Who Am I?

A sharp pain coursed through Lacia's body, as if someone had shot her with an arrow. She jolted up in bed like she'd had a nightmare, clutching her side. The room was pitch black and there were no other sources of light besides the faint orange glow from under the door. Scared of what she might find if she held a hand to her side, she hesitated, then lifted her shirt and moved her hand to the center of the pain. A warm, wet sensation immediately greeted her palm as she pulled it away in a panic. The pain was enough to make her physically ill, even just moving her hand away, but she was curious. She had to know what now lined her hand. Slowly pulling her bed covers off, she dangled her legs over the side.

From three, she quietly initiated a countdown: “Three, two, one…” A loud smack reverberated around the room as her feet fit hit the floor. She moved to examine her hand under the light of the door, but found herself falling to the floor instead, in enormous pain. She used what strength she had in her legs to push herself closer to the door, hopefully using it to break her fall. If she had been able to support herself, the pain would have at least been bearable–to a degree.

Success! Or, that’s what she would have liked to believe had the movable tray next to her bed not been left in the middle of the floor where it abruptly fell over with an audible crash. The sound reverberated outwards, likely alerting everyone within two floors of her. Frantic footsteps hurried down the hall. A key entered the lock in the door, swinging it wide. Orange light spilled in through the open doorway. Various medical supplies were scattered along the floor. From a stethoscope to small scissors to even a plate of cold food, it now lay in disarray.

Dead silence reigned supreme as they took the entirety of the room into account. A steady drip could be heard coming from the edge of the bed. Drip… Drop… The next sound was a most unwelcome addition to what was a silent mess.

A woman’s voice came from the doorway, but Lacia was unable to read her lips. Everyone left just as soon as they arrived–all except for the woman who was now approaching the bed.

“You’re incredibly lucky Cherri was moved to another wing of the ship, you know?” The woman let out a small sigh as she took in the full sight of the room. “You were found lying on the deck, completely passed out. I don’t know who left you there and why, but I imagine you probably attempted to jump overboard,” she said, pulling the red-stained sheets off the bed. “Whatever Cherri gave you disabled the use of your leg muscles, but she never logged what she gave you which means I can’t give you something to counter it."

“I–”

“Look, Lacia. I really don’t care what you have to say right now. I mean, just look at you. You can’t even get off the floor.” The look on her face was filled with pity.

“You’re so kind,” Lacia said through gritted teeth.

The floor was stainless tile, making it much colder than the actual air temperature as Lacia quickly found herself losing any heat her body could generate. She struggled time after time to lift herself off the floor. Amidst the stabbing pain in her side and the immobility of her legs, she continued to fall back onto the cold tile.

The new woman tossed the bed sheets to the side and sat on the bare mattress, watching Lacia's struggle. “You’re quite the show, you know? This is the most entertaining thing to happen on this ship in some time.”

Lacia glared at her through matted hair, making it clear she did not appreciate the snarky comments. “What a bitch,” she thought. “Here I am, lying on this floor, in pain, bleeding, and all she can do is watch me struggle.” Her legs remained outstretched behind her, useless and immobile. She could barely feel them.

“Alright, well, I suppose this is enough fun for one night,” the woman said in an airy voice.

As if on cue, the hand Lacia was using to hold herself up slipped and she fell back into the puddle of crimson that had begun to spread out from her position on the floor. She didn’t try to get back up. The pain was too much.

“If you’re going to come over here to poke more fun at me, I’d rather you just leave me,” she said through shallow breaths. “Clearly, I can’t do anything since I’m so useless,” she exclaimed. “Where did these emotions come from?” she wondered as tears worked their way into the corners of her eyes. Strangely, she felt like she had just been crying.

“You’re an interesting girl, you know?” the woman said, crouching down in front of her, elbows on her knees and hands on her cheeks. “I don’t think we’ve ever had someone quite like you.”

“I don’t know your name so I’m going to call you Miss Masochist, okay?” Lacia said hurriedly. She was beginning to feel woozy from blood loss. “Either you do your job and get me to someone who can help me, or… Knock. Me. Out. I’m in too much pain and I’m still losing blood, so pick one and we can have a lovely conversation over tea tomorrow, ok?” she said, smiling with her eyes closed.

“Hmm… tea isn’t really my thing though...”

“It wasn’t–” Lacia cut herself off. She felt she would become ill right then and there if she said another word.

“I’m going to let you in on a little secret,” the woman whispered in Lacia’s ear. It felt uncomfortably warm and ticklish. “I’m actually the same age as you.”

Lacia’s eyes felt like weights. She knew she was about to pass out from blood loss. What did it matter they were the same age? She felt her head being lifted off the floor. With what little consciousness remained, she felt someone lay her on a bed. The lights on the ceiling began to move as she was wheeled down the hallway into an operating room.

“See? I wasn’t just going to let you bleed out. You’re far too interesting, Lacia. How did you get a puncture wound from an arrow? Especially one this clean.” She pulled Lacia’s shirt off to expose the arrow-sized wound in her side as she kept pace with the bed. The area around the wound was red and swollen. “Before you go, let me introduce myself,” she said, dancing around. “My name is Aria and I am your new caregiver!” Lacia’s eyes widened causing Aria to giggle. “I look forward to working with you,” she said excitedly as she readied Lacia’s anesthesia. “Doctor Reihner will be patching you up tonight. Sleep well. We have a lot to discuss when you wake up,” she said endearingly.

Lacia’s world went black. The anesthesia at least offered a decent rest.

“So, Brendan, tell me why we’re here again?” Mana wasn’t exactly thrilled about trying to shuffle through large crowds of people, especially in a town filled with refugees, but browsing antique shops was also pretty low on her list of things-to-do.

“I just need to check on something real quick then we can go eat. I promise.” Brendan was browsing the shelves of a rustic antique shop. He figured this was the best way to trace something back to Lacia. The mana trail they had been tracing vanished not long after they’d picked Licht up.

“We’ve been in here for thirty minutes and you’ve touched almost everything. I’m hungry,” she whined, “Can’t we eat first and then come back? I’m just as concerned as you are, but we can’t do this on an empty stomach, right Licht? Licht...?” She looked everywhere, but Licht was nowhere to be seen. Mana decided to make her way to the front of the store, stumbling upon conversation between Licht and the shopkeeper. "Hmm?"

“It’s called a what now? Those aren’t even supposed to exist in this dimension.”

“Yes, you heard me correctly. The stone you speak of is called a Neriolite. Not much is known about it, however.”

“Can you think of why it would appear here, on Earth, of all places? Forget Earth, it doesn’t even belong in this dimension. This doesn’t make any sense.”

“It may not mean much, but I have noticed a disturbance in the universal plane as of late. Something has become unbalanced, which is what could be throwing things out of order. I’m sure you’ve noticed the cracks, yes?”

“I have. It’s almost as if the dimensions are beginning to merge, but this feels different somehow.”

“Yes, you’re right. Here,” the shopkeeper retrieved a book from below the counter. Mana was too far away to make out the cover or what it said. “This may help answer some of your questions. I’ve been holding onto it for some time, hoping to pass it on to the one person who might be able to use it someday. It is yours now. Please take good care of it.”

“Thank you for your generosity,” Licht said in amazement. "Our friend is missing and somehow she’s mixed up in all of this. Once this is all over, I’ll thank you properly.”

The shopkeeper chuckled. “I appreciate the sentiment. Now go. It looks like a certain someone has been anxiously looking for you.”

“Dammit. So she knew I was here the whole time?” Mana cursed.

“Thank you again, ma’am. You’ve been a great help.” Licht turned around, smiling at Mana. Embarrassed by her own eavesdropping, she turned her head away. “Have you been waiting long?” he asked.

“Not really,” she pouted. “More to the point, can you help me convince Brendan to let us go eat? We can come back later. We’ve been here… almost an hour now,” she said, checking the time on her phone.

“I’ll do my best,” he laughed.

“Mana, Licht,” Brendan shouted from the back of the shop, "come here for a minute. I’ve got something.” If it meant she could get out of the shop sooner, she would gladly humor him on whatever it was he found.

“Shall we?” Licht asked.

“Indeed we shall,” Mana said in response.

The back of the shop was filled to the brim with murky glass jars, petrified driftwood, life preservers, and everything from 16th century books to modern-day craft technology. A dim yellow light highlighted the dust in the air, floating around like miniature diamonds when a spec drifted under the light. Brendan opened a book he'd pulled from a nearby shelf. The pages smelled like a freshly printed novel, though it had seen better days. Water stains lined the edge. The binding looked as if it could fall apart at any moment.

“What did you find, Brendan? Did you get a lead on Lacia?” Mana asked, appearing through a curtain of string beads.

“Yes and no. Remember how I was able to trace her mana earlier? Well, it turns out that when I examined her ribbon further, just a few minutes ago on a hunch actually, I detected a strange mana. That same feeling led me here to the back of the shop. Specifically, to this book.” He held it up in the light: “How Humanity Is Incomplete: A Series of Essays”

No official publisher could be found in or on the book and the author’s name had faded so much it was illegible. The book was relatively small, but it contained complex themes and messages that quite frankly made no sense.

“I can’t explain how or why Lacia and this book are connected, but it’s a safe bet to assume it has something to do with what’s in the book.” Brendan’s face was contorted in confusion and fascination as he skimmed a few pages. “There’s a passage in here I want to read to you both. I don’t–”

“Ah. You’re still here. Very good.” The shopkeeper interrupted Brendan as she entered the room. “There was something I needed to give the young lady here, so I’m glad you haven’t left yet.” She walked over to Mana. Taking her hand, she stretched her palm out and placed a small necklace in the center. “This is a very special necklace, young lady. Always keep it on you,” she said, her sweet face quickly turning serious.

“Thank you very much for the concern, but what is this for? My life keeps getting weirder and weirder, so why not add icing to the cake?” Mana said, wondering why she was given something as well. The necklace was beautiful, though. A pale yellow crescent glinted in the light. In the middle were two beads: soft pink and pale blue.

“This necklace,” the shopkeeper explained, “wards off evil spirits, but it also leads you in the direction your heart desires. Tell me, young lady, what do you desire most right now?”

Mana paused for a few seconds. “I… I want to find my friend and figure out what is happening. She’s my anchor–no. My entire life. I can’t imagine life without her, so I have to find her,” Mana exclaimed, placing her hand just above her heart.

Her hand began to warm. A small light emanated from her closed fist. She opened her hand to find the necklace fully illuminated until it slowly returned to normal. Somehow, she felt calmer, still hungry, but her mind felt so much clearer.

“Very good. That necklace has acknowledged your heart’s desire and will now guide you along your way. Don’t forget what brought you this far. I can tell you have a kind heart and I believe that necklace has recognized that same kindness,” the shopkeeper finished, turning to Brendan. “Now, about that passage you were going to read…”

“Oh, yeah. Thank you for reminding me. Would you like to hear it as well, ma’am?”

“If you wouldn’t mind, yes. That book is a unique one, but I’ve never opened it myself,” she said, finding a nearby bench to sit on.

Everyone’s attention was now affixed to Brendan. “No pressure,” he thought. “Here goes.”

“The human spirit is a fascinating one, I’ve come to discover. Mom and dad could never understand that my fascination with the human psyche as a child wasn’t just a phase. I suppose that’s why they were never able to find true salvation. As humans, we have long been fascinated with the idea of something greater than ourselves. This is a failed idea. As humans, we are weak-spirited, frail, and want to believe our failures are not just that–failures.”

Brendan briefly looked up from the page. Strange looks crept onto the faces of the room’s inhabitants. It was no surprise they’d find this weird, “but it gets so much worse," he thought to himself. “Continuing on…”

“Our lives are filled with the constant idea of perfection and failure, but it’s these very ideals that create such a weak and useless human spirit. This must not be allowed to cultivate further. I have proposed multiple hypotheses as a means of explanation for this weak human spirit: the innate desire to achieve something greater than ourselves, an afterlife, and an incomplete evolutionary trait that never fully developed and instead created a regression of the human spirit.”

“Fair warning, this next part may be difficult to understand. Continue?”

Mana and Licht nodded.

“This is certainly fascinating, isn’t it? Who would have guessed such thought existed?” The shopkeeper said with distinct curiosity. “Please, go ahead."

“However, my research into dark matter and time-space have led me to the potential discovery of a lifetime. We are living in an ever-expanding, infinite, universe. The way dark matter behaves when you introduce it to the concept of time briefly creates an entirely new miniscule universe filled with many worlds just like ours. No… I think it would be easier to define these new universes as not universes at all. They are still a part of our universe we currently reside in. Yes, these are entirely new dimensions. That is what they’re called. I have been able to metaphorically step foot into one of these and have happened upon a very unique stone I have dubbed ‘Neriolite’. It seems to be imbued with a mystic energy of sorts, but it is certainly a direct link to these other worlds–these other dimensions.”

“Stop,” Mana said. “Where is this going?”

“You’ve stopped him at a good time, actually,” Licht piped up. “The Neriolite mentioned in that passage–do you think it might have some kind of connection to all of this?”

“I do,” Brendan said.

“Wha–?”

“We’ll explain later, Mana,” Licht said, noticing her confusion.

“Let the young man continue. This is really quite fascinating,” the shopkeeper noted.

Brendan returned his attention to the final paragraph of the page.

“Unfortunately, I have no way of determining whether these other worlds apart from ours are just as pitiful and incomplete. There remains a challenge to all of this as it takes more than these Neriolite to open the gates to these other worlds and dimensions they reside in. There seems to be a connection between an unusually high state of consciousness and elevated emotional states, however. More tests will have to be run–human trials most likely. I think these Neriolite can be used as a means to measure aptitude and I will be testing this in the near-future. This sense of spirit makes me sick and it’s a waste to try and fix something so incomplete. Therefore, using these findings, I will reshape this world if no others can be determined to be viable.”

“If that doesn’t sound absolutely insane and frightening at the same time, then I don’t know what to tell you,” Brendan said as he closed the book and replaced it on the shelf.

“Brendan…” Mana broke in. “I know what you’re thinking.”

“I know you do,” he said, one hand still on the book. “But as convenient as it sounds, we can’t get lost on a wild goose chase. Look, we’re at least sure she’s okay–to enough of an extent that I can still detect her mana. Let’s go get some food and find a place to stay for the night. Sound good?”

There was no use arguing Mana thought to herself, stealing a glance at Licht who gave her a shrug. “Well, that’s that then. I’m famished and we can’t do this on an empty stomach.”

“You kids be careful out there. Come back safe and don’t get into any trouble, you hear me?” The shopkeeper spoke up.

A resounding “yes ma’am” echoed through the room, bouncing off of the walls like ripples in a pond. A faint rumbling sound joined the chorus.

“Go. You persistent young people never know when to start, but when you do, you never stop.”

“One last thing,” Brendan clamored as he struggled to ask one final question of the shopkeeper. “What do we call you? You’ve done so much for us in such simple ways. The least we can do is thank you properly.”

The room fell silent as if a blanket of snow had fallen across the entirety of the shop. Unnervingly, the shopkeeper stared at him as if she were peering into his soul.

“You may call me Madame Lucero. That is my name, now off you go,” she said, hurriedly rushing the three out of the shop and back into the streets. Dusk had already fallen on the town. So much for doing anything with what little daylight they had to begin with.

“If you return to this world, perhaps you will still find me here,” Madame Lucero said in parting. “The best advice I can give you, well, you already know. You’re a smart bunch,” she chuckled as they watched her slowly hobble back inside her shop to what seemed like another dimension in its own right.

Mana reached into her back pocket having  forgotten she chose to wear a pleated skirt that day–the last of her clean clothes. She had no pockets. With an exasperated sigh she reached into her shoulder bag slung across her shoulder. “I’m so hungry and tired that I can’t even remember half the things I’ve done today,” she complained.

Tap. Mana’s phone screen sprang to life, displaying zero new notifications, but at least the phone still kept time. 8:21 scrolled across the top of the screen. With the onset of dusk, most of the people on the streets from earlier had dissipated, leaving behind no trace other than the occasional footprints in the dirt. The cool night air was damp as it began to settle across the town, dew forming on any solid surface it could cling to.

“Let’s go eat,” she said.

“Now that was the best meal I’ve had since all of this crazy stuff started,” Mana exclaimed in delight. Brendan and Licht seemed to agree, sitting back in their chairs, stomachs full. “We still have to find a place to stay for the night, too, guys. We’re not sleeping in the car again.”  Mana reached out to a passing waitress. “Excuse me, Ma’am?” 

“Yes, how may I help you?” the waitress answered.

“Do you have any openings for the night here? I noticed the sign out front said this place doubled as an inn.”

The waitress stopped for a moment to study the faces of that night’s patrons. “Yes, actually, we do. How long are you looking to stay?”

“Just a night or two, really.”

“Alright. And it’s just the three of you?”

“Yes ma’am.”

The waitress pulled out a small tablet, made a few quick taps, and handed the device to Mana. On the screen were several options depending on room-type, view, and even suites. The prices weren’t what she had hoped for, but they were still slightly better than what she was expecting. As she scrolled through the list of options, something else caught her eye. The numbers on the screen were based on a currency she had never seen before.

The normal |c used to indicate ceruls had changed into something unrecognizable. Mana was used to weird stuff at this point, but this was something else. She checked the bill for the food, but the currency had remained unchanged.

“We’d like two nights, but can you tell me what currency this is in?” Mana said, handing the tablet back. A cool sea breeze blew through the open-air patio.

Puzzled, the waitress took the tablet from Mana’s hands, taking a moment to examine the supposed change in currency. Mana watched as her face changed from a look of confusion to a look of shock. So something was different after all. The waitress made two swipes on the tablet followed by a quick tap. Her face changed from confusion to content.

“I don’t know what happened there, but everything is back in ceruls again. Sorry for the inconvenience,” she exclaimed as she handed the tablet to Mana once more.

The prices now reflected the corrected symbol for ceruls, making the numbers look much more appealing. A smile of relief crept onto her face.

“Yeah, two nights would be perfect, please.”

“Great,” the waitress exclaimed in delight. “You’re our first guests in some time.“

“But there are so many people here. You’re telling me no one else has made a booking? The food is excellent and so are the prices for a room… I know things have been crazy lately, but that’s a little odd, don’t you think?”

“Do you really think they have money for an inn right now?” the waitress questioned, turning in the direction of the refugee camp. “I think they have bigger things to worry about.”

Mana shifted uncomfortably in her seat, slightly taken aback by the subtle rudeness of the response to her question. The faint murmur of voices and small cries could be heard in the distance, a dim glow melting into the inky twilight of the evening. Her ears felt like they were on fire. How could she be so oblivious? Of course no one had money right now. She and Brendan had been blessed with a small fortune thanks to their families, but that just made her ears grow even hotter. Mana's face turned bright red.

All of these people had suffered tragedy unlike anything before. Now, they were displaced, hungry, and scared with no home to return to. She was far from spoiled, but she definitely felt like a jerk. At least she still had a home she could return to.

“Maybe,” she thought. “It feels like forever since we left Azalea. Anything could have happened.”

“You have a point,” she said in response to the waitress. “How does a suite sound, guys? I think we could all use the room considering we’ve been stuck in that car for days.” She turned to look at Licht and Brendan.

“That sounds heavenly,” Brendan said, leaning back in his chair.

“Wurkfs fer me,” Licht replied through a mouth full of food.

Mana couldn’t help but giggle. “You heard the boys. One suite, two nights, please,” she said with a smile, the first one since Lacia’s disappearance.

“When they say 'suite' they really mean it,” Mana said awestruck.

The waitress had recommended the master suite, even giving them their second night for half the rate of the first. As she walked into the room, she was immediately greeted with the sweet aroma of azaleas. The ceilings were clearly gothic inspired: vaulted and arched. There was even a full size kitchen that practically sparkled in the light. What was this stuff made of? Diamonds? Even the furniture seemed to sparkle for a moment.

An audible gasp escaped her lips, catching Licht and Brendan off-guard. Mana concluded that the couch in the main room was the most comfortable couch her butt had ever experienced. She didn’t think it would ever forgive her when they had to leave. To her left hung large silken drapes that cast an almost pure-white filter on the town.

“That’s eerily heavenly,” she thought to herself.

“Uuunngh,” Licht grunted, desperately trying to pull his boots off. All of the walking they’d done lately had caused his feet to swell. "I think I need new shoes," he admitted.

Noticing his struggle, Brendan sauntered over to help. “Put your back against the wall and I’ll pull,” he said. “It’s gotta come off eventually!”

“Guess I should’ve looked for a pair of shoes that fit instead of a new book on parallel dimensions, eh?" he said in reply.

Brendan pulled as hard as he could. The boot began to loosen, but it had become a battle of attrition.

“Dude, just what shoe size are you and how did you even get these on?”

"Eight and a half and I put them on like I usually do.”

“This thing won’t–”

The boot gave a massive sigh as the air pocket inside finally gave way. An air pocket had formed an air-tight seal, keeping the boot firmly secured to Licht’s foot.

“Ahh… Damn it feels good to take these things off. Now then, for the left,” Licht clamored joyously.

"Alright. On three," Brendan said, one foot against the wall, the other on the floor. "Three, two, one. Pull!" He pulled so hard he lost his balance and accidently stumbled all the way into Mana’s room. Having, perhaps too much, trust in Brendan and Licht was one thing Mana prided herself on, but at the same time, it was all she felt she had to offer them.

It had been an exhausting day and a hot soak in the tub sounded like a wonderful reprieve from her troubles. Purposefully, she left her room door open a crack, but not because she was looking to have someone accidentally tackle and pin her to the bed. Half naked, scantily dressed in only her underwear, Mana’s cheeks flushed a color that could only be described as a new shade of red.

The silken sheets under her body were as cold as the chilled windows. Pleasurable, but not what she was in the mood for, not to mention Brendan still hadn’t realized she was only half-dressed, slowly lifting his face off the pillow upon which it landed. She could just tell him to keep his head down until she put some clothes on, but why waste such an opportunity as this?

“I’ll tell him how I feel,” she thought. “But I should also let him know that even if it was an accident, never intrude on a girl in her room. Especially when she's changing.” She mulled her options over in her head. Her thoughts resembled that of jello.

“Aghhhh, dammit! Come on Mana, get it together!”

Brendan's face wasn't even off the pillow yet, but those few seconds felt more like a few centuries. Licht was still struggling with the other boot.

“I’ll do it. I’ll shoot my shot,” Mana decided.

“Hey, are you okay? I really didn’t mean to come barging in like tha–” Brendan’s eyes were the size of golf balls. Sitting on her legs and hands on her thighs, Mana stared directly into Brendan's eyes. “Umm, you're–”

“Observant, are we?” Mana said blushing, gaze still fixed.

Seconds later, Brendan was on the floor, groveling in sincere apology. He offered up a silent prayer, ready to accept whatever came next. "Death won't be long now," he thought. “If it’s any consolation, that light blue looks great on you. You’re looking more and more like a woman by the day,” Brendan chimed, pleased his last words could be something so scandalous yet complimentary. A new talent?

Mana crawled to the foot of the bed for a better view. Groveling definitely wasn't what she was expecting or what she was used to receiving, especially after being caught in her underwear. “This is new,” she thought.

“Stop that,” she demanded. "I'm not your Mistress!"

“Y-yes ma’am! Sorry ma’am!” Brendan stammered.

"Stop! I don't like that," she said, shaking her head. “Now come here. I… want you to sit in front of me.” Her mind was running circles. "Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god. Am I really about to do this?"

Reluctantly, Brendan shifted himself back into a sitting position on the bed like Mana had asked. She was beautiful. Her skin was soft and supple and her eyes gleamed green as emeralds. Brendan hadn't realized just how much she had grown as well.

“So, you do know you’re half, uh, naked, right?” If looks could kill, Mana would be accused of murder. Her stare was so intense it sent shivers down Brendan's spine.

“This is the only time I’m going to say this, so listen carefully,” Mana said, face burning with embarrassment.

Brendan made an audible gulp. He was sitting in front of one of the most beautiful girls he had ever laid eyes upon. She was dressed in only a bra and panties. Was she going to give him a strip tease then off him? Leave his body rolled up in the carpet for the next guests to find?

“I lo–”

SWOOSH!!

Licht’s other boot shot off his foot at a perfect angle as it whizzed past Mana and Brendan. It hit the headboard behind her with an obvious SMACK that sounded like someone receiving a very painful high-five.

“Aghh, dammit! Nevermind!” Mana wailed like a child, crying out for its mother. “I hate this! I’m such a mess that boots have begun to fly!” She snatched the nearest robe like a hawk clutching its prey and ran into the bathroom. The door slammed shut with audible force. She slumped against the wood in defeat.

“Mana,” Brendan mumbled under his breath. He knew what she was trying to convey, but he couldn’t understand what she was feeling. At least not completely. Her sobs from behind the bathroom door had less to do with him and more to do with the fact she felt like she had lost her only friend in the world.

Brendan’s emotions began to well up inside of him like a hot spring. He held back tears of his own. Someone had to be strong for Mana, after all. Shifting his attention from the door to the room, he realized just how much of a mess it was: pair of leggings draped across the back of a chair, a few pairs of shorts on the floor, and a set of pajama bottoms lazily hanging from the curtains; how those got up there would forever be a mystery.

“What was she doing in here?” Brendan thought out loud. “Maybe she was looking for something." A letter floated its way to the floor by his feet as he put Mana's clothes back in her bag. Several wrinkles had been creased into the envelope, reminding him of the scowl he used to receive from his teachers when they asked him where his homework was.

“Clearly not here,” he would retort. An attitude reminiscent of lazy school days.

He knelt down to pick the letter up. Replacing it neatly inside her open suitcase, he returned his gaze to the door. The sobbing had dulled to an occasional sniffle. Mana’s phone vibrated on the desk, startling him. To his surprise, the phone was unlocked.

“Perfect,” he thought. There was no sense in trying to pry anything out of Mana right now; it wasn’t in anyone’s best interest. Brendan picked the phone up, opened the notes app, and began typing. When she was ready, Mana would have everything she needed.

Dawn came early that morning. Mana checked the time on the clock next to her bed. 5:30am. Was sunrise always this early in May? April had already come and gone. Today was the first of May, but she didn’t feel any different; at least not compared to the last several weeks. Lacia had been missing for over two and a half weeks now and they were no closer to finding her than they were to winning the lottery. Mana rubbed the sleep from her eyes as she recalled last night's events.

“Breakfast…” she mumbled. “So hungry…” She checked the menu on the table. In tiny print at the bottom it read: Breakfast starts at 7am. She was hungry now, though; not in an hour and a half. “What the hell am I going to eat?” she mumbled. Her stomach grumbled. “Can we not, right now, stomach? I know you’re hungry, but so am I, so please stop trying to kill me.”

She stepped out onto the patio for some air, hoping it would help ease her hunger pangs. The May air was cool and crisp. The sun was barely a half circle, embarking upon its journey to its place in the sky. Shades of red and purple plastered the horizon, creating a magnificent display of colors unlike anything she had ever seen. A light tingling sensation broke her from her daze. She had forgotten about the mark under her eye entirely, but the tingling sensation brought it to the forefront of her mind.

Without warning, Mana’s vision pulsed, leaving behind a headache of epic proportions. She swayed uneasily. Her vision pulsed again as a streak of light cut across the sky in a zig-zag pattern. There was no rhyme or reason to it’s path. It vanished seconds after it appeared. The star under Mana’s eye began to glow brighter, spreading an eerie warmth through her body. 

Cracks formed in the sky, following a similar path as the streak of light moments prior. They traversed the sky without rhyme or reason–a true mystery.

In soft, faint tones, a voice called out to her: “Do not fret, child. You’ve done well to come this far, but this is where your path lessens in ease.” The voice sounded hollow, reverberating in her head like ripples in a pond.

The cracks continued to expand and grow as the voice continued: “You are not equipped to handle the burdens that will befall you on this path you have chosen. You are dearly missing someone, your heart aches, but it is not time for you to reunite just yet.”

Mana brought her hands to her cheeks and squeezed, ensuring she was awake. Yep. This was happening and she was being spoken to by some disembodied voice. “Great. I'm losing it.” She had questions that needed an answer, "So why not play along?" she thought. “Alright, so let’s run off the guise I’m not losing my mind and this is happening. Who are you? What are you and how do you know all of this?”

Silence reigned supreme before the voice gave its answer: “I’m known by many names,” it began. “I have been called a savior, a blessing, a demon, a nightmare… Perhaps the term 'God' would be something you are more familiar with the concept of.”

Stunned, Mana planted herself where she stood. Cold from the concrete seeped into her body like icy veins. “God?”

“If that is what you wish to call me, however, I am not omnipotent to the extent that you would consider God,” the voice replied. “Time is not something I have, child. The person you are seeking is safe, but she longs for your rescue.”

Mana’s eyes widened. This was the first good news she'd had regarding Lacia. A question began to form shape on her lips, but she faltered. The voice spoke once more.

“It is not time for your reunion yet, but you must not forget what it is that has brought you this far,” it warned. “I will bestow upon you something that will help in your journey.”

A small whistling sound crept into Mana’s ears. Wind whipped around her like a funnel. She couldn’t believe her eyes–she was suspended in mid-air. The vortex had conjured up an enormous amount of magical energy, leaving Mana in disbelief. Auroras of neon yellows, greens, and blues began to mix in around her, harmonizing with the wind. Mana's body grew warm with the influx of magical energy, seizing every cell in her body.

“So this is what magic feels like,” she said softly. The light fully enveloped her. “I’ve never felt anything like this. It’s so warm and comforting.” She hovered several feet off the ground before returning to the concrete. The vortex of energy reached its climax as a supernova-like flash erupted from her body.

“So blurry,” came the groggy first thoughts. A few eye-rubs later, a medical room worked its into focus. She was hooked up to an IV, but she was free to move around however else. A detailed medical chart resided on the table next to the bed. It was full of scribbles and X’s that clung to the page in black ink. Closer to the bottom, a large question mark stuck out like a sore thumb. Written next to it was a small footnote: “Puncture wound. Arrow most likely culprit. No arrows to be found on-board ship, however.”

Everything came flooding back all at once. The strange wormhole, the mysterious voice, the school… “I remember now. I think– I think I was shot with an arrow... I can't believe I'm back here again, though,” she said disdainfully, reflecting upon what seemed like several days.

“Lacia? Are you awake finally?” a male voice came.

She turned her head in the direction of the voice. A man in a white lab coat stood in the doorway. "You must be Dr. Reihner," Lacia said cautiously. It was obvious the guy was a total gym-junkie. Sweeping a tuft of hair out of his face, he approached the bed. Lacia shifted nervously in the bed. She was on heightened alert and her legs still refused to function properly.

“You can relax. You have nothing to fear. I just need you to tell me how you’re feeling and if there’s any information you can give me regarding that puncture wound,” he said, waving his hands to reassure her.

She studied Dr. Reihner for a hot minute before answering him. His calm demeanor was impressive. Lacia's astounding curiosity got the better of her an with a sigh she gave in to his request.

“The last thing I can remember is standing in front of a bus. I was having a conversation with someone, but we were interrupted,” she explained, purposefully leaving out details such as names and what the conversation was about. Her trust levels were at an all-time-low–she trusted no one. “The first one missed, barely, but the second one– I think the second one hit me, whatever it was.” She was being genuine. Whatever struck her, it happened so fast she didn't even know what hit her.

Dr. Reihner nodded his head, jotting down notes on the already messy medical chart. “I see. I see,” he said excitedly. “I can’t explain what happened to you either, but this information is incredibly useful. Thank you, Lacia.”

“Sure, whatever,” she mumbled, turning her head to face the window. A canvas of grey had overtaken what she assumed was a beautiful day, peaks of sky occasionally piercing the cloudiness. “To answer your first question: I don’t feel ill anymore, I’m still in a little pain and I can tell my bandages haven’t been changed recently, but I don't feel like I'm dying anymore.” She faltered as another sigh escaped her lips. Turning her attention back to Dr. Reihner, she finished her report. “I’m assuming you’re the one who saved my life. I should say ‘thank you’, but to be fair, I don’t trust anyone here. I apologize, but know I’m sincerely grateful.”

“Hm.” he gave a small verbal affirmation. “Thank you for letting me know. I’ll send Aria in to change your bandages. Until then, please just relax. Your wound is very delicate. We can’t have it reopening.” He stuck his head into the hall, asking for Aria's whereabouts. After another minute, he pulled his head back in. “Aria will be here in just a moment. Thank you again for the information,” he said as he exited her room.

“He seems like a nice guy, but then again, I’m stuck on a ship in the middle of the ocean,” she muttered. "All of this lying down sucks." She used her arms to pull herself up into a sitting position. Curiosity and boredom got the better of her as she reached for the medical chart Dr. Reihner left on the table.

“Why would he leave this behind?” she thought. A near-audible gasp escaped her lips. Looking up from the chart, she scanned what she could see of the hall before returning her attention to the paper.

“Daily blood draws x12,” she read. “They’ve been drawing my blood for almost two weeks now. That’s both creepy and scares the hell out of me. Do they even keep the bloody bandages, too?" She wondered before continuing. "No abnormal emotional states detected. All Neriolite tests have come back negative. However, patient retains faint traces of stardust." She shuddered. It was hard to imagine what sort of tests 'Neriolite tests' were. "What the hell is a 'Neriolite'?

“Lacia,” a voice echoed in her mind. “Do not believe a word Aria is about to tell you. You must be oblivious to her deceptions.”

She gasped. "You! You’re the voice from the deck. I deserve some answers. Where am I? Who are you and what’s going on?”

“I’m afraid there is no more time for questions. I only came to warn you. Do not fall for Aria’s poisoned words,” the voice said, as it faded away.

“Dammit, when the hell am I going to get an answer from someone?” she swore.

“Oh? Lacia?” Aria’s airy voice pierced Lacia’s ears like needles. “I’m so happy you’re okay!”

“I’d rather be dead,” Lacia whispered to herself, "but I have so many damn questions for this bitch.”

“Shall we have our talk over tea, now?”

“Absolutely fucking not.”

“But why?” Aria pouted.

“One, because you’re pouting like a ten year old girl. Two, I hate that you’re still taking a figure of speech literally. Three, you watched me struggle on the floor, helpless. You stared at me with that same damn grin on your face,” Lacia listed off on her fingers.

Aria’s grin quickly waned. Her face reminded Lacia more reminiscent of a child that didn’t get its way than someone who actually a damn. To Lacia’s dismay, Aria's new expression was significantly more eerie than the last.

“Regardless of how you feel about me, Lacia,” she started, an ominous whisper creeping into her voice, “I’m not going anywhere.”

Arai bent down as she began to remove Lacia's blood-stained bandages. "Still bleeding, but not too bad," Lacia noted. Fresh white gauze rolls lined the bedside.

“Likewise, Lacia, you aren’t going anywhere, either.” Silence decayed the atmosphere in the room.

“What are you, Aria?” Lacia demanded.

“I don’t think you’re in any position to ask that question,” Aria shot back.

“Don’t mess with me!” Lacia shouted. Tears welled in her eyes.

Stunned by her outburst, Aria stepped away from the bed. Lacia's resolve was clear which probably startled her more than it did Aria. An open door was no friend to such a striking conversation. Aria softly shut the door, slowly turning the lock to the up position.

“Oops. I really pissed her off,” Lacia thought. "Now you've done it, Lacia."

Aria's voice oozed with venom. “I know they told you about 'Aria' over there. I know how you received that wound. You’re just like me, Lacia: different, ostracized by the world because you don’t fit in anywhere,” her voice quivered. “This cruel world world has given me nothing but pain and suffering. When I came upon those essays six years ago, I had just lost both my parents to a drunk driver. No one saw it coming.”

“Essays?” Lacia treaded lightly. How much was she supposed to believe? Who, or what, was she supposed to believe? 

"Yes, by D. Stemmer. They detailed the weak spirit of humanity. As a 14 year old girl who had just lost both her parents, the talk of things like space-time and dark matter made no sense, but I thought, 'If there's any way to change this shitty world, this is it."' All Lacia could do was lay there and listen, though she was thoroughly conflicted.

“I never expected to find something like that bound book of pages and ink in my school library, but there it was. By the time I finished reading it, my bags were already packed. Whoever, and wherever, D. Stemmer was, I had to find them.” She took a deep breath, turning back to face Lacia. Tear stains lined her cheeks.

“She’s being genuine."  It was Lacia's turn to be shocked.

“I’m twenty, now. Just… like… you. We are one in the same. I’ve been to those other worlds. I know how to use the power they call 'Aria'. Coincidence we share the same name? I don’t know.” She moved to take a seat at the foot of Lacia’s bed. She leaned back, hands curled into fists of emotional turmoil.

“Aria, I–”

“You wanted to know who I was, didn’t you?” Aria remarked through a new stream of tears. “Who am I? I’m your greatest ally or your worst enemy. You decide, Lacia Amana.” She stood up and walked to the door. Turning to face Lacia, she locked eyes with her. "You decide," she repeated as she closed the door behind her.