"Wow, that is the most beautiful name I've ever heard," Michael's genuine surprise caught me off guard. Really? There are more than one Bethany in the world, and he acts like he's never heard the name before. "You really like my name? I actually hate it," I admitted, not used to receiving compliments about it.
Michael walked over to a corner of the room, retrieving a box. "Don't be like that. If I say it's beautiful, then it is," he insisted as he approached me with the box in hand. I observed the box with curiosity as he handed it to me. "I got something for our wedding present," he explained.
No one had ever given me a present like this before, and I felt a mix of surprise and gratitude. "Oh, umm, thanks," I mumbled, my fingers slowly prying open the box. Inside, I found what appeared to be a potion. My eyebrows shot up in surprise, and I looked up at Michael for an explanation.
He seemed pleased with my reaction. "If you're always lonely, you can drink this and find a friend. You'll never be alone again," he explained, his eyes holding a sense of genuine sincerity. A potion for friendship? It was something I had always wished for.
I opened the bottle cautiously, the aroma of meat and lavender wafting from its contents. Despite the unusual mixture, I decided to drink it, hoping that Michael's intentions were as kind as they seemed. The potion went down smoothly, leaving an oddly pleasant aftertaste.
Placing the empty bottle on the ground, I waited expectantly for this newfound friend to appear. "So, when is this friend going to show up?" I inquired, standing there with a hopeful expression.
"Wait for it," Michael replied cryptically, a hint of mischief in his tone. I tried to be patient, standing still and tapping my foot as the seconds ticked by. Suddenly, I felt a sharp pain in my stomach, so intense that I curled up on the ground, clutching my abdomen.
"Agh, what did you do to me?!" I cried out in pain, feeling like I was being torn apart from the inside. Michael crouched next to me, reassuringly saying, "Hold on, he's coming."
My confusion and distress only grew as I felt bones cracking and clothes tearing. I lay on my back, my eyes widening in shock as I witnessed a mouth with sharp teeth emerging from my stomach. It was like a bizarre and unsettling magic trick.
"Ta-da!" Michael announced with an amused smile.
My shock and pain had rendered me speechless for a moment, but I managed to find my voice. "What is this?!" I demanded, my heart racing as I stared at the grotesque sight before me.
Michael leaned in closer, as if introducing a pet. "This is your new friend. Don't worry, he can disappear if he needs to, but he'll always be there." He seemed surprisingly casual about this bizarre development.
My gaze shifted between Michael and the mouth protruding from my stomach, my mind struggling to comprehend what was happening. "He can't talk, but he can understand you," Michael explained.
I took slow, deep breaths, attempting to steady myself. "Okay, umm, can you disappear for now?" I addressed the mouth cautiously. To my relief, it complied, closing and vanishing as if it had never existed.
Michael hugged me from behind, his presence providing a sense of comfort amidst the strange situation. "So, about your family..." he began, transitioning to a more serious topic.
I snapped back to reality, my mind still reeling from the bizarre encounter. "Oh, umm, yeah. When we go back to the surface, you can wait in the forest. I'll go tell my family about you, and then I'll come back to get you and bring you to meet them."
A genuine smile spread across Michael's face. "Okay, that's what we'll do. And by the way, I know just the right place to return."
My curiosity was piqued. "You do?"
He took my hand and led me to a towering stone structure. As we entered, my eyes fell upon a glowing pool of blood. "And here we are," Michael announced.
I approached the pool cautiously, peering into the strange substance. "A bath?" I questioned, unsure of what I was seeing.
Michael chuckled softly. "No, it's a portal. It will lead us back to the living." He gestured for me to go ahead. "After you."
Before I could react, Michael gave me a gentle push, causing me to tumble into the pool of blood. As I fell through the portal, I felt a disorienting rush, and before I knew it, I was back in my own world.
