Chapter 45.

A total flood. A violent stream of thoughts and feelings and sensations came crashing on Rose's mind, making its immaterial walls vibrate and her head spin. And she had just opened her eyes ! A second passed, foreign words appearing here and there, then she sat up. Looking around with frowning brows, she saw two people in a very similar situation. They had woken up a few minutes earlier and had been dealing with the same pain. A shared pain : Rose felt cracked ribs, Nick a twisted ankle and Enora a recently bent waist. A migraine too. A huge one, multiplied and amplified, blurring their vision and thoughts.

"What the fuuuck … ?", thought the youthful woman.

(?) What's up ?

She froze. Her mind answered her rhetorical question, as if …

(Rose) Hello … ?

(?) Yeah, I know, it's a bit weird.

(Rose) What's happening ?

(?) Calm down, sweetheart, it's just us.

(Rose) Who's us ?

(Enora) Who do you think ? Enora here.

(Nick) This is Nick.

The whole time Rose's vision had disappeared, too focused on trying to comprehend this event. Panic and fright had taken her in its tight grip, and only this last message made her lift her head to look around. Enora and Nick were looking at her, compassionate gazes mixed with helplessness. They felt as lost as her but instinctively tried to act sure of themselves for her sake. Yet that truth appeared bright as day when Rose looked at them, everything becoming clear after every second. Realising that fact, the two looked a bit taken aback.

(Rose) Well … that's amazingly awkward.

(Nick) No shit ! And wait until memories start coming one by one. Then you will begin regretting.

(Rose) What ?

(Enora) It took a bit of time to come for us, but you'll get there.

True enough, a new wave of foreign information began spreading in the little blond's mind. Like watching a movie through the main protagonist's eyes. First Enora. There was great pride and arrogance as she looked at the 'flock' gathering around the tables in the first cave, eating without thinking and cackling pathetically. Then the confidence she exuded while drawing the map, even though she knew she had, in fact, never done something of the sort for real. She knew it, but nobody else needed to. The first fight, mixing fear, blood and death, all covering her in its disgusting smell. After that, Rose saw herself through those eyes, sitting in a corner reading quietly. A surge of ego came, knowing how superior she was compared to that frail thing. But this small yellow book … that's the same kind Enora had ! So she approached, made conversation, shared information about it and offered the deal. At no point did any kind of concern appear in the warrior's mind : the stuff about magic felt important, nothing else. It was worth spending a bit of food on. Then the great escape, the starving and danger, until Nick. Vigilant for any sudden move, a long time passed before the group was actually formed, and again it was for the brown book she had seen. Only when this behaviour was brought up did Enora realise it, and a lot of shame appeared : it had truly never hit her how heartless she had been before. Then the fear of losing others, followed by the deep disgust and almost hatred of what she considered to be an unforgivable sin. Nick was, in her eyes, guilty by default. She softened after some time but was still pissed.

(Rose) You're still pissed after all the things you did and thought ? Really ?

(Enora) Admonishing me now that I can't hide, that's low.

(Rose) It's the best time to do it : you can't hide. And …

The second wave interrupted her. Nick's fear and uncontrollable cowardice at the first moment of his awakening, pushing him to flee on his own in the dark tunnels of this maze. Then his first fight, the pain of losing his fingers, the following battles and even more pain. Every wound and injury, every moment of despair and hate and woe. And the little bit of joy too. When meeting two women, one strong and tough, a bit scary, one small and cute. Both attracting him. This event even created a new perverted thought : two women just for him in this stranded place deserted from human civilization. But this delusion disappeared quickly, as he was not amoral or stupid enough for that … Next, growing 'happiness', with the few intimate encounters he had. The pleasure and comfort in these deadly times were like a lone buoy floating in the middle of an endless sea storm, saving his trembling reason. And the distress and anxiety from sharing the perverted and shameful thoughts concerning this cute girl near him. Shame, but also a bit of unwillingness to let go of this feeling, as the woman concerned was very pretty.

(Rose) Unbelievable …

(Enora) I know, I was about to beat him to a pulp for refusing to admit how disgusting he is !

(Nick) I am not ! Look, I have been as honest as one can be, and I swear I would have never hurt Rose !

(Enora) It's not about hurting, you asshole ! I know perfectly well that, at the first possibility to fuck her, you would have done it and …

(Rose) Would you two shut up ?! That's not what I was talking about ! I meant the whole Nexus thing. I know you've begun to experiment and understand it's functioning, but I just woke up.

(Enora) Ah ! Yeah, that … Well, it's goddamn weird, like /

/ (Nick) multiple people reading the same script /

/ (Rose) at the same time.

So strange. The three of them could talk without their mouths, and even without words if they wanted to. But, instinctively, they agreed not to communicate through emotions or anything of the sort too much : they were understandably reluctant to risk slowly forgetting their spoken language. But actually talking with their voice would probably become rarer from now on Rose reasoned. Nick agreed, as communicating was faster and easier that way.

Then, before a single stomach rumbled, the tall warrior began grilling some Troll meat over the coal fire. Everything was smooth and clear. Everything was logical and peaceful. It was only when they actually shared thoughts that some arguments would ensue. Slowly the man came to Rose, knelt next to her and began using light magic to soothe her burning right ankle : apparently Enora had not entirely healed it. And not an ounce of concern or surprise came to the blond, as she knew from his first move what he had in mind. Although he still tried to hide the slight enjoyment he felt by helping her. Hiding was useless now.