Entry 1: If Tabitha’s Not Dead, Why Is She in the Realm Between Life and Death?

Tabitha squinted her brown eyes, peering into the shade. Only dim light shown here, wherever here was. The girl sighed, running a creamy white hand through her short pink hair nervously. She had no idea where this place was or how she got here, but at least her eyesight was adjusting to the dim lighting. However, she had no clue where the light was coming from. She could see no light source, but the place was clearly bathed in a soft glow.

Her feet squelched as she shifted her weight, sending a shiver of revulsion up her spine. Ankle deep water covered the ground as far as the eye could see, leaving her feet cold and clammy. Her movements made little ripples in its surface.

Just as she started splashing her way somewhere (hoping she could find her way out), a brighter light caught her attention. Unlike the omnipresent glow of this bizarre place, this new light shown brilliantly in comparison and had an actual source. She pulled back (squinting a bit from the sudden onslaught of light) but soon found the light to be gentle and welcoming.

The brilliant light radiated from a beautiful girl standing on a mound of dirt. A serene smile graced her face, but Tabitha was annoyed at the woman’s distinct lack of wet feet. Why should that girl get to keep her feet dry while she couldn’t?

“Welcome to The Realm Between Life and Death,” the glowing girl said.

Entry 2: Tabitha Does Not Consent to This

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“The Realm Between Life and Death? Am I dead?” The pink haired girl’s eyes widened in disbelief. Before finding herself here, she remembered going for a nice walk at the park. What could have possibly happened? Horrific possibility after horrific possibility raced through her head, tears starting to well up in her brown eyes.

“Relax. You aren’t dead,” the luminous girl soothed.

“That’s good.” Tabitha suppressed a sniffle and glanced around. “If I’m not dead, then why am I here?”

“You’re here because I summoned you here.” The glowing figure stepped towards Tabitha. Somehow, her mound followed her. How did that even work? “I have a task for you.”

“Are you a goddess?”

The figure (a literal goddess) nodded before continuing, “You are to go to The Forest of No Return.”

“I don’t much like the sound of this.”

“It will be fine. You’ll find your way out eventually. Probably.”

“What do you mean probably?! I do not consent to this!” Tabitha’s breaths came out quick, her heart racing.

“You don’t have a choice.” The goddess pushed her, knocking her over.

Tabitha fell back into some sort of hole in reality itself, water from The Realm Between Life and Death pouring into it. Tears streamed from the terrified girl’s eyes as she continued to fall. Was she going to die? Was this it for her?

“I grant you the cheat of Curiosity. Have fun,” the goddess’s voice called out from above in an annoyingly cheerful tone.