The pilot starts to walk towards the massive doors of the Castle.
"Wait! Where are you going?" asks the woman.
He turns to look at her and pulls out a piece of paper and a pen from his coat. He writes something swiftly before handing it to her.
I am going to search for the man and ask him what he intends to do.
"No, wait, please. Take me to the Rope. I would go there by myself but only you can pilot the plane. I need to get out of this place! I cannot go back in there, I barely got out! And I am not sure how much longer I can hold myself back from going," she rambles on, worry and sadness etched on her face.
He stays silent, pondering over what to do.
Finally, he hands her another letter.
I have an idea. Follow me.
They start walking towards the plane.
"Excuse me . . . are you new here? I have never seen you two here before. So, I am confused as to wh−" she starts hesitantly.
The pilot abruptly slams his hand on the plane, the loud sound making her freeze and fall silent.
He points at the last seat of the plane. She understands and climbs into the plane, taking a seat.
The pilot works with the controls in front of him and stands back to see the transformation happen, a glass-like frame covers the seats. The seat she is sitting on expands, turning into a comfortable couch.
"What are you doing?" she questions, dumbfounded by the sudden transformation.
A box pops up in front of her, she opens it and finds a letter inside.
Stay here until I figure out what happens next. I will go in to search for the man. If you want to contact me at any time, just press the button in front of you. There are also some games to your right. Feel free to spend your time playing them.
She nods, "Understood, pilot. And please, don't take too long."
He inclines his head in acknowledgement before walking away to the front of the Castle and opening the gates. She catches a glimpse of the first floor of the Castle. Her pupils dilate as she sees the amusement rides she is quite familiar with.
She swallows, dread filling her as the gates slowly close behind the pilot. Once they fully close, she sighs in relief and relaxes in her seat, shutting her eyes.
The woman places an arm over her eyes, looking up with a smile gracing her features.
Removing her arm, she looks around, checking out the other planes parked around here.
"Let's see what games there are," she sighs, picking up a small electronic device.
The sound of games fills the empty space void of life for hours.
. . .
Tired of playing, she keeps the device back and stares at the gates of the Castle again.
"Maybe, I can go in there just one more time . . . the last time and come back when the pilot is here," she mumbles.
Smack!
Her face whips to the other side. Her cheek stings but she gets ahold of herself.
"What am I saying . . . ? I am never going back," she decides but her mind races with thoughts, leaving her feeling overwhelmed.
But I am leaving anyway. I have great self-control so I should be able to get out easily. And I think I deserve to go back in there one last time for my accomplishment. I am no longer the old me, I should be allowed to do it one last time.
This is the last time, I promise. I will get out after this. There is no harm in doing this one more time before stopping, right? It is just one more time! I promise to stop afterward!
I can get out of here right after this. I mean, I did it multiple times before, what is once more? Yes, I did this, and that, and all those other things…it is too late for someone like me anyway, isn't it?
I should go back in, maybe…that is where I belong after all. And what if the Rope is all a lie? Why am I even here in the first place instead of being at the Rope? The Rope and the void want me to be here and want me to be just like this.
So, who cares? I should just stay. I am sure everything will turn out fine. I will call the pilot right now and tell him that I am going out and apologize for the trouble.
She reaches for the button but pauses, her fingers hovering over it.
"Damn it!" she shouts suddenly.
"Damn it, damn it, damn it!" she screams as she punches the walls of the plane until the skin on her knuckles breaks, giving way to blood.
She looks down at her bloody hands and the world sways around her.
Feeling light-headed, she rests her head back against the couch, "I should sleep . . . I should sleep," she murmurs as she closes her eyes.
"Think of nothing, nothing at all," she whispers to herself. A grimace covers her face as she feels her throat choking itself and her heart burning up.
She breathes deeply, trying to calm her racing heart and her body finally relaxes.
. . .
The woman jerks awake to someone knocking on the window.
She looks around slowly, her drowsy eyes failing to make out a figure she notices.
It is right outside the glass enclosure.