Continue? | Act I: There Is No End

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The eyes open once again.

And all it could see is darkness.

Wait, actually...

No, it's not.

Accompaying the darkness was the wind, breezing through the streets and circulating across my body.

Accompaying the dark and the wind were some kind of green.

And upon further realization, the green was revealed to be the grass and the trees.

Sitting up from my position, I looked around the world around me. I was in the park. I was still here.

All alone...

Wait...

I looked behind me, where the bush had laid. I searched inside and alas, Lentil was nowhere to be seen.

Looks like he left me.

That sneaky rat. Always leaving from the scene of the crime. Heh.

'That sneaky rat.' I chuckled.

But it also could've been that his family must've told him that he must be back home by nightfall.

Either way, he had left me.

Slowly, I stood up, just begging the question of how long was I asleep for.

I looked at the sky. The sky was turning dark, but not all the light had been dimmed just yet.

Judging by the orange mix between the sun and the horizon, one would know that it's sundown.

'I have enough time to go do it.', I thought to myself.

But in order to have enough, I might have needed to make a little bit more.

Barely anyone was present anymore across the streets during these times. People were retiring to their houses, preparing a small meal to share with their families or hitting the hay early. Some were closing down their shops, as no one really dared to shop during the dark.

I jogged across these streets, cutting through each corner of the way in order to shave off some time.

But as I did trot about, I couldn't help but wonder what had just happened in this so called 'dream' of mine. It was a bizzare experience, that's for sure. But, I just-- But, I just couldn't stop thinking that...

Maybe it wasn't a dream?

I'm not sure, but there... nothing felt fake. And I could remember everything that happened there all so vividly...

The stone-cold, wet surface... the strange floating structures... the platforms... that voice... I could remember it all without a doubt.

The only reason I wasn't as petrified as I should've been is well...

Fear has already ruled this land and me... So there's not much more fear can bring onto the table.

But that doesn't mean I wasn't confused and scared when I was inside that... place.

I just....

I just don't know how to react to such an event.

Well, no matter. I'm sure that was nothing.... Hopefully.

As I got closer to where I wanted to be, the sun was almost under the horizon, just barely there, with the sky now being purple-ish, with the shades of black settling in.

I needed to get home soon. I just have one thing I have to do.

Other than the prospect of not wanting to keep my mom waiting, another reason I wanted to get back home soon was that.... at night, the town was at it's peak.

No one was around. Nothing was going on. If it wasn't for the candles we lit up every night... this town would've been a ghost-town. And for me.... that's terrifying. Not to mention the smell of corpses rotting between houses... It's horrid.

'I believe it's right around this corner.' I thought.

Hopefully it was. I'm not exactly the best runner, nor was I really in the best shape.

Once I made that turn...

I stopped.

I was right in front of my destination, but in that moment.... I grew anxious.

I had to be careful. I can't let them know someone's here.

Slowly, I sneaked up to the front of a large home. Much larger than my own, in fact, like a estate. As I got closer to the wall, you can tell the home was... different. Unlike the rest of the homes around the area, the house was clean. It was all filled with color, rather than the white or grey that all the other homes had. So, as I quietly slipped around the home, I found the opening in where I can enter it silently: the garden. Gently, I brushed off the branches and leaves against my face and finally...

I was in.

As I walked through the lush and bountiful display of roses and petunias and daisies and more, I was feeling some sort of mix of feelings. On one hand, I felt terrified and anxious, as I was literally walking right out in the open. Any moment, a servant or one of the family members could pop out of nowhere and I would've been done for. The other hand, I was feeling.... at peace. I know it's strange, since I would literally be pissing my breeches if it wasn't for the fact that I've never done that for quite a while, but... at the sight of all of this beauty, this... art, you can't help but feel something good inside you.

You feel me?

So, as I basically tiptoed all the way through the garden, I put myself at the back of the wall. I had to be on the lookout for anybody. I can't afford getting caught. Slithering across the wall, I made it to the back enterance. Still standing against a wall, I tried to calm down. I needed to breathe.

Breathe in....

...

Breathe out....

Breathe in...

...

Breathe out....

Breathe in...

Breathe out.....

Phew.

It was the moment of truth.

Don't mess it up, Deus.

Not right now.

With a sigh, I went up swiftly to the door and proceeded... to knock.

KNOCK! KNOCK!

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KNOCK!.... KNOCK! KNOCK!

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And now, with burning passion...

KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!

2-3-4. In that order.

For a moment there, nothing happened. I could hear no footsteps. No talking. Nothing.

For that moment, my anxiety grew.

'Did I do wrong? Was I one knock short or one knock longer? What if they found out about it? What if they have been compromised?' My mind was seemingly bursting with these thoughts and regrets.

'Should I run? While I have the chance?'

Should I?

All of these thoughts just halted... when I manage to hear... the quiestest of steps.

At the same time, my heart skipped a beat. A step more.

But there was nothing I could do about this.

Steadily, the steps grew louder... they grew closer.

Like before... I could only wait and expect the worst.

Only the worst.

The door finally opened, with a slight creaking sound emitting off of it.

And softly, I heard:

"Sir Alwright?"

I paused in place for a little while. To calm down. Because I knew who it was.

"Aye. It is me."

I slowly got my back out of the wall and walked up to the front door, where I saw the maid, opening the door for me.

I sighed with relief.

"Thank you, Nurse. I'm extremely grateful for what you're doing for us." I continued, softly as to not raise any unwanted attention.

"Yes. Yes. But I only do this for her, you do know that. I only want my little girl to be happy, and for once, she finally found her joy." She replied.

I shyly nodded back to her. I knew she took up an interest for me but I never had the thought she was that into me.

Oh yeah....

So... remember when I talked about women? How weird they were and how uncommon was it to find such an actual woman? And how awkwardly did I hint at something going on?

Yeah.... Well, I'm reminding myself that now because... I found the girl. And well... let's just say, it's like a forbidden love currently.