[ CH 1 | Pt 2 ] she cooked amatriciana in my void room; it was HEAVENLY.

“Well, here it is,” I said as if I was showing off my prized possession to a friend.

It was my stove, and next to it, a fridge.

“I see.” Gossamer replied flatly, scratching her cheek with her index finger, and with a blank distant stare as if she was unaware to what I’d previously stated.

I continued. ”It took forever to get this in here; you have no idea.” Opening the oven door to demonstrate its obvious functionality, I added, “It powers on by itself, something to do with this media plane. I tested it out first with a lamp, which is kind of useless given the amount of light in here.”

I looked up, and her eyes followed. What was there to see but an endless void of opalescent space. Despite this, everything that was farther out seemed as close to you as what was meters away. Quite the strange but useful illusion.

She turned her face back to me, now with a bit of jaded abandon in her eyes. “Sigh, Sato-san, between you and I, I know what you're looking for; and it's not a personal chef.”

“The truth is: you need my help, and I need you alive.” Gossamer had a sort of monotone frailty to her voice; they made it hard to believe the conviction behind it.

But every word was said with authority. From the stairway incident to the way she spoke, I began to wonder a few things. Just how powerful of a Superpath was she, and what kind of life has she lived to become so forthright?

Uh, what is this?

Suddenly she turned her face towards me, then grabbed my arm, pulling it closer to her chest.

I tried to avoid staring into her glassy, reflective eyes. My nose quickly met her flowery scent. A bit pleasant but strong. If I had been a bit younger, this would be a compromising scene.

Then suddenly, just as she breathed in deeply, I could feel something pulsing through my thoughts; but it was abstract. It wasn't a voice, but almost like…like information.

“What you are feeling now, it's the heartbeat of that place….” she responded cryptically while fiddling with her fingers around my hand.

“The…, the heartbeat? Could you be any clearer?” I questioned with a bit of apprehension.

After ignoring me, she slowly began closing her eyes. “Activate your ability, and I’ll show you exactly what’s running through you right now.” She responded, turning her head a bit too far sideways.

I paused for a bit, still unconvinced.

“You asked me how I know about the televisions, among other things. Don’t you want to find out…? Trust me, this will bring you closer to your goal than anything you have done in the past two years.” She said confidently, with an attitude that said ‘I am quite sure you will give in.’

Well, she was correct.

I tried to concentrate my thoughts past the feed I was receiving; but it was like a thick wall blocking my path.

“Relax; don’t try and focus hard; you want to be as free as possible, try and match the speed of the information you're given with your thoughts.”

-I am hungry. I am hungry. I am hungry. She’s pretty cute. I am hungry. I am hungry. I am hungry. Curses…she probably heard that. I am hungry. I am hungry. I am hungry. I am hungry. I am hungry. I am hungry. I am hungry. Yep, she's giving me a dirty look; she definitely heard it. I am hungry. I am hungr—

*Bwaaaaammmm*

My field of vision went from the white void to a deafening burgundy color. Within what seemed like an even greater boundless galaxy, a kaleidoscope of light rushed through the feed I was receiving from Gossamer.

It began to materialize into…what seemed like a device… or an aircraft; no, a soaring bird in the clouds. It began to descend at rapid speed into the night sky. The skyline was peppered with the night lights and the ambient sound of nightlife.

“How are we seeing this…and why? Why are you showing this to me of all things?”

“The birth of a Superpath, what is that to you?” The woman asked.

“You obviously know, as do I; woman; don't ask me such silly questions.” I answered rudely out of nervousness.

“That's a pretty cute woman to you.” Yikes.

And the answer is: a Superpath is born from obsession. A devotion to any sort of act you can think of done with the goal of mastery. They say 10,000 hours of practice, or even inaction, is what it takes” She said as if she was referencing a dictionary; when she knew full well she was a Superpath. Who would have a better understanding than herself?

She continued as our feed began to soar through the city streets. I grew dizzier.

“Once reaching this ‘mastery’, the Supath gains control of a pressure field known as ‘the pathway’. They are then able to manipulate this field in three aspects, or disciplines; push, pull and harden.” She proceeded to rattle on.

“What does this have to do with anything, kid…?” I said irritated; my mind was getting overwhelmed.

“The point is…, the Superpath is the manifestation of extreme obsession and devotion. And yet, obsession manifests in many different ways. For instance, Obsessive people are many times type-a; and are very productive. In another way, those who are easily distracted and compulsive; their obsession can become the enemy to their productivity. “ She began to tremble as she held my hand to her chest.

“In that way; it can be hard to determine which outweighs the other in any given situation; seeing as both can tear apart one’s life. One cannot survive without the other; but in the end, only one will survive.” As she spoke, her eyes started to fall again.

“Productivity, obsession, Yin and yang; pedantic metaphor. I understand it well enough. Just get to your point already, young lady; I think this experience is leading somewhere dangerous…in many different ways.” I sternly said as I tried to pull my arm away from her bosom.

“The manifestation of productivity; that is likely what you saw.” Gossamer said as she grew colder.

What did I see?  “A superpath created from productivity?”

“No, something greater; something other-something commonplace” She opened her eyes wide.

I felt what she had just felt. Turning my head ever so slightly, the rushing lights in my head began to take form over the burgundy canvas of illusion.

What it formed was massive, and towering. Everything within the city, all the roots of light; they were rushing to meet into it; at that one place.

It was my old place of employment. It was Ziggurat I-F.

Wait a minute.

“What I saw; so you met it as well…?!” It suddenly clicked as I spoke.

My senses continued to travel into the light of the tower. I felt a great pull and pressure fall above my shoulders. Everything got colder.

I could tell she was feeling the same.

“ No, Sato-san….; I’ve never gotten this far before. I wouldn't have needed you otherwise….you or anyone e-” Suddenly her voice fell sore, and—

*Thud…!* huh, she fell? I thought.

Wait…crap; I think im also about to-

*Thud…!*

Right. My turn.

With my head to the side, the last grasp of vision I saw was that place.

Room 47; A-2.

In a haze of thought and vision, I finally woke up. As my senses returned to me, the one that was most bold and apparent was my sense of smell. Irritatingly also was some j-pop blaring; but It was overshadowed by the smell.

It was savory. Tomato-ey.

I followed my nose to the back of the television wall. There a few of the crts sat, removed from the wall (who asked you to do that, woman.) sitting on one of them was Gossamer, and the other, a plate of Spaghetti.

“It's Amatriciana. Enjoy; Sato-san.”

I tried to act irritated, but after finishing that meal (and believe me I’m not myself when I’m hungry), I was all smiles inside.

“Well then…, so you want to team up with me?” I opened one eye to meet her blank and disbelieving state.

Ehem. I coughed up a bit of the pasta I had eaten too hastily.

“Well, I’ll need your help with one more thing. If you can do this last job; I’ll let you into this operation.”

“Yeah, what is it, Sato-san…?”

“It’s about the girl, Chiyo; considering you've been following me I assume you know about her...Mr. Motozawa’s daughter…I know where she is.”

“Of course. And she knows where the father is…right?” She responded plainly as she scratched the middle of her cheek with her index finger.

“And he knows what my last boss was; just what type of man he was…!” I said sternly.

“And your boss was?” She responded, turning to the side.

“The CFO of Ziggurat I-F’s largest company branch.” I said while teetering in the TV I sat on after leaning in.

“Oh…I see.” Gossamer finally spoke with an understated energy as her eyes grew large.

Our eyes met within a distance of a few inches.

That day was the beginning of our exploits.