The Void

“Arthur, what the hell is she talking about?” Emmett asked.

I stared dumbfounded. I wasn’t the only one who transmigrated, Selphine was one too.

“The….Void?” I muttered.

“That’s right.” She nodded, still smiling. “You wanna know why?”

“Why?”

“Because it’s where all those who are deemed as trash run away to. It’s a dream world where people who have major issues travel to in order to fake happiness.”

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing, and judging by Emmett’s reaction, neither was he.

“What…what are you saying?” Emmett yelled. “I was born here! What do you mean it’s a fake world? How is any of this fake?”

“You were born here, that’s correct. That’s because your parents were both residents of Earth who chose to travel here, eventually meeting. One’s ability to reproduce doesn’t get affected just because they go to another world.”

“Shut up!” Emmett exploded. “Enough of your bullshit lies!”

Emmett tried to blast a fireball at her, but nothing happened.

“What’s wrong?” Selphine laughed. “Feeling a bit…burnt out?”

“You little-“

“Calm down.” I grabbed Emmett by the shoulder. “We need to focus, so try not to lose it.”

“Right, sorry.” He nodded and took a step back.

“How do you know all this?” I asked Selphine. “And why are you trying to stop us from saving Obrillis?”

“Saving…Obrillis?” Selphine burst out laughing. “Fool! Don’t tell me you got completely charmed by Esmeralda’s lies! You seriously believed all that?”

“What…What are you saying? The balance…”

“You’re correct, the balance shifted a few years back.” She acknowledged. “But let me ask you this, did Esmeralda ever tell you why it started to shift?”

“She…she said she didn’t know, no one knew.”

Selphine laughed again.

“Then let me shed a little light on the subject.” She continued. “The Masked Order didn’t form because the balance of the world shifted. The balance of the world shifted because The Masked Order formed.”

My jaw dropped. What was she even saying? The balance of the world…reacted to The Masked Order?

“What…What do you mean by that? Why would the entire balance of Obrillis shift…because of the order? It doesn’t make any sense! The order was formed to counter attack the balance! They were meant to save the world!”

“You utter idiot! The Masked Order’s goal was to doom the world, not save it!”

My eyes widened, this didn’t make any sense.

“You’re lying. You’re fucking lying!” I started screaming. “We spent years saving people! We saved people because the balance screwed them over! None of what you’re saying makes any sense! Why would Esmeralda want to destroy the world?”

“Well, her goal wasn’t to destroy Obrillis specifically, but the goal she had in mind would only be achievable through that means.” Selphine explained.

“Shut up! I don’t believe you!”

“Don’t believe me, then. I’m sure you can explain what that ritual is, hmm? You can explain what the order’s goal was, when they brought you here, to The Void.”

“I…my memory’s cloudy…”

Emmett had been staring at the two of us the entire time as we exchanged words. He stayed silent, not knowing what to say.

“Were you the one who clouded it?” I asked.

“I was, but there’s no point to that anymore.” And suddenly, as soon as she waved her hand, the picture painted itself perfectly.

The past three days were vivid in my head, and I remembered it all. The entire plan, everything.

I clutched my head and fell to my knees.

“He…He knew…”

“Arthur, what’s wrong?” Emmett approached me.

“The entire time…He knew the entire time! Since the beginning!”

“Wh-Who?” Emmett asked hesitantly. “You’re not making any sense…”

“Arthur! Arthur knew! He knew what the ritual was!” I stood up and grabbed Emmett by the shoulders while Selphine looked on smugly, her army of zombies standing still obediently behind her. “The ritual….it was to break the seal the whole time! The only way to break Earth’s seal….was to sacrifice a soul!!”

“What are you talking about? Sacrifice…a soul?”

“They were going to sacrifice me to break the seal! The seal that trapped them inside this place! They were going to break the seal and go to a place beyond The Void…a place called Earth!”

“I have no idea what that is…but why?”

“Because they didn’t want to live here anymore.” Selphine interrupted. “How selfish. They were the ones who chose to live here in the first place, yet now they chose to leave, and decided to drag all of us with them, us who wanted to live simple lives.”

“Why would they want to leave, though?” Emmett asked. “I…I don’t understand.”

“Because Obrillis is literally a void!” I yelled. “It drains everything! There’s no negative emotions! Remember when I murdered Louise’s brother right in front of her….and then immediately after that, she proceeded to team up with us? She didn’t feel hate, she didn’t try to get revenge…because she couldn’t. The Void took them all away from there.

“What are you…this doesn’t make sense! I feel sad all the time!”

“For how long? Louise started screaming and breaking down immediately after I shot Christopher, but a few minutes later she was perfectly fine! The stronger your emotions, the faster they drain!”

“But…that’s…”

“Think Emmett, think! When’s the last time you laid in bed feeling like shit over a span of hours? When?”

“Never. That’s never happened to me.”

“Exactly! This isn’t normal!”

“Why not? Isn’t this exactly what you wanted?” Selphine interrupted again. “Aren’t you the one that stole someone’s identity because you were too afraid of being yourself? Why is this world bad? All pain that exists will simply cease to be. It is the perfect version, compared to Earth’s imperfection. Everyone is happy here, no? What more could you ask for?”

“You’re wrong! This is wrong!”

“And yet, you’ve done the exact same thing you’re claiming is wrong.”

“No, that’s different!” I yelled.

“How so? Please enlighten me.”

I was lost for words. I just couldn’t find anything to say in response to her.

“Told you so.”

“Why…why did you tell us all this?” Emmett said.

“Because I don’t want to kill you, you idiots! I just don’t want you to ruin this life for everyone else, alright? You didn’t know, so it’s not your fault. But you must stop this, for the next time we meet, I won’t treat you like children anymore, understood?”

She snapped her fingers and every single zombie dropped to the floor lifelessly.

“You must understand there are consequences to meddling with forces that you do not comprehend.” She said as she turned her backs to us and started walking away, prompting us to fall to the floor in a mix of exhaustion, relief, shock, and anger.