Epics of Noche 3, Limbo

EON CH 07

CLOSET SENDOFF.

1774, NOVEMBER 28th, MONDAY8:00 am.

The blood drained from Noche's face as she took a step back. Despite standing on a beach it was not sand that shifted under her feet but rather creaking wood. She made a sharp turn and found a dock behind her.

It trailed infinitely and vanished into more ocean rather than land; going on until it was far out of sight due to blending in with the waters. She turned forward to the closet sitting at the end of this newly manifested dock. Somehow the dark furniture seemed to double in size – it loomed over her like she was a child.

"No... Not again," she squeaked. "I don't want to go in there aga—"

Noche paused.

"Again?"

She scrunched her brows as she scrutinized the thing before her. It was familiar, but her memory was still foggy. Yet something was scratching at the edge of those mists. A feeling of being lifted up and placed amongst coats and clothes.

Noche shook her head as whales flew in the sky around her. They drifted through the night sky like celestial gods. Chunks of lighthouses floated around in the distance, golden beams still spinning on their broken towers.

"Noche, I need you to be quiet," Grasshopper said. "Stay very quiet, ok sweetie?"

Her veins filled with ice as her companion spoke. It made her clothes glitch to an adult version of the outfit she wore as a four-year-old child.

"What did you say?"

"You need to get in the closet."

"No... No, I... I won't."

The world started shaking and a foghorn blared in the distance.

"You're afraid. That's ok, I'm right here with you."

"No, you're going to leave me again!"

Her eyes widened. She opened her mouth, then shut it wordlessly. Memories threatened the surface of her mind but they were muted. Distant. They were so close but still lacked clarity.

Tar slammed onto the docks in a tidal wave. It was far away, but racing towards them. Wood splintered up as the boardwalk was destroyed a dozen planks at a time. Seagulls fell out of the sky and dissolved into skeletons before hitting the waters. A pelican with a solid white eye landed nearby and dissolved into tar.

"You need to hide – otherwise Creeps will get you," Grasshopper said.

The blonde struggled to make a decision as her gaze switched between her companion, the closet, and the tidal wave of tar. Her eyes tightened shut as her hand balled into a fist. With a pained expression, she stepped into the closet. Grasshopper approached and held each closet door in a hand.

"I love you... Goodbye."

The doors closed. The light disappeared... There was a brief pause of silence. A few moments passed. Then, there was a loud bang.

Noche's eyes snapped open to find herself on a boat thirty feet away from the dock. The closet was gone and Grasshopper stood on the edge of the last plank.

"Row Noche! Row until you are no longer able to! Then let the boat drift! Otherwise you'll be stranded!" she shouted. "There is no greater purpose! You have to make your own!"

"Grasshopper! What are you doing! Where did this boat come from!" Noche shouted. "Nevermind – Jump! We can both get out of here!"

The insectoid woman shook her head.

"There are storms we cannot endure – you need to steer your ship!" She shouted. "Hurry and return to the brine. It'll be harder to find you if you're in your element!"

"Stop speaking nonsense and get over here!"

Tar appeared behind her companion.

"GRASSHOPPER!"

It latched onto the insectoid leg and crawled its way up. The sight made Noche's left arm glitch into and out of existence. Here one moment and gone the next – causing one of the oars Noche picked up to rattle to the floor.

"Creeps is a force of nature, it's not intelligent the way you are," Grasshopper said. "I was born from you, so it can't tell us apart! I'll buy you as much time as I can!"

The tar was above her waistline and creeping higher.

"Grasshopper! Please! Don't leave me!" Noche screamed. "I don't want to be alone!"

"Isn't it sad how weak and small a heartbeat seems? How temporary it is? Especially when it was my last one?" Her companion said. "Noche, when this is all over, when you can live anew... Choose joy!"

The black encompassed her head and Grasshopper's body sank into the ebony tide.

"Grasshopper! GRASSHOPPER! MOM!"

Noche stood in her boat; it rocked gently from side to side. Her knees buckled and she fell on her ass. Still staring at the docks as tar dissolved its way down to the ocean. Soon it appeared like a large oil spill bobbing on the waves. The blonde swallowed, grabbed her oars, and rowed.

"Mom?" She whispered.

She practically punched the tears out of her eyes with how quickly she wiped them away as they formed. Then with no more words, she was off. Away from the tar.