The Bladed Rose

Chapter thirteen: Apocalypse

   So, if it wasn't already painfully obvious; Everything and all things are being deleted, the universe is disappearing. Slowly because there's plenty to get rid of but still it is happening, I know this even then, even with Marzia I knew this. And yet I couldn't bring myself to cut her off from myself, I cared about her to much. Still do.... And this is the chapter when she came to the realization that all things she knew is on a timer ready to ring. Wanna know how she came to this revelation? Well, the reality we were in died. It was maybe a day or two after we had that pirate party, the fragments came as I was sitting at the deck and watching the sea next to Marzia. My breath hitched but I didn't want to say anything, I shoulda known she would notice it though...

   Marzia turned to me, looking a bit concerned. "You ok Sam?" She held my hand, stroking her thumb across it gently. She couldn't see the glitch yet. My breath only quickened as I saw the fragments come closer, I could hear the shattering, feel them on my skin. It's torment when this happens, its pain, It's loss. I grab Marzia and hold her close, yet still not speaking out of fear of crying.

   "Sammy? Sammy what's wrong?!" She wasn't exactly shouting, just sounded very surprised as she held me tightly, trying to soothe me. Nothing could soothe this... despite my best efforts I began crying some. Deciding that I might as well speak now I reply with, "Fragments.... They come and they take and break.... They do not discriminate.... This reality is dead, I... don't want to lose you... I won't lose you.... Th-the cracking is always in my mind now, I can feel them under my skin..."

   She seemed very shocked, concerned, and a bit disbelieving. Of course she was, she can't see it, and she has never experienced it before... Now she would... I don't want her to have to! But I can't do anything to stop this... She held me closer, rubbing circles in my back as she now attempted to calm both herself and me. "Th-that can't make any sense..." She stuttered, trying yet not wanting to comprehend.

   The fragments have reached the ship now, not wanting to be near them I hold onto Marzia and get to the other side of the deck, crying hard now. We could now see as the crew was overtaken by the glitched fragments, they were split in many ways, we could see their insides, their organs. I cried harder now. She was not an elf, or someone I've seen use magics... she was normal, I don't know what will happen if these fragments reach her...

   She cried out from many emotions. She cried out in horror, shock, surprise, incomprehension, loss, fright. She clung to me as tightly as possible, almost shocked still as she started trembling, crying as she saw their insides twist around them, as the deck became an unstable reality twisting, turning, jumping and sliding all around as they glitched into and away from the sailors. I held onto her and hoped that when they reached us she would still be in my arms. I saw the reality we're in shatter and break like glass, then blackness. I thought I was unconscious, but I was awake, simply in a dark, dark, dark place. I don't like this place... the shadows... they twist and they writhe.

   After a small moment of searching I hear Marzia's crying and rush over to her, calling her name and hugging her the tightest I could. The ground was like air...

   She was still, almost unresponsive except for tightly returning the hug and continuing to cry. She was completely shocked, never knowing such blackness before so she wasn't able to comprehend anything that had just happened, couldn't come to terms with where we were. I need to get us out of here!

   I think for a moment but I wind up making a snap decision and glitching us away from this empty place, we wound up in an empty beach, full of light, warm, calm. I should explain to her what is happening but I wait until she calms down.

   Marzia eventually calmed down, if you can call it that. She had been constantly crying, clinging to me with all her being while just staring in horror, what had happened was probably playing over and over in her head... Now she was curled up against me, still clinging to my arm like her life depended on it, and stared down quivering, occasionally mumbling. She was probably only saved because I was holding onto her, and the whole universe hadn't yet collapsed...

   "I-I'm going to explain what the hell just happened now... you won't like it.... But you should know..." My voice was wrought with dread and sadness. She nodded her head slightly, the only acknowledgement that she could hear, and possibly understand, my words.

   "The universe is... well... it's ending. It's being slowly deleted with those fragments, the same ones I utilize at times..." She nodded her head, flinching slightly but otherwise still just staring.

   "I'm so sorry this is how you had to find out.... I... I should've told you sooner...." I said with a sadness in my voice.

   "I-i-it-ts a-alr-r-righ-gh-t-t." She stutter out, still slightly trembling and holding my arm in a death grip.

   I hold her close and nuzzle her some, "It's not... It's really not... but I'm here for you as long as physically possible."

   Marzia nodded her head again, relaxing her grip slightly only to nuzzle into be more, seeking comfort as she kept holding onto my arm. She eventually stopped shivering and passed out, sleeping a bit fitfully. I joined her not to long after.