Soola's POV
"But can wishes really go haywire?" I asked Mrs. Sobre earnestly while I was still in the wish dimension.
I probably should have called her sooner, but between all this chaos and dimension hopping, for crying out loud, who on earth has the time?
"You can only control your end," she warned.
"Just because you know how to wish for something specific doesn't mean he knows.
"Also, wishes can often times be very dishonest. You must be careful for your sake and his."
"So how do I protect him?"
"You don't. This is going to be a hit or miss.
"Good luck, and I wish you well. I'm very sorry that I can't provide more help to you, but I must stay at the school to guard the dimensions. If anybody else crosses over, it can create barriers and potentially chaos. If I find any way I can be of assistance, I will update you, but for now, I must be the gatekeeper. Thank you for offering to find my daughter, and I hope you succeed for all your bravery and perseverance.
"I admit, I didn't like you at first, but you changed a lot. Your character development is astounding, and now I am very grateful."
"Of course, and I'll let you know if I find your daughter at our last stop. I still can't find the new game developer, but if I learn anything, I will make sure to inform you."
"Thank you. Take care."
We said our goodbyes, and immediately she hung up because she had to go back to "gate keeping." I had used the wishing stone, and made a wish that I would end up in a happy marriage with my soulmate. Whatever was going to happen, I wanted to make sure that I had a bright future moving forward with any relationships. It was definitely going to be Blake- I could just feel that he was my soulmate. The wishing stone didn't seem to do anything, which I thought was very puzzling.
It worked when Sabri and Blake used it, but it didn't do anything when I wished on this stone. Perhaps because it will take time, since I wished on something in the future, or perhaps it was delayed because of all the dimension malfunctions.
While I was trying to figure this out, I made a phone call to Sabri to make sure she was okay. Electronics somehow worked in these dimensions, and I wasn't sure why it was only recently that I had learned to be resourceful.
I phone called her, but her mood seemed off, even more than usual.
She was very cold, aloof, and matter-of-fact with me. She kept it short, and found every excuse to hang up on me once I had my curiosity satisfied, which I thought was very strange, since her and I were sisters. Even though these dimensions and this mission was so crazy, wouldn't we be each other's emotional support, if anything? She was so cagey and closed off to me, rather than asking me if I was okay or opening up to me with her problems, at the very least.
I understood that everyone was acting a bit out of character, because all of this was a lot to process. However, something about this was different, but I couldn't pin point it. It was strange, but not in a way that you could correlate to this type of situation. Observe the dialogue between me and my sister, so perhaps you can understand me.
"Hey, sis, is everything alright with you?
"What's your update on the wish that you made?"
"I've completed my tasks."
She said this cheerfully, but it was very close-ended. Usually my sister is very bubbly and talkative, but today something was very off about her.
"I'm actually going home Soola," she said with much disinterest.
"Are you sure?" I said a bit taken aback. Ever since I was little, we were always there for each other— we used to do everything together. These broken dimensions and potentially fixing all of our worlds and finding Skye was actually a big deal. It was so much to carry on just my shoulders, and I was shocked that Sabri simply wanted to go home, for any reason, whether it was exhaustion, trauma, disinterest..
Whatever it was I thought she would be there for me and get through this with me.
We could do this together like we always have, but she suddenly turned on me.
"Yes, I'm sure. Hope you make it out safe. If something happens, just call me and I'll travel back."
She hung up without saying goodbye, which was so rude of her, and very selfish, considering these were no ordinary dimensions.
Yes, it was my choice to go, but she came with me and gave up halfway. Something could really hurt me or Blake, and now we were down one person.
I tried to call her back for answers, but she kept hanging up on me.
We are playing with fire, but you left me to be engulfed in the flames. You could have helped me put out this fire, but instead you fan the embers.
Before I could even process what was going on, Blake finally finished his wish, and he came back to me fuming. Not supportive, not traumatized, not happy to get out, not excited because of how cool it was, but fuming with anger, and it seemed like it was directed towards me.
"Why are you huffing and puffing?" I scolded. "You know that you're the only other person here now who can help me from my dimension? Sabri just abandoned us but you seem to be angry at me for no reason.
"I am a strong woman, so don't try anything physical."
"What the hell is your problem!?!" he snapped violently at me.
"After all you did, I would think perhaps your attitude would be more timid or filled with remorse. If you had the audacity, even normal would be acceptable, but instead you just start attacking me? I'm so done with you, Soola."
"What do you mean 'after all I did'?" I partially was serious, but partially started mocking him. This man was acting more like a young child with the way he was throwing tantrums, and I was determined to put him in his place.
Instead of answering my question, he started laughing psychotically, and continued to attack me verbally, mentally, and emotionally.
He looked at me with a look of false sympathy, and in a fake sweet tone that was mocking my voice, he replied with, " 'After all you did', I am breaking up with you."
"DID WHAT!?" I snapped.
"You don't remember all those years of brutally bullying people left and right? You're the reason Skye went missing, you know. It was all your fault, and you lead the group."
"No!" I shrieked. "That isn't what happened at all!
"Why would you make such assumptions about me? You don't even know my birthday, or my favorite color or food! You know nothing about my hobbies or friends or moral compass."
He looked at me with a mean glint in his eyes. It was as though he got satisfaction from hurting me.
After all these years of dating him, I felt like I was really seeing his true colors for the first time.
"Moral compass? If this is your moral compass, it's no wonder you're lost."
Tears welled up in my eyes, but I did my best to hide them, for this would be a weakness in his eyes.
"I was trying to save the dimensions! Your perception was warped, don't you get it? This dimension twists the realities it shows you- sometimes spreading complete lies!"
He put a hand up in my face.
"I want nothing to do with you, Soola.
"I'm going back. You can either come with me or die on your own here. If you come back, I'll move schools so we don't ever see each other again. Either way this is your last day to spend time with me. You and I are over.
"I don't care what your intentions were or even that you are trying to make it right. You're a terrible person and what you did was so evil. I want nothing to do with you after this. Decide whether or not you want to delay the pain."
Just like that, we were in fact, over.
He broke up with me. I thought it would hurt worse, but I felt relieved. Maybe it was because our love had already faded, or maybe because it wasn't even love to begin with, but for whatever reason, I felt more confident alone despite what I have been told my whole life about the wonderful benefits of being in a relationship.
"Go, then," I said coldly. "I'd rather die by myself if I die happy."
He nodded, glaring at me, and left without saying a word.
