Fate

I didn’t know what happened. I only wanted to touch her, to feel something that wasn’t wood, metal, or cloth. But the moment my fingers rested against the vision, everything changed… or, rather, the visions went away, but I was still stuck in the box. I shifted, hoping to relieve some pressure from my legs, only to gasp and feel myself.

Where did my robes go? What am I wearing?! The robes were made from the finest cloth my village could find, yet the clothes I wore now felt more like a man’s. The tunic had long sleeves that ended above my wrists, leaving my fingers free to move around. The tunic ended at my waist, yet the trousers covered my legs while leaving them free… free!

I grabbed my ankles, expecting to feel heavy metal, but I only found more cloth around my feet and a pair of shoes. I was no longer dressed like an offering, but the box was still there, still keeping me from the rest of the world. I refuse to let things stay like this! The odd light was gone, but I didn’t need it to figure out my next move.

The box hadn’t tipped over, so the lid was above me. I leaned forward as much as I could to get my feet under me and pushed against the lid with all my strength. Please, oh please, oh please, oh- The lid was the only thing I could focus on. I was able to open by myself when I entered the shrine.

I could do the same now. Don’t think about how to get out of the box once the lid is open. That’s a problem for the future me! I didn’t know where I’d heard such a phrase or found the strength to continue. But after straining myself to the point that I felt like my back was about to break, a miracle happened.

The lid began rising, the wood groaning even though it couldn’t have been that long since I entered the box. Don’t think about any guards. This is my only chance to escape! I heaved against the lid, pressing up as hard as I could, until the lid cracked against the side of the box, leaving me staring up in shock.

I tensed, straining my ears to detect any signs of people approaching. But no one came. My breath flared in front of me, even after I calmed down. Don’t tell me I’ve been buried alive. It wouldn’t be the most shocking thing I’ve discovered today. I waited for a few more minutes before slowly standing up.

The floor looked like a solid sheet of white rock. I forced myself to look away but was distracted when I saw the track I had ridden inside the box, so I slowly nodded. There’s no way I’m climbing that, but there has to be another way out. Surely, the priests or their guards come down here. How else would they keep the track free of boxes?

My arms kept shaking as I tried pulling myself over the nearest side. The new outfit and odd shoes made clinging to the side easier, but sweat poured off me in waves as my arms refused to support my weight. Don’t you dare give up. You’ve come this far and… Wasn’t my twin wearing something like this?

I inhaled sharply and looked at where the vision came from. Is she alright? Did our clothes get switched when I tried to touch her? I wasn’t sure how to feel about that. But at least my twin hadn’t been in a box like I was. You can focus on her once you’re free. You have to escape before something else happens!

I braced myself and smiled as my arms didn’t shake as much. I wasn’t very muscular, but I’ve done my share of scrubbing floors and climbing trees. And the box wasn’t the tallest thing I’ve climbed. I got one leg over the side and practically dropped the rest of the way, groaning as I hit the ground.

Not the best landing, but that’s one less hurdle! I didn’t let myself rest for long. The tunnel stretched ahead like a snake, giving no clues as to which direction was the head or where I should go. The shoes made odd slapping sounds as I walked, making me cringe, yet I didn’t want to remove them.

Am I really wearing the same clothes my twin was wearing? Does that mean the box sent me to her world? I groaned, pushing forward despite feeling the pressure build between my temples. I didn’t understand anything, yet I refused to stop moving. If someone did find me… I shook my head and kept walking.

The darkness was nearly complete, yet it no longer frightened me. Not now that I have had some say in my actions again. Not when I’ve seen a girl who could have been my sister in some strange place. I didn’t know anything about magic. Why would I? There was always something to do, and I had no talent for anything beyond basic tasks.

But the idea of my twin waking up the way I did felt wrong. Why did she look so tired? Is she in some kind of danger now? Am I? I was sure the priests wouldn’t like seeing me dressed like this. I was still trying to figure out if I liked the extra freedom it provided me. The shoes continued squeaking and slapping as I kept moving.

I couldn’t see the box behind me anymore, and every step only fueled my desire to move. I did my duty. I would have run if I could see better. They have no right to complain. The ground began rising like I was climbing a hill, and I pressed on. I never did. My legs started burning, but I didn’t want to sit down. I needed to move too much.

I swear I’ll never complain again if I can leave this place and live my life in peace! I didn’t need much. I’m sure I could get by well enough if I found a way to explain my clothes. Maybe I did get sent to my twin’s world. Or… did we somehow become one? I finally had to brace myself against a wall to catch my breath.

I couldn’t imagine climbing all this by myself in my wedding robes. I’m sure I would have curled up and hoped to die… But I didn’t let myself dwell on that for long. You have to keep moving. It’s too soon to relax! But I couldn’t get my twin’s face out of my mind as I forced myself to start climbing again.

Is she here? That thought made me ache in ways I didn’t understand. It was one thing to picture her in her world, possibly wearing my clothes but otherwise safe. But it was something else to think of her here. Would the priests force her into the box since she looks like me? Would they hurt her?

I didn’t notice my steps getting louder as I started to run. My safety and future promise were forgotten in the need to discover what happened to her. I need to see you. Where are you? I stretched my arms out, hoping to get some warning in case I didn’t notice the tunnel curving away and ran into a wall, but nothing prepared me for the sudden burst of light that had me doubling over and crying out.

A familiar creaking hidden behind layers of cloth coaxed me to lower my arms before I heard her.

“Um… are you okay?”

I didn’t move. She was the one in chains; her pasture made me wince in sympathy, yet I couldn’t move. She frowned, looking me up and down before looking at her lap.

“Is this… some kind of dream? Or a prank, maybe?”

I coughed and shook my head. I wanted to tell her I was sorry, even though I didn’t bring her here or change our clothes. I wanted to beg for forgiveness until my throat bled. But I couldn’t say anything as she slowly pointed her arms at me and smiled.

“I don’t suppose you have the keys, do you? As pretty as these robes are. I’d feel better in something more like what you’re wearing… Are those my clothes?”

I nodded and looked away. The rest of the room reminded me of the box I barely escaped from. The walls and floor looked like the same kind of wood, and when I looked at the ceiling, I had to resist the urge to scream. But my twin was clever, far more so than I gave her credit for.

“What is it? What’s wrong?”

I could only whimper as I pointed up, and the gasp she made only confirmed my fears. A giant eyeball was staring at us, and I knew who it belonged to.