One Above All

Chapter 35: Don't Tempt Your Luck.

Notes: Read.

0O0O

There was nothing.

Or at least it seemed like there was nothing.

Or maybe there was something, but it wasn't relevant.

That didn't make sense, but in these strange moments it didn't matter whether something made sense or not.

It was a very strange feeling, something she had never experienced before. But the more things seemed to fall into place, the more all of this started to feel like... being in a movie theater watching a film — except there were no seats and no popcorn.

And she was the only one watching it from the front row.

There were many angles, as if she were the one operating the camera now instead of just being a mere spectator. The place looked like a rather modest room — even luxurious — but quite far from the standards the Japanese were used to.

But the setting of this "movie" seemed to matter least of all, or at least that's what her mind was trying to tell her. As if it were saying she should focus on what was most important.

But what was the most important thing?

Everything seemed distorted, everything sounded distorted. Several blurred images flashed through her mind so quickly she could hardly grasp them, but there were a few she managed to understand even through the way they censored whatever it was they were showing her.

She could recognize blood scattered about when she saw it, and an eye being sacrificed in exchange for something valuable, probably.

Was this a dream?

Probably.

Or was she dead?

Probably.

Or maybe someone from outside was manipulating her mind?

... Probably.

... Where were these questions and answers coming from?

Who knows.

What was that?

It felt as if someone had spoken directly into her ear — or at least that's how it felt, because she could no longer even tell where her body began or ended. Wherever she was, this place was greatly affecting her perception of reality and space.

Now it felt like her face was pressed against a television screen... and she could see and hear everything happening there.

But especially hear.

"Then... wHaT aBoUt YoU -"

"..."

"Do YoU aLSo RegreT sOmEthIng?"

"... Yes."

"... And that is...?"

"... Everything maybe."

"Be more specific please."

"I don't know what you want me to say."

"Look me in the eyes and swear you didn't see all this coming."

"... I don't have the energy to make excuses. I'm already... pretty damaged, and my age doesn't help at all."

"And the fact you smoke so much doesn't help either."