The Maze of Existence

Episode 1: Nightmares & Daydreams

» 4 Months Later «

    I gazed into those gray eyes I had memorized. Seth's eyes. Yes Stefen's, but not a stranger's. Seth's, who I had come to care about.

    "Just forget it," he said softly, swiping away my tears.

    I felt a tap tap tap on my shoulder and I breathed in deeply, the dream dissipating. My eyes fluttered open to the moonlight coming through the window.

    "I'm coming," I mumbled.

    "Hurry," Eden whispered as he walked away. I heard the door to my dorm shut softly, signaling his departure.

    I sat up. On the small dresser beside my bed was a note that read: "On the roof, my apartment. Eden"

    Quickly, I slid out of bed then slipped into some clothes, making sure to drop the compass over my neck, under my shirt. I grabbed Eden's note along with Seth's poem and placed them in my pocket. Walking over to the window, I opened it and climbed out to the ledge.

    I took a deep breath as I crept along the side of the building to the ladder bolted into the brick. I swung onto it and quickly descended to the ground from the fifth floor. As soon as my bare feet hit sidewalk, I pulled the hood of my jacket over my head, keeping my eyes to the ground.

    Not very many people were out at night. Especially not on a Tuesday. Especially not since I lived in the Refugee Center for Teens. Nobody lingered there since it was away from everything. Plenty of people snuck out though.

    Since the day I arrived, I had been one of them.

    No one stopped me as I walked the streets quickly, heading toward Eden's apartment building. My feet felt every rock beneath, but it didn't bother me.

    What bothered me was the fact that I was alone. I was alone for fifty-four days before Seth showed up. I was the only one here who knew the truth about what really happened.

    Everyone else still believed that a nuclear war somehow occurred. They had no idea about the compass, the other reality, or even that the people they missed probably weren't dead.

    Now, I knew I would go insane if I ever had to go through something like that again, even for a few moments. The only ones who cared if I snuck out was the owner of the Center and Eden. With close to no one left to remember me, I was a forgotten case.

    Forgotten by the world.

» « » «

    "Do I need to give you the definition of 'hurry'?" Eden deadpanned as I sat beside him on the roof.

    I rubbed the sleep from my eyes and yawned, not answering the question. I let my gaze wander over the tops of buildings, then eventually up to the stars in the sky. I swallowed, bringing my mind to the present.

    Now I was with Eden; now we were going to do something that didn't involve my past.

    I met Eden when I was rescued as I was running from Cassius. He had lived with his aunt since the day everyone disappeared, and they currently shared an apartment.

    As far as I knew, he didn't know about the compass. I didn't tell him. I hadn't used it for four months, there was never a real reason to. I didn't want to lose Eden unintentionally like I lost Seth.

    The two of us stuck together since we met, seeing as I had no one else. Originally, I stayed with Eden and his aunt. I lived at the Center because authorities figured out I wasn't any relation to them within two weeks. I guess it was a control thing.

    In return, we pranked them.

    I looked at him with a small smile. He grinned back. I noticed the bags under his green eyes and understood immediately that he hadn't slept well for a couple of nights.

    "Nightmares?" I asked as a breeze lifted my hair from my shoulders.

    He nodded, tearing his gaze from mine.

    When I lived at their apartment, I came to know both of them as if they were family. In the middle of the night, I had often woken up to Eden screaming only to learn that he had reoccurring nightmares of what had happened to his parents.

    Those nights reminded me of my own missing family. Of Seth. My mind wandered back to the dream I had of him and I smiled to myself.

    "Daydreams?" Eden asked in return.

    "Of him this time," I added.

    While Eden didn't know about the compass, I had told him about Seth and Cassius. I simply made up the fact that we escaped Cassius and Seth got lost-- which wasn't entirely a lie.

    "Awe, how cute," he teased, poking my arm.

    I sighed dramatically, causing him to laugh.

    "What's the plan for tonight?" I asked, feeling myself get excited.

    Eden's eyes lit up as he reached for his backpack beside him. He pulled out a ball of string and placed it on the ledge. I raised my eyebrows. His ideas for pranks never ceased to impress me.

    "How consequential will this be?" I laughed.

    "If we get caught, you'll probably get kicked out," he answered seriously.

    I pretended to think it over.

    "What do I have to lose?"

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(a/n)

I really hope you all end up loving Eden, because I do. (;

 In the picture for this chapter is Daisy Ridely, and I have her as Rowin, just an FYI. <3

ATTENTION: If you are confused about anything, don't hesitate to ask! Keep in mind some of your questions could be answered in chapters to come (or in the first book if you haven't read it 😜)

Thank you for reading! Just a little reminder to vote if you liked it and comment if you wanna chat! I enjoy talking with you all. 

Remember: God is good. (:

-Abigail Rayne

{7.1.16}

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