Chapter 7: The Many Worlds
“Hanna!”
The voice felt so far away, so disembodied.
“Hanna!”
She felt like she was floating away down a river of darkness. The voice was slowly getting further away, but, like a pinprick of light in a pitch black void, there was something that drew her towards it. If only her body didn’t feel so heavy.
“Hanna? Hanna, please!”
She shifted her body in the current. The voice was so familiar. So insistent. Worried?
“Hanna!” the voice demanded. “Wake UP!”
Hanna opened her eyes slowly, again meeting only darkness. She felt like her heavy body was leaden, and her mind fought to focus. She blinked. Once. Twice.
“Hanna, please wake up!” The voice was loud now—right beside her. Hanna’s eyes shot wide, seeing only darkness. I’m blind, she thought wildly, shooting up through the darkness in pure panic, only to collide painfully with something else.
“Ow!” they cried in unison, pain igniting in her forehead. Hanna recognized the voice then.
Sol.
But how could it be Sol? Was it really? Sol! But, no, Sol was dead. She would never have killed Sol! She began to panic, try to back away on the cold stone floor beneath her. Stone? Oh, gods, the basement.. Not again!
“Oh, thank the bloody gods you’re awake!” Sol cried, and hands groped among Hanna’s arms. She tried to pull a way, a whining cry of fear squeaking from her throat, but the hands held her forearms tighter.
“Hanna, stop! Hey! Hanna, calm down! I’m sorry! I’m sorry! If you just stop, I’ll explain everything! I’m so sorry!”
Hanna’s body was jerked forward into an embrace, Sol holding her tight. Sol, whose hair and clothing was damp..
Hanna choked out a soft cry, but Sol rocked her gently. “Shhh. I’m sorry,” she said softly. “Hanna, I swear, it was just a joke. I’m so sorry. I didn’t know you’d freak out. Forgive me, okay?”
Slowly Hanna’s pulse calmed and she sniffled back a sob. “Sol?” she said weakly.
A relieved laugh in the darkness. “Yes, yes, it’s me. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. First, let me get us some light. I have to try to find some matches, so just hold on and stay right here. I’m not leaving you, I’m just getting us some light.”
Hanna nodded in the dark, not realizing that Sol wouldn’t see. Sol released her and Hanna heard soft scraping and shuffling in the darkness. Oh, she thought numbly. Oh, so that really was it. It wasn’t rats or some monster, it was Sol, looking for…what? Matches, right? I remember seeing matches. But how did I see that in the dark?
Her head ached as the sound of a match strike filled the darkness with a spark. It died quickly, but Sol flicked another one to life. “Ouch!” The light went out. A third strike. This one held and, as Sol appeared in the darkness, the sudden dim light painful to Hanna’s eyes, she could see her hair and clothing were damp, but not stained. Sol fumbled on a small desk beside her and lit the wick of a candle.
“I was looking for this when you found me,” Sol said over her shoulder sheepishly, as if by way of apology. “I got home kinda late, so I got caught in the rain. I came down here to get a couple things done. Next thing I know, the light’s gone out and here I was, fumbling in the dark. You really gave me a hell of a scare back there,” Sol said, bringing the candle over and sitting down with her legs folded.
“Anyway,” she continued, light flickering across her face, giving her eyes a strange glint, “I’m really sorry, Hanna. I was just joking with you. I thought you’d laugh. I swear, I never thought you’d pass out. I think you probably hit your head, so I really hope you don’t have a concussion or something. I’ll have Aema send for the doctor first thing, okay?”
At the mention of Aema, Hanna tightened. Which world was this? Was this really all just some kind of concussive nightmare? She wasn’t sure what to believe anymore, so she chose to believe that all of the different versions were real until she was proven otherwise.
“Um, Sol?” Hanna squeaked weakly. “Can we not tell Aema? Please?”
Sol frowned, leaning closer and scrutinizing Hanna closely before raising an eyebrow and sitting back. “I don’t know if you hit your head harder than I thought or if something else is going on while I was out, but I’m here now. If there’s a problem, we’ll solve it.”
Sol scratched her head, looking uncomfortable. “Okay, well, I’m freezing, so can we just try to find the damn lantern and get out of here?”
“Lantern?” Hanna asked, her brow scrunching.
“Yeah, I was looking for the lantern, but I accidentally knocked my ink over and when I tried to clean it up, my candle went out.. It was a whole thing,” Sol sighed with minor irritation. “Anyway, let’s find that lantern and get some more light, then we can try to get the power going and get you back upstairs. You should rest with a concussion—but stay awake! Do you think you can do that? Stay awake?”
Hanna nodded. Nothing sounded better than staying awake for a very long time.
-
“You did WHAT?” Aema cried out incredulously. “I know, I’m sorry!” Sol’s reply came.
After they had found the lantern, Sol and Hanna moved further into the basement where they had found Cris and Anderson toying with a generator. Since no one had any idea where the fuse box was, the generator of the manor was the next best bet. The boys had it up and running in no time and helped Hanna into the service lift she wished she’d known was there. It brought them up into a sort of root cellar area where bags of flour and root vegetables were stored. Now, by her own insistence, Hanna was back in the parlor. She had no desire to see her bedroom for a very long time. And now, in the formal dining room next door, she could hear Sol being scolded by Aema.
“You scared her to death!” said a disappointed sounding Aema.
“I know, I said I’m sorry. Look, I know my sense of humor could use some work, but I thought she would get a kick out of it. Besides, we both know Hanna would never hurt anybody like that. I didn’t know she’d…you know.”
“Faint?” Aema muttered dryly.
“Yeah,” Sol replied in a dejected voice. “That.”
Hanna looked up as they came in through the Northern doors, Sol looking drained and Aema looking apprehensive. “Hey, how are you feeling?” she asked Hanna sincerely, coming to sit beside her on the camelback sofa.
Hanna eyed Aema. She seemed sincere, but Hanna was weary after meeting so many Aemas. How could she be sure this was the original one afterall? She opened her mouth and tried to speak, but no sound came, so she simple gave a limp shrug of her shoulders and hugged the pillow in her arms tighter to her chest.
“Do you want to go to your room?” Sol asked, and Hanna shook her head violently.
Aema sighed. “I’m going to go make your favorite cinnamon tea, so just relax. Are you hungry? Do you want some bread or cookies or something?”
Hanna relaxed, her face taking on a dreamy quality. Cookies.. Cinnamon tea..
Aema gave a lighthearted chuckle. “I’ll take that as a yes and see what we have. Chaos isn’t Hanna, but I probably shouldn’t leave him alone too long with the food,” she grinned before exiting the parlor.
Sol sat in a chair adjacent to Hanna and watched her, her head propped up by a hand. She stared at Hanna so long that she began to squirm inside. Finally, Sol stretched and tilted her head. “Are you gonna tell me what happened?” she asked quietly, a quality of insistence to her voice.
Hanna sat, unable to speak. She wanted to, but something about explaining everything made her worry they would all think she was crazy. Perhaps she would end up in a sanitarium if she spoke out..
She didn’t have to worry long before Aema came back, carrying a tray of tea and assorted breads and pastries. Hanna tensed until she saw the tray wasn’t silver. She visibly relaxed and gave Hanna a nod of thanks and a weak smile as she took her tea cup. She felt a shiver as she realized Sol was watching her again. No, not watching—observing. The memory of the creepy Fake Sol doctor came into her mind, and she sipped her piping hot tea, grateful for its warmth.
Aema took her seat beside Hanna again and served herself a cup of coffee, then gave Sol a scrutinizing look. “I would have gotten you coffee, but I’m punishing you for being mean to Hanna,” she said primly, a hint of a smug smile on her lips.
Sol tried to suppress a smirk. “I deserve that,” she said matter-of-factly, a flash of guilt crossing her face. She looked at Hanna, then at the tray. Hanna looked down at the goods and instantly understood: Sol was judging whether or not she could take the jam cookie or if she should leave it for Hanna. As if in slow motion, Sol’s hand began to lift. Hanna grabbed the cookie and jammed it into her mouth with lightning speed, coughing on a crumb after a moment.
“Oh, Hanna, drink some tea! You shouldn’t eat so fast, you’ll choke,” Aema scolded gently. Sol covered her amused smile with her hand and pretended she had been reaching for the hard biscotti piece. Hanna knew better than that. Sol despised the hard biscotti. She felt slightly triumphant…and slightly guilty at the same time, as she watched Sol miserably try to bite the end of the biscotti.
Hanna didn’t sleep all that night. The town doctor, Diana, made a house-call that morning to check in on her and gave her some calming herbs to help her anxiety. Hanna wandered the manor like a ghost. “Hey there, Banana,” Chaos called to her with a smirk and a wave as he passed her in one of the corridors. She couldn’t remember if she said anything back. She didn’t sleep the next night, either. Eventually, the following morning, she finally made her way to her room, though wearily.
This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
At first, everything looked as it should. After all, why shouldn’t it? But then she realized her room here was a little bit smaller than in, as she dubbed it, World 2. There were little differences. The decor, the beds, the balcony doors. She wondered how she hadn’t noticed the details before.
Now that she had a clear head, familiar surroundings, and time to herself, Hanna began to think on all that had occurred. She came to the conclusion that, for whatever reason, World 2 Aema was drugging her. But World 1 Aema seemed normal, so she must be the original Aema. World 3's Nurse Aema was kind. She seemed like she really wanted to help Hanna, but her hands were tied by whoever was watching them—probably that fake Doctor Sol. What was with that creepy doctor version of Sol?
Hanna shivered and moved to grab a shawl off of her dresser when a soft rapt came at the door. Without thinking, she dove under the bed, dragging herself behind the sham for cover. “Hanna?” came Sol’s voice. Another knock, a little louder this time. After a moment, the door opened and she heard Sol’s hesitant voice. “Hanna? Are you here? It’s Sol. I’m coming in, okay?”
Hanna barely breathed as she watched Sol’s shoed feet walk slowly across the room, past her hiding spot, and stop at the balcony. A moment later, Aema gave a soft knock. Sol had left the door open, so Aema peeked in. “Sol? Did you find Hanna in here?” she asked, coming in.
“No,” Sol replied thoughtfully, “But maybe she’s in another place. Would you mind checking the kitchen? She might be snacky.”
“Sure, good idea,” Aema replied, her feet turning to the door, then hesitating before closing the door and crossing to Sol. “Can I talk to you about something? Hanna’s acting kind of weird around me, right? Do you think I did something to upset her? I never actually thought she’d go into the basement alone that night, I was just teasing her.”
Sol was quiet a moment, then distractedly murmured, “I know, Aems. You wouldn’t do that to her on purpose. And I’m sure that whatever is going on is not the fault of the Aema right in front of me. You’re a good person, okay?”
“Okay,” Aema sighed.
“Though,” Sol continued, “I think if she catches us hanging out in her room with the door closed, she might think we’re doing something weird or wrong, right?”
Aema laughed and her shoes headed back towards the door. As she opened it to step through, she half-pivoted. “Should I leave the door open, or..?” She trailed off.
“Hn.” Sol thought a moment. “Closed is fine, Aema. Oh, and can you please tell Soohae and Anderson that it’s their turn to make lunch today?”
“Okay, Aema chirped. Hanna could practically feel her salute. Aema left, shutting the door.
Sol stood a long moment quietly, then released a long sigh, as though she had been holding her breath herself. Then she drew a deep breath and murmured, “Oh, Hanna, what’ll I do with you?” Hanna tensed as Sol’s footsteps led her closer to the bed, then stopped. “Perhaps, then, it’s a game of hide and seek.”
Hanna wasn’t sure if it was a statement or a question before Sol dropped down to her knees and lay down onto her hands, locking eyes with Hanna as she looked under the bed.
“Found you,” she said with a Cheshire grin.
Hanna started, knocking her head upon the wooden frame above her. “Hey, easy now!” Sol said. “You’ll definitely aggravate your head injury if you do that! Diana said to take it easy and not go knocking your head about, right?”
Sol moved back as Hanna gulped and began to drag herself forward, out from under the bed. “What were you even doing under there?”
“I don’t know,” Hanna admitted. “I just sort of panicked and it happened. How..How did you know I was under there?”
Sol gave a half-shrug and smirked sideways. “Maybe I’m magical,” she said mysteriously with an eyebrow wiggle. Hanna rolled her eyes.
“No, seriously,” she insisted.
Sol looked at her with mock solemnness, laying a hand on Hanna’s shoulder and saying with quiet dramatization, “Hanna. My dear. My pet. My rock.” She left a pregnant pause and continued only when Hanna began to lose patience. “You forgot to pull in your skirts.”
-
After lunch, Hanna sat in Sol’s office. It wasn’t much—certainly not as flashy or opulent as some of the other guild leaders’ offices—but it felt sort of homey. Sol walked around her desk and sat, leaning back in her chair a little. “So,” she began. “What’s with all of the drama? The suspicious eyes, the jumpiness. The lack of sleep, as I can tell by your beautifully raccoon’d eyes.”
Hanna sighed and walked to the desk, plopping down with a thunk into the comfortable armchair on the other side of the desk. She couldn’t help remembering the throne-like high-backed chairs in Pipe’s office. By comparison, Sol’s was soft, oversized and perfect for an afternoon catnap with a good book. She’d often sneak into Sol’s office for quiet time when their leader was busy and she didn’t want to be found. After a long silence, Hanna grumped at Sol with a huff. “Fine, I’ll tell you,” she said, fighting the call of sleep in the snuggly chair. “But if you call me crazy or a liar, I’ll get really angry with you.”
Hanna recounted everything she could remember happening so far, starting with the night of the storm when the power went out. Sol leaned forward, putting her elbows on her desk and resting her chin on her folded hands. She seemed deep in thought for a moment before standing.
Hanna wasn’t sure if it was a good sign or a bad one that after everything she had told her, that her leader had yet to say a word. Sol, her back to Hanna, stretched out her arms and walked up to a map of Ethos hanging from her wall. “Have you ever heard of the multiple world theory?” she asked in an offhanded way, as though they were talking about the weather.
“The what?”
“The multiple world theory,” Sol repeated, turning back and laying her hands on the back of her chair. “It’s this theory that speculates there are a number—perhaps an infinite number—of other worlds out there. That every decision that could ever be made HAS been made, and that each of those choices branched out into its own timeline, with its own versions of events and people—even us.”
Hanna blinked at Sol, tears threatening to fill her eyes. “Then you believe me?”
Sol smirked and scoffed through her nose. “Why wouldn’t I? I suspect you never lie to me.”
Hanna laughed then, unbidden. It bubbled up out of her like an overflowing well—overflowing with relief. “I was so scared to tell anyone! I thought I was going crazy!”
Sol walked around her desk and sat on the edge before Hanna. “What if you’re not crazy?” she asked soberly. “What if everything you experienced was real? What if that head injury you got,” she said pointing at Hanna’s head, “Was the key to some kind of freak connection to other worlds?”
Hanna pondered this a moment before nodding. “I guess it kind of makes some sense,” she replied doubtfully, her brain having a hard time wrapping around the idea.
Sol stood again and began wandering the room in thought. “Maybe all of it was real,” she murmured, “And you’re just a Traveler.”
Hanna sat straighter and turned her head to watch Sol pace. “A Traveler?”
“Maybe you traveled along the universal consciousness and entered the minds of the other Yous,” she said with a shrug before plopping down on a settee and shoving a pillow behind her lower back. “Or maybe you’re just a Wanderer. Someone who wandered in by accident after getting lost.”
“Are these real terms?” Hanna asked curiously. Sol merely shrugged.
“It’s the best I’ve got on such short notice,” she said with a dry sarcasm and a sideways grin.
-
Unable to stay awake another night, Hanna lay in Soohae’s bed, trying to hold onto whatever covers she could. Soo was glad to let Hanna have a slumber party in her room, but she was a total cover hog and Hanna shivered, prying some more of the sheet her way. Soohae rolled over in her sleep, her arm flopping and her loose fist narrowly hitting Hanna in the face. She wondered for a second if she made the wrong decision when a sleepy giggle escaped Soo’s mouth, and Hanna had to cover hers with both hands to keep from laughing. So cute!
I wonder what she’s dreaming about, she thought to herself. Then her mind began to wander and her eyelids grew tired. She began to wonder about the other world theory—or was it the many worlds theory? She wasn’t sure anymore. But, strangely, the last thing she thought of as she drifted off into sleep wasn’t the theory, but the conversation Sol and Aema were having in her bedroom while she hid.
“I know, Aems. You wouldn’t do that to her on purpose. And I’m sure that whatever is going on is not the fault of the Aema right in front of me.”
The Aema in front of her..? Before Hanna could think on it too deeply, sleep ushered her into its waiting arms, carrying her consciousness to the land of dreams.
Hanna dreamt. She dreamt she was running from the evil fake Doctor Sol, when the Real Sol suddenly appeared and waved her into a hiding place, a crack in the wall.
“Here! Come here, quick! Hurry, Hanna!”
Hanna ran as fast as her legs could carry her, squeezing herself into the crack and holding her breath until the Fake Sol ran past her hiding place and kept going. She let out the breath she was holding and panted her relief. She felt as if her heart had almost burst from the pressure of her holding her own breath.
“We made it,” she gasped, turning to Sol. “We’re safe!”
“Sol cocked her head to the side and smiled her sideways smirk. “But are we?” she asked, her voice laced with something mischievous. Hanna realized slowly that Sol’s smile didn’t reach her eyes. A glint of something silver in Sol’s hand. Was that a..scalpel?
Hanna awoke with a start, sitting straight up in bed. She panted, trying to catch her breath and failing when she recognized the sunlit interior of her own bedroom. Oh no, she thought frantically.
Throwing back the covers, Hanna raced to her dresser and grabbed some clothing before rushing into her personal water room. She wasn’t sure how long she had before someone came looking for her, and she had no idea how long it had been since this Hanna had bathed, so she relieved herself before washing and dressing quickly. Now then, she thought, A weapon. I need a weapon.
She burst out of the water room and into Candace. Evil Candace, who she was sure was in league with Aema 2, as she now dubbed her.
“Oh!” Candace cried out as Hanna ran into her, nearly knocking her over.
“Candace! Sorry! I just—” the words that tumbled out in a mad rush died on her tongue the moment Aema 2 appeared in the doorway.
I have to get out of here, the thought finished weakly in her head. But inside, somehow, she knew that was no longer going to happen.
“Oh,” Aema 2 said, smiling that now creepily bright smile. “It’s good to see you up and around, but you really should be back in bed. Rest is best,” she chirped cheerfully. Hanna’s brain prickled with familiarity at the phrase, but she shook it off and concocted a cheerful smile of her own. “I’m feeling much better now, as you can see. I’m all dressed and ready for the day! I really would like to take a walk in the garden.”
Aema 2’s mask momentarily slipped as she bristled, but it was gone as soon as it had come. Her smile was tighter, but it was back. “I’m sorry, but it really isn’t good weather for being in the garden,” Aema replied mechanically, gesturing with a hand towards Hanna’s bed.
Hanna furrowed in confusion and turned her head towards the bright sunlight streaming into her bedroom, the sound of birds singing in the distance. Then she remembered. Nurse Aema had said the same thing, only with some sort of fear or discomfort, rather than this weird sort of…control.
“It looks fine outside,” Hanna replied, standing up straighter. “Perhaps you’re not feeling well, dear Aema. Perhaps you should have some of that medicine you love giving out.”
Aema 2’s mask dropped completely. “Candace, dear,” she said darkly, “I believe our poor Hanna must be hallucinating again. I’m afraid we may have to restrain her to her bed.”
Hanna’s mouth ran dry, her throat tightened as she turned to look at Candace. A shadow of darkness danced in her expression as she smiled coldly. “Poor Hanna,” Candace replied flatly. “We had best take care of her before she harms herself.”
The momentary panic of indecision as Hanna whipped her head between the two was all they needed to move to grab her. Aema 2’s hands were surprisingly cold on Hanna’s arms, and painfully strong with vice-like grips. Candace rushed to the bed, pulled back the covers and pulled up restraints that had been tucked under the mattress. What the hell?! Hanna thought, panicked. Have those been there the whole time?!
Hanna struggled to pull back as Aema all but dragged her towards the bed. Candace hurried to her side and helped grip Hanna. “Now, Hanna, you really should cooperate,” Candace grunted with the effort. “You’ll feel fine as soon as you take your medicine.”
The two made quick work of dragging Hanna back to her bed. Candace climbed onto the bed, helping to pull Hanna’s struggling body onto the bed. Grabbing a strap from the bottom, she started restraining Hanna’s feet while Aema 2 held her arms. Once her feet were restrained, Candace and Aema 2 each took an arm and tied her down. “There we go, all comfy cozy back in bed,” Aema sneered, pulling the covers back over Hanna, hiding the restraints.
“Let me go, Aema,” Hanna growled, her anger rising.
“I’m afraid it’s time for your medicine,” Aema 2 replied, her voice sickly sweet.
Hanna tried to twist and away, but between Candace and the restraints, there was nowhere for her to go. Aema 2 produced the strange vial of liquid from before from her pocket, using a needless syringe, she siphoned the liquid from the vial. Candace held her head, Aema forced her mouth open. “No!” she tried to scream, but she was already choking on the putrid concoction. When she had been forced to swallow the entirety of the syringe’s contents, Aema 2 stepped back, satisfied. Hanna’s stomach and head felt fuzzy and a feeling of vertigo washed over her as her eyes grew heavy. She gave a scathing glare to her captors as Candace, looking almost regretful, returned to Aema 2’s side, the latter with a twisted smile on her lips.
In her final moments before her heavy lids flitted shut, sealing her into the darkness, Hanna’s eyes looked to the door beyond them. The door they had forgotten to close. In the doorway stood Chaos, his eyes wide, his mouth agape. Run, she wanted to say, but her mouth wouldn’t form the words. It was probably too late anyway, she thought, the darkness sliding around her.