I sat in the overgrown field focusing on my breathing. It was neither hot nor cold here. It was always just right.
I've been focusing on all my issues and trying to better myself.
There's no time here.
It's always a perfect balance of what I need. The place reminds me of paradise.
Everything here gives off calming vibes. It's like sitting down at dusk when the sun is almost gone but there's still that little bit of light. It gets lonely sometimes because I'm here by myself.
Occasionally, I'll go see Nathaniel but going to him in his dreams always leaves me feeling exhausted.
I haven't bothered myself with Fang or Ari. They've been the furthest people from my mind, especially Fang. I love him, but I don't want anything to do with him. All he's done is hurt me countless times and he's becoming increasingly toxic for me to be around.
Focusing on myself and trying to keep a clear head is hard because my mind always floats to everything that's happened and I start to overthink things. Mother Selene sits with me but says nothing. She's my silent companion throughout all this. There are times when I've had full-on mental breakdowns but she doesn't gaslight me about them or make me feel bad about them. It's just the opposite and it's nice knowing that I can express my emotions and feel better afterward.
"How are you feeling today my child?" Mother Selene asks sitting beside me.
"I feel calm. It's been so long since I felt like I could relax. Lately, I've always been on edge and having to keep a look over my shoulder so this is nice." I calmly say to her.
She nods her head with a smile.
"That's good to hear. Moving on I'd like to take you somewhere. Don't worry tho, you're simply observing what's going on and won't be seen either." She says standing up and reaching her hand out for me.
I take it and stand up feeling a bit anxious.
She waves her hand and we show up in this place that looks eerily familiar.
I know this place but I can't put my finger on how I do.
"Where are we?" I ask Selene but like usual she disappeared leaving me to figure it out myself.
I let out a deep sigh and start looking around.
There's a staircase. Well, staircases. The kind that you see within kingdoms. The left and the right sides are winding up to meet in the middle. The floor I'm standing on is massive like a ballroom. Looking up, I see a chandelier that screams out: I'm expensive as hell; its intricate gold legs spiral around like flames that lead to the lights that brighten the room.
I continue looking around in awe and decide to go up the stairs.
This place is eerily familiar and I need to know how I know this place.
I head towards the left side and stop.
"Go to the right." I hear in my mind. It's that familiar whisper again...last time I heard it.... was when...was when I was in...Slymethius.
I start to panic and start spinning in circles looking around.
"Who are you!?" I yell out breathing erratic.
"Go to the right." I hear again with a firmness behind its voice.
I take a deep shaky breath and cautiously walk to the right side of the staircase.
I'm scared but I need to know. Maybe this voice I'm hearing will know where this place is. I know I'm in Slymethius but that's it.
I step up the first few steps and the familiarity of this place hits me like a freight train so I run up the rest of the stairs to where they meet in the middle.
"Go to the right hallway." I hear again so I go down the right hallway and keep going till I meet another set of stairs.
I huff out because seriously who the hell makes this many stairs???!
"Go up."
I go up the stairs unwillingly cause that first set was already enough but nope more stairs. I go up two flights of stairs and I'm already a mess by the time the voice tells me to stop which honestly I wasn't going to argue.
I sat down and took a breather.
"Get up! Hide!"
I panic and run down the hall subconsciously entering the third door to the left.
Again, I remember nobody can see me. So why did the voice say I have to hide?
I look around and that's when I notice my surroundings.
This room...
I spin around as tears start to well up and cloud my vision from what I recognize to be the room from all my childhood nightmares.
I sink to my knees and rub vigorously at my eyes.
This is my room. The place it all started. I glimpse at the bloodstained walls and broken furniture including the window that was shattered to ensure my escape.
I scream out and start cursing everything that comes to mind. I hate all of this! I hate Fang! I hate Ari! I hate how my whole life is nothing but a fuckin lie! Screw everyone!
I never wanted any of this but time and time again I was told to follow. Fight as I may; I wasn't really given an option. I had to "fulfill my duty" and even if I did manage to leave; I was always brought back.
I continued my rampaging and cursing as well as crying.
The doorknob jiggled.
I went rigid and silent as it creaked open.
They can't see me. They can't see me. They can't see me.
"I'm telling you I heard something come from in here!" I heard an all too familiar voice.
I freeze up as I see the man I'm supposed to fight one day.
The man who killed my parents and turned my whole life upside down….
Chen….
He's standing directly in front of me.