Caption (to assist readers):
- Everything is good. - = speech of the character
"All good." = character thoughts (during certain scenes)
*boom* = ambient or scenery sounds (similar to using other types of comic fonts)
~ Flashback ~ = Separates the current Plot from past events, will be used to help readers recognize and differentiate such events.
This chapter is told from Pariah's point of view.
"Looks like I will be one going out first." – I replied to my interdimensional variant.
"I always thought it would be me first, it seems that my dream to be saved by the Justice League really won't occur as you always said." – Grumbled my variant, who I knew was also relief for my opportunity, even when have always thought that I would never be the first to have the chance of freedom.
It took about 40 years and two weeks of my existence in this World, or rather on this place from which I have never even left since the beginning of my first memories, the chance for finally be able to interact with someone who can help me escape from this prison.
"I also tried to help you know." – Complains my variant when reading my thoughts, we can read both our thoughts when we are both connected by mind, the biggest difference is that he most active sharing his thoughts and opinions than me.
We meet, or better to explain, discovered each other 3 years ago, in a strange way, but one that completely changed my expectations about life and our intertwined destinies.
~ 1 Year ago, August 1, 2008, overnight~
"39 years of life and existence trapped in this place, how can I call this life and not just survival?" - I reflected as I looked at the ceiling of my cell, imagining how far I am from the outside, sitting in my favorite corner of the room, the farthest possible position from the door.
I feel something strange, like a call to the center of the room, I've never felt it before, I stretch my right hand in the direction and feel like something started pulling me.
"What is this?" – I questioned this new experience, would it be some new skill that I am developing? I decide to get up and head towards the center of the room.
I walk and I feel the call stronger as get closer, I feel as if someone is calling me from too far, too far to be able to hear it, I can hear a familiar noise, I feel that I am somehow close to being able to hear, while going to the center of this room.
"Who are you?" – I hear a voice inside my head similar to mine, but I can't differentiate it from being someone else or a possible personality disorder.
"They call me Pariah here." – I answer the voice mentally, feeling that if I can hear, maybe we can establish a communication, because I had the feeling that someone received my message.
"You too? The Multiverse is real, I also called Pariah here. - Exclaims the voice inside my head, showing his feelings of excitement by a little.
"What are you talking about? Care to explain? " – I question this being who inner voice sounds like me, but at the same time I feel that we are somehow different.
"Sorry, let me try again. I am also called Pariah here and we have a bigger chance of being two variants of different dimensions and two beings who managed to communicate across the Multiverse using our psychic abilities, is nice to have someone to talk after all m life alone in this damn cell." – Responds the voice that declares itself to be a variant of me from another dimension. Are there really multiple dimensions and variants of possibly identical beings?
"Yes, this type of event already happened in my World and if I can communicate with you it proves that there is a way for our Worlds to be connected." – Replies the voice when reading my mind, before I could even question it.
I try to read his mind and in addition to feeling his emotions of excitement, I can see his memories. The Justice League, about a World where Heroes, Villains and other beings with powers beyond the ordinary human race are part of the Society, looks like we really live in completely different Worlds.
"I feel that my control over my abilities is better than yours, I can feel that you are struggling to read my mind while I can read your mind effortlessly, try to calm down, I will help you." – My variant declares, reading my mind again, it bothers me to know that my variant power can be superior to mine, but I can feel that your intentions are really peaceful.
"I'm trying to focus, it's a lot of information to process at the same time and I've never read a complex mind like yours, or like similar to mine, can you help me?" – I asked for help during this strange process of communication between two minds beyond dimensions.
"I believe that the key to our connection completely lies in our actions and reactions synchronizing in real time, if we are equal beings from different dimensions that can align minds. At least that's the first theory I think for us to try right now. – Replied my variant, I can feel that while we share our thoughts, we still can elevate our sharing of information to increase our connection even beyond.
"We should try to get into complete synchrony, like a trance of two beings thinking the same thing... Let's give a try. - I answer my variant by slowly moving my body, trying to synchronize our bodies movements like our minds.
"I am you, you are me, the same even beyond the wall. We are Pariah..." – Our minds align, our bodies align, we are two and yet we can act and feel as only one. My body floats and rises off the ground as I open my arms as I float, without feeling the force of gravity anymore.
We can share everything and access everything, we have the same ages and similar backgrounds, we have identical bodies and similar fates in completely different Worlds.
My version of life and memories, tragic, dark and hopeless, knowing that my psychic abilities are not enough to free me from the prison they created me in, knowing that my mother was killed because I feel that our psychic connection was gone, a World that for my entire life has only caused me suffering for the simple fact that I was born different from the rest of humanity.
Another version of me, with a tragic past, but with hopes of freedom and to find his mother who is still alive, a version of me who never killed another human being by his own choice, believing in the possibility that one day he will be freed, either by the evolution of his abilities or by external agents. He was also born different, however there are other humans diferent too, humans who even with their abilities managed to obtain a destiny different from ours, he does not feel guilt or bad for being born this way, he feels that he was only unlucky to be captured before he could have the opportunity to decide his own destiny, envy of all those super-powerful human beings who can enjoy freedom instead of themselves.
Finally I touch my feet back to the ground, I feel that we both got what we wanted, answering the biggest doubt that existed between us, about be two variants of different Worlds.
"I'm sorry for your mother's death, your World really seems more difficult than mine in maintaining any hope." – Said my variant while trying to console me, I really felt envious of his World, I feel that with my mother still alive and with the possibility of being able to live in society even after all the experiments I suffered, maybe I really could have be someone more optimistic like him.
"Do you really want to ally with me? I don't feel that we share the same opinion about freedom, I hate my World and I don't wish to forgive it." – I proclaimed to my variant that I wished we could have a good mutual relationship, as variants and allies in pursuit of my main goal.
"I can understand you, after all, you have your reasons, I don't know if myself really wouldn't develop all this hatred after everything you've been through. Still, I'm willing to accept our differences while maintaining our same goal, our freedom together." – Replied my variant, starting our unique relationship either as temporary friends or allies under the same situation.
We both want the same thing in the first pace, we want to get out of here, helping each other will be good. We can wait and grow strong together, committed to not only freeing one of us, but doing everything possible so that in the future until we can both finally be free in our Worlds, a Pact stronger that everything between us.
~ End of Flashback ~
"Thank you my otherworldly variant, for keeping my hope alive, now we will have to cut off our communication for a while, because I need to react to our first opportunity of freedom opening the door." – I thanked my variant for all the time we kept in touch, sharing our routines, lives and becoming the closest friend we both had the chance to.
"Good luck my tragic variant, I root for your success and if you need my help don't forget The B Plan. Even if I was against it at the beginning, we will be allies until getting out of this cage." – My optimistic variant says goodbye, reminding me of our last resort in case of the possible risk of death for one of us.
I can feel his presence, I have never felt such a sense of danger, a monster that can take human form, the most powerful and threatening living being on this Planet, that even locked in this room I can be sure about it.
All that exists alive on this floor now is the two of us, is time for James Heller open the door, because I know that it is you even before I can read your mind, is time for our first encounter start, the first contact between the most feared by birth and the apex predator of all livebeings, both victims by the Blacklight virus with different destinies until now.