Endless

cHaPtEr nInTeEn

"Why should I?" I asked Alyssa...wherever she was.

Because it would be easier for you if you did what I said.

"But where do I even go?"

To the painting, duh.

"Why?"

You'll find out once you get closer.

"What happens if I don't?"

Suddenly, four small portals of pitch black appeared on the wall, and what came out of it were big floating hands of the same colour. They grabbed my arms and legs. I tried breaking free but that only made them grip tighter.
Heh, you should learn how to be more obedient...

My only option was to scream for help, but another one appeared and covered my mouth, preventing me from calling.

They're not listening. Claudia's in her room listening to music. At least she has headphones now so you won't have to listen to her music anymore!

I tried screaming more as I was being carried closer to the painting. There was one detail that I didn't notice before, there were skulls underneath the bright moon. That alone made me afraid as to what was coming next.

That's what you should do, Owen. Focus on the positives.

I closed my eyes, afraid of what was going to come next.

You shouldn't be afraid. You should just be grateful that you're still alive!

I started feeling chills as I passed through what felt like water. Thankfully, I could breathe this time. I must have been on the other side of the painting.

As I slowly opened my eyes, the sky looked exactly like the one I saw in the painting, to the point where it didn't look real at all. I couldn't help but be amazed by Alyssa's powers in moments like these, as much as I hated to admit it.

The hands that were grabbing me suddenly vanished, and I felt myself falling.

Terrified of what was below, I once again closed my eyes hoping for the best.

I finally stopped praying for dear life and opened my eyes again once I realised that I was suspended in midair. That could have killed me if I wasn't saved...

I was just above a pile of skulls, the same ones from in the painting. These ones were more realistic, however.

Then, I heard the voice of my captor coming from behind me.

"Ahh, Owen, how nice of you to drop in."

I couldn't help but scowl as she laughed at her own terrible pun.

"Could you let me down already?"

With a quiet giggle coming out of her lips, she stopped whatever was keeping me afloat. I fell face first into a pile of skulls, and at that point all I wanted was to get back to my bed.

I managed to slowly get back up on my feet. At least I had free will, that was something. If only there was a way out of the place, I didn't think there was one.

I turned around and I saw the same moon and swing from the painting, but it wasn't far away at all. They were both suspended in the air slightly above the pile of skulls that I was standing on. The difference was that the girl who was on the swing more detailed.

Her curly hair went down went to her shoulders, and she wore a plain dress that almost reached her knees. She wore a rose on her head, which I found odd since there were no roses in the garden. There was no colour on her, everything about her was grey, which made her seem like a real spirit. She had a bright smile on her face, which I wasn't expecting. Was this...Alyssa? Her age seemed to be 13, I expected her to be younger. That assumption was based on her appearance though, I was sure that her actual age was a lot higher.