Margana: To Seek The Truth

11. The Call of Trust

Come to think of it, it's been awhile since I've seen my family and friends. I wonder what they're doing now. I'm probably in a dimension categorized as "Z", meaning the most dangerous ones. That machine sucks! First I came here alone, I finally met someone, and now we're separated again. How can I still encounter Lino from here on out? Honestly, the thought saddened me. It's like I've known him forever but this entire thing just feels like a single day. Wait a minute, the teleportation through the gate is taking awhile. Don't tell me I'm getting flung into a whole different universe? Oh, it transported me already. Hold on, am I seeing things? Isn't this... Earth? Did that portal send me back?! Yes! Yes, yes! It did! I was right where I stood when I used the MTD. I carefully approached the staff and said "Hey, hey you! I have a billion things to complain about your filthy machine!" Did they just ignore me? It's like what I've been through was non-existent. I checked around and messed with the harmless looking buttons, and they still didn't notice? What's happening? Maybe they're just too busy. I'll use this opportunity to get out of this wretched place then.

I went outside and saw a lot of people still in line for the MTD. Oho they don't know how dangerous it would actually be. Good luck to them I guess! Where'd my phone go? Whatever. It was probably removed before I hopped onto the machine. Come to think of it, I didn't have the manual either. I probably lost it in the Esse-ver. Hold on, I wasn't able to say goodbye or thank you to Lino... I don't want to go back there but I feel like I have an unfinished duty that I have to complete. I'll just try to forget about what happened, make it seem like a dream, nothing more nothing less.

I headed over and went to the nearest bus stop. Luckily for me, the bus came the moment I arrived. I got on but I didn't have any cash on me, I tried to explain to the bus driver but he remained silent. Did he even understand me? Weird, like, super weird. I took that as a yes with a free ride, which benefits me I guess. The bus stop near my home was there, I asked the driver to stop... but he didn't. Uhm, figuring I could survive whatever happened in the dimension, I just busted out of the door. Didn't hurt as much as I thought. I quickly walked home, I was so ready to meet my family and friends again! However, why could I only think of thanking Lino at this moment? Why did it have such an effect on me? Perhaps I could call him my close friend at this point. I rang the doorbell, and my mother opened the door! I quickly ran in and hugged tight. "I thought I would never see you again..." My mom just seemed confused, she didn't even bother to look at me. Maybe she was in shock, it's fine, I understood right away. She just closed the door, and I already went in. I missed my room, so I went up to my room and I couldn't believe what I just saw. My room... My very room... Is the home of another child?! Alright, that was it. Something was clearly wrong. I'm on the verge of tears, do I not exist anymore? Am I now a permanent resident of Esse-ver? Have the memories of me in different people's minds been erased? That can't be! I just left a day ago! Was my entire existence altered...? The girl's name was Janice, is she the new me? No, no, no! That's impossible! I heard a doorbell coming from downstairs, I went down just to check out if other people could remember or even see me. I thought that it may be just a delivery man but, it wasn't. He.. He? Lino? Lino! I immediately hugged him since I knew he could see me! He's from the Esse-ver, he has to! My heart broke into pieces when I realized Lino was with Janice, the "me" in this new reality. I tried pushing him aside but it didn't have an effect on me. Did nothing I did have an effect?

Hold on, does this mean that Lino lives in this universe too? Was he lying to me this entire time?! No way! I didn't see him in the line... If he did, then— I don't know! My mind was slowly crumbling into pieces, I'm so confused, enraged, and terrified! I was at a loss for words. This is insanity! Hold on, another Lino came? Everyone could suddenly see me. They all questioned who I was, except the "other Lino" remained silent, he was staring at me, as if the one without Janice was trying to tell me something. Did they all see me but not see the weird Lino? They asked to get out of the house, I immediately got dragged out by my own father?!?!

As I went out, the silent Lino disappeared as well, am I losing my mind...? I heard a voice saying, "Hey! Come back to your senses! This thing is preying on you, snap out of it, Margana!" My mind was way too foggy to process what just occurred. I felt like running away to who knows where. Do I not have a place in this verse anymore? I... I don't belong to Earth, my dimension and... I don't belong to Esse-ver either. Am I just a wandering traveler at this point? I felt like my mind was getting foggier by the second, I felt like sleeping the night away hoping that tomorrow would be better. At this rate? It would be a stupid mistake for me, it'll leave me deeper into this mess.

Lino's POV:

Being separated from each other was just a trick. We're actually in the same place but it seems different. I have a feeling we went through the same illusion, whatever happened was feeding off of our biggest fears. It was just up to us to break it and come back to reality. In the current state that Margana's in, I think she's still stuck up in her own world. How do I help her get out of it... Just a little help, but it's up to her to get out. I tried screaming in hopes of giving her a guide, but nothing's happening for the past hour. "It" was giving us a warning all along.

Margana's POV:

I don't know what to do anymore, I literally don't belong anywhere. I wonder if there are people like me as well. What else can I do? My mind got clearer as emotions dived down, I could think clearer now. I heard a voice coming from who knows-where saying, "Snap out of it, Margana! It's just an illusion, wake up to reality!!" It sounded like... Lino? From where? Wait, does it mean that my journey is still on? Right...We separated through the gate. For some reason, I recalled the words of It, "A word of wisdom for your entire journey, things aren't always as they seem. Please, for your safety, keep that in mind." Things aren't always as they seem? What if it's a clue to my journey, specifically this part? Wait, this is an illusion and... Lino's gotten out of it and is trying to get me out of it as well! Just like that, I was so sure of everything and I suddenly blacked out.

I woke up on some kind of beach, it was really sunny. Honestly, it felt like home. Hits hard after the illusion earlier. I slowly got up from the sand, the feeling was beyond amazing. Hold on, where's Lino? I looked around the shore, and I found dozens of beautiful untouched seashells. "So pretty!" I exclaimed. I heard someone behind me say "Hey! You're finally awake, it's been quite a bit." I turned behind me and saw Lino! Out of joy I gave him a hug since that illusion or whatever got to me badly. Wonder why he was in it though. Whatever, I'll just cherish every moment. Who knew if that "dream" will become reality.

"Thank you, thank you so much!"

"Think nothing of it, what are friends for, right?"

"Mhm! Oh and, what did you go through?"

"Let's not talk about that, it's in the past anyway." He gave an assuring smile afterwards.

"Right, of course. However, I think this stage is meant to allow us to relax after the series of events we've both been through. Maybe some chit-chat as well?"

"Maybe that is the case, why don't we make the most time out of it then."

"Perfect! I'll start..."

We continued until midnight! I found out about so much stuff regarding this dimension. Lino also said that he resides here. Going through this process of activities is mandatory, and it's made for everyone to complete. It's different for everyone but in rarer cases two contestants go together. I'm actually the first outsider to go through the process. Kinda good and kinda not, it's fine though. Also, also! In this dimension, eating is non-existent! The look on Lino's face when I mentioned it, hilarious! It probably affected me too, it's fun honestly. We got to know more about each other and our respective dimensions more, he says mine is boring but oh well! It's about time to get some shut-eye, the portal to the next activity opens tomorrow.