Athalia was surprised at how content she felt.
She was certainly scared of a month of solitary confinement. The "loss of senses" part was especially worrying. However, she had a gut feeling that none of this would put a stop to anything she wanted to do, at least not permanently.
This is a strange position to be in.
Knowing my freedom is about to be taken. Knowing there's nothing in the world I could do to prevent it.
The more I accept it, the less it can harm me…
Although I can't give myself too much credit. It's not like I plan on tanking the punishment.
Athalia subconsciously reached into her sleeve for the Measuring Anchor, before remembering that it wasn't there.
The expedition was only two weeks, but I really did get accustomed to using that thing. It was so much fun using it to maneuver… I'll find a way to get it back somehow. I imagine Enza has it for the moment, but of course she has to return it to Instrument Management.
Ha, I wonder if anyone has ever managed to steal an Instrument. If I could keep it for myself, and blame the theft on someone else, it would be the best toy I could ask for… Of course, not having it doesn't mean I have to walk. I don't need an Instrument to move through the web.
Athalia bent her knees and leaped over 20 feet into the air. She landed carefully on one of the white beams.
She bounced from foot to foot and rolled her shoulders, then pushed off the beam in the opposite direction that she had come from at a blinding speed.
She danced across the beams, using light taps of her feet to flip around and continue gaining momentum.
She took 3 big strides up a series of beams like she was climbing stairs, and stood still overlooking a small clearing. There was a grassy field, but the grass was completely gray and lifeless.
There were markings and lines of various lengths and widths covering the field. Behind the field, there was what looked like some kind of play structure for children.
Athalia somersaulted through the air and landed on top of the play structure, balancing with one foot. She pushed off and landed some distance away, where the grass faded out to a field of black rocks.
She familiarly tap-danced over the rocks until she reached a large boulder with two parallel lines deeply carved into it, forming an equals sign.
Damn it, I forgot that I lost my house key before the expedition…
No choice but to destroy the door, I guess.
Replacing the door is so annoying, with having to recreate the seal and everything…
Athalia reached into her messy auburn hair and fished her hand around. After a moment, she carefully pulled out a rusty nail, trying not to pull her hair as she did so.
She twirled the nail between her fingers at high speed, then flicked her hand. It flew like a bullet towards the boulder covered in markings.
As soon as her hands were free, Athalia plugged her ears tightly.
A unbearably loud whining sound radiated out from the nail. It rapidly turned red hot before exploding. The entire boulder was blown into pieces along with it.
That's the only one of those I have. How sad to use it now…
Dust filled the air, and pebbles were sent flying everywhere. Athalia coughed and waved away the dust with her hand.
Where the boulder previously was, there was an entrance to a steep tunnel that descended underground. It was far too steep for anyone to walk on; it was nearly straight down.
Athalia took a couple steps back from the entrance, enough to get a running start. She vaulted into the tunnel, and slid down its surface. It was covered with a layer of running water, it was an extreme waterslide.
She laughed joyfully as the waterslide carried her down dozens of feet. Eventually, she landed in a pool in a corner of a small cavern.
In the center of the cavern, there was a pile of straw that served as a bed. There was a nightstand and a chest of drawers right next to it.
Two large mirrors hung from either wall, directly opposing each other.
There was a bucket of white paint on the ground. She pulled out the paintbrush.
I'm sorry. I'll be there soon enough.
She began writing on the wall.
Her eyes were shut tight…
"Nothing can hurt you."
"Give me something to fight for."
"Show me your heart."
The paintbrush dropped from her hand.
I don't have enough time for more.
She walked to the edge of the room and grabbed a miner's pickaxe.
She hit the wall as hard as she could a dozen times, until the structure started to fall apart slightly.
In case the process messes with my current memories once this is over, having this here should be enough to jog my memory again. If only I had enough time to get to the ore now… it's unfortunate…
She walked to the nightstand.
Too many cobwebs, it was disgusting.
It had been too long.
She slammed all the drawers open.
The candle she had never used.
She had been waiting for the right time.
Flick
It burst to life.
The black leaves…
Fshhhhhhhhh
She breathed it in deeply.
Athalia was surprised at how quickly it was working.
The man with the drill hadn't been lying.
She involuntarily retreated to somewhere within herself, and her mind was shut off.
…
Four in the morning, inside the tower.
Two men linked pinky fingers and spoke in unison.
"You are blessed by luck. May no hardship befall you."
They squeezed each other's pinky fingers until they snapped clean off. There wasn't even a wound. The fingers disintegrated into thin air…
A faint, green light emanated out from both of their hands where the severing had taken place.
The light quickly condensed into a green blob. They each wiped their green blob in two slimy lines on their forehead, forming the equals symbol.
"You must walk silently. The defenses react to footsteps."
The man across from him nodded.
"I've double-checked all my preparations. Let's go."
They hopped down from the rafter simultaneously.
Despite trying to be quiet, they made quite a bit of noise.
It was from their clothes…
They were wrapped head to toe in white bandages, and cloaked in sheets of broken glass. It clinked as they moved. The man on the left had a plastic trash bag tucked near his chest like a handkerchief.
They approached the back of the tower. They looked all around, but didn't see anything else moving.
Two doors stood in front of them.
The first door was covered in handles…
Dozens of door handles of different shapes, sizes, and materials were randomly drilled in all over it.
The second door was rather regular-looking. Just a wooden door with a brass knob.
"I wonder which…"
The two smiled at each other.
They warily stepped away from the simple door and began examining the dozens of knobs.
Their eyes landed on one that was shaped like a deer skull.
The man on the right reached up and twisted the knob without hesitation.
Click!
The door swung wide open.
On the other side, there was a hospital room. A white bed with a heart-rate monitor and saline solution…
In the center of the room, there was a large trapdoor.
To both of the men's surprise, it was wide open…
They gave each other a hug.
They covered their hands in cuts, the only part without bandages.
They held their breath and jumped down.
The trapdoor swung shut behind them…
Moments later, three tired-looking people wearing dark brown clothes ran into the room.
As their eyes landed on the closed trapdoor, their faces lit up in shock.
A woman raised her voice and said, "Get Kismet. Now."
A man ran out the door in reply.
In the foyer, a large rope hung down.
The man pulled it hard.
DING, DONG
…
It's been a long time.
I wasn't sure if I'd return.
Ah, I can only move my head. I think that was mentioned before…
I can't believe I'm back.
After everything, all I wanted to do was die.
I can feel something stirring.
It's like a wave's approaching.
Her eyes rested on the wall.
"Nothing can hurt you."
"Give me something to fight for."
"Show me your heart."
It all hit her at once.
She screamed until her lungs bled.
"I remember everything.
"Other people are the worst hell of all.
"And that man…
"Not a single soul in this world is more detestable than Azarias. God damn it…
"Why did you have to help her?
"Nothing can stop this trajectory.
"Everything will happen according to these memories.
"These cursed, terrible memories…
"Just let me forget. Please, just let me forget…
"I don't want any of this.
"It's wrong.
"This outcome…
"I never wanted such a thing.
"Why must you make me remember?
"Why couldn't I have just forgotten?
"Everything still would have happened, but at least I wouldn't know until the last moment.
"Ah, how could I have failed…
"Why did you have to stop me?
"Would it really have been so bad?
"Do you really think yourself so pure?
"You must pay for this, Azarias.
"Damn it, there has to be something I can do.
"But I have no way to tell Athalia anything.
"We cannot coexist.
"And I cannot move my arms or legs.
"I cannot write a message to her.
"Only my mouth moves…
"I can only talk. How useful is that... bah.
"Well, fine. If talking is all I can do, then talk I will. Even if it's only to spite you."
So she talked.
Whether there was one listening, that memory would never know.