17 ~ November night. Wing 1. Second half

She was feeling lulled. Her awareness was half there and half asleep still.

She felt too comfortable in her bed and leftovers of dreams to open her eyes or wake up properly.

She enjoyed that forgetful bliss where she did not need to think about anything.

She hadn’t awoken yet the long term memories that would remind her about her identity, or her current situation in depth.

And she heard that foreign whisper echoing through the room and her head.

M - With one wing... I will bend you to my will... I, will, be.

She didn’t feel as if that had been intended toward her, but rather that she overheard someone’s raw ambition becoming clearer elsewhere. If the meaning and origin eluded her still, it sounded ominous and also slightly appealing to her somehow.

She was forced to rise by that odd voice she had heard, and left the warmth of her bedding to sit there.

With one wing...

She would bend something higher to her will?

She would change a lot of things with her new wing. She would make good things happen, but also possibly dreadful things. The sentence was resonating in her head as she was still confused about where she was and why.

That was a promise she just heard.

A threat, a promise, a confession, a summon, a prayer, and a call...

A promise to be carved, and that would mark history. That’s how it felt to her now. And if she was overreacting slightly, she was still sure of one thing. These words from Mary-Esther, it would be a grave mistake to think they had been spoken lightly.

It was a promise of war, if it were to come to it. Thinking she didn’t mean what she said and taking it lightly, because she was not yet alive, this would be a mistake with severe consequences.

Now that her eyes had opened on these slightly worrying thoughts, she discovered a bed, a room without windows, dimly lit...

Elise really stood up and checked her body, worried for other things now that she could remember what had happened to her.

Everything appeared normal, beside her apparent age. So she had to ask herself again, what did happen?

With only her night dress she was currently wearing, Elise left the room to find the answer.

~

Elise found herself in a long and large wooden corridor. Some paintings were hanging here and there on the walls that didn’t seem like they belonged to the lower floors of the colosseo.

Lamps with shades and soft glass colours were hanging from the ceiling and the walls.

It was like a private gallery.

At one end next to her, was a small alcove with flowers and dried flowers in vases.

At the other end, at least fifty metres away, was some dim light she could somewhat guess.

She went barefoot along the soft crimson carpet toward that faint glow. That place reminded her of somewhere else.

Elise was still in a daze, walking quite as if she was sleepwalking. Where was she?

Reaching the end, opening two large and high doors with glass windows, she found the night and the rain pouring down the colosseo, right where she had lost consciousness and fell before.

The same rain was pulled toward her and the opened doors, and she stepped back, a little spooked.

The doors were banging against the walls because of the wind rushing in.

Elise was still there. The rain was still there. The nightmare continued she thought in pain.

Elise fell softly on the ground in a sitting position, feeling a little hopeless still being there.

It was warm and soft enough to sleep on with this nice carpet.

She wanted to fall back asleep as if everything had only been a bad dream. She was closing her eyes, lying on the gentle place, the wind mildly moving her hair.

She heard the sound of metal working, a door close by being opened.

She reacted as a sleeping cat would have, surprised but unsure whether she should feel concerned at first.

What she saw forced her to rise to a standing position and look at it.

A woman in a strange dress with leather belts and heavy lacework everywhere was approaching her. From the nearby room, awaken to see, and was now welcoming her heartily.

M - You’re back! I missed you so much!

E - ...

She was tall, she had a fair smile and seemed happy as if she was reunited with a long lost friend.

Elise let herself get hugged, without reacting. She didn’t recognise her, but felt the warmth and weight of someone holding her kindly. It was warm enough again to let her close her eyes with a desire to enjoy this while it lasted.

Following the unexpected soft moment in that embrace, there was a shiver, then a doubt or an intuition.

She looked at her again, her green eyes and her long auburn to brown wavy hair, with a few blond locks now?

She recognised the scar on the side of her left eye and stepped back.

Everything about her was looking different, but now she recognised her... She had the scars where Mary-Esther’s were before, when the cuts could never heal back.

Her size, her facial features and colours had all slightly changed, but it was definitely her.

Mary-Esther, who was now taller, and had a large wing protruding from her back.

~

A few minutes later, they were both sitting on a couch in Esther’s room. Surprisingly enough, the strange person of some sort she had become even had tea to share, and brought a warm cup to Elise.

That didn’t seem real...

She was all kindness for now. That was pleasant, but still worrying Elise that an underlying reality might have gone very rotten behind the veil.

Mary-Esther was genuinely happy to have Elise along with her again though.

When Elise finally asked what had happened, Esther took a deep breath and smiled as kindly as she could.

M - I changed the world... And I brought you back.

She then explained a few things Elise did not understand, about her wings, about the walls, about the world they were trapped in.

Elise was torn between worries and a new hope. But there was so much to bear in such a little time after her awakening, again in that place, that it was a strain. She was still feeling dead tired.

M - I’ve done great changes to everything in our little world, so as soon as you feel better, we’ll be able to continue our journey.

Elise was dozing off, but something rekindled and reawakened in her heart. An unavowable wish akin to Esther’s mad ambition.

Imagining for a moment, a short second, the feeling of her bare feet on the grass of a field in Summer, her lungs breathing air again... The wind, the sun... All those things so natural to feel when you’re alive, that Esther craved, that Elise herself valued and missed...

This was a nice dream...

But more importantly for her personal flame, Elise recalled to herself her own dream. One impossible thing to dream and accomplish, if she could even for a minute walk the real world again...

Before she could realise how much she still wanted it, she was tearing up and falling down.

Mary-Esther picked her up with unexpected body strength, to carry Elise back to her own bed and set her there comfortably.

Elise had felt unable to move and defenceless in her time of weakness and confusion, but Esther had been kind.

She however to her surprise saw Esther entering the bed as well, with her clothes on, and her wing bothering them when she tried to pull the covers over them.

Esther had thought a little wrongly and a little rightfully as well that Elise had not wished to remain alone for this rest and sleep. As weird as it felt for them both, Esther cared for Elise as someone from the same family, and Elise in the end appreciated feeling some warmth along with her in her lingering fright about everything she felt in this current existence.

Esther had managed to find a posture that kept the wing out of the way and so she was close to Elise’s back. She turned off the light, wishing Elise goodnight.

Elise was in confusion over what was happening to her for a moment, still brushing some tears away.

Apparently Esther was already sound asleep next to her, and she felt her own slumber coming back to get her.

Everything was weird, but she felt comfortable right now, and still a little hopeful for the morrow...

~

Mary-Esther woke up and lit the room.

The first thing she checked upon was Elise, and thankfully she was still there, sound asleep. She even was clutching onto her arm. Warmth was something they all lacked and craved in this place, Esther understood that very well.

Mary-Esther softly pulled her arm out of the soft grasp and stood up from the bed, before gently pulling the covers back for Elise. She was sleeping very soundly.

Esther left silently the room and switched the light off before leaving.

The living quarters had changed quite a lot. Everything had.

The layout and levels were the same as before, but nothing was empty anymore.

Ever since she did reach out, quite some time ago already, Esther had seen her environment react this way.

She went to the balcony and closed the doors behind her.

The rain was still omnipresent, eternal and cold... But looking up, she could notice spots of light, like moonlight or stars, ever since she changed everything.

There were a few stars above them now... And everything else in the known floors was now filled with new furniture, tools, and countless items that appeared out of nowhere. It was as if a newly built house was now finally furbished with the owner’s belongings.

She was the owner of this world. That much was clear to her now.

And her belongings were memories, mostly borrowed from everyone who had held her dear for a time.

Plus a few more she couldn’t really explain.

But at least, now that the place was a step beyond, and a step closer, a little more under her direct control as well, climbing up toward the real world should become more manageable...

Step by step, she would continue to progress toward her goal...

Esther grabbed a pulley that was left on a stool, and set it over a strong cable that was now set between this balcony and another, a few levels below.

She jumped over the balcony’s ledge, holding over the cable and letting the pulley slide. Through the rain, facing the droplets of cold water and through the wind, she rushed thus to the other side. The feeling was exciting and she actually enjoyed it like a kid would. It was fun.

She used a mechanical break on her pulley to slow down near the end.

Mary-Esther gently hit the wall above the doors with her feet, and left herself fall to the balcony below. A few metres to fall, and she landed gracefully.

Now she was able to do so. She couldn’t remember any longer the time before when she wasn’t able to land gracefully from a fall.

She opened the next heavy doors, and entered the main church of the colosseo building.

It was shaped like a cross, between the two smaller ones.

Mary-Esther flapped her brown wing to scatter some of the water off. She could easily absorb two pounds of water between her clothes and her wing.

The wing lifted up to dry, she walked with a difference balance toward the heart of the place. There was still no stature, no Christian symbol prominent in this building, but there were countless little blue candles, giving an unusual bluish tint to the light.

A shrine to someone above that may come and help again someday...

But on whom she wasn’t planning on relying entirely anymore to reach her goal.

She was only there to give her prayers and regards, and inform her, if she could hear her, that one of her sisters was in her care again...

~

During the following hundreds of hours, rather than cleanly cut days, Esther helped Elise getting reaccustomed to the place and its changes.

Although every corridor and stairway was still the same, but if only for one thing, they didn’t need to carry lanterns anymore.

Every room and corridor now had some working lights and even switches, as if the place had been modernised in Elise’s absence.

Also a difference noticeable for her, was how the average temperature was significantly higher from the freezing air before. With most balconies now having doors, and other rooms having heaters, the air was more dry and warm.

Elise also noticed stockpiles of firewood now filling some previously oddly empty storage spaces on some levels.

More oddly, some crates of various food also had appeared here and there.

They didn’t really need to eat so it was odd nonetheless, but they could still enjoy the light pleasure of eating, now more freely.

Elise was surprised to now notice a few plants and flowers here and there, since the place still too rarely enjoyed sunlight. Esther mentioned she could swear she had seen a few bugs also crawling here or there from time to time, and that was also something to consider.

In the dampest of places exposed to constant humidity but not direct rain, some mushrooms also were growing now, along with algae of some sorts on the same walls.

If one thing hadn’t changed at all, it was the eternal downpour. This endless shower continued, but Elise as well was more surprised to guess or see a few stars in the sky above.

When the visits and updates were over, Mary-Esther explained to Elise what were the newer plans to reach the top levels, or next steps toward their unnatural final goal.

Elise’s interest rose and she listened carefully to her now winged friend.

Some ideas were rather plain. Some were ludicrous. A few thoughts were worthy of interest.

Mary-Esther was considering two projects regarding the height of the colosseo.

The first one was to complete building the balloon Scarlett had begun. The second one was to build an entire roof based on the same principle. She wanted to stretch through the entire open colosseo a giant piece of cloth, minus the edges to let the water flow. She wanted to make an entire artificial floor rise with a fire below on the same principle if possible, channelling the rain into a few waterfalls by the sides. This would help stretching cables and lines between the balconies at the same time, securing this inner space gradually as they would rise.

It was ambitious, and borderline unrealistic. However since they wouldn’t require that much more cloth for either a balloon or the entire net, perhaps it was possible to Elise as well. It was still unclear what would happen as they reach higher altitude given their previous experiences in forbidden floors, but they would have to check for themselves, and Esther might be able to solidify things when they get to the softer sides of matters.

The plainer plans on the other side involved more hard building and wall demolition to dig their way higher.

They seemed more reasonable, but far less interesting.

These options would be kept aside for later when everything else more ambitious would have failed.

First they wanted to try what was more challenging and promising.

The work on cloth that Scarlett had prepared was still there and Elise picked it up to continue it.

Mary-Esther was helping at times, or venturing around to see other things as they changed, wondering.

She seemed a little restless now, and also a little wilder.

The wing in the middle of her back gave her a look that made her feel uncertain to Elise’s eyes.

At a time, Elise took a break from the sewing and followed Mary-Esther, curious about her whereabouts when she was gone for a long time.

She followed her to the 40th level, the one with eight antic temples.

Mary-Esther entered one with mostly red tones, temple sacred to an ancient goddess none of them knew of. There, Esther stretched her large wing and began to shiver as if praying.

She sat, the wing still lifted, and as Esther looked like she was meditating, Elise noticed how the walls began to shiver instead of her.

~

They were discussing about it soon after.

Mary-Esther explained she had a tiny link with what she called the upper level of reality, through her wing more sensibly. So she regularly was trying to open the space that way as well.

It probably wasn’t the true world above, but she had a small grasp above themselves already. As much as she could, she worked on widening it.

The best example Mary-Esther could give to describe her sensation was that if they were all in a dream here, she now could move ever so slightly the sleeping body above that was dreaming them...

She was not trying to wake them up, which meant possibly blowing the whole colosseo into fading memories, but rather hopefully allowing them to rise to that other kind of reality.

Putting an end to the fiction, to move on more solidly above...

Mary-Esther could feel the fragility ad fluidity of the illusion they were in from time to time. So her exercise was in poking through the veil, to grasp at the real stability that hid behind and above them.

Using that slight grasp her wing clarified for her, she was trying to make the bridge between here and there. Between the colosseo, and that plane where she had a slim part of herself already present, albeit lost in the dark.

For Esther it felt a little as if she could keep the control of a severed hand that was elsewhere. Carefully poking around, she was trying to get an idea of where it was, and to find how to link both ends to eventually go there.

Mary-Esther also knew now that she had the ability to affect their illusion, through a larger effort, but that thing was also an extreme option she preferred not to risk or waste. If there was a dreamer not to wake up, she was pretty sure this was the risky option toward them. If she abruptly summoned the end of their world before they were ready to transcend, it would mean their fall and true end.

So as much as she had this harsher option, Esther related to it as a gamble or bluff against the nature above them. It had worked once, but she felt deeply it had been a tremendous risk to lose it all as well.

Elise was really puzzled about these considerations, quite foreign to her.

Mary-Esther couldn’t really be more specific about the risks faced, since even to her the consequences beyond her normal perceptions were new to her and unclear. Even through her religious knowledge, she was struggling to find adequate situations to compare.

She could still say however that if religion could make humans ascend to the realm of god, then the faith she was building was meant to allow her to ascend to the realm of humanity.

Elise thought that deep inside, even Esther must have had some measure of how nonsensical that claim was.

But she now had a wing, and Elise had to admit that at least. A part of their current reality was bound to her will.

She couldn’t get used to it.

Why a wing, and why only one? Why that colour instead of a more typical white?

M - That wing is in most ways the first thing I grew only for myself. It’s the first real piece of myself that came from no one else but me. It’s my history, my experiences, my philosophy. As I told you, through it I can feel a little the higher reality, and it’s the first part of me that both reached and gave me a tenuous but permanent link to the world above... I am building myself, both here and up there. Here that true part of me appears as a wing, but I don’t know what it’s like above. At least, it’s another step further. Each wing will bring me closer to my dream, with a stronger grasp above...

E - So it’s mostly symbolic... And more are to come then?

M - The wing is just a picture. What is behind is important. A part of me that is already a little further, reaching and holding... Yes, there are probably a few more to come, even if it makes no physiological sense here. That’s not really the point anyway.

If it was only symbolic, Elise suggested to cut it here. Since its purpose and intention would remain, and she would have less troubles walking and moving around.

Esther seriously thought about it, since her balance was challenged clearly, but the handicap wasn’t too severe. She would wait to see for the second one to appear before deciding anything rash like that.

And maybe she could fly with two of them.

Time would tell.

~

Some undecipherable amount of time later, it was Scarlett’s turn to reappear suddenly.

Suddenly she was there, in her own room as well, feeling exhausted and dizzy.

She barely could remember what had happened to her before.

Fortunately, Elise discovered her before Mary-Esther and was able to get her through the changes herself more gently. Scarlett was still holding a grudge and resentment against that damned puppet.

A doll that was still making them suffer... Even though they already died. That was making her mad.

Scarlett cried a little, in pain and anger.

Maybe she would still help them, but maybe not.

She couldn’t anymore bear the pain, the false hopes, and being near Mary-Esther as she was...

Scarlett returned to her senses and former self, but since then spent less and less time with them. She would spend her time here and there, randomly bidding her time in what still felt like a sentence in jail, without clear end in sight.

She would often stumble upon her sister or Esther, but for now and a while preferred not to get involved anymore.

Scarlett chose to live aside from them for a while, settling in the levels and places they rarely visited, spending her endless time on her own in other fashions.

Although saddened, Mary-Esther respected her choice and let her be.

Time kept eloping at its unsteady pace, until the strange project of a balloon was ready for launch.

~

They had done rough calculations of the weight of water it would need to support under the rain. And since they had no gas at hand, they had built an impressive shaft for coal to reach the furnace and burn.

It would be sent continuously from one of the highest balconies to the balloon basket.

They started from the colosseo ground, because they’d rather see it fail to lift off rather than crash below.

Unfortunately, despite their persistence and numerous attempts, they couldn’t manage to fill the balloon with hot air to a sufficient level to rise. So it stood there without successfully lifting off.

They needed gas, and another way to make this work.

Days later, somewhere around the 40th level, they worked on attaching ropes between all the open balconies.

This floor had the qualities of being both one of the highest levels accessible currently, and having the highest number of opening to the central well.

With a primitive crossbow they had had time to build, they managed to throw lines to link every opening with every seven others with ropes. It made a huge web in mid aid, under the downpour and far above ground.

Then slowly over it, they began to build a roof covering the colosseo. A nearly thirty metres radius structure began to appear.

Since they lacked the tools to build a solid wooden structure, they went for a mostly supple one using the cloth salvaged from the abandoned balloon.

And slowly, the giant web was covered, and the water diverted for now in the middle of it in a strong waterfall. In time they would divert it through a side and into the floors of the building.

S - What’s the point of all this?

M - Fire. We will make so huge a bonfire below that drapery, we will make it lift off.

~

For the first time in a very long time, all three of them were in the colosseo and not being soaked.

A large structure made of various pieces of wood was diverting now the waterfall directly into the tunnels.

That made them think they could also try to seal the tunnels below to flood the place, in order to rise with a boat instead.

All they needed to do was shut the well below the colosseo solidly enough.

But this time, they could gaze more easily at the enormous patio they were in.

Fires were lit on every possible open space below the cloth ceiling.

Now they had gathered enough stockpiles of combustibles down there to burn for weeks.

They set the fire to start heating and growing, and once it was getting well self-sufficient over its pile of supply, they left by climbing the rope ladder.

An hour later the place was becoming bright, the flames of the colosseo now high as a burning house. They were also emitting a very dark cloud of smoke, forcing the three women to head to the levels above the roof to breathe.

They prepared themselves to see the roof lift off.

From above, they could tell it was likely hell below, with fire and smoke becoming quite impressive.

The water poured along the sides from the full perimeter of the roof when it began to move. Most fires were quickly drowned and extinguished. The roof began to bend on a side, and the waterfalls engulfing the two openings flushed the hellfire from the below in a matter of seconds.

That was a complete failure.

~

Scarlett was gone, Elise displeased, and Esther angry.

Mining their way up was their best option again in the end.

From the sights in the open space, it appeared the colosseo was about four times as high than all they had climbed so far. It would take ages, and still keep the other challenges about solidity recurring most likely.

Either that or flooding the place...

Mary-Esther was considering the flood option very seriously, when it finally happened.

Elise saw it first, then Esther who looked at the rain now surprised.

The sunlight was at long last reappearing and growing.

How long had it been... Mary-Esther couldn’t believe it anymore.

Then she felt as if she had just woken up, and found herself on a balcony sheltered from the rain by the tilted roof they had built.

The leftovers of a bonfire were still there as well. And next to it was a young girl shorter than her, wearing a vivid blue dress.

Blue was looking at her, obviously pondering about who she was.

B - Are you... Esther?

M - Ah yes, I have changed, but indeed I am still myself... I’ve missed you Blue... For months!

They learnt how differently the time could flow between their worlds for good in this pain.

Blue was truly pained for her when she learnt how long it had been here.

Behind them was a large room with bright red flooring where they settled. Blue was amazed by the large wing Mary-Esther now had and could even move, even though it was utterly useless on its own.

They spent their share of time talking about stories and what each other missed.

Rose and Blue new works in town...

And unfortunately about the fact that Blue was still quite powerless to help Esther in any way so far...

She was willing to, but couldn’t find a good way to do so.

Mary-Esther told her about the roof they had built, showing her even the huge work now stuck sideways, tilted between two levels. Blue looked at it with amazement.

And a short while later, while they were still looking down the colosseo, now darkened by soot but softly lit nonetheless, they heard the noise of someone dropping an item behind them.

Blue turned around naturally, and saw her.

The shock was shared in each other’s eyes. A few steps away, by the door to the stairway down she had just opened, wearing a deeper red dress, Scarlett was standing there.

She was looking at Blue with a frightened look on her face.

Blue’s eyes had widened in disbelief, and her voice was trembling when she asked.

B - ... Scarlett?

She looked a little older than before, maybe twenty... Older than the ghost she had encountered before in the previous dream, much closer the sister she had really lost.

Now more than ever...

Scarlett brushed her tears away, still wondering if she really should enjoy the opportunity given, or rather beg to Blue to leave and never return to this realm.

Before she could decide on what to say, Blue had gotten closer, and was now holding her hand, asking innocently again if she really was Scarlett.

She felt the warmth, and considered it as a proof that at least Blue was still alive and well. It reassured her a little... But she still had to brush another tear away.

S - I missed you Blue... We all missed you... But somewhere, I also hoped that you would never come back to this dangerous place...

Blue embraced her and they spent some time sobbing in each other’s arms. Esther was feeling sympathetic and quietly waited.

~

Blue could hardly believe it, and none of them really knew how best to deal with this situation. It was more than awkward.

Blue hesitantly said they were buried behind the house, under the new rose bushes. She wasn’t sure if that was a good thing to say to someone already dead. Scarlett felt weird hearing it.

Her dead rotting corpse was buried, she had no doubt about it, and yet she felt whole and was able to talk about it with her youngest sister... It was unpleasant and feeling like a miracle as well.

Probably it was still not too late to back off, so she had to endure that pain too for Blue.

S - How’s your health? You seem really well... How’s your life? How has Rose’s been doing?

Scarlett couldn’t help herself from asking in the end.

Still, despite her awful feeling in the beginning, hearing Blue talking heartily and sharing so many good news with her; it was now like a blessing and soothing.

Mary-Esther was sitting beside them, waiting politely.

B - It’s funny Esther, you now look a little bit like Isha. Only taller and older perhaps... Well just a little so.

Blue was laughing. Mary-Esther and Scarlett wondered who that Isha was, and inquired about it.

So Blue told them about this all new and sort of a friend, but really employee to the household.

Bright sunny Isha. Mary-Esther was intrigued by that person she had no connection to now.

Scarlett was far more interested by Blue’s health and joyful mood. Scarlett felt so relieved to see her smiling so nicely and freely.

S - Blue... You really seem well...

Blue understood what it really meant, knowing her history and softly agreed.

B - But... Scarlett, are you trying to come back too? You really think you can do that?

S - No. And I grew tired of helping that one. I don’t want to... And I don’t think Esther should either, but I think trying to stop her would also be rather wrong and insensitive. So now... I’m just around until I meet another form of end, and that will be all...

M - I’m sorry Scarlett...

They could all see how close they were now, around Blue.

B - I wonder what Rose will think of it?

S - Mary... Blue, I’m afraid it’s likely unhealthy on many levels to come and see us. I would feel better if you would never come back, for your own sake.

B - I... We know that it’s a little weird... But I owe it to Esther, and I don’t really control it. Sometimes at night, I just have this journey instead of normal dreams... How... is Elise doing?

M - She’s helping me. She wants to come back... Well, she also shares the same fears as Scarlett as well, but she wants to try nonetheless. She’s doing okay.

B - Scarlett, is there something you would want me to say to Rose on your behalf?

S - ... Yes. Tell her to take better care of you, for the better and the worse.

Blue giggled but Scarlett didn’t, and neither did Esther.

Blue was taking things too lightly, and to Scarlett’s worry, she didn’t seem to realise how much in danger she was.

Soon after, Blue was gone again, and night returned to the desolate place.

A minute passed. Scarlett and Mary-Esther were still sitting next to each other.

S - Esther... If I tried to stop you one day; what would you do?

M - I would destroy you.

Mary-Esther stood up, feeling unpleasant with what she had just said without thinking. She looked dreadful but she turned a face to Scarlett showing her painful emotions.

M - And I would regret it for ever afterward... Because I do love you too.

Scarlett didn’t say anything, focusing on what she had heard said plain and clear.

She would destroy her...

~