A Calamitous Dungeon

Inspiration

[Bella's POV]

I opened my eyes, only to see an expanse of darkness stretched beyond my eyes. I took an instinctive step, my feet tapping at the ground, echoing throughout the silent place. I moved my body left and right, the darkness only continued beyond my eyes.

Strangely, this place beckons for me...

"Because it does, Bella."

A sudden voice called out. The voice eerily sounded... mine. I turned to my left to see someone and some furniture beside them.

They are composed entirely black but the shape of their body appears to be feminine. She has long hair and the same proportions like mine, as if I'm staring at my own. The main difference yet is the head, where the face was supposed to be except it was mostly blank like a fresh canvas with the exception of the mouth, which is still intact.

Beside her is a white round table and a set of elegant chairs, making a large contrast to the lightless land. She motions her hand to the chairs, giving me an invitation to sit with her.

But I remain still.

"Who are you? And, where am I?" I question, my voice echoing for the first time inside here.

She lightly shakes her head. "It doesn't matter who I am this time, but if you want to then..." She responds, turning her back against me before her almost blank face turns towards me.

"Call me N."

N. That was her name. I nod slowly as I deliberately take slow steps towards her. She then goes towards one of the chairs and takes a seat while crossing her legs. I arrived a moment later, taking a seat on the opposite side of her.

Neither of us took the initiative to speak, so the silence was something heavy, gradually taking a toll on my conscience. Until she spoke first.

"I haven't answered you the other question," She starts, tapping her fingers on the table. "But this place is simply a boundary between your dream and reality."

"But time passes here differently." She continues, changing her posture. "Hours can pass here, while seconds only have elapsed in the real world." She explains, placing her head on her arm at the table.

"Then does that mean that I'm about to wake up?" My question earns a nod from her.

"Exactly."

But those questions aren't enough. "Then why are you here then? In this place of course? Are you just my imagination or...?"

She places a finger on my lips, shutting me off from speaking. "Shush. That's a lot of questions for someone like you." She says while removing her finger on my lips. "But let's just say... I'm a guardian of sorts," She points her finger at me. "To you."

She then motions at her neck, to where my necklace is always located. "So you're inside the rock on my necklace?" I ask, my eyes wide from the knowledge.

She nods. "Yes, I am living inside that 'rock' that you call. But that's not a rock." She emphasizes the rock part. And the last part garnered her a confusing look on mine.

"So if it's not a rock then, what is it?" I questioned her and I saw her hesitate, pursing her lips. I feel like I'm uncovering someone's secret that must be kept always.

"Hm... That rock is a fragment of mine." She finally answers, but the answer leaves me with more questions.

"Fragment? What do you mean a fragment-" I ask but then the darkness around us starts to lighten up. N seemed to be unfazed and looked at me.