, but she doesn't scream.

After a moment he relents. For it is true the mortal doesn't know he exists, believing in a mere fantasy over what was true. the being is also aware of the little he has gleaned from the insects' mind that should he learn the true nature of things he likely wouldn't have the fortitude to stand against his plans.

But alas such is the way of things that exist beyond the veil. Not even Burytal lord of the Infinite Path could affect something so huge and powerful as a veil between realities. For that was who he was a ruler of one of the infinite realms of the abyss and among it’s most powerful denizens.

But Burytal mused, he didn't need to rent a veil a sunder no. His mind was focused on that specific mortal. To be thwarted was one of the most irritating things to a devil. Plans laid over millennia or centuries foiled by a nobody. Someone who didn't even realize the import of actions taken.

It was irritating to the extreme, but he long had started to form his plan of action. To directly acted a single mortal was normally beneath him and his station, however when that mortal vexed him so he was willing to forget the slight to his self-image.

The turned his slight from the mortal and looked again at the crumpled form what had once been a mighty and overwhelming enemy, now reduced to this state as nothing more than a small pet he kept for his amusement.

"You are right, of course, he doesn't know who or what he has impeded. To think that such a ridiculous scheme to fool me was brought to fruition by this lowly being is nothing short of an offense to my very name." His voice takes on a sinister edge, "Perhaps it is time he learned of exactly the realm that he has chosen to enter, perhaps it is time he learns of who I am." The unmistakably vile smile that blooms across his features could cause even paragons of light to question whether they would step up to face this being in that moment.

"You would knowingly take such a chance? I don't dare hope that you be so foo~oolsih" The voice hisses out from beneath its dark covering. Scorn and condescension are evident. "To think you would invite such a challenge, it is impressive how stupid you can be at times and still wear the crown."

“I risk nothing, you overestimate the cost. And the challenge, look at yourself Winterhier, I do not think you are in any position to question my power here.” The cool delivery speaks of confidence and absolute certainty.

As he finished speaking the being reaches out with magic, the vast reserves of power that dwell within the devil churn silently in his depths. There is a wrenching sensation as what passes for air in this place is displaced by a sudden glyph that twists itself into being.

The creature, scrambles of it's post the yanks the chain to its limit to get as far away as possible from the hideous symbol. Turning her head away Wyhte is unable to even look upon the abhorrent pictograph, a complex overlay of images and symbolism hat is her current form is well beyond her understanding.

‘To think the fool would really do it.' This thought bounces around her head as quickly as it appears the symbol flashes, not out of existence, but deeper into in. The writhing mass emptiness that is left in its wake is just as horrifying, if for different reasons. Through the gap in all of reality, the chaos of creation, that which lies at the convergence of all planes is, given a pathway into the world.

Wyhte doesn’t hesitate after seeing this and dives for the rift. The chain which had she had been slowly compromising over the last three decades fails in a brilliant fizzle of color. She almost makes it.

A tight hand grasps her around the neck and hauls her back as the rift begin to shrink and shrivel as Burytal pours out more of his power to close the rift.

“ No no little lizard, the master wishes you to remain for a time more, step with us will you.” The voice the speaks almost directly into her ear is quickly sweet and venomous and long nails that curl around her neck prick her flesh and draw out thin lines of blood.

For a minute she struggles while the rift shrinks smaller and smaller. Then with a flash of deep red light, it's gone.

Whyte goes limp in her captor's grip. As Burytal turns to face her again, a mock disappointing frown covers his features. "Now now, dearest pet, you were the one reminding me of risks. Yet you would step into the chaos itself. How very hypocritical of you."

"Looks like we'll need to have a new chain made, Maya dear, please see to it that the little lizard doesn't stress too much till then." The faux kindness in this voice grates on Wyhte as she is dragged away by the woman, knowing that she is in for an unpleasant time for a while more.

<><><>

I stood in the forest that bordered my apartment complex on the edge of the city. I liked nature quite a bit, even though most of the time that was from a distance, where no wild animals could mistake me for food.

Under a canopy of trees that seem to reach into the bright blue sky, and provide enough shade from the hot summer sun, that made staying outside just bearable enough for me to take it without questioning my sanity for doing so. Truthfully, I was out here most of the time or went for walks in the well-worn trails that swayed drunkenly through the forest. I liked watching the birds.

It said online that is was good to have a hobby to fall back too when you are feeling down. I was feeling down, I wasn't depressed .. I think. But after the servers had shut down on my game, I had lost a large part of who I am and struggled even now to fill the void it left behind. I didn't tell anyone, of course, they would think I was having an episode.

Not that there was anyone to tell.

The foster parents who raised me dumped me as soon as I wasn't profitable anymore and I was left alone. Not that I wasn't a little grateful for them taking me in the first place. But they were always distant and blunt, never looking for connection, apart from the few times an inspector showed up. I had known much worse situations and just went along with it, not relying on them for anything outside of the very basics.

I had a backpack with me it carried all of my things as well as some notebooks that I would use later to see if I could write anything down and get the thoughts out of my head. That sometimes helped, not always of course but they had been getting worse when I had lost the game.

I planned to get in contact with the developers later that day and see if they were working on any new projects that I would be interested in. Or maybe even try to open a private server of the game world so I could go back and relax every once in a while.

I avoided human contact as much as possible, I was wary of other people, that was born from a lifetime of mistrust and abuse at the hands of strangers from an early age. A time I repressed with great diligence, even when I was in a much better place such as this.

The dead leaves on the trail crunched underfoot, as I stepped deliberately around small annoying rocks that would always be underfoot if I didn't look out for them. Following this trail wasn't difficult being my regular route, a relatively flat ordeal that leads to a quiet glade that I liked and as the park itself had not seen many visitors in ages, this spot was happily mine.

I was not in a rush. Slowly I walked into the glad which was almost a perfect circle. This was a place for me to watch and observe life slowly show itself around me. I sat on the far left of the bench that was in the direct center of the open space. I relaxed into the seat and went still, with an arm resting on the edge.

My fingers brushed the edge of the plaque that dedicated the bench. I didn’t look at it, having read and reread it thousands of times by now. I gazed in one direction for a long time, just letting the world melt away from me. I hadn’t always been like this person I was now, a reclusive gamer I used to.. have them, Lyla and Marc. But no, I couldn’t let my thoughts spiral like that.

I let them flow out of my mind, simultaneously feeling guilt and the familiar anger that were at constant war with each other.  The ebb and flow around their memory was something that I had constantly struggled with never letting either side completely dominate my emotions.  There was a lot of history for me to simply fall into anger and hate. And so I pressed down on the emotions not wanting to deal with the complexities that were interwoven with my thoughts of them.

In retrospect that probably didn’t help my emotional stability too much. Oh well.

I slipped into an almost meditative trance, trying to find my zen as some guy online had called it. But thinking of nothing was the most impossible thing that I have ever tried doing, so I settled for focusing on the world around me. Inspecting the small details, the bend of grass from the slight dew, the number of coloring leaves on the trees, and the birds that flitted between them now and then.

Then something changed in the air. I felt it like a small twist of wind, all the animals bolted I saw only the rustle of branches and sway of grass as whatever smaller critters had found me approachable were now gone.

I got up and looked around. What the hell, normally nothing happens here that is why I like it so much. Then I felt a burning sensation, I smelled burnt flesh. That was all secondary however to the clawing pain that crawled up from my back and snaked its way around my flesh. The pungent smell overwhelmed me and gagged in revulsion at the burning of my flesh.

Not really wanting to I fumbled through the pain, pulling the hem of my shirt up and looking down, stunned at what I found.

Red light seeped out of my skin, burning the outer layers away and forming intricate symbols all over my body. I collapsed in pain a scream wrenching from itself from my body, the pain was only growing. Then it reached a peak and felt my mind fading out, a sudden flow of warmth flooded into my being.

I lay bonelessly on the ground, not wanting to move or do anything to risk another attack of pain, not sure what started it and what had ended it either. I was stuck waiting as my mind slowly came back from that place driven by pure instinct. I relaxed slowly, my mind racing as the strange sight came back to me.

Slowly, carefully I lifted my arm in front of my face. They were still there, like freshly closed wounds, thin slices only millimeters deep, but noticeable when seen all over my body like fresh scarring. I already had scarring, this was still different somehow this was more like some kind of sick ...carving into the canvas of my skin. Strangely, if such a word has any meaning in this situation I was that they were almost fully healed.

They were strangely appealing and frightening to the eye and me for having them just appear like this it was a bit unnerving. I rolled on my back, not wanting to look at them anymore. Trying to figure out the why so many possibilities running through my head and most of them utter nonsense. Something else then caught my eye. Another blood-red light seemed to be above me.

The blood-red pinprick of light hovered there just sitting in the sky, I moved my head to the right to get a better look and found the dot followed. I was already starting to hate the color red.

I got up slowly, not looking away from the newest strangeness, newly found scarring put to the side for the minute. This thing above me was different, sure the first time had hurt badly and I didn’t want to repeat it. But this, this was different I could feel this light. As it grew brighter and brighter I felt it touch my face and almost threw up.

The very real sense of utter revulsion exploded in my mind when the light reached the intensity of a small Christmas bulb. I struggled to keep my glasses on my face as the hacking continued as the light grew steadily brighter.

I couldn’t bring myself to look at it again. That helped some, but even feeling its rays on my skin made my skin crawl. It was like nothing, my mind tried to come up with a comparison something that would be just as bad, but every time I had an idea it was immediately discarded as useless, nothing could capture the sheer disgust that was evoked.

The light built to an intensity, before erupting out. A pillar of red light engulfed me, thankfully the original stomach-turning feeling was gone and I just stood in the beam before the world turned white and then I was ... was standing in a dark room. Huh.

I was there and now I was here. It didn't even feel like I had moved, but this was not the sunny glade I had just been in. This was a damp and grimy looking cave, seemingly made out of a plain rock. I couldn't tell however as the only meager light was provided by three braziers that were arrayed around me forming a triangle.

My brain did it's best not to shut down here. Light, pain, and a change in scenery is was all a bit much. I jerkily glanced around, stunned as I waited for the next dramatic thing to find me. Knowing that I was able to do nothing like my world shattered around me.

It took a few minutes for me to stop wildly peering into the dark, hoping to preempt anything that would spring happen, simultaneously not knowing what I would do if something did happen. Then I noticed something. The half of the bench where I was sitting not moments before was also with me inside the triangle formed by the lights. My bag down underneath where I had stowed it, charred grass also littered the floor, all-round me, forming a perfect ring.

I am not sure that I ever had a moment where I realized I had been .. teleported... That word just was not anywhere in my head. I was not in denial, there were just some things that are not the first thing that I would think off. I like to think that I am at least intellectually inclined, the other choice being physical, and that just wasn't me, so it was brains or nothing.

As I gazed at the bench I noticed the metal was still intact and was relieved, however, the sight of the ruined monument to my chosen siblings was what stabbed into me and brought about the reality of the situation crashing to the forefront of my mind.

I spun around again, trying to find .. something.

"Ummm... Hello!?" My voice echoed around the chamber and reverberation back to me. "Is anyone there, I seem to be..uhh here... Now" I waited.

<><><>

In a place far from the Infinite Labyrinth, but just as desolate as the tower at its heart, another woman stirred for the first time in thousands of years, ancient magic flowed of her and into the voidal chasm around where her form hung from hundreds of chains which stretched taught in every direction, seemingly fading into the background. Unlike those of Wyhte, her chains never glowed and would never glow.

Ancient beyond what most people could understand the being was still very much alive, although she too had slept for some time now. The intermittent visits her captors used to do, having long since ceased for some reason or another.

And she too is awakened. In her vast mind, a small point of light brightens and shines for a brief moment in time, something that has not happened in a very long time. It let a wonderful trickle of strength flow back into her emaciated form.

Nyx stared transfixed by the light. Feeling its true conviction and exploring the path to being on the other end. A boy, no more. The chains shook as Nyx’s body convulsed, unknowingly as her mind read the boy before her. Saw him falling into the abyss, and felt the tunnel through the very reality that grounded all things, the chaos of creation. The backdrop and convergence of all planes.

As she watched the bot fall, gazed at him knowing him in truth and seeing what lay beneath the shell. The window was closing fast, time being as twisted as everything else when the chaos was involved. Nyx shoved a return gift of power as the true belief of one of her most devoted priests came to wash over her.

She had felt his convictions had seen into his mind as well as soul, already knowing him better than he knew himself. The power traveled down the link just as the light glimmered out and the boy, Jace she told herself, Jace, arrived in the abyss. Already her wakefulness fled.  That was the most power she had drawn on since her imprisonment even now traveling down through the chaos itself to him.

She didn’t know if the chaos would eat away all the power before it even reached him, or if the stretch of space would be infinite and thus never reach him. Or if any number of things could go wrong. But the attempt was made anyway.

Time will tell, the consequences for her were more immediate. The chains grew ever tighter around her, the blackness of space folding in on itself at the edges forming new chain links as they creaked and groaned as if to grind her to dust.

They could not of course. Even a goddess bound for a hundred thousand years would not be broken by simple chains. That being a relative term, as this chain was not simple or in most ways even a chain.

Nyx fell asleep almost peacefully, despite the conditions, for the first time in so very long.

<><><>

Slowly the echo of my voice died away, and nothing. I bit my lower lip, unsure of what exactly I was going to do next if there was no one at the end of this crazy ride. Then I heard scrabbling, muffled off in the dark. I turned to face it quickly, a mix of apprehension and eagerness played in my heart.

Then the sound grew... it sounded like a group of people coming up from somewhere over in the dark. I stayed within the light, reluctant to wander into the dark, hoping that I would get some answers.

There was a squeak that echoed around, as someone opened a door that leads out of this bleak chamber. Instantly the chatter became apparent as whoever they were speaking in a language that I did not recognize.

Several torch lights were illuminating the forms that came through the door and I once again stared in amazement. I had expected humans, I only realized this after I saw the very non-human beings that were now in front of me. It must have come as a shock to them as well as they seemed to freeze. We stared at each other.

I had been through quite a few shocks today and sound myself, already recovering from this latest development. They were gray and had about a foot of height on me. They had only a single eye which was entirely green orbs that sat in the middle of what passed for a face, their massively muscular exposed chests were covered in loose fabric that I struggle to even call clothing, and each wore a loincloth, not the warp around eastern style either the caveman, thread with a sheet hanging down deal that provided as much in the way of protection as it did in actually covering anything up.

Then one at the back grunted something out in that guttural language and they all seemed to relax and look at me strangely. I didn’t like the strange demeanor at all and it is not helped by the unsettling grins that sprung up on the one whom I presumed to be the leader.

"Hel-hello there .. ah..friends... I am Jace..do you... kn.." I trailed off as the looks didn't change and if anything got more savage. They barked at each other and I put down my hand. They either didn't understand me or didn't care as they moved forward as a group.

I backed up as they approached my already weary mind, realizing, almost bemusedly that no friendly faces were approaching me, just thuggish smiles. I flinched as one barked a command.

A smaller one in the front growled back with what I could almost tell was glee before raising a sword at me. The blade was wickedly curved and sharp, even though I could see a layer of rust and something I didn't want to identify caking the side of the blades, the edge, however, seemed to be especially polished and sharpened as the metal glistened in the flickering firelight.

He howled as he leaped forward. I instantly thought he, because that was made very obvious when his clothing as it was flapped about wildly on his descent. That impressive leap threw him a good couple of meters and into my triangle of light.

He was crouched low when he landed bringing him down to my height, his blade pointed right at me. He seemed to sway a little. I backed up even further, bringing up my hands to say hold on in the universal sign of defenselessness.

This was the wrong move. He lunged at me, blade leading the way. I panicked as I realized that I was about to be run through. I jumped back barely avoiding the stab, but straight into the braiser that was at my back.

I felt pain lance up my spine from the metal rim. I glanced behind me just in time to see the thing topple from its cradle and crash to the ground. Fire spilled out, presumably from--

I felt another searing pain in my chest and looked around belatedly to see the creature, now, no person in my mind pulls out his sword. He withdrew the point slowly and I screamed.

“GGUUAHHHHAAAAAAAAA." I had never been stabbed before. It was novel and terrifyingly painful. I collapsed as the blade left me, already overwhelmed by the pain. Without thinking about it I pressed a shaking hand to the wound, wondering morbidly if that was going to help me now.

The creature stepped back and opened his arms wide. The feral look on his face was alien to me and the snake-like nose flared as he took a deep breath. His face was alien, but his posture and gaze spoke of scorn and derision.

Not that I cared what this oaf was mocking me for at this point I was too busy trying feverishly to figure out something... anything. But nothing was coming to me unless these things were not going to kill me I was going to die here.

Even as I thought his it was not a possibility at this point, already the one in front of me had lower himself into the crouch again. Almost the same as before.

As I stared death in the face I was simply in pain and could already feel myself growing weaker from the original stab wound that still radiated pain whenever I breathed.

The creature said something, it easily reached me, however, I couldn't understand word s any more than I had the first time around. The sentence went on and on for a second time. The other warriors that now surrounded me, save for the side with the burning lake.

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

I was not ever someone would describe as a confrontational person by nature, I stuck to the people I knew and didn't venture too far outside the world I lived in. Being thrown by a beam of light to the aliens which attempted and mostly have succeeded in killing me at this point, would throw anyone off their axis for at least a little while.

I have been called other things though, vindictive, petty, and pervert up there with the top few that have cropped up, before and after the disappearance of my family. But some of those people were much worse than me and didn't get a vote in what I was.

I felt blood well in my mouth and for the first time in a while felt a sneer creep its way onto my face in the face of the idiots taunting. I could recognize anything as taunting, I have had the practice. And now in the face of death was not the time to change who I am. So despite the very real fear and despair, I pushed them aside to spit blood at the creature.

It must have been some of my last energy as it arched beautifully before splattering on the ground before him. I didn't speak, mainly because they wouldn't understand but also because what needed to be said was already said.

At this point, I was looking at him, but only in the sense that I had my face turned in his general direction. I had already tuned out him and whatever reaction he had, although by the grumbling he didn't sound pleased. I wondered if spitting on you was a universal gesture of disdain or just something that humans and whatever they were shared.

Unbidden memories of the twins surfaced in my, things that I hadn't thought about in a long while. The time we spent playing by ourselves in the small glad we found. The darkness that they pushed back, from my time alone in a cell being cut open time after time after time. And the bad times as well, the fights we had near the end and then alone again.

My head tilted down and I wondered when the blade had come again. This directly in the center of my chest skewering my heart.

My mind went ... off.

<><><>

In another cave, in another world entirely, another female stirred. Old certainly, but by no means ancient. She stretched atop the pile of furs arching her back, letting out a deep purr. As her mind stirred awake, she felt a hole in her being, long empty, filled again. That completion threw her into shock as a feeling so familiar and yet new at the same time washed through her.

Then she yowled in empty rage as the void opened again, smaller but still there. This small part of her, made smaller by the sudden change, was like a bristle in her paw. Made ever more distressing by its sudden disappearance.

Her mate entered the cave and padded up to her side. Gently licking her face as she pressed her belly to the floor, feeling the loose keenly once more.

“What troubles you, Mya?” The low, calming tone of her life long partner echoes in her mind.

“No, no need to speak I already know. You only get like this when you remember him “ After finished cleaning her he moves to lay down and drapes one paw over her, putting his face right next to her’s.

“Talk to me kitten.” His voice is imploring with a hint of command that comes from his time controlling his children, who even now he has just left after hearing Mya’s sorrowful sound echo out of their home.

"Yes, but this time it's different. I..I.." She hesitated not wanting to say the words and breath life into her thoughts that would only bring her life thoughts back to full force. She hardens her resolve under the comforting weight of her mate's paw. "I felt his presence again.” Even in the telepathic speak her words come out as a whisper.

He takes a second to respond, “Yes, I too sometimes feel him watching us. The kids too, he would have liked them. Although I am not sure what he would think about me...” His self deprecating humor is lost on Mya.

"Wha.. what... No, you're not listening! I felt him again Nil. The bond was made real again...”

His head pulls back to look at her. "But ... but I thought you said that was impossible. Without the bridge, or the mechanisms or even the host... How.."

“I know! I Know! I know what I said. But I felt him I still feel him, different sure but it’s him. He’s back or they’re back maybe? I was never sure about that other woman... but I have to go find him. There had to be a way to get to him and ... and ..” Without realizing it she was on her feet and pacing the room in excitement and adrenaline.

“Calm mate of mine, calm. We are not going to go find him.” His chuckle cuts across her mind, “You are acting like an excited kitten again.”

"WHAT do you mean we're not going to go find him!? He's my... my.." Again she couldn't finish her thought, the emotions that welled up were overriding much of her thinking.

“Well for one, your pregnant. Again. ”

“I am?” The force from the previous statement deflating like an arrow hitting the dirt.

"Yes, you are. And for another thing do you know where to go, even a vague direction."

"No." Her voice is soft and vulnerable, aside few would associate with her. The massive lion lets out a chuff at his mate's cuteness which still can get to him after all this time together.

"No that's right. And would your companion, who raised you from a cute, mewling little kitten and raised you into the mate to the most powerful beast in the whole range feel about you traipsing around with a litter of his grandkittens at risk?" dulcet tones, soothing over the fresh loss like a balm. Mya found herself returning to her normal self and knowing that Nil was right. About most of those things.

She slumped back over to her side and gazed at him, adoringly. "Thanks, my Mate. I was just so... so... SO, Happy for a second there. You have no idea the sense of completion, what it feels like to be whole after so long.."

"No, I don't." He pads over to her again and touches her nose with his own," And one more thing. If you are right and He is returned to you..to us, then do you think there is much that could stop him from coming to you."

The half blissed-out half despairing sigh that reached Nil, makes him pause. "It will depend on how much he realizes about our world and the so-called game he played. For if he has returned then it is not from by the Gods Bridge. Which means .. something but I don't know what that is yet. But you are right he will probably come if he learns the truth."

For a moment they stayed like that enjoyed each other's company. Before simultaneously getting up and making their way to the cave entrance

As they do Mya reaches up and whaps her Mate on the head. His chin slams into the ground. "And what was that nonsense about being the strongest beast. Please dear, you are lovely, but we both know that simply isn't true. "

"Yes yes, of course, excluding you dear always we would never fight!"

“My I forgot about myself I was thinking of Maru. He was gathering quite the aura last time I saw him.”

“Maru!! You think that cinder head..wait when are you spending time with Maru.” Mya ignored him.

"Or Samson, Everbright, Mily, hmmm let's not forget me in there."

“Okay, okay I give up. It was just a line I hoped to slip by you! Now tell me..”

<><><>

I lay on my bed and watched as the clock, slowly tickled on the wall. In the digital age having an analog clock was a bit of an anomaly. This particular one was a fake, it's outward appearance was simply a facade, the winding mechanism, and a direct connection to a small motor which in turn had a wireless connection to my phone, constantly syncing the time together with the digital world. This machine was a happy cat face I looked at was a happy little lie. A deception, not unlike me.

I hid behind the mask civility that I once always held with them around. But how was used as a tool, just another way to fit it.

Another tick, as the minute hand clicked 1/60th closer to the time when I would wake up. I gazed up at the photo that was tapped to the ceiling, three smiling children. The larger black-haired one wore familiar sweatpants and a graphic tee. A blonde-haired boy was standing next to him, quite a difference in their stature. They both held wooden sticks out like swords in front of them. Another blonde, a girl was hanging onto the black-haired boy and peeking over his shoulder as they squared off.

That picture had been captured at the moment by a nice couple who had decided to send a copy to us after finding the picture entertaining. At the time, of course, it was nothing I wanted or cared much about. I had kept it and in truth forgot about the picture until I was forced to find it again.

A weight settled on my chest. I looked down to see a kitten. She was small and in the darkness, it was hard to make out any coloration. I didn't have a cat.

Just then her eyes reflected up ay me, ‘mew' I wanted to keep her. That face was adorably fluffy. I found myself already planning out my budget for next week to include kitten's needs. My hand moving automatically to stroke her fur.

‘Purrr' She let out a small contented purr and lay down as if for a nap, right on top of me. My fingers found their way to her neck and I found the light collar attached, I sighed and realized that she must already have an owner. I squinted and tried to make out the name.

- Mya -

Hey, I had a cat called Mya as well, not in this place but still. For now, I contented myself to let her lay on me as the time ticked forward.

Another tick echoed in the otherwise silent room which I lived out of.

5:55 ‘mew’

I started moving swinging up and pulling my head out of memories as the time approached. My computer was already on of course. The time had come, I get out of my bed and prepare to go to work. I started booting up programs and finally opening the game launcher. My stream was officially licensed and almost had a religious following, from both the companies promotion and my exploits in-game.

‘Meow’

Logging in I checked the screen, two character options as always were available to me, I selected the knight, who was resplendent in high-level gear and was my main face through which the outside world saw me.

I liked to open my stream when I was already in the game, past all of the outer layers of that broke through the immersion of my play. Everything went to silent mode as I clicked the enter world.

My whole screen flashed to pure white, blinding me and I pushed back shocked and felt myself fall back off my seat, the searing intensity of the light washing away all other sights. I tensed up expecting to hit the ground and bounce off the hardback chair that I was so familiar with.

I closed my eyes and fell.

The excepted landing never came. Instead, I felt soft fluffy surfaces beneath me. I opened my eyes slowly, not wanting to be met by that light again.

There was white again. But it was less intense than before and didn't hold that someone-just-shoved-a-flashlight -in-your-face intensity from before. Carefully I lowered my arms and peeked around. I found myself in a white room. The ceiling, floor, and walls were all an inform white only offset by the shadows that were cast from, white lamps that stood on small white tables in the corners of the room. I looked down and found myself on, surprise, a white bed. But I was wearing my regular clothes, a dark gray pair of sweatpants and a familiar graphic tee that had holes in the chest area exposing my skin to the white world.

To say that I was feeling a bit surreal was to understate many times over how I was feeling. Surprising I felt no fear or even alarm. I just felt serene and at ease. It was an incredible sensation. There were no windows or even a door however and I contented myself with just examining the lights that emitted a shade of white light that seemed to match the tone of everything else perfectly.

As I was looking at one of the things that seemed to simply exist without any need for anything, I noticed something new happening. The wall next to me rippled slightly, like a disturbed lake, the disturbance growing ever greater. I felt no fear as something moved toward the room how could I, I was here.

I dropped the lamp and watched it snap back to its position in space is if it had never been moved. I was almost distracted by them again except the wall, bulged out near the bottom of the surface and something pushed its way into my space.

A small cat. It was a dark gray as well but had pretty purple patterns along its sides and across her whole body. Her. I mused to myself, that seemed right somehow. I bent down and picked her up. She was so soft and fluffy.

I cradled her in my arms and sat on the ground. I knew his cat. Her name was...was... Mya yes that was it. She was my pet and later the companion and still later my greatest ally. But this was her when we had first met, a small kitten that I got from one of the starter quests. Hmm, didn't I just start that game...

She licked my face and I held her tighter. To be able to hold her like this... this ... what was this a dream. But something itched at the back of my mind, a thought that wanted to be thought.

Mya squirmed in my arms mewling piteously. She scrambled and I felt she wanted to be let go. So I did. She landed gracefully and padded over to the wall. This might have been the one that she came through I was not sure. She turned and looked at me halfway there. I stared back not comprehending.

‘

Until it clicked, she wanted me to follow her. I got up and did happy to oblige her, after all this time being on seen through admittedly super high fidelity graphics under my monstrous computer set up, it was still infinitely better in person.

When she saw me following she went right up to the wall and sat, licking a paw as I strolled over to her.

"Hey kitty, so what is it, did you have something to show me?" My voice sounded strange and distant to my ears, echoing weirdly off the walls. It was an almost pleasant experience. "Woah, that's nice." I listened to the sound of my voice bouncing back to me a couple of times before looking down at the cat.

She sits and looks at me with her head canted to one side then, turns and without noticeable effort walks into the wall, pushing through the supposedly solid surface. I blink and know what she wants to me do I step up to the wall and step into it. It feels a bit denser than water at first, but then I take a second step and it is more difficult than the last. I step again, another increase in difficulty. I start to enjoy the challenge of continuously moving forward. Then I press up against a membrane. An area of toughness that is more difficult than the rather shallow increase in pressure thus far.

I step forward with purpose and push myself against it. I can feel it flexing around my form as I lunge into the pliable surface. I stay like that a second leaning all of my weight into the strange sensation and then...

I jolt upright, gasping and heaving for breath. The stale cave air came back in a rush, I splutter and cough, my lungs refilling at last. Holy shit holy shit holy shit. What WAS THAT!? oh my god. I remember everything and the hidden sense of euphoria is gone now replaced by some creeping chills as I remember pushing through the wall. I had not even noticed that I hadn't closed my eyes and was just seeing the same shade of white through whatever I had just walked through.

Reliving memories and hallucinating Mya at the same time and strange white room. I flopped down against the cold hard ground and immediately regretting it as I stuck my head against the stone. By the time the stars had gone, I was staring up at the ceiling of a dark cave.

Firelight flickered in the corner of my vision. The indistinct haze of rocks above me, let me know that I was back in this place and that something was different. Everything was a blur, I squinted and looked up my hand unconsciously coming up to fix my glasses. Glasses that were no longer there. Right blurry vision, not a knock to the head just bad eyesight.

I think they dropped when I was stabbed the first time. It could have been the second time, I was not sure how much that mattered at this point. I almost laughed to myself at that, ‘Oh yes, just casually stabbed, that's right through the heart.' I didn't say this out loud, of course, having no desire to ... die?... well go through that thing again.

The fire that spilled, had seemingly gone out, however, the other two were still burning away. I could still see where my blood and spilled out over the floor, it covered a large pool of where I had been laying. I could feel the sticky feeling on my back as well, my shirt must have gotten completely soaked in the stuff. The two gaping holes in the front didn't help either. I took it off and found the back caked with red.

There was no water nearby that I could see and I wasn't even sure if any amount of scrubbing would get this out. My pants had some as well, although they were still in fair shape, unlike the shirt.

That’s when I realized what I had already known but not processed, no water. No water meant that I was going to die here again. This was a severe blow to my state of mind. I struggled with myself over my next course of action. No food no water no shelter.

No food no water no shelter no food no water no shelter...no food..no water...

A sat and contemplated my problems which seem to be mounting by the minute. The one brazier that was face down left a patch of darkness in the triangle. Then my eyes fell on the bench, or at least what was left of it. The small pile of shattered wood chips left me no doubt that the creatures had taken it apart.

‘nonononono’

I crawled over to the pile and dug desperately through the small pieces knowing that I wouldn't find it but frantically hoping that I would. But it was gone I sat back, staring blankly, they had taken my backpack as well it seemed, although that was infinitely less important to me at that moment, compared to the dedication plate it that was also taken.

I found myself thinking about those creatures who had killed me the moment that had seen me. True they had me fight some sort of one on one ritual killing thing, but that wasn't much comfort. What I did know however was that they were living beings as well, however inhuman. Living things required nourishment and water. So the answer to my problems was there all sorted. Just take the water and food from the massive sword yielding insanely strong monster people. Easy. Especially since they already showed the ease with which they killed you once, so now hungry and thirsty this time should be different.

I needed more information.

I got up gingerly and began to search the room this time making as little noise as possible. I was pretty sure that the creatures that had found me had not heard me call out, and were doing something unrelated when they had stumbled across me. I remember the surprise on their faces... At least I hoped it was a surprise. Not a very comforting thought, but at this point, I doubt a little comfort would do me any good at this point.

Having not seen the telltale glint of glass reflecting light that I was hoping for, I was stuck fumbling around in the dark slowly. Strangely, my eyes adapted well, then if they couldn't focus all the way.

I started at the door that the group had come through and hopefully left through. I moved with deliberate slowness, placing my foot down exactly where I wanted it to be making every action a decision I made, it didn't eliminate all the noise I made, the sound of shoes on the stone was deafening in the otherwise quiet room.

I held my breath with the last step and found the door. It was wooden and fit surprisingly well into the stone frame that housed it, a strange piece of actual design that threw me off the general feel of the place as a cave.

The door was larger than I was accustomed too and not that I was close I could see the hinges were rusted and brown with age, whatever the original metal was, it had not held against the test of time well it seemed.

With that decision made I couldn’t open the door. Too much risk of sound, and if the rest of the place was anything like this cave sound would carry. I couldn’t risk those brutes finding me again.

I was actively avoiding thinking about how just ten minutes ago I was dead as far as I knew. However before places where the sword had stabbed into me were now healed over, only a discolored scar to show that they had ever been there in the first place.

Too much weird shit has happened to me in the last... I wasn't sure, a few hours maybe, to me... felt like a few hours at least. Of course, coming back from the dead was so far up there that it was not even worth thinking about right now. That whole experience had been so outside of what I had thought death was going to be like it was not worth me thinking about, especially on an empty stomach.

I made my way around to the left, carefully feeling along the wall and paying as much mind, to details that I could make out, as I could. The rest of the room appeared to be an attempt at a spherical chamber. The number of jagged rock and outcroppings made it a very poor attempt but the idea was there. Soon I came to the other side there was no door like I hoped, however, something did catch my interest. This side was closest to where the brazier that I had knocked over was. I could see the clearly defined area where whatever super fuel was burning in those things and splashed about. There was a section of much cleaner stone. It was only slightly of a lighter shade than the surrounding gray stone.

As I looked closer at the discoloration I was surprised to see that a slight heat haze still distorting the air around near close to the ground. It was still putting out heat, granted I was only guessing how long I had been ... out... However even the lowest approximation I had put it at least a few hours from when I first arrived.

I leaned down and slowly lowered my hand to a height where I could feel the temperature, I get surprisingly close to the floor before I felt the prickle of warmth. I pulled back and studied the patch of hot stone.

‘Well, at least I have fire sorted, for now at least.'

I moved on, taking care not to come too close to the new hazard in the room.

After I completed the tour of my room I found no other exit. And it seemed I had already seen everything this room at to offer. I felt a sense of disappointment well up, and frustrated I grasp my hands into fists squeezing as tightly as I could manage trying, and only most succeeding to stave off the wave of terror crashed over me. One of my legs gave way as I struggled to remain upright.

There was nothing here. No explanations, no answers, and no hope. I wasn't even aware that I was looking for that last one until I didn't find it. I breathed in ragged gasps, my racing thoughts already beginning to slow. This silent frustrated angry that I stew was made all the worse by my inability to express it for fear of being brought down again.

I stumbled over to center to the room and sat against the upright stand with no brazier. The other to merry lights hadn't dimmed in the slightest and I wondered how long they had been burning down here for. They were inverted domes that had little spokes on the rim. The bowl was plain and seemed to be made of shiny metal, but given the occupants down here I doubted that they cared much for gilding.

For how long I sat, I couldn't say. Even if I had a watch I wouldn't be able to see it enough to tell the time. I wondered at the immensity of the shift that had occurred in my life, I would have considered in almost dreamlike, apart from the death, pain, and having no shirt. I poked my gut that stuck out a way over my waist. I had once tried to gain a more athletic form when Marc had convinced me to at least attempt it. I had tried, I had not succeeded.

I sighed and stood. My emotions have settled. I was ready to try and find a way out of this situation. The first step is to figure out what the hell is going on. From there, we'll just have to see.

There was not much else to do really. The first thing that I did was walk over to the brazier it seemed pretty flush with the ground and I had been worried that it would still be hot to the touch as the stone was. I carefully felt the air around the base but found no heat, which was pretty odd considering. This metal must be some super heat insulator.

I used the little spikes to grab onto, that being the only reasonable place to grip the otherwise smooth surface of the thing. It was weighty like I had suspected but nothing too strenuous. I lifted it with no problems. Only as soon as it was off the floor and a small gap created, bright burning flames flowed through the gap.

They poured out like a liquid. The wave of heat alone hit me like a physical force, I dropped the dome back down sealing it inside once again and jumped back even as I felt the heat engulf my feet. My jump was hasty and lacking coordination, I stumbled and fell on my ass.

That minor sting was nothing when I saw that the bright flames already licking my shoes, and the small pool steadily flowing out of the spill and onto the ground.

I scramble, hopping over to the raised platform once more, simultaneously trying to removing my shoe's soles as they burned through. The smell of burning rubber spurred me on.

Thankfully only a splash of the stuff had made it on to me and I quickly removed my socks as well set them off to the side. While they weren't burning, they were smoking and I wasn't going to risk anything as I watched the fresh fires burn my shoes away, and acrid smoke wafting around the room.

I could see the slowly cooling pools of rubber be engulfed yet again by the thinning sheen of liquid fire as it spread out. Even as I backed away I still felt the draft from the heat swirling and disturbing the air in the room noticeably.

The spectacle didn't last very long and was almost beautiful to watch as the liquid-like substance burned away in almost picturesque flames. Even the small amount that I had inadvertently let out again seemed to spread a noticeable, if not as large, splotch of discoloration on the stone.

I tensed suddenly and looked at the still-standing remaining braziers. I hadn't noticed it before but there was little to no heat coming off them, even when I was standing so close. It was nothing compared to what had to be a relatively small amount of the fuel or whatever rocket fuel served as such for these, now much more sinister seeming lamps. I froze.

‘Ha Ha,' I had to visibly keep the chortle from escaping me as I realized what I had just thought'. Whoever heard of a sinister lamp. What I had thought to just be some kerosene burning there was, in fact, something far different. My mind boggled at the properties that I had just discovered. To still burn after having no oxygen and after so long. Why wasn't the ground molten stag underneath? Why did it flow so well, and such heat? Why do the ones behind me let out no heat even as I stand in front of one? I only feel a slight rise in temperature, nothing like the variable blast furnace when I lifted that only a fraction.

I had no answers as usual. That seemed to be happening a lot recently.

Steadily, growing more confident with each step I walked toward one of the upright ones and had a look inside. They were all stationed about two meters away from the dais on which I had first arrived, itself being about another two meters in radius sitting, only a few tens of centimeters off the ground.

The stands held up that held them up were about a meter in height and made of three beams of wood crossed together. Without my glasses and unwilling to get too close, now knowing that these things weren't exactly stable. I figured that if I could knock one over if I threw my weight around a little I figured it would be better not to get to close.

I could only make out the inside and knew that I was missing details. There was what appeared to be a perfectly still liquid inside. Through the flames, it was near impossible to get a clear picture.

I found myself moving forward almost unconsciously as I stared into the blaze, wondering at its properties. I could see a distinct line where the strange liquid reached and simply became the flame. On the inner lip, there were what seemed like some form of inscription. I couldn't make anything out and was left frustrated yet again.

The longer I stared into the flame the weirder it was. I remember the one I had touched when I had thought it's light gone out. It was cool metal. I reached out a finger and light made contact with the one in front of me. It was also cool, I traced my finger along the bottom to the base, feeling the cool surface and marveling.

Then it hit me that I was standing so close to this thing. I didn’t remember crossing the distance, having only known that I was standing still until that very moment. I froze. Scared to even breath very hard. But steadily it’s presence grew more firm in my mind as I allowed myself more movement. Slow and careful. I lifted my finger off and turned away. Not wanting to be entranced by the flames again.

My eyes landed on the perfect thing. The empty stand was still fallen off to the side where it fell during my ‘fight', or more fittingly execution. I shivered. What bothered me more was the scene that played out in my mind right before I woke up or came back or maybe reanimated, I wasn't sure what to call it, than the death that I had right before it. I had died. And it was the strange happy dream that bothered me more. That in of itself was more unnerving than I when I had found myself alive and fully healed from what must have been two mortal wounds.

As my thoughts slowly came together, the liquid fire and light show in the sky, and the resurrection? I felt the answer was right there, on the tip of my tongue but my mind was rebelling against the idea. I had seen those things hundreds and thousands of times before. Not on Earth per se, but not really either. This confusing line of thought was almost always what preceded thing about the game. The game was full of these spectacles, hell my character Luu-Ri, is or had been before the end game and server shutdown that had turned my life upside down, one of the most prolific mages in the world. But that was a game, and my other character, the main I had what was it almost nine years, had been an, among other things an Ascendant Knight of Nyx, the Goddess of Night the first mother, she who birthed the very world. How many resurrections had I performed under her blessing, another thousand easy?

But that was the game. A fiction that first we, then I as well as many millions of others had immersed ourselves in. The surreal thought that I was somehow in the game moved across my mind. But I quickly squashed it, for many reasons, among them, is that I didn't believe it, not really. I had no idea when tech capable of recreating anything like this would be real, and I honestly rejected the possibility that it did outright. The few other reasons were for my sanity and sense of grounding. I would accept the magical world to be real before I accepted that this was a game that I didn't know, or had been shanghaied into playing, and from a park bench, please. And so it was.

I nodded a few times. Conforming and reconfirming, actively making myself believe it was true. I won’t say that it was a snap. I stared into the magical fire. Replaying the spill and the vast swath of damage that had been done to the floor.

I spun surveying the room. Then faced the brazier again. I felt I was right about this, each passing moment the feeling grew within me, nothing else came to me. No other possibility, limited as my education was. Four clicks to fork never failed. Slowly the world around me changed. No, nothing moved on its own, no doors suddenly opened and gave way to a perfect forest. No. no. This change was personal.

It wasn't a heroic or noble sense of adventure or even desperation to get back to where I was, as boring as it sounds while I had nothing here, there meant just as much to me. That I could lose nothing. I would have to find another game that I was good enough at and liked to play. Or get a job in a warehouse somewhere and bide time. For what I wasn't sure, but it was a stable if unfulfilling life that I lead. Without the game or Lyla and Marc around it was going with the tide. A boat on a beach left with the tide to rot and fall apart.

The simmering change stirred within as I reminisced, and examined my life. It was faint at first but grew in the back of my mind, it tainted my thoughts of my life even as I replayed them in my head it was not something new I found this woven throughout my recent past, each day getting more and more intense.

Some times hit you when you least expect them, a sudden glorious insight into some factoid that changes you, some ineffable revelation that changes your reality. This was not like that I felt the traces of my rejection scattered throughout, unwilling to be broached either because of fear or stubbornness I didn’t know. But now as emotions swelled within it felt like a glorious release. I felt no attachment to Earth.

‘To be clear I felt no attachment here either.’ The more calm side of me noted ideally, but couldn’t arrest the feeling within.

Something was lifted from me as I examined my surroundings anew, for the first time seeing the strange alien environment and wondering at it. A simple rock cave was not all I saw no. Now I see something far more interesting... Opportunity.

That's what this was. I was in, or at least believed myself to be an entirely new world. It was a hope, more than anything else at this point. But I felt secure in making this bet and couldn't wait to go all in.

I turned to the brazier and clenched a fist. To have already died, and feel this way about leaving Earth I will admit that also made me uneasy. The emotions that came to light and their virulence, I hadn't expected. Sure I had repressed emotions, who didn't but to this extent?

I lifted my hand and considered it. To have already died...

I stuck my hand in the flames.