Connected Memories

“Mana? Are you alright?” Brendan asked, a worried expression on his face.

She stared straight ahead, a look of shock on her face. Lacia was alright; she couldn’t believe it. It had been nearly a month since her disappearance, but knowing Lacia was ok filled her with a revived passion.

“She’s ok,” Mana said softly.

“Sorry— I don’t follow?” Mana turned around to face Brendan, tears of happiness streaming down her face causing him to take a step back. “If this is about last night, I’m sorry,” he said apologetically. “I didn’t mean to make you cry.”

Mana looked at him, clearly confused. “Huh? Last night…? Oh! No, no, no! These tears aren’t about last night, and, uh, that wasn’t your fault. I’m sorry for dragging you into my emotional wreck of a life, though. I know that hasn’t been fair to you…” she said, shifting her eyes from his gaze. “These are tears of happiness. Lacia is ok, and I even know where she is.”

“Yeah, I’d say that’s good news, but where is she, exactly?”

“She’s with another person, but they’re at the border of Gila, northwest of Seria, and the westernmost point of Alura. It’s going to be a bit of a drive.”

The screen-door of the porch slid open with a soft whoosh. Licht appeared in the doorway, a look of surprise mixed with excitement on his face as well; he was anxious to meet the person Mana and Brendan had talked so much about.

“Did I hear you say you know where Lacia is?” he asked.

Brendan nodded. “Yeah. The border of Alura and—”

“We leave in the morning, if that’s ok with you two?” Mana interrupted. “Besides, there’s something I need to…” Her voice began to ebb as she began to sway back and forth, falling into Licht’s arms. Beads of sweat crossed her forehead. She looked up as the ceiling began to spin, colors mixing and spilling into dizzying combinations. She shut her eyes; if she didn’t, she'd probably vomit all over the boys.

“Mana? What’s wrong?” Brendan called. His voice was wobbly and distant.

“Please make it stop,” she whined. “I can’t do this—” She reached out, hoping to find a hand, something to anchor her to reality, but her arm flailed in the empty air. Panic overtook her as Brendan and Licht's voices dissolved into nothingness. She felt like she was being carried away—somewhere foreign.

The dizzying merry-go-round effect began to subside almost as soon as it started, but as she opened her eyes again, she was no longer on the porch—much less the hotel, for that matter. An eerie, white room slowly came into focus; shifting palettes of color dotted the blank scenery. There seemed to be no end to the strange room, expanding into infinity. She turned her head to the right, or was it the left? Which way was up or down? Was there such a thing as direction in a place that lacked dimensionality? Mana lifted her head up, careful not to spark a new wave of vertigo as water trickled from the ends of her hair.

“What is this place?” she wondered aloud. “And… water? I guess that makes this the floor? It’s so warm…”

A familiar voice echoed through the colorless expanse. “She has begun to refine her gift if you’ve come to visit me,” it emphasized.

“I know that voice,” Mana mumbled. “Omnis?”

Sitting up, she wrung her hair out as a parade of black rose petals brushed against her legs. She looked down, examining the petals, juxtaposed against the glassy floor of white. She caught her reflection in the watery image, turning her head from side to side, thoroughly examining herself with distinct curiosity.

Her hair was matted on one side, likely from sleep but, despite forgetting to remove her makeup before crawling into bed, she didn’t look half as bad as she’d felt the previous night. Still, she longed for a hot shower and a fresh face.

Shifting her attention from the watery reflection, one of the small color palettes she’d noticed earlier began to drift towards her, congealing into an orb of picturesque images that played back like a movie. It was just big enough to fit in the palm of her hand where it rested as it finished its approach.

“What is this thing?” Mana asked. “It seems vaguely familiar, but I don’t know why…”

Suddenly, the orb leapt into the air in front of her as it fanned out into a floating puddle of color. She reached out, gently tapping the shimmering image with her finger, promptly finding herself in the middle of an abandoned amusement park, greeted by a supernova of color, warmth, and emotion. Enveloped by the night, the only light came from a full moon, illuminating her surroundings in a milky-white luminescence.

“Cute girls and abandoned theme parks don’t really mix, honestly, but I might as well figure out where I am,” she said to herself. “I know I’ve seen a ton of movies, and there’s probably some cliché reason for all of this, but,” she paused, “why am I here of all places?”

The night air nipped at her skin as she walked past rusty carousels and disheveled tents full of holes. She spent another minute, taking in the sights of the lonely rides and attractions, before gravitating towards an otherwise well-kept Ferris wheel, towering over the center of the fairgrounds. She placed her hand on a blue cart; sadness washed over her in waves as tears welled in her eyes. She removed her hand, brushing the tears away with the backs of her hands.

With a loud groan, the Ferris wheel rotated around to reveal an orange cart; the door was ajar. Inside, a small, silver bracelet rested on the cracked, grey leather seats. With a little effort, she managed to pry the door open the rest of the way.

“Stubborn thing,” she grumbled.

She hoisted herself into the cart, taking a seat as she turned the bracelet over in her hands; there wasn’t a scratch or speck of dust on it. The silver beads gleamed in the moonlight, emitting a dazzling beauty. Laying it out in her palm, she noticed a diamond-shaped locket on the end.

“I wonder if there’s anything in here… Huh?” A wrinkled picture fluttered to the floor at her feet. It must have been folded to fit inside the locket with careful precision; on the back was a message:

To my best friend in the whole entire world.

To the girl I look up to most.

To my favorite person ever.

To you, Mana.

Emotions crashed into her like an icy wave, threatening to drown her in the watery jaws of the undertow. She turned the picture to the front, overcome with surprise. There she was, in the very same cart, sitting beside Lacia, her perfect smile filling the center of the composition. Mana donned a smile of her own. Her eyes gave off a look of content despite the small, cramped cabin. The late afternoon sun shone through the window at a perfect angle, creating a brilliant, rainbow-colored lens flare.

“We looked so happy. How could I have forgotten this memory of all things?” She tucked the picture back inside the locket, closing it with a small snap. “Now I know why I feel like this.” She pressed a hand against the interior window as a soothing warmth spread throughout her body, happiness filling her heart. A long-forgotten memory flashed across her mind.

Lacia was approaching the Ferris wheel; the late-summer sun beamed overhead as she tugged at her oversized t-shirt, the mesh fabric sticky against her skin with sweat. A pink fluff of cotton candy arced through the air, taking the place of her pointer finger. Mana gave a reluctant smile as Lacia dragged her towards the multi-colored carousel of steel and plastic.

She remembered Lacia had complained about wearing leggings that day and how it was too warm, wishing Mana had warned her about the heat as she tried, several times, to remove the cottony garment. Reminding Lacia she hadn’t brought a pair of shorts to change into, Mana felt more like a babysitter than two friends enjoying a day at the fair. Still, she couldn’t help but laugh though, for some reason, she just stood there as Lacia continued on without her.

She yelled out, confusion and worry filling her voice. “Lacia, wait for me,” she pleaded. “Laci… a… Wait— Is that me?” Mana realized she’d been observing a memory from four years ago; she’d become so engrossed in the scene that she didn’t realize she wasn’t physically there.

“I see…” she said, disappointed.

Lacia’s voice snapped her back to attention. “After this, I kinda want to take a break by the pier. I’ve always wanted to watch the sun set over the ocean,” she said. “I think that would be a perfect way to end summer break.” Mana watched herself nod in agreement as the two girls climbed into the orange cart, the summer sun transforming the rusty paint into a brilliant, blazing, bronze.

“It’s a totally different experience from this perspective,” Mana thought. “I can’t believe I forgot how much I cherished this memory.” She rushed to climb into the cart, forgetting that, once again, she was witnessing the past; she had no physical presence.

As the Ferris wheel began to lift into the sky, Lacia pulled a small bracelet from her shoulder bag. Mana quickly realized it was the same bracelet she had picked up earlier, minus the picture that had yet to be taken. Clasping it between her hands, Lacia held the bracelet up to her heart. She turned to face the window, hiding a smile from Mana as she slipped it back into her bag.

“We’re almost at the top—let’s take a picture! I don’t want to forget today,” Lacia said, digging around in her bag for her phone. “It only seems right since you’re the one who gave this bracelet to me.”

Mana’s face lit up. “I don’t want to forget either. I want to cherish these moments forever!”

Tears filled Mana’s eyes as she watched her past unfold. The picture they took that day was something she’d cherish for years, but she couldn’t remember why she’d forgotten about it or where it had gone; she wasn’t one to misplace things. Not only was it a surprise to find the picture carefully tucked away inside the bracelet’s locket, but it was also a symbolic reflection of the better days when all she had to worry about was homework.

“I feel like such a jerk. Here I am, saying I don’t ever want to forget, yet I went and forgot anyway. What kind of person does that? Especially someone they consider a friend. I can’t believe myself right now…”

Setting aside her plight for a moment, she returned her attention to the Ferris wheel as laughter filled the cart before the ride finished its revolution. The late-afternoon sun faded into a gentle evening warmth, a light breeze sweeping through the fairgrounds. Vibrant purples, reds, and oranges burned across the sky in a fiery display of passion that seemed to echo the same fervor of friendship the two girls had for each other. As the evening crowd began to thin, the Mana and Lacia departed for the pier, hoping to catch a once-in-a-lifetime sunset.

Several couples lined the mahogany boardwalk, admiring the sun’s watercolor-like painting in the sky. One girl seemed especially fond of the evening’s sunset, tugging at her boyfriend’s hand as she pointed at the colorful clouds. He chuckled, pulling her closer.

“I wished I could have someone like that,” Mana mumbled under her breath. While she’d always longed for some kind of relationship, she wasn’t sure what kind of person could fill that void.

The memory continued its playback as the sun continued its artistic composition, igniting the sky in even deeper hues of crimson and lilac. Still, without Lacia by her side, she felt incomplete; she wished she could be there to experience the same moments she was reliving.

Reaching the end of the pier, Lacia told Mana to take off her shoes. “Wouldn’t want a strap to randomly break and lose a shoe, right? Besides, feeling the sea breeze on your feet is a feeling unlike any other,” Lacia fawned.

“So far this summer,” Mana started, “what would you say your favorite moment has been?”

Lacia pondered over the question for a moment before she gave her answer. “This one,” she smiled. “Right here and now.” She leaned into Mana’s shoulder as the scene shifted into blurs of white haze.

Mana found herself back in the white room where she started, trails of memories swirling through the void. The same, shallow bed of water from before greeted her as she gazed into her own eyes through the shimmering reflection. Small tears welled in the corners.

“Do you understand now?” Omnis inquired.

“What was that?” Mana asked, holding back tears.

“A memory, one of your most cherished.”

“Yeah, I got that much, but how was I able to see that, and where am I?”

Omnis remained silent before answering. “This is the Hall of Memories. Only those deemed worthy are allowed here, but even fewer do I allow conversation with me.”

The sound of sloshing water edged closer to Mana, still processing everything. She wiped away tear after tear, but they refused to cease; emotions flowed into her like a river emptying its contents into the sea.

“Let’s get you fixed up, shall we?”

A golden-orange glow engulfed her body, comfortingly warm and overflowing with abundant mana. Her clothes stripped bare, revealing perfectly toned skin in the golden shimmer. She outstretched her arms, watching as the mana condensed, creating abstract, spiraling patterns along her skin. The familiar rush of wind overwhelmed her body as she was lifted off the ground; she felt like a puppet, at the mercy of the invisible threads that held her.

She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. Her silken black hair melted into a deep, chocolate brown. The mana in the air continued to gather as it swirled around her, transforming the matted mess of knots and tangles into a luscious, shimmering adornment.

“This is incredible…” she thought. Her mind was the clearest it had been in weeks.

An ethereal light filled the room, transmuting the muted white into a warm, golden glow. Silken fabric raced across her body, threads of material weaving themselves together into a beautiful dress. The room seemed to melt, its colors pouring into the garment like paint spilling from a bucket. Gold trim wound its way through the threads, perfectly complimenting the white base as it brushed the back of her legs; shimmering ruffles layered the skirt, the sheer fabric creating an almost ethereal effect. The occasional fwip tightened the dress’ back, ensuring its perfect fit as the corset ribbon wound its way through the tightening loops.

Golden stockings strapped themselves to a mysterious garter belt somewhere beneath the dress, straps firmly pressed against her thighs as white, Mary Jane flats strapped themselves over the arches of her feet, a small block heel adding an extra inch to her height. A white choker and associated golden bow completed the look.

Finally, the magical vortex began to slow, but not before one final touch-up: Sparkling, golden eyeshadow and black eyeliner highlighted her emerald-green irises as the mana subsequently lengthened her eyelashes, now a bold black—mascara-free. The dwindling magical influx etched a pale magenta onto her cheeks, under the eyes, before adding a complimentary highlight across her cheekbones and corners of her eyes. The remaining traces of mana settled onto her lips, turning them into vibrant, glossy crimson.

Finally settling to her feet, Mana’s shoes created a small splash as they connected with the watery floor. Ripples fanned out in all directions, eager to return the water to its solid, pristine mirror-like state. Almost unrecognizable, she admired herself in the newly cast reflection, but hers wasn’t the only one being cast this time: a white, humanoid figure had appeared behind her.

“Are you…? Did…” She lifted a finger, pointing at the figure, then herself.

“I am interpreted in many ways, but as you seem to have grown content with the name Omnis, then yes, that is me,” Omnis said, emotionless. “Consider the improvement of your impoverished appearance a gift from me. You will need it where you are going, but that time has yet to come,” Omnis continued, answering Mana’s second question. “Now, as a parting gift, I have also rebalanced your magical circuits to their primordial state. You should find your magic quite a bit more free-flowing and potent now. Try casting a simple wind spell.”

“A… wind spell?” Mana said, uncertainly. Before she could ask anything else, a new memory presented itself before her. Drifting through the lingering air currents, the bubble burst as it connected with her chest. “Oh… I see, now.”

She closed her eyes again, focused, as she channeled a new surge of mana. It was incredible; the Hall of Memories was filled with such abundant magical energy; she wondered what it would be like to channel such immense power. The more she gathered, the more gravity seemed to weigh her down as the mana quickly pooled and condensed; her ears popped as the atmospheric pressure bombed out. Golden threads suddenly became visible, rotating around a singularity between her hands.

“Now, aim it at me, if you would,” Omnis said, “and don’t hold back.”

Mana opened her eyes, her shimmering eye shadow as golden as the air currents. She stared at the magical vortex she’d conjured, took a deep breath, and unleashed the spell; a deafening sonic boom resonated through the room as the brunt of the wind struck Omnis. The blast was so powerful that Mana struggled to maintain her footing as the wind rushed out in all directions.

“Very impressive,” Omnis said. “You have much talent, Mana Lhumin. Yes, I would say you are ready, though there remains room for growth, as always.”

“Ready?” Mana asked, breathing heavily.

“Do you not recall our prior conversation?” Omnis gave a light chuckle. “I am the one you’ve been calling Omnis. You’ll understand more when the time comes, but, for now, there is more we have to do here.”

Omnis pointed a finger, motioning for Mana to look up. A small beam of light shot from the tip of a pure-white finger, fading several seconds later. What had been an untouched ceiling of pearly white suddenly began to shift, the suddenly-blocky ceiling like a giant, intricate machine, full of moving parts.

“Do you remember when we first spoke? It has been quite some time now,” Omnis asked.

“Are you talking about after the earthquake?” Mana replied, eyes fixed on the ceiling.

“Close. After you first arrived in Seria.”

Surprise found its way onto Mana’s face. How long had it been since she first arrived in Seria with Brendan and Licht? She scoured the corners of her mind, trying to remember what Omnis had told her. Realizing where she stood, she gasped.

“Under a bed of water, I lay in waiting. I can be seen twice a day. Find what you cherish most, and unlock the door to the grand maze.” A smile spread across Omni’s face. “This is what you mean, isn’t it? This is the grand maze, and I’m standing under a bed of water,” Mana said excitedly.

The faux ceiling above her now resembled that of a starry sky, beautiful and illustrious. Stars shone with a ferocious magnitude as meteors streaked across the sky in tails of orange, white, and blue—not even the dazzling light of a full moon could outshine the meteoric display.

Silence hung in the air for several seconds before Omnis spoke. “I’m afraid not, but that was a very good guess. Give it a little more thought.”

Mana stared at the ceiling, then back at the floor as another minute passed before she gave her second guess. Stooping down, her dress trailed in the water, floating on the surface like liquid gold. She placed her fingertips on the water’s surface where a series of emerald lines cut across the watery plane like an electrical charge.

“That’s what I thought…” she said softly, dipping her fingers into the water as they broke the glassy surface. They inched deeper and deeper until she was elbow deep. She wiggled them around, searching beneath the bed of water until they found what they were looking for.

“Under a bed of water,” she recited, finally grabbing hold of something, “I lay waiting.” Slowly, she pulled a golden band from the water; it was littered with engravings all the way around the circumference, though the script wasn’t in a language she recognized.

“Do not forget the rest of what I told you, and complete your quest,” Omnis said, satisfied. “You must hurry and reconnect with your friends. This will be the last time I am able to assist you for a while. Good luck, Mana Lhumin.” A shimmering doorway appeared behind her, bathed in a dazzling, white light. “Take that portal back, and remember: your journey has only just begun,” Omni’s voice echoed as it faded into the white room.

“I’m getting closer,” Mana whispered to herself. “Even though I am about as lost as ever still, something tells me I’m doing the right thing.”

She turned and walked through the doorway, a newfound fire lighting the path she blazed. Her reunion with Lacia was closing in, but so was something else, something dark, and she could feel it. Even so, if she gave up searching for Lacia, everything she had done up until now would be a waste.

“So, remind me why we’re dressed like we just walked out of a fifth-century castle again,” Brendan said, pulling at the collar of an exquisite, plush robe.

“Do I really have to explain it again?” Mana whined. “Besides, grey is a good look on you. Do you really need another reason? It’s quite classy.”

“I’d be really curious to hear what your reasoning for packing us up so quickly is, too,” Brendan complained. “It’s important that we find Lacia, but you look, uhh…”

“Don’t say something that’s going to get me all flustered or I might drive off the road, ‘k? I’m sure Licht would also like to see tomorrow,” she cautioned.

As she hurriedly packed their bags earlier that afternoon, she’d done her best to give a condensed version of her meetings with Omnis, emphasizing her most recent visit and the Hall of Memories, including the golden band, but all Licht and Brendan could do was stare at her like they’d seen a winning lottery ticket—part of the reason she’d decided to change out of the dress and into a set of normal street clothes; a black crop top and strappy sandals with white, denim shorts would suffice.

“Besides, you’ll need it where we’re going,” she explained, though she wasn’t sure if that message was more for her or for all three of them. “Look,” she sighed. “All I can really assume is that Gila is super formal with their attire-of-choice, I guess.” It wasn’t a great answer, but it seemed to be enough to satisfy Brendan’s burning curiosity.

While she’d never visited the actual Kingdom of Gila itself, she knew they were some of the friendliest people around. On occasion, she’d strike up conversation with a Gilan tourist visiting Alura for its tropical summer weather as an escape from the Gilan cold. Considering recent events, however, she wondered just how friendly they’d actually still be.

“Then tell me why we,” he said, gesturing towards himself and Licht, “have to wear this stuff and you don’t anymore.” Brendan demanded.

“At least he’s not whining about it anymore,” Mana thought. “Err… Sort of…”

While she normally didn’t mind the extra attention, for some reason, she felt embarrassed. It wasn’t that she didn’t like the dress; she loved it, but she also knew better than to wear a dress in such sauna-like weather as Alura had quickly become. Likewise, she couldn’t just remove layers like the boys could, and her dress was a lot less breathable than their current getups. Besides, it was punishment for their ogling her back at the hotel. Of course, being the kind soul she was, she’d tell them later. For now, though, she just let them wonder.

“Is the heat messing with your brain, Brendan? You’re normally pretty cool,” Mana poked, still focused on the road.

“Real funny,” Brendan retorted. “Anyways, what’s the plan when we meet up with Lacia?”

Mana pondered the question for a moment; she wasn’t entirely sure what her reunion with Lacia would bring. “Honestly, I’m not sure. All I can say is that this band thingy and Lacia are connected somehow,” she said, gesturing towards its resting place in the front seat.

“I’m really glad you two are having such a heart-to-heart moment here,” Licht said, “but could you kindly focus on the road, Mana? I can really sense the tension between you two.”

“Dude, there’s literally no one else on the road. What are you so worried about?” Brendan laughed. “Look, we’ll be at the Gila border-gate by tomorrow evening. Until then, maybe we should find a good map of the kingdom before the satellites come crashing down, too,” he said, nervously.

“What do you mean ‘too’? Mana asked, concern edging into her voice.

“It was a joke, guys. Relax. You two are way too on-edge.” Brendan locked eyes with Mana in the rearview mirror. “No wonder… Mana, you look tired. Pull over, and I’ll drive.”

“Are you sure? I mean, I can at least get us to the next town,” she said, trying to defend herself. Apparently, no amount of otherworldly makeup could hide the exhaustion in her eyes.

“It’s fine. I’ll drive, Licht can take the front seat, and you can stretch out in the back. Sound good?”

She sighed. “Yeah, that’s fine, I guess. Thanks, Brendan,” she said, pulling onto the shoulder. “Do you know how to get to Gila?”

He nodded. “Don’t worry. Licht and I can handle things from here. Get some rest and we’ll wake you up in a couple hours,” Brendan said as the trio all swapped seats.

“If you say so,” she forfeited. “There’s, uhh, a little more to the story from earlier, but I’ll explain tonight. Hope you don’t mind a warm seat,” she teased.

The heat of the day eventually broke like a fever, the sun setting below the horizon. Dusk settled in quickly, blanketing the surrounding landscape in a quiescent lull. City lights grew brighter as the evening progressed, but the streets were devoid of excessive traffic. It was an eerie feeling, driving into town during rush hour—without the rush.

Brendan checked the time on the car radio: half past six. Mana was still sound asleep in the back seat; he figured he'd better let her rest, considering everything she’d been through earlier that same day.

Licht's laptop reflected in the passenger-side window, street names and city capitals scribbled across a map of Gila. “How’s it coming over there?” Brendan asked, taking a quick glance.

“Just finished, actually. Gila is mostly rural, from what I can see, and the layout seems to be divided up amongst multiple ruling families,” Licht surmised. “However, I was looking at a population density map while cross-referencing energy usage, but the data doesn’t line up.”

“What do you mean?”

“The energy usage throughout the entire kingdom has dropped significantly since the start of the year, but there hasn’t been a recorded decline in population to support such a drop.”

Brendan glanced in the rearview mirror, watching as Mana’s chest rose and fell; she hadn’t changed positions once in the last couple of hours she’d been asleep. He couldn’t imagine how exhausted she truly was. Thankfully, though, his conversation with Licht hadn’t disturbed her.

“We haven't given you the full rundown on Lacia yet,” Brendan said, “but all of this crazy stuff seems to be tied to her in some strange way, and, apparently, it’s been an issue long since before I met her and Mana. Whether or not it’s all coincidence, I have no idea,” he admitted. “What I do know is this: Something is happening, and no one has any answers. Honestly, that scares me more than anything.”

Licht closed the laptop, putting it away. “Let’s go over what we do know, then: First, the extreme weather and unnatural-natural disasters. Second, Lacia’s disappearance,” he paused, recalling everything Mana and Brendan had told him. “Finally, there’s Omnis and the Hall of Memories.”

“Don’t forget the supposed disturbance Madame Lucero felt, too,” Brendan added. “Like she said, something has disrupted the universal plane. You’ve noticed it too, right? How space-time feels like it’s changing?”

“It’s definitely something, but I’m not sure changing is quite the word,” Licht said. “Still, there’s definitely been a shift. Like, the car shouldn’t be travelling as fast as it is for only fifty miles per hour. In fact, my laptop’s sensors thought we were doing ninety.”

Brendan gave a confused sideways glance. “Are you trying to say we are moving through space faster than time should allow? And… why does your laptop have speed sensors in it?”

“Exactly that. Err… Not the speed sensors, though. I’ll, uh, explain that later,” he chuckled. “As for the space-time stuff… Theoretically, we could outrun time itself at the right speed. What that speed is, I can’t say, but it seems like a plausible scenario. Needless to say, this isn’t normal and completely defies natural order.”

“Well, whatever’s going on, it’s way bigger than all of us. I just wish we had some actual answers, you know?” Brendan pressed his head against the headrest.

A small groan emanated from the backseat as Mana shifted around in the confined space of the car. Just as soon as she’d settled into a new position, she’d immediately fallen back to sleep. Licht pulled a small blanket from a bag in the floorboard, laying it over her. Despite the recent sweltering days, the nights remained pleasantly cool.

“She’ll probably be out until late. Maybe we should just keep going,” Licht suggested, as he returned his attention to the front of the car. “I don’t mind taking over the driving for a while, either, you know.”

The lights of the city were now behind them as they drove into the coming night, an eerily empty highway ahead of them. It was strange, being the only car for miles. What was normally a brightly-lit roadway was now all but consumed by the approaching night as darkness settled in.

“That works for me,” Brendan said. “It’s already almost seven, so I’ll take over again around midnight. Sound good?”

“That should be fine,” Licht replied. “So… do you just wanna quickly hop seats or—”

“While accelerating through space-time as we defy the laws of physics? Absolutely not, dude. I’d rather not know how that ends.”

“Still a killjoy, I see.”

“Shut up,” Brendan laughed.