Isaac Woodman
T2 2025 - Harry and I stood outside the Theatre. Time passed around us like the passing of clouds in the sky above, not caring about the surroundings, unimpeded by annoyances. The truth of the world had become apparent, the public now knew of the painful realisation of the theatres and what they contained. The absence of bodies, the chaos caused by those with abilities. The horror, the fear, it was palpable, a horrible gnawing emotion that bared its fangs. Harry knew it as well as I. We stood much longer than we should've, just gazing blankly at the theatre doors, waiting for them to open.
"What are they doing?"
"Who are they?"
I ignored the confused questions by those who looked upon us, even Harry stayed quiet and surprisingly reserved. But I did feel his annoyance in the small static bursts that emitted from his skin.
"Are you ready ?" I asked as the doors began to open.
"How would one be ready for their death?" He responded, his eyes not leaving the opening of the door.
"So, nothing different then, after all, we are masters of death are we not?"
"You maybe, I most certainly aren't."
"Well, It's odd, I know that I shouldn't feel reassured with you here, but I think it's better you having my back than Sebastian or Jacob."
"Let's get this over with." Harry muttered and I followed alongside him as we entered the Theatre.
A feeling of dejavu washed through my mind as I landed on soil that wasn't the right colour, and looked at a surrounding jungle in which the plants and trees were different shades of other primary colours.
"Harry!" I shouted, looking for the man who was my only source of protection. I called for him again, but was once again bereft of an answer. I walked forwards slowly, heading towards the sun. Minutes passed slowly as the jungle seemed unending, that was until I finally found a break in the treeline and crossed it. "What the -" I looked around me, seeing a clearing of grass that was entirely circular, too unnaturally perfect for it to have occurred naturally. "No, can't be-" I muttered under my breath as I walked towards the white heap. As I approached, it became evident where we were. I knelt down next to the corpses, studying them and coming to the realisation that they had been burnt. I looked around, remembering the battle, and could almost see it playing out in my head. I followed the damaged grass, seeing Jacob's heroic struggle, and found myself standing where he had made his last stand. "This, why? This makes no -"
"Why does this place seem so familiar?" Harry's voice momentarily snapped me from my questions.
"This, this is the same place where we had our encore during the first trial." I said as Harry approached from behind the lines of trees.
"No theatre was the same twice, was it?"
"No, I, I don't think so."
"Then this must be something different ?"
"Unless ?" I searched my pockets, finding the same note there, Survive, was written on it in italic font. "It's a miscalculation."
"What is?"
"Me knowing the future, no one was meant to perfectly clear the first trial, this was an afterthought."
"Are you inferring that the Directors didn't plan for this."
"It's the only thing that makes sense."
"You need to verify then-" he raised a palm towards me, lighting dancing on his palm, "let me-"
"It doesn't work like that, my window will be different now, I won't get that chance again." That was when that man's words floated in my mind. "But If this is true, I think I have a different idea though, and you will have to trust me."
"What is your plan?"
"I can't say it here, in case their memory works like mine. But this might be different to what we think these trials actually are."
"Fine, I trust you, what do you want me to do?"
"Kill me, I will repeat my actions and wake your mind again, then we can get to work outside the theatre."
"You, shouldn't we at least try to clear this ?"
"There is no point, I think I can prevent this theatre from appearing, but we need to be careful."
"Fine, fine, just fill me in with your plan next time." Lightning enveloped his hand and it shot out towards me.