Later that night, I couldn't stop thinking about him, as if he had somehow inserted himself into my head. My mother was in her bedroom sleeping, and my father was somewhere off-world. I ripped the blanket off of my bed and quickly got dressed in a simple shirt and shorts. It was a relatively warm night on Theia, reaching about 70 degrees. The planet was only getting warmer from the mass of industry on the southern hemisphere. The air was crisp and the hum of crickets matched the continual hum of machinery.

I didn't know exactly where my legs were taking me, but it was towards the east, which was mostly rural and agricultural. I wasn't the best at geography, and the only places I knew of in the east were the radio tower, power plant, and train station. I weaved through buildings until I eventually reached a clearing. There was an open field with transmission lines lining down the center. I felt that as though I had once seen the place in a dream, or that maybe I was dreaming, though I was far too conscious for a dream.

I eventually reached my destination. At the end of the line was a large warehouse, seemingly abandoned. It appeared to be very dated, though not completely forgotten-- it looked like someone might have been tending to its upkeep every now and then. I approached the entrance, which was a large iron gate that seemed to open in the same fashion as the entrance to a mechanic shop. I put my ear up to the door, attempting to press against it, but the next thing I knew, I was lying on the cold, hard concrete.

Concrete...?

Somehow, I was inside the building. The clearing was no longer behind me, and I was surrounded by crates in the dimly lit warehouse.

"Despite the fact that I told you I wouldn't bother you..."

I heard a voice calling to me from somewhere above me. I followed the rusty staircase on my right up to a walkway hanging above the crates and lining factory's upper floor. Across from me stood that same figure from the bar.

"You really wanna fight this early?"

I immediately sprang towards him, trying to land a solid blow, but he once again faded from existence, my punch seeming to go through him. I wobbled forward slightly and he was able to catch me off-guard, knocking me into the railing. I winced upon impact, but decided to stay low.

His ability was very complicated. He seemed to be able to manipulate his own existence, making himself intangible and invisible to others. Could he pick and choose, or was it involuntary? The same ability making him intangible couldn't have made him invisible, he wouldn't have been able to melt the ice at the bar if he didn't exist. No matter what it was, I had to adjust to fighting an opponent that could vanish at any time.

He approached me, ready to push me off with his leg. Instead of kicking me over the railing like I intended, he kicked me into it, cracking one of my ribs. I sucked a sharp breath through my teeth, knowing that would hurt like a bitch once the adrenaline wore off. Nonetheless, I grabbed his leg, digging my elbow into his shin savagely. I continued to hack at his shin up until the very moment he rippled away. He simply un-formed and reformed right in front of me, grabbing me and throwing us both over the edge before I could resist. Then, right before we hit the ground, he disappeared, leaving me sore and alone on the pavement.

"Agh... pussy." I muttered.

It was a steep drop, but not high enough to render me immobile. I looked around, and sure enough, he wasn't done yet. There had to be seven or eight clones of him circling me, with a shroud of darkness behind them. They were alternating between attacking and retreating, all too fast for me to react. I knelt to the ground, unable to continue after each consecutive blow. Et Cetera returned to his perch atop the crates.

"You disappoint me, Delta. I think maybe I'll leave you here. Come meet me at the palace tomorrow, okay?"

And with that, Et Cetera left me to wallow in the darkness.

****

I had decided that it would be better to succumb to my injuries and fatigue instead of immediately trying to escape, and I promptly passed out. When I awoke, I didn't feel like I was in the same place as I was before. I opened my eyes blearily and looked around, taking in my surroundings, which appeared to be a dingy hotel. The mono-yellow wallpaper clung to the walls, its edges curling slightly, as if in distress. The worn carpet underfoot felt damp and emitted a faint, stomach-churning squelching sound with each step I made.

The room I woke up to was lit by flickering fluorescent lights that buzzed incessantly, casting uneven shadows on the walls. The constant humming was jarring, making it difficult for me to concentrate. Was it Et Cetera that had put me here?

Oddly enough, I was no longer injured. That could mean Et Cetera healed me, or I was dreaming, or maybe he never hit me at all? The buzzing was incessant, making it impossible to try to piece anything together in that moment.

I tried to navigate my bizarre surroundings, but this turned out to be a maddening ordeal. My sense of linear space had been completely shattered. I walked in what I believed to be a straight line, only to find myself returning to my starting point in a different set of rooms entirely. The visual monotony of each room made it nearly impossible to determine any landmarks or orientation.

"Damnit Et Cetera! When I catch you..."

Suddenly, as I turned yet another corner, I caught a glimpse of something that sent shivers down my spine. A dark, lanky figure, obscured by the flickering shadows, stood at the end of the hallway. It was motionless, its silhouette elongated and contorted in an unsettling manner. Panic welled up inside me as I realized that I was not alone in this nightmarish plane.

My heart began to throb. Instinctively, I turned and ran in the opposite direction. The figure, whatever it was, seemed to react to my presence. It moved with an unnatural grace, like it was performing a twisted dance in the dimly lit corridor.

I pushed myself to run faster, the sound of my footsteps echoing eerily against the foul-smelling carpet. The figure was gaining on me, its presence a looming threat that I could barely comprehend. My breath came in ragged gasps, and I could feel sweat trickling down my forehead. I wouldn't dare attack it. I felt as though there was something very, very wrong about the creature.

Desperation guided my every step as I searched frantically for an exit. The hallway seemed endless, the walls closing in around me. I could hear the soft, rhythmic sound of the figure's footsteps growing louder, a haunting reminder that it was still in pursuit.

Then, just as despair threatened to overtake me, I spotted a door at the end of the hallway. It was different from the others, its frame slightly askew, as if it didn't quite belong. With a burst of newfound energy, I sprinted toward it, hitting an odd angle on the beast.

"F-fuck!"

The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

I lost my grip against the carpet, sliding into the ground. The monster, however, was incredible agile. Its odd bodily contortions allowed it to pivot perfectly and catch me by the ankle. Thankfully, I was able to tear my limb away from its grasp, standing to my feet. I was face to face with the amalgamation-- well, probably. It didn't really have a face. As I held up my arms to restrain the beast, I couldn't tell what I was looking at. There was a violent hissing coming from the ever-changing abyss at the zenith of the creature's body. As I gazed into the "face," I began to understand what I was looking at, only for it to change a moment later. It was changing before I could comprehend it fully, but I could see a faint outline. I struggled to pull away, my brain having a difficult time focusing on anything while trying to force the conglomerate of morphing shapes into a singular entity.

BREAK FREE! CAN'T STOP ME! ♪

I felt a twinge in my chest, like my heart was ready to burst, like I could somehow jump out of my physical body. Somewhere in my mind, I was reminded of my desire for freedom.

I seemed to escape the monster, stumbling into a room that appeared no different from the others. But this time, I didn't stop to investigate. I ran through the room and into yet another hallway, my only thought to put as much distance as possible between me and the pursuing figure.

The chase felt endless, my fear driving me forward. But as I sprinted down the seemingly endless corridors, I noticed a subtle change. The hum of the fluorescent lights grew softer, and a faint glimmer of natural light appeared up ahead. It was the exit, it had to be. With one final burst of energy, I pushed myself to reach a set of twin metal doors, locking them behind me with a switch mechanism attached to the wall.

I took a moment to catch my breath, only to find myself once again within the warehouse that Et Cetera had left me in. It seemed to be a lower level of the warehouse, however, having a different layout from how I remembered it initially. It was well lit, better than when I had first entered. It had seemed that Et Cetera was nice enough to leave the lights on for me.

As I continued to walk, they flickered twice before completely cutting out, but I continued to move. However, I stopped short.

There was something in front of me, I could sense it. I paused, hoping the lights would turn back on, and to my surprise, they did, revealing what seemed to be one of the Cosmos Rangers. He was outfitted in all white, his reflective padded armor being almost blinding under the florescent light. While not unheard of, it was odd for Cosmos Rangers to be on Theia, seeing Epsilon's stance on Dalus Cosmo.

"10-22, false alarm..."

I wasn't much for police, and I was no longer injured, so there was no need for me to get his attention. However, I had to be entirely sure I wasn't still dreaming. He couldn't have been stationed nearby, there was no way! I reached for my pocket, thinking I still had that coin from the bar.

"Well shit... I can't try obliterating him," I said to myself, but I had a plan B. Doing my best imitation of a helpless victim, I yelled, "Hey, I need some help over here!"

The officer slowly turned, almost as if he was moving his head by a singular degree at a time. With my focus shifted to his head, it became apparent to me that he was finished turning much before I had realized. Not only was he bald, but his skin followed all the way around his head, bearing me his faceless gaze. He was completely smooth, no room for an eye or even nostrils. He didn't have a scalp, just a bulbous dome. His pores became more noticeable to me as he rapidly made his approach. Millions of holes dotted his eerie "face." He lunged at me, but I was far too fast for the monster. I made no effort to engage, quickly darting around a nearby corner, continuing down a long hallway. Water dripped from the ceiling of the dark concrete jungle, which made a frightening amount of noise as I trudged through it.

I followed the preceding pathway until I found an open door with a staircase. Luckily, it lead upwards. Without need for explanation, I followed it up to a vast subterranean complex that defied comprehension. The network of tunnels that stretched out before me was both awe-inspiring and perplexing. How could this exist here? I had thought that the warehouse looked small from the outside, there was no way that Et Cetera had placed me that deep underground.

The tunnels were lined with evenly spaced doors, each one adorned with intricate designs and adorned with runic symbols. The sheer number of doors was staggering, and it was clear that this was a place where countless pathways converged and diverged. I couldn't be sure which one led to the exit, but I had no choice but to start with one.

I approached one of the doors, drawn by the mystique of the runic symbol that marked it. It was unlike anything I had ever seen, an intricate pattern of lines and curves that seemed to pulse with an otherworldly energy. There was a faint neon glow coming from behind the door. I decided that there was no other choice, Et Cetera was probably gone, and besides, Epsilon probably finished him off. Worst case scenario, Epsilon would find me. Somehow. I swallowed any bit of hesitation, opening the door.

I found myself within an expansive subway station that seemed to stretch on infinitely in both directions. The hustle and bustle of the platform was immediately apparent, a stark contrast to the desolation I had experienced earlier. Even still, I couldn't make out any of the figures that occupied the space. There was something stopping me. Perhaps my brain was too fried.

The interior had a decidedly technological aesthetic, reminiscent of an advanced subway station you'd see on Theia, though, the colors and architecture were much different from Theic transport systems. The walls were adorned with illuminated panels that emitted a soft, neon glow, casting a mesmerizing kaleidoscope of colors across the platform. The lights corresponded with the various train lines that crisscrossed the station, creating an intricate tapestry of hues. The cleanliness of the subway station was also striking. The tiles beneath my feet were pristine, gleaming in the neon light, much different from the previous areas I had been to.

I approached the ticket gate, realizing that I was now stuck. There didn't seem to be any ticket booths, just an area labeled "Snack Stall" and some bathrooms. I considered jumping the gate, but stopped when I was face to "face" with another one of those horrid creatures.

At first glance, the figure appeared as an ordinary train ticketer, sporting a uniform that resembled that of a subway employee, complete with a name tag that read "Ethan." His posture was neutral, and his demeanor seemed unremarkable, as though he were going about his daily duties. His face, or lack thereof, was a chilling aberration. Where his features should have been, there was nothing but a smooth expanse of skin, devoid of eyes, a nose, or a mouth. It was as if his face had been erased, leaving behind an unsettling blank canvas. Nonetheless, he didn't attack me.

"Could I have an um... a ticket?"

He "looked" at me, emotionless.

"Oh... Is there uh... Theia? Meta Station South?"

He gave me a slight nod, handing me a ticket. Once again, without any need for explanation, I scanned it and proceeded through the neon gate. The signs were beginning to hurt my eyes, but the presence of different colors was a much needed refreshment from the monotonous yellow light from before.

"Er... which terminal would that be?"

Ethan pointed to the big neon terminal attached to one of the walls near the subway, to which I responded with a nod which I assumed he could see. The terminal listed a plethora of different locations and different color lines. My ticket was on the Theic line, which was a yellow ticket. I looked at the corresponding color on the display.

Time: ∞ Platform: 4 Status: Leaving soon...

"INFINITY? Leaving soon?!"

I began to run down the infinite expanse of the platforms, quickly realizing that there would be no direct way across. At least, not one fast enough to catch the train. The train on the first platform was there, but not the second. I quickly weaved through the singular car, hopping across the track to the next platform. The train on the third platform was there, however, the second was not. I would have to jump directly to the train if I wanted to make it, which began to move. Sparing not a second, I leapt across and quickly shot out the other end, making it to the fourth platform. As the train began to leave, I was able to catch my foot in the door. I clawed my way in, pulling myself to the nearest seat.

The walls were adorned with illuminated panels that displayed intricate patterns and designs, shifting and morphing in mesmerizing rhythms. Seats lined both sides of the car, their surfaces a smooth and comfortable leather.

The windows were large and crystal clear, offering panoramic views of the tunnel system as the train glided effortlessly through the infinite network of tracks. Outside, the neon lights cast an ever-changing array of colors upon the tunnel walls, creating a hypnotic display that seemed to stretch on endlessly.

There was a faint sound of passengers engaged in quiet conversations, but I was in no mood for conversation. All I could think about was finding Et Cetera.

As I settled into one of the seats and looked around, the speakers overhead crackled to life, and a calm, automated voice filled the car.

"NEXT STOP: META SOUTH STATION!"