It's been dark for so long? Dark? No, that's not the right word for it. In fact, it's way too bright. Even though I can only see blackness, I can feel some unknown source of light bathing my entire being. I don't know what happened between then and now, but I know what I must do going forward.
I open my eyes.
The sky is split open. It's like, it's there, but there is some type of large split running along it. Beyond the sky is a light; the same light I was feeling before. I can't see exactly where it's coming from, but I have an idea. I think I did it. The cracks and splits of reality collapsing in on itself. This is what I wanted.
"Yuri!"
I turn and see Terri sitting next to me. Although we were still inside the abandoned school building, the room had collapsed from everything going on. Somehow, I didn't even get a scratch.
No. Not somehow. I know what this is. Plot armor. I'm an important character, with powers and personality now. I have some type of protection. Maybe not on the same level as Terri's invulnerability, but it's there.
"Yuri, what the hell is that?!"
"It's exactly what I told you I'd achieve. It's the reason and logic that keep the impossible from becoming possible. It's reality itself. And it's broken beyond repair."
"Broken. Right, I couldn't stop you. I-"
"Don't. You were never supposed to stop me. Everything went as it was planned. I think- this was always how it would go down. I feel strangely relaxed; it's like all my troubles are just melting away."
"I'm sorry I couldn't help you."
"You did. You helped me achieve my dream. You freed me from the misery of an average life. I don't have any reason to be mad at you anymore. Just relax. The story is over; whatever comes next is a whole new story."
With that, Terri lies back onto the ground and the both of us stare up at the beautifully destroyed sky.
We stay like this for what feels like an eternity, knowing it's all over now.
"It's nowhere near over, Yuri."
I quickly sit back up in reaction to the strange voice. Looking around, I see a man standing over the both of us.
"It ain't over, Yuri. Not by a long shot."
I recognize that face, and now I realize ethe voice is familiar too.
"You!"
I jump up to my feet, grabbing Terri from the ground after me.
"Yes, I was hoping this would be the one where you remembered me."
"Yuri, who is this guy?"
"That's the guy from the sandwich shop; the guy who left the note 'read the room'. Yeah, I recognize your long black hair."
"Indeed. That would be me."
"What the hell was that note supposed to mean?"
"Exactly what it said. 'read the room'. Just the line that was needed to push you forward."
"Push me forward? Then, it wasn't just a coincidence that reading the room unlocked control over my power. That was your goal, wasn't it?"
"Exactly. It would have taken you two more days to figure that one out on your own. I'm a very impatient man, so I made sure to speed things up."
"I don't get it. What are you talking about?"
"You know your little search for superheroes that ended up with you finding Terri?"
"Yeah, I found the only person in the world… ohhhh."
"Ohhhh indeed. To quote a particularly strange young girl 'I am just like you'