THE HIVE

Chapter 16

I stare at my mutated hand. I feel space buddy squelch with excitement. I have a similar feeling as well. But it has more to do with anticipation, tension and anxiety. Because what happens next may decide if I live, or die.

Handling life and death situations. Never thought I'd have to do something so rough, right after I turned an adult. I know I have responsibilities now, but chill world! Fate have mercy!

Well, the choice is yours.

Yeah, but. I look forward. It's not really a choice at this point, is it?

Well...you do you.

I shrug.

"But, I don't know what I should do now. What's the next step? How do I get past it, now that I've found it's a barrier and probably identified of what kind? I'm still not sure why it absorbs my punch like that, or why it doesn't let any sound escape, for that matter." I grumble to a stop at the last sentence at the peculiarity of the situation.

Before he can reply, I'm struck by another idea. "What if I hurl Mr. Caretaker with full force at the wall? That ought to do something, no?"

A hesitating space buddy responds, Uh, mm yeah, possibly. But I won't recommend it.

The machine squirms under my force as if sensing the immediate danger I was posing to it, throwing it at a metal wall. "Ha, you're not a tin can, are you? Chill!"

But, I need to handle this matter. How do I deal with this problem? I don't have long. I've already been up to no good for quite a while now.

I think of the time of crisis. How the black tunnel saved me from the crashing meteor.

But more importantly, of the answers communicated to me while I had set off beyond the physical realm.

That experience. It's giving me chills all over again.

But, I can't do what I did back there again. Because, everytime I do something like that, we grow weak. And then, we require food. Plus, I don't want the aliens to find a black cylinder sticking out of their secret doorway. I'd be writing my epitaph that way. Plus, there's no telling where I'd end up in if I go through that black anomaly. It's a portal to a different dimension after all (not a wormhole); or something of the like.

Hmmm. I ponder, though briefly. The act didn't give me answers, last time. It saved me. But what did provide me answers, was what happened before that.

Hey, is it possible to seek a counsel? I ask space buddy, a bit hesitantly. I am not exactly comfortable with the whole out of body experience, but, the situation calls for it. I can't deny the immediacy I've been presented with.

Hmm, you see, he begins, his tone surprisingly level, It'd take a bit of energy, but not so much as summoning a black hole, so- we should be fine.

My face brightens up. Alright!

I run my fingers into the cavity of my robot caretaker and put him to a nice deep sleep. His fidgeting stops.

And then, the very next moment-

Connect with me. I feel a tendril of darkness wrap around my psyche. I concentrate, then close my black hand tightly and reach out to him.

Connection complete.

_____________

-!

A jet of colours rushes forth. Black. White. Golden. The Holy Trinity signify their presence.

And soon. I'm hovering. In an all too familiar landscape. I'm inside the eye. The Eye of Eternity. In its everwatching spiral, I'm diving.