Dark Light

Chapter 7: Mad Doctor

You have nowhere to hide. Not in this wasteland hell, not even in your soul. Your only purpose is to act. Now, shall we break the chains bounded by those arrogant Gods?

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Within my tiny room, I knew we hadn't a chance. Still, even if we didn't escape, I felt happy. We weren't free, but I belonged here inside this place for the fallen ones. But as life chooses, someone disagrees with my desire, splitting our souls.

As I lay on my bed, waiting for the time to pass by, someone came back. Out of the candle's light, a shadow arose within my room. But even as I leaned up and sat upon my bed, the shadow didn't move. Only when I saw the creature, transparent gray as black, move to the door, it spoke out to me.

"Just like you, I long for freedom. So, I will help, as it is the only thing I can do." Seeing the shadow move its hand above the doorknob, the sound of the lock moving echoed through my mind. With a slight click, the door opened to show the black emptiness, swirling away anything it came in touch with.

"Remember, this is your chance to choose," said the shadow before it fell inside the black hole. "For you have the power to change destiny. Go now, seek the freedom you desire."

Piece by piece, furniture fell out of my room inside the black hole. First, the small things, but quickly even the bricks from the wall closest to the door splintered off. And as I held my bed tight, it too sucked its way towards the empty black pit. For one moment, it was all dark around. Nothing was present, only a bright star in the distance. With it shining brighter and brighter, it conquered the darkness until my eyes opened again.

As I stared at the ceiling, my mind jumbled around without sleep. The candle still shone bright, and clouds covered the moon at night. With déjà vu clouding my mind, I remembered the message of the shadow. Without any time to waste, my body jumped off the bed and took the candle towards the door.

But as I stood still before the door, holding my hand above the lock, I failed to understand how this worked. It can't be real, it really can't. But as I thought those discouraging words, I still moved my hand over the lock as the shadow showed. In an instant, light blue lines in jagged stripes crossed through the lock as a branching tree. Just flickering golden once, the sound of a click caught me off guard.

Even as I couldn't believe it, I slowly opened the door with trembling hands. The hallway opened up, a corridor devoid of light or life. But its emptiness stopped before me, knowing now what the shadow spoke about. With much more enthusiasm, I turned to Yui's door and opened it with a wave of my fingers, only to be met by Yui sleeping peacefully.

"Yui, wake up," I whispered in her ear, not to make anyone awake through the thin walls. "Come on, Yui. Now is our moment."

"Lilly, what are you doing here?" Yui spoke dreamily. "Is it morning already?" However, even as she wasn't fully awake, my focus redirected to our supplies of food packed beforehand.

"We are going to use our plan."

"What plan?" asked Yui with her eyes half-closed, half-open, and a glassy look, as I packed our stuff in leather sheets.

"Just wait here and wake up some more. And don't fall asleep, okay?" As there wasn't much time to explain, I hastily left Yui's room to my own room for the rest.

As I took my own bedsheets, my eyes moved to the window where a doll made from wood stood alone. It was a pity we couldn't take it with us, but it would only hold us back. And as I returned to Yui's room, the questions came back.

"How did you open the door?" Yui asked immediately, shining fully awake. It was an obvious question, but not one that may be answered, nor was it the right time.