Second Life: A Second Chance

Crying Out from the Tанцпол (IV)

A shrouded memory comes to mind, with the mood of bitter angst and fervent pain as the backdrop. The internal dread that has once stemmed from my recurring regret that I had not saved David, alongside the resurfaced pain that has arisen from losing him only a few months ago, fills my mind all over with doubtful hope and encroaching darkness. This particular memory, though it may be not completely remembered, forces me to relive a particularly bright sunny day, where the heat is that of a thousand fires, hot enough to bake even meat to a black crisp. Both he and I are pictured running among the intense heat, with the feeling of the tragic event that truly happened, slowly creeping up in my senses. David and I are running as fast as we can until we come across an unknown wooden roped bridge, where the beginning occurs from the other side of the cliff held tight by the back of a large dark tree, the same one in which I hid and saw him die. On the other side of the narrow yet deep gap from where he and I stand, exists a small but rigid metallic pole, bent facing the side of the existing gorge, tethering one side of the bridge. From the other side of the same bridge exist two metallic pods built in place by their unknown creator, appearing to magically hold up the bridge's left side with nothing but air. My heart beats fast as the bridge appears to feel more and more disturbing. What sort of bridge exists in which no corner hold is equal? How is the bridge held in place if one side of it is not at all properly secured? Looking over the cliff as to reassure myself of our safety, I slightly bend over to view the other side, to which I am shocked as I gaze at the small river where it lies running gently at about twenty meters below. Aside from the decaying blue greenery surrounding the cliff and odd sturdiness of the bridge, I continue to feel anxious and worried, fearful even.

"Should we even pass?"

"We don't have much time," David motions to me.

"But what if we fall and die?"

"Then we will."

"But aren't you worried we will die? Death is a scary thing David. I don't want to lose you."

"Caemanor," David says as he comes to me. Approaching me gently, he proceeds to hold my head delicately, calming me down with a gentle rub.

"I need you to breathe in deeply and to not stop." 

I follow his suggestion.

"Just keep breathing for me, okay?"

I continue to take a few deep breaths and I immediately notice that my pounding heart has slowed down, making me feel more at ease with myself.

I soon gather the courage to cross the bridge first, but not before I find myself endangering David's life. As soon as I am about to finish crossing the semi-long bridge, do I notice a slight green flame come out of my hands, escaping from my body at a slow, but growing pace. Soon enough, the fire begins to spread to the second half of the bridge, unharming me but slowly breaking apart the seams of the wooden bridge. David stands proudly at the center of the bridge when he notices the flames of my unknown doing.

"I! C! B! M!" screams David as the flames of the fire begin to consume him from the middle of the bridge. 

"David!" I yell back, becoming terrified as repeats the forbidden letter combination multiple times, knowing the dangers that comes from uttering those mere letters, all while he is on fire. 

"DAVID!" I shout at him, acting frustrated and irritated as he continues on. Why would he scream out those letters? He knows he is in danger so why would he bother wasting his breath at endangering himself even more? He needs to be saved, but I cannot do anything. I am held in place by an unknown force, preventing me from moving even an inch. 

"David, HURRY!" I encourage him, hoping he comes to my side as he no longer appears to scream the letters.

Following his short bout of silence, does he begin to let out a wail of pain. The bridge fire's consuming flames begin to take shape on David as the wooden railing continues to burn. The green flames soon mold into a large, fiery, monstrous beast, with a large gaping mouth ready to consume David. Watching the monster of fire consume David whole, I motion to his position as he screams in agony, finding myself however, to merely be continually held in place by the invisible, and seemingly invincible, force. I struggle to move but somehow force my body to move after several motions against the gravitational glue holding my body in place.

Almost as if it knew I had broken free from the hold, does the bridge part in two, with one side holding the fiery beast as it hits the side of the gorge in which I am not on. From the second the first half of the fiery bridge makes impact with the cliff wall, does the beast let out an intense roar, one that shakes me to the core no less. Frozen with fear from the scream, do I faint in the same spot I currently stand in.

Seeing nothing but a pitch black color surround my eyesight, do I feel an intense sensation of heat overcome my body, causing sweat to begin crawling out. I soon open my eyes and wake, finding to my surprise that I am laying atop a bed, inside my side of the room, alive and well. I soon sit up, looking around as I carefully analyze the inside of the changed room. I immediately notice that the bed parallel to mine, is empty of the contents that were spilled messily a while ago. The empty and tidy bed must only mean one thing. Today is the day.

There had been a planned gathering or "party" that is set to occur today. Although not having planned it herself, Ashley did express an immense desire to have done so herself. Prior to my nightmare, she had mentioned to me that there would be some pieces of information regarding the "party" in a sealed envelope. The envelope it seems, is to be a celebration before the last event that will determine one's fate by the end of the program.

I climb out of the bed and stand up, before heading towards the wooden block that stands next to the edge of the bed that overlooks the door. Sitting atop of the wooden block lies a special garment that is meant to be worn for the celebration, I grab the physical paper envelope that stands atop the block holding the garment and open it by ripping the thin top layer off with my teeth, revealing the envelope's contents for my eyes to see. The "party" as mentioned in the envelope, takes place, in just mere hours. I look down to the floor and pick up the name card, placing it close to my eyes, reading the time as it corresponds to the time mentioned in the envelope. The opened envelope, which reads the time of the party right below my name, reads the time of the event to be at noon, while the card with the current time reads nine in the morning. Doubting the accuracy of the card as I notice it is upside down, I proceed to flip the card on its corrective side and do a double take at the time again before I realize my mistake. The six is actually a reversed nine and I have only three hours to get ready.

Anxiety soon rushes down my skin as I begin to realize I have never actually attended a gathering, or "party." The only celebration I am currently aware of is the anniversary of the Nation's independence. Besides the official anniversary of the Nation, I am completely lost as to how to behave for a celebration before the end of the program. In other words, I am unsure of what to expect. I immediately strip myself naked and prepare to bathe, strongly hoping that my attendance to the party will not be much of a deterrence for everyone who is there celebrate.