Endless

cHaPtEr tWeNtY SiX

I opened my eyes.

I was in a field of roses, but it definitely wasn't one that you would expect...

The roses were all black and swaying and wriggling around a little, and I heard a faint sound coming from them. It almost sounded like they were...breathing. Thankfully they seemed harmless, at least I hoped they would be.

I looked up at the sky above it. It was concealed by blood red clouds that twisted and spiraled in odd and unnatural ways. I immediately decided to not at it anymore after that.

As I kept walking, I noticed a mysterious figure that was far away from where I was standing. It seemed to be concealed in a hood so I couldn't make out their face. I could hazard a guess as to who it was though...

What caught me off guard though, was the figure disappearing, leaving rose petals behind. I started to panic that maybe this was some kind of sneek attack, and I had my sword at the ready.

"Dorothy...who do you think this is?" I asked her, trying to be as calm too.

"I think I know who it could be..."

Dorothy placed herself inside my sword instead of appearing physically, so that my sword could become more powerful. Apparently that's what she did so that I could unleash that massive attack against all those monsters a while ago.

I looked behind me instinctively, and there was there, being dangerously close to me. I tried slashing through it with my sword, but it jumped back in the air, dodging my attack.

Not only that, but she even started levitating in the air. And after that I heard a familiar childish laugh...

Did I even need to say it who it was?

Alyssa materialised behind the mysterious figure, smirking menacingly.

"Dorothy...why did you have to leave me?"

"Because I refuse to hurt Owen."

"What about your grandfather?"

"Well...I want him back...but I know that reviving the dead isn't the answer."

Alyssa's smirk only grew wider as she heard those words.

"Are you sure you don't want him back?"

"Yes. I'm sure."

"Then tell me Dorothy. If you really don't want him back, then why does she exist?"

"Who's she referring too?"

The mysterious figure removed it's hood. It was...another Dorothy? But it wasn't the Dorothy that I knew, or the one that I first knew when she first visited the mansion. It was almost identical to the Dorothy with white hair, but this one had black hair. And instead of an angelic appearance, she had more of a creepy demonic vibe. Especially since her skin was as white as snow, which heavily contrasted with her hair.

"My grandfather...I'll bring her back. No matter what," she stated with pure confidence in her tone.
"Who even is this? This can't be Dorothy," I asked to no one in particular.

"I can assure you that it is. Or rather...it's what's left of her."

"What's left of her...you mean she's been split in two?"

"Heh, you're not as dumb as you look then."

"How...how did this even happen?"

"I wish I could say that I did this, but sadly, it was something else. Someone or something must have awoken the love she has for you in her something, I don't even know."