You had just entered Echo and Simon's "room." It looked exactly the same strangely.
"Oh! Morning, Alice! Hey hey hey! I'm really bored right now. So let's play! Let's play! Play play play!" Echo exclaimed.
"Okay." You agreed.
"Kehehe! Alright, alright, what should we do?! Wanna open the closet?" Echo asked.
You walked over to Echo's closet and opened the closet door and were quickly transported to Echo and Simon's world.
You had woke up in a bed in what you guessed to be Echo's bedroom. You were too anxious to notice any important features of the room's decor. You ran to the door and tried to open it, but it wouldn't budge.
You spotted a strange plant against the left wall of the room noticing something within the leaves. You walked over to the plant and began to pull on the leaves, but the leaves didn't come off for they are too stiff to be simply pulled off. You noticed a window behind the plant. Moving the plant you check to see if you could get out of the room though the window, but alas the window wouldn't open. Still, you noticed the gloominess of the outdoors. You realized it was probably about to rain. As you stepped away from the window giving up on getting out it shattered brightening your hopes. That's when you noticed the window was too small to fit you washing away all hopes of freedom. It's like someone wanted you to fail.
You notice a tea set was set up and left on the small stood that was being used as a table. The tea set looked as if no one had touched it in it's entire existence.
You searched the shelves for a familiar book. A book labeled "Mother Goose" caught your eye. You turned the pages to the only story.
The Queen of Hearts
The Queen of Hearts
She made some tarts,
All on a summer's day;
The Knave of Hearts
He stole the tarts,
And took them clean away.
The King of Hearts
Called for the tarts,
And beat the knave full sore;
The Knave of Hearts
Brought back the tarts,
And vowed he'd steal no more.
You looked at the condition of the other books noticing they're all falling apart. You noticed at the corner of your eye a small knife. You remember the strange plant and take the knife. You walk over to the strange plant and cut the leaves of the strange plant with the knife obtaining a notebook scrap.
Echo and Simon's Diary
My house is deep in the forest. There are lots of animals and the air is really nice. It's a wonderful place. My family is mother, father, and one more. He's always with me. Always there for me. From good morning to good night, but it's too bad he can't play tag or anything with me.
There were multiple knocks on the door and then a click of the lock signifying the door had been unlocked by... someone.
You entered a very poor looking kitchen that held a dresser, a fireplace, a cooking place, a sink that didn't work, a small pine dining table and a beaten up king sized bed.
"Dresser. Dresser. I am Dresser. Content, none. Medal, none. None, none..." The dresser spoke.
You were freaked out by the dresser deciding to avoid it at all costs you go over to the fireplace to check it out. You stand close to it only to immediately jump back because of the extreme heat emitting from it.
Being done with the fireplace for good you wanted to try to see if the tap worked. Which... it didn't, but going to the tap wasn't all that useless! You found a poorly written note.
To Echo,
Do you know where my gold medal is? I had it in my pocket before bed... if you find it, put it in the very top dresser drawer on the left side.
-Dad
"Great! I have to deal with the dresser and at least I know this is Echo's house." You thought to yourself. Noticing the note said Echo's father had the medal before bed you decided to go check the bed.
Crawling into the bed you see something shiny down the side of the bed. You decide to pick it up. It was the medal! You walk over to the dresser proud of your accomplishment.
"You have, medal? Insert! Back where was!" The dresser screeched.
You took another look at the note making sure where the medal needed to go. You then proceeded to put the medal in the very top dresser drawer on the left side.
"Medal! Where belong! Thank! Give, this." The dresser exclaimed as it handed you a notebook scrap.
Echo and Simon's Diary
My mother isn't my real mother. My mother passed away from an illness. The mother I have now often teases that girl. So I take the brunt of it for her. I'm responsible for all the hurtful things, but when she's beaten, I can't protect her.
The door clicked signifying it's opening. You walked out to find yourself in the empty front lawn.
You checked the empty bucket hoping to find... something, but instead found nothing. You noticed the water well beside it realizing that's why the bucket was there.
You walk a bit farther to a spot where there was a fork in the road.
"... Huh?" You wondered as you pick up a shard of XXXX that's when you heard her.
"... Mmmh. I'm... thirsty." Echo said clearly parched. You remember the well and decided to go to it.
You ran back to the water well and it's bucket. You draw water from the water well for Echo.
"... It might be hard to drink it like this." You thought suddenly remembering the tea set.
Running back to the tea set you remembered all the empty cups. You toke an empty cup and traveled back to the bucket of water.
You filled the once empty cup with water drawn from the well. You noticed something by the well. Picking it up you realize you've obtained a notebook scrap.
Echo and Simon's Diary
One day, mother said we'd go for a walk. I didn't want to, but she dragged me by the hand into the forest. Like usual, after walking a long way, mother said we'd take a break. "You stay here," she told me, and I sat there the whole time. It got dark. I was scared. It was pitch black. I was so, so scared. So I closed my eyes and talked to him. What's your name? What's your favorite food? What don't you like? I was surprised. He wasn't like me at all.
You ran back to where you found Echo.
"... Mmmh. I'm... thirsty." Echo quietly spoke.
You give Echo the cup of well water.
"Water!" Echo exclaimed parched. Echo toke the cup lightly from your hand and continued to chug down the water. "Thanks. I was really parched. I woke up here, but there was no one around. I was too scared to move. (Your name), do you know where this is and why we're here?"
"This is a dream." You answered.
"... A dream? Really? Is that right. I was surprised. It looks exactly like where I used to live. ... Um, Simon isn't here. He's usually always there holding my hand in my dreams. It's really scary on my own. Simon..." Echo said worriedly.
"Your not alone. I'm here." You comforted Echo.
"... (Your name). That's right, I'm not alone. Plus, this is a dream. I can just wake up and things'll be back to normal. Okay, let's play! It's my first time playing with someone else in a dream! The words on this sign are too hard for me to read, but can you read it, (your name)?" Echo asked.
"Sure." You replied.
"It seems like some kind of riddle. Looks neat! Oh, and don't run to fast. I'm a pretty slow walker. ... Don't leave me alone, okay?" Echo informed you clearly afraid to be alone.
"Don't worry, I won't." You confirmed.
"Hey. Hey. Read! Read the sign." A man told you.
"The two paths look very much alike, but their ends are slightly different. Where are they different? Answer in numbers. 123456" You read.
"Read it? You read it?" He questioned.
"Yes." You answered.
"Tell me. Tell me if you know. Don't mess up." The man told you.
"Whoaaa, you read it all! You're amazing. I hate studying, so I usually sneak away at study time. Which makes Admin mad. Oh, but I can read clocks! Aren't I great?!" Echo asked.
"Yeah." You replied rolling your eyes and holding back a snicker.
You and Echo decided to travel down the left path finding six different gardens.
You look at garden one there is a white ragged towel drying on a clothes line, four red mushrooms and a ladder lying down on the ground.
You look at garden two there is a stack of six wooden boxes, six red mushrooms and a piece of ripped paper.
You look at garden three there is three green plants and two red mushrooms.
You look at garden four there is a pink flower, a wooden bucket and two red mushrooms.
You look at garden five there is two wooden signs and four red mushrooms.
You look at garden six there is many papers scattered across the garden and two red mushrooms.
You and Echo then travel down the right path finding six similar gardens to the left path.
You look at garden one there is a white t-shirt and blue jeans drying on a clothes line, four red mushrooms and a ladder lying down on the ground.
You look at garden two there is a stack of six wooden boxes, six red mushrooms and a piece of ripped paper.
You look at garden three there is three strange looking plants and two red mushrooms.
You look at garden four there is a pink flower, a wooden bucket and two red mushrooms.
You look at garden five there is two wooden signs and four red mushrooms.
You look at garden six there is many papers scattered across the garden and two brown mushrooms.
You and Echo return to the spot where you found the random man.
"123456" You repeated questioningly.
"Read it? You read it?" The man asked.
"Yes." You replied.
"Tell me. Don't mess up and go from the smallest number up." The man told you.
"136." You answered.
"Correct! Take this." The man exclaimed as he handed you a notebook scrap.
Echo and Simon's Diary
Is this the deep forest? We should go back. I'm fine, but she doesn't like living here. She'll say it scares her again. Why does that witch have to tease her so? I have to do away with that evil witch.
"Everyone is different, everyone is good, but everyone wants to be the same. In the end though, they can't be." A mysterious voice called out.
You and Echo traveled to the barren front lawn that was now lined with cookie dough and spikes of chocolate.
"... Simon's not here either. Simon always talks to me when I'm lonely and he teaches me all this stuff I've never experienced myself, but he always seems a little sad. Except when we are talking, then he's smiling! ... I wonder why. (Your name), do you have someone important to you?" Echo questioned seeming a little worried.
"I don't." You answered.
"Really? Not anyone? ... Doesn't that make you lonely?" Echo questioned now very shocked.
"Looking for something?" Cheshire Cat asked as she appeared before you and Echo.
"Ah!!!" Echo squeaked.
"Haven't seen you before. Hello, Gretel." Cheshire Cat greeted Echo.
"Huh? My name's Echo. I'm not Gretel." Echo informed Cheshire Cat.
"Nah, you're Gretel 'cause I said so, but I'll just let that sliiide. This what you're looking for?" Cheshire Cat snapped her fingers and Simon appeared looking very beaten up.
"E..." Simon tried to speak.
"Simon!!" Echo exclaimed worriedly.
"He was looking pretty tasty, so I thought I'd just eat 'im, but nah, I decided I'd wait 'til he was totally broken. Plus I get two helpings! Whatcha ma call that... one rock two birds? Well, I've done what I did. Let's meet again in another dream!" Cheshire Cat explained as she vanished leaving Simon behind.
"Ah! He vanished! ... Simon, you're okay, right? I'll hold your hand." Echo worriedly spoke to Simon.
"O..." Simon said.
"...Huh?" You questioned. You had notice and picked up another shard of XXXX.
The three of you continued to walk into a gingerbread house.
All three of you went over to the fireplace to warm up.
"Owow!" Echo exclaimed as the fire was too hot for her.
The talking dresser now appeared to be made out of chocolate.
"I love chocolate!" Echo exclaimed.
Upon entering Echo's room the dresser that was holding the small knife looks like it's made of cookies and the strange plant has a sweet candy scent. Seeing everything differently you notice the tea set is gone replaced by a key. You pick up the key noticing it says 'Echo's world' on one side and the other says 'Simon's world'. You classify it as a world key.
"This house looks just like mine, but it's all made of sweets. That's so dreamy! Also, I wonder if it's okay to take a bite?" Echo wondered.
"... Admin... was there." Simon said. "Key, don't move, sweet. Sweet, too sweet. Ow, ow, ow... ... I'm hungry."
Echo began to look really worried about Simon.
The three of you walked back into the kitchen which was a big mistake.
"Why did you come back?" A lady who looked a lot like Echo asked. "I always put you down unknown roads. At this point, I can't care for you. You'll only get hurt more. So then... why even come back?"
"... I don't... like this. Simon..." Echo said looking frightened.
"That name again. Simon, Simon... who is that you keep talking to? There's no one here but me, my husband and you. ... Disgusting littl-" the lady who is most likely Echo's mother was cut off.
"He exists! He definitely exists! Why-how can you... I-I'm sorry, but... I'm sorry... I'm sor...! Evil witch... why are you always, always doing these things?! I'm... going to protect Echo!" Echo or was it Simon? exclaimed.
"...! Why, you!" Echo's mother exclaimed as she went to slap Echo across the face. You acted fast and pushed Echo's mother into the fire before she could slap Echo.
"... Moth... Mo..." Echo said teary eyed and jumped into the fire after her mother.
You stood still, tears blinding your eyesight. You couldn't have saved people who chose what their hearts want. You spot a small notebook scrap sitting by the fire. Shakily you pick up the notebook scrap. Taking a deep breath you begin to read the notebook scrap.
Echo and Simon's Diary
I'm so hungry. If only my house and my clothes could be tasty sweets. Then everyone in my family could have a good meal. ... Oh, but I guess chocolate melts really quick. That won't work. It'll all burn up.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~If I take everything on myself, she can smile all the time. I love her, I really do, but why was I born? Admin, you prepared two beds and clothes for me too, but is this right? Is it wrong for me to exist? Admin, sh* m** ** her, b** th** wh* ** I?
The words toward the end are too smudged for you to read them.
YOU ARE READING
So I...
Fantasy"Sometimes we make imaginary friends to cope with sadness... ... or rewrite our memories to escape the painful past... ... tell lies to save ourselves and to save people we love... ... give up on life because everyone left us alone... ... be tricked...
