The Clock Pendulum Swings | A Mesmerizer Story

𖦹°‧ | DAY THREE.

This is the third day. I finally got some sleep last night, thankfully.

It took some time for both me and Miku to find where we last were in the Plains to find the journal — painstakingly long and annoying as that was considering it was an infinite loop of the same blinding green grass, but eventually, we found Miku's belongings before dark.

Despite the horrifying oddities of yesterday, Miku slept rather soundly, not shuffling in her sleep, or waking up with a loud, blood-curdling scream, but completely through the night. That in itself was a relief for me, not just because I could get my rest to keep my mental strength up, but that Miku could as well and even stay steady with her health. Those two things were definitely on my practically-infinite list of concerns for her.

While I didn't often like leaving Miku by herself (not that I didn't trust her to be alone or anything, or maybe I don't), I decided to quietly leave our resting place in the Plains early this morning to clear my mind and to really process everything about yesterday. After all, I would hope that something unusual would show itself and I could piece together this stupid mystery once and for all, perhaps even finding that so desperately sought after way out. Since we'd shown up here about what felt like ten-or-so days ago, I don't even know — it's been more so all about survival rather than trying to find a way out. Prey can only run for so long until its extra chances to survive have run dry.

The dewy, cool smell of the morning air filled my nose as my feet were cushioned by the grass below, quietly making my way away from Miku while she noticeably stirred a bit at the difference in my presence next to her, eliciting a slight chuckle I had to stifle to not wake her. I just had to hope she wouldn't wake up before I returned — knowing Miku, she'd probably find a way to set the whole Plains on fire with nothing more than an ink pen, a journal, a picnic blanket, and a food basket. Insane, but lovable.

It felt quite strange to be this alone for the first time in ages. I suppose the last time I was truly alone was when I was "human", at least what it meant to be one. It didn't ease any worries, nor did I feel as if anything majorly changed for me emotionally, but even a futile attempt could show results in some way.

As I continued to walk around, aimlessly traveling to accompany my wandering thoughts, I recalled Miku's nightmare, and just how well it paralleled yesterday's events, especially in regards to the prediction of the Fourth Wall Eyes. I wasn't sure what this reality's affinity was with cameras and eyes, cameras both being in the Diner and what I believe I'll begin to call the Focus Room, and Miku's eyes going to an unnerving, hollow black. What was that all about, anyway?

With each Cycle we've gone through since we've been here — that being a pathetically small but still too-high number of times — never did things twist so weirdly, both parties included for that matter. Considerably notably, though not as uncomfortable as seeing Miku literally lose consciousness in front of me, those disgustingly demotivating affirmations that I heard in my head stood out, so desperate to get me to give up, so desperate to get me to submit to the hypnosis. That couldn't have been me, but why did it sound like me? Does it even matter — nothing makes sense in this stupid fucking world!

Then, what audience would even consume content like this? Two women in God knows where in a world where nothing looks real, not even the laws of physics and light themselves, being bound to an illusion of a blissful reality through the pseudoscientific psychology of hypnosis. What was there to see? Are people just that gross, that they get their own sick kicks off of suffering? I couldn't understand. It made me feel sick to my stomach the same way I did seeing the Fourth Wall Eyes, knowing that they were watching and enjoying, feeding off of our pain.

Or, they were eyes that wished to help, but never could.

I was certain of nothing anymore but saving me and Miku from this hell.

My walk continued. So did my thoughts. I gently hummed what I could remember of Miku's song, scratching the melody up on some parts here and there, but I sang from what I could remember. It was catchy from being by a former singer, and it was comforting from being by my best friend. At the very least, that should be the bandage to the wound of yesterday: something that reminded me of the only thing that did give me a reason, the only way I still live sanely in this world.