Epics of Noche 1, Anchor

EON CH 68

STUDY CEILING FAN.

1774, SEPTEMBER 27th TUESDAY 8:00pm.

Noche breathed a sigh of relief when she was back in the hallways of Cross. She made her way towards Hectare's room.

"Anglerfish. Crows. Tar. Why does it all feel so familiar?"

Noche took in a deep breath and exhaled.

"I'm glad I saved Cherries... So why do I feel so bad about throwing my match?"

Noche paused.

"Am I a bad person?"

Her hand drifted across her throat.

"Maybe I deserve this ugly scar on my neck," she whispered.

"BZZZTT, Isolated showers BZZZTTT high pressure BZZZT storm approaching"

Noche's eyes drifted up to a unfamiliar old humanoid holding a weathered radio in its limp right hand. The entity turned the corner and walked towards the VR room.

"Hectare's mysterious partner!" Noche thought. "That's probably him!"

Noche walked towards him and only hesitated when the lights above him began to flicker. A small flame began to burn at her palm and make its way up. Soon her entire left arm was in overwhelming pain and Noche didn't know why. Her body felt strange, she was in a cold sweat and her heart rate spiked.

"BZZZT why does the planet lance BZZZTTT have claw marks BZZZZTTT if it's made of corruption?"

The air around her was cold, sounds seemed muffled, and the lights occasionally flickered. The closer she got to the turn the more rotting meat filled the air. The static of the radio was getting worse; she could hear children chanting.

"Watch out for BZZZT the light BZZZT Creeps will get you BZZZT."

Noche turned the corner and the strange person was gone. The door to the VR room was open and a light flickered inside. She gulped, and walked in, and jumped when the door slammed shut behind her. Before her resided a giant crows nest and white egg, no, orb. A partially cracked white orb. Noche peered through the crack and witnessed the infinite expanse of the cosmos within.

"The POE... Personification Of Existence."

Noche spun to Galloway.

"Since it's a personification, that means it is a human," he said. "If its human, then it has a subconscious."

"Galloway! What are you talkin-"

Noche reached out to him, but her hand passed right through; the hologram of Galloway wavered.

"If the POE represents all of existence, then what if — due to its almighty power, its subconscious thoughts came to life?"

Noche blinked and stared at the recording of Galloway.

"What form do you think the POE's subconscious fear would take?" Galloway's hologram said. "That is what the monster is. Fear given flesh. It has only one instinct... To consume."

Galloway moved through the nest and towards the egg.

"With all this in mind, what would happen to reality if the Personification Of Existence was consumed by this monster?" He said. "What would happen to reality if it was consumed by fear?"

The holograms turned off and Noche stood in darkness. The room gradually filled with the smell of rotting meat. The VR door swung open and Noche ran towards the light of the hallway. Leaning on the wall and taking deep breaths, she stared into the darkness of the VR room. She couldn't make out if there was a face in there or not. Either way, she couldn't get rid of the feeling she was being watched.