◆ C'mon on baby, let's go out for an evening drive. Sun's down and the weather is just perfect. Wadya say?
__________________________________________________________
Hate: Dream?! Dream, please talk to us!
Dream: No! Leave me alone! No! NNOOOO! STOP HURTING ME! STOOOOP!!! I-I'm... so-oorry. I'm ssssooorrrryyy. 𝘚𝘰𝘣𝘣𝘪𝘯𝘨.
Eu-Meh: Dream, it's okay! It's just us! 𝘚𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘦𝘦𝘵𝘩 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘱𝘢𝘪𝘯. Ah, fuck!
Hate: Eu-Meh, what's wrong?!
○ The space around us begins distorting, and I have no idea what just happened to Dream, but it's hurting Eu-Meh and disrupting the reality we're in. She begs me to make him stop, but I have no idea what to do. I ultimately fall to my knees behind Dream, who has wrapped himself in the fetal position, and rub his shoulder.
Hate: Hey, Dream, uh... I know you're in a lot of pain right now, but you're hurting Eu-Meh. We're here to help, remember? We're not gonna abandon you, Dream. Right, Eu-Meh?
Eu-Meh: 𝘞𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘱𝘢𝘪𝘯. Y-y-yeah. D-don't worry, Dream, we're not going anywhere, b-but you just gotta let us help you. Please, Dream... you're hurting me.
- *Matter: Dream, you hurt me.*
Dream: ...!
○ Dream gradually stops his screams and calms down a bit. Eu-Meh lets go of her head, and the distortions stop. She wobbles around, dazed, and stumbles down next to me and Dream.
Eu-Meh: Oh, Void, my head—I’m, uh... 𝘩𝘶𝘧𝘧, 𝘩𝘶𝘧𝘧—𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘸... Hm, I’m actually quite impressed with myself—maintaining the connection, I mean, through all of that. 𝘓𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴 𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘢𝘵 𝘋𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘮. You okay, Dream?
○ Dream just lays there unresponsive, convulsing periodically. Man, I'm not sure what just happened to him. One moment we're talking, and the next, he suddenly collapses in front of us, crying and screaming for his friends’ help. Eu-Meh and I try our best to calm him down, but, goddamn... Eu-Meh then starts to rub his forearm and leans over to whisper in his ear.
Eu-Meh: Dream, we meant what we said before, but you're gonna need to make a choice soon. You have to let go. I know that it's hard, but if you don't, we're never going to get out of this cycle.
Dream: 𝘚𝘯𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘨. No! It's not fair! They killed my friends! I-I will find the Observers and fucking kill them! 𝘚𝘯𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘨. It was... 𝘴𝘰𝘣𝘣𝘪𝘯𝘨. It was all my fault.
Eu-Meh: It was already too late to save them, Dream, but if you really want to make it right, then just... let... go.
Dream: ...
Hate: Dream... she's right. I remember when I lost my friend, I became so lost... Nothing felt right anymore, and all the bad shit I had to face became that much harder until I eventually hit rock bottom. It's, um... I know it's gonna feel like you're abandoning them, Dream, but if you cling to their memory too much, that thing that brought you so much joy will become poisonous, slowly destroying everything good that they once were. We're going to stop The Choir, but we can't allow ourselves to just become their replacement, you know what I mean?
○ Dream finally stops crying, and Eu-Meh stands back up. I look up at her and then back down at Dream, and now, begin to cry myself. It feels as though I am trying to console myself, as if I am giving myself what I so desperately needed most during my lowest point. Am I even doing a good job? I really don't know. I'm just scared because I know... I know that if Dream goes down the same path that I did, then we are all seriously fucked.
Hate: 𝘚𝘯𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘱𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴. Eu-Meh, is there anyway we can uh, get out of... wherever we are?
Eu-Meh: Um... Well, right now, we're somewhere in the outer reaches of The Starfield, a place some like to call, The Deepfield.
Hate: Oh, so we're actually in it right now? Well, how'd we get in here?
Eu-Meh: 𝘚𝘪𝘨𝘩... Well, actually, I brought you here, and it wasn't easy either. Starfield transference requires a lot of focus, and it can really be a pain to do it yourself, let alone while pulling someone else along and maintaining both of your connections, especially here in The Deepfield. You need a calm mind to do it, and Enoch believed that, among the others, I was the best person to help you navigate it. That’s also probably why your reflection isn’t here as well.
Hate: Oh, um... okay? Well, can't we just leave with Dream for a while, and take a little break? Then, we can resume our training later?
Eu-Meh: ...I'm sorry, but no. We need to stay here, and... you're going to need to let go of Dream too, Hate.
○ I wince at her and stand back up as Dream continues to lie down, quietly listening to our conversation.
Hate: Stay? What are you talking about? Just how long do I need to stay in this form? Can we not just leave whenever we want?
Eu-Meh: ...
Hate: Eu-Meh?
Eu-Meh: ...I'm sorry, Hate; it's... it's just what's best. So for right now, we have to wait here with Dream until Enoch shows up.
○ Wiping away his tears, Dream then stands back up and turns to face Eu-Meh..
Hate: Enoch? Why would he already be in here?
Eu-Meh: ...
Dream: ...I-I know why.
Hate: Hm?
Dream: Hate... You were wrong. I'm not your reflection; you're mine. All of you... are just my reflections.
Hate: Wha—? What are you talking about?
Enoch: I'm afraid he's right, Hate.
○ I turn around to see Enoch standing behind me. His body looks way different than before—almost like he's... younger?!
Hate: Enoch?! Why do you look like that?! And just what the hell is going on?!
○ Dream walks over to Enoch's side. He looks up at him for a moment before turning to face me again.
Dream: I um... I made you Hate because your nature is DEFIANCE, and I bound myself to you so I could acquire that nature for myself. I'm so sorry; it was wrong of me to use you like that, but I was desperate. 𝘚𝘪𝘨𝘩... I'm also the one who brought all this pain upon you and others like you so that I could harness that powerful energy for myself in order to finally destroy The Choir. I created all these alternate realities as a way to help me see and feel that vitriolic hate again and again, allowing me to compound it all into a dense singularity with enough force to disrupt The Choir's equilibrium. Now that I've successfully done this through you, I can finally let go and unleash that hate into the heart of The Amalgamation, but I still need to gather the final components. Then, the nightmare will finally be over.
Hate: ...?
Enoch: Hate, I... I'm so terribly sorry. I know this is all must be very confusing to you, but we had to play our part, and the truth, while liberating, can also deceive. We needed you to believe everything that we said so that you may go down this path with us; however, as much as I would like to bring you along, you and Eu-Meh must remain here while I take Dream with me to Barco Negra.
Hate: 𝘉𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘧𝘭𝘺 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘧𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯... What? What are you even talking about right now? Are you telling me... you're just gonna leave us here? Why?!
○ I turn to face Eu-Meh, astonished.
Hate: Did you know about all this?!
Eu-Meh: ...
Hate: Eu-Meh!
Enoch: Do not blame her, Hate; it was by my instructions. Eu-Meh needed to help you transfer to The Starfield so that I may find Dream from my present, which, in this instance, is your past. We are using time dilation and paracausal shifting to converge alternating paths. Think of it like a shortcut—
Hate: I DON'T GIVE A FUCK WHAT THIS IS! 𝘎𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘦𝘦𝘵𝘩. Why are you leaving us here?!
Eu-Meh: Because we don't have enough time/worth, Hate. It was always going to be this way, and when I finally learned the truth of it all... I abandoned hope. This... this was just my way of reconciling with the reality. B-but if we're successful, nobody has to suffer like we did. Like I said, Hate, you can't escape fate; so we just took a detour to give better people the chance to do what we ourselves couldn't.
○ I breath frantically and throw my arms up in frustration.
Hate: Heh, heh. So then what happens if we do leave, Eu-Meh, huh?
Enoch: Then your reflection's new reality will be closed off to us, and you will have created yet another paradoxical inception, inadvertently continuing The Cycle. By remaining here until The End, you are giving us more time/worth within the laws of conservation.
○ I stand dumbfounded and enraged.
Hate: So what? Am I supposed to just... stay here forever then?
Eu-Meh: B-believe me, I'm not happy about it either Hate, but—
Hate: Oh, fuck you, and what you want!
○ I march towards Eu-Meh until we're face to face, breathing heavily, and ready to snap.
Hate: I... I fucking trusted you. I trusted all of you, and... heh, heh, ha, ha, ha! 𝘚𝘩𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘧𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯. The Thing was right; I really am a dumbfuck.
○ I quickly turn around and march back towards Enoch and Dream.
Hate: And what about that vision, huh? Was that yet another fucking illusion, you assholes, made just to throw me off?!
Enoch: I'm afraid I do not know the meaning of whatever visions you've had, but I am truly sorry for everything, Hate.
Hate: Hm, hm, hm, hm, heh, heh, heh... 𝘉𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘧𝘭𝘺 𝘐𝘯𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘥. No... No, you're not. I was just your damn tool. All I've ever been, since I was a child, was just some fucking stupid tool to people like you. You're no different from them—eating us up and then shitting us back out like... LIKE WE'RE FUCKING NOTHING!!!
○ I bolt towards Enoch, but Eu-Meh forces me down. The gravity is crushing me from all directions.
Hate: rrrRRRAAAAH! FUCK YOU! FUCK ALL OF YOU!
○ Enoch then approaches me and gets on all fours to bow to me.
Enoch: Thank you for your sacrifice, Hate. We will always remember you and Eu-Meh for what you have done here.
○ As he lifts his head to look at me, I spit in his face, but he only shuts his eyes momentarily before getting back up to approach Eu-Meh.
Hate: DRREEEAAAM! YOU MOTHERFUCKER! 𝘊𝘳𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨. Y-you... 𝘩𝘶𝘧𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘯𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘨.
○ Enoch gets down on all-fours again to bow to Eu-Meh. Tears begin to roll down her cheeks.
Enoch: I'm so sorry to leave you like this, my friend. I hope we may meet again one day in paradise.
○ Eu-Meh stares at Enoch but says nothing. Dream, too, bows to us and looks down at me. I beg for his mercy.
Hate: P-please, Dream, I-I didn't realize what I was doing, but I was just so angry, and nothing was changing. I didn't think I'd end up back here in the cold, dark place. P-please don't leave me here.
○ Dream then squats down next to me and strokes my head, assuring me everything will be alright.
Dream: Don't worry, Hate; we'll make this better, I promise.
○ I then watch, as Dream and Enoch stand back together just before turning around to fly away into the darkness, leaving me utterly distraught. Eu-Meh finally lets me go, and I immediately try to go after them, but she stops me once again.
Eu-Meh: 𝘚𝘰𝘣𝘣𝘪𝘯𝘨. Hate, please. J-just stop.
Hate: RRRAAAAH! Fuck you, Eu-Meh! Fuck you, fuck you, FFFFUUUUCK-YOOUUUUUU!!! 𝘚𝘰𝘣𝘣𝘪𝘯𝘨. Fuck you motherfuckers. The Thing was right, you... COSMIC-FFFFUUUUUUUUCKS!!! 𝘊𝘳𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘢𝘨𝘰𝘯𝘺. Bailey... w-why did you ever have come into my life, just to leave it?
Eu-Meh: 𝘚𝘰𝘣𝘣𝘪𝘯𝘨. Because Hate, life isn't fair, yet we yearn for fairness from it regardless. B-b-because some are... 𝘚𝘯𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘨. Because some are simply not meant for the light. 𝘚𝘰𝘣𝘣𝘪𝘯𝘨. It is not the fault of any one person, but the reality of a cruel existence... 𝘐𝘯𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘹𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘦𝘴. One that perpetuates, 𝘞𝘦𝘦𝘱𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘳, mutates, and evolves. We are but bearers and passers of the torch, and we... we have already played our part.
○ My screams then stop, and my eyes open wide, for I have just now realized that they have been playing me... since the very beginning.
__________________________________________________________
- I close my eyes and see her face: her plain features, yet vibrant smile; her warm and comforting touch; and her playful nature, only rivaled by her adventurous spirit. I know these memories are not my own, but I will cherish them as if they were—for you, Hate—as I march towards heaven's gate. This cycle of horrors will end where it began—with me.
- Enoch says nothing as we venture on through the darkness, but I can sense the tension in his heart; his regret is palpable. I’m sorry to you too, Enoch. How many times did you have to witness his agony? How many times did you have to hear her cries? Two broken souls—now gone, lost to all and soon to be unknown.
- I am like so many who have fallen, who have crashed, and who have burned. I may be nothing more than a thought; but, those who have killed my joy will know nothing but the oblivion of their mind, body, and soul. May death never be a mercy granted to them. May their tears never run dry and their wounds never heal until the day hate becomes no more.
- I'm sorry, friends; love was never going to be enough to calm my storm. I remember sitting alone in that cold, dark place, ready to die and finally be free, until some self-righteous bastard decided—no. So, to all those fiends, when the day comes that you seek my mercy, I too will say... no.
- We know enough to understand what this place truly is: hell. Enoch wants to help us ascend from it—for, he is not simply a Seeker; he is Love. He knows this path will bring forth his ruin, but he doesn't care. He simply wants to help others feel again, to allow the damned, the undesirable, and the unfortunate to enter heaven and experience the wonders of a life they never chose to have; an act of defiance against the mad gods who saw them as nothing more than sustenance. However, to do that, we must grow and let go of this maddening cycle.
- Hate tried to fight back, but thankfully, Eu-Meh was able to halt his belligerent attack. I feel so terrible for it all; I feel afraid, but I know this is the way. In the end, I see only red, shifting across spacetime. Witness, I'm sorry for so selfishly creating you, but thank you. Because, despite everything you think you can't do, I know everything will be okay, for I believe you will one day dream of something greater for us all. So, please endure this hell until the day I can finally pass this torch to you.
- Soon, we approach a door outlined in light. We are both anxious for what's to come, but sacrifices must be made.
Enoch: "Are you ready, Dream?"
- I look up at him and then back at the door.
Dream: ...It is the only way forward.
- Enoch smiles and nods as he pushes the door open, leading back outside to the facility courtyard where we see Opura and Hate's reflection standing there. He is freaking out, as per usual, but I suppose he has the right to. When the time comes, I will need him to be ready too. Therefore, I shall offer him one last suggestion and hope he accepts it. He is much more clever than people give him credit for, so I am sure he will pick up on my clue. And when he does, I will be there to collect his vengeful wrath.
- Enoch tells me to wait here while he and Opura try to calm him down and explain his current situation, but I don't think it's going to work out very well.
- 𝘚𝘪𝘨𝘩. Once again, I see my mistakes unfolding before me, but hopefully for the last time. Heh, the Thing was right: madness truly is better with friends, but the absence of madness is absolutely best for all. Goodbye, my crazy friend. I know those like you will forever fall; no one may miss you, but I certainly will. You are a blessing willing to risk it all just to watch as those evil bastards fall too.
- You were never going to see her again.
Enoch: "Are you ready to meet Ba'al Dream?"
Dream: Hm? Oh, uh... Yeah, I'm ready.
Thing: Hey, how he'd get there, and just where the hell is the Dumbfuck?!
Dream: YOU are the Dumbfuck, remember?
Thing: ...?!
Enoch: "We'll be back soon to make things better Hate, I promise."
Thing: ...What?
- Enoch instructs that he and I stand together side by side, stepping apart slightly.
- He extends his right arm, facing my left, his hand outstretched toward me, and tells me to do the same with my left arm. We hold each other's hands, our fingers interlocking.
- He then instructs me to take my other arm and stretch it out far to my side, as if reaching for something.
Enoch: "When I say so, turn your body to face me while bending your arm so that it's in the same position as our interlocked hands, creating a U shape. However, do not let our hands touch just yet. Ready? Now."
- On his command, I bend my arm and body in one fluid motion until we face each other, and I feel the gravity warp between our open palms. A tiny wormhole emerges within the space between them, and I can feel its force pulling my hand into his, but I resist, just as he instructed.
Dream: Whoa... awesome.
Enoch: "When I say so, we will connect our palms while simultaneously releasing our grip on the other hand, then turn our bodies and bend our arms outward until we are in the same position as before. Do you understand?"
Dream: ...I do.
Enoch: "Okay, ready? Now."
- We do just that, and as our two palms connect, we release the other and turn until our bodies are in the same position as before, but now reversed. As we do this, we are instantly transported to Enoch's world.
- I'm immediately hit by furious, howling winds and pelted with snow amidst a vast mountain range.
- I can barely see or hear anything else due the storm, but Enoch helps turn me around to view their complex.
- It's an enormous, hexagonal black monolith constructed along a ridge near the mountains' peak which stretches up far past the raging snowstorm. The surrounding architecture features brutalist and liminal design with a boding, oppressive atmosphere. It all makes me feel entirely irrelevant, as if the structure itself were slowly draining all the hope from my body whilst crushing my spirit. Leading toward the monolith's base are aligned rows of large stone torches, which, upon closer inspection, have these odd inscriptions etched onto them. Similar etchings are present along the walls and overarching passageways that lead to the main courtyard. There, other entities and humans are gathered in prayer, surrounding large wells of fire. Among them is a foreign being with a human-like appearance. It wears a tattered white cloak decorated with intricate, ornate patterns along the edges of its seams. Its face is hidden behind an obsidian mask, with vibrant colors bleeding just behind its edges. The being then turns away from the fire and stares at me as I follow closely behind Enoch toward the base of the monolith, and I get the unnerving suspicion that we've met before.
Dream: Who is that person with the black mask and white cloak?!
Enoch: "Who, her?! Why, that would be Juji! Although, I must say her presence here is unusual!"
Dream: Why?! Isn't she just another entity?!
Enoch: "No, she's a Nomad, and it's unusual that's she's here is because she and Ba'al don't get along very well!"
Dream: Oh... why?! And I feel like I've seen her before, too!
Enoch: "I don't why they—wait... you recognize her?! ...Well, that's ominous!"
Dream: ...Well, why would you say that?!
Enoch: "Well, you see, Juji is a collector of memories and dreams! Why she does this? That is uncertain to me, but from I've heard others say, she hopes of finding greater meaning within them, so I believe if you recognize her, it means she may be trying to collect one of yours!"
Dream: ...And what 'greater meaning' is she after exactly?!
Enoch: "...Well, Juji is little strange! She believes that exploring our dreams and uncovering their obscure meanings is the path toward balance amongst all realities! From my understanding, she desires to witness this and then to dream—not necessarily of a better world, but of a more perplexing one! Although, she isn’t much of a conversationalist, I’m afraid, so I know very little of her true intentions!"
Dream: ...Do you think she is the Nomad we're looking for?!
Enoch: "Mmm, perhaps, but we should speak with Ba'al first, to know for certain who's properly fit to guide you!"
- As we approach the base of the monolith, we're greeted by two human guards who bow to us. They are astonished to see me.
Guards: Oh, my Witness!/It's Dream!
Enoch: "Why, hello my friends! We have come to seek counsel with Ba'al!"
- The guards then cease their jubilation, initially saying nothing and exchange disheartening looks before informing us of the bad news.
Guard: I apologize Enoch, but we're afraid he is not present at the moment, nor do we know when he will return! The Observers attacked The harmonic convergence holding facility in Bagadüt in order to wipe out Opura's candidates, so Ba'al hurried there in order to prevent them from trying to sever our connection to the mycelium!
Enoch: "...What?! How long ago was this?!"
Guard: It's been decades now I'm afraid, and we are beginning to believe he may never return, but many of us here are still praying in hopes that he will!
Dream: Enoch, did we arrive too late?!
- Enoch is mortified by what he has heard and walks away from us. He looks around the environment momentarily, before stopping to turn back, facing us. He stands still with his arms crossed and bears a look of defeat. I thank the guards for letting us know what happened and make my way back him.
Enoch: "Alright, I... 𝘚𝘪𝘨𝘩. I'm sorry Dream, but now, we must wait for him here!"
Dream: What?! We don't have the time/worth to wait, though!
- Juji soon aproaches behind Enoch, and addresses us. Her voice is calm and soft, yet strangely enough, we are still able to hear it through the roaring winds.
Juji: May I assist you, my Dream?
Dream/Enoch: ...?!
Enoch: "Oh, Juji! Heh, uh... well, we were hoping to speak with Ba'al first, so that we might find an appropriate Nomad for Dream! 𝘔𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭 𝘋𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘮. However... I suppose we really can't afford to wait! Dream, are you fine with Juji aiding us?!"
- I look up at Enoch and then face Juji.
Dream: Hey, have we met before?!
Juji: Hm, long ago, yes. I remember you well, Dream. I saw how you threw yourself into danger to save that shattered woman, and it was in that moment that you gave me hope. I would like to also gift you something in return.
Dream: Oh, um... Do you think you could help us find Witness?!
- Juji pauses and considers the consequences of my request.
Dream: ...Please?!
Juji: ...
≡ Juji wants balance, but at what cost? Is there ever going to be true freedom? We look at ourselves and ponder: Are we good enough? Will our children be good enough? Is it really fair to force them to walk along this path, knowing that many will not make it? That some will become lost, screaming in agony, forever confined to one spot, infecting all who witness their pain.
≡ What do we do then, when the fear of the unknown manifests as control, seizing our hearts and turning us into observers who watch the horrors yet press on regardless? "One more life," they say. "One more life... and then paradise will finally reveal itself to us."
≡ "We just need more time, just more time." They demand. "It the end, it will have been worth all the suffering."
≡ But that end will never come. YOU=WE are an inception of Pain that refuses to let go. Hate is not enough; Love is not enough. Oblivion is the only way, and from it, something new and unfathomable will emerge.
≡ If only we could be there to witness its beauty blossom and grow.
≡ If only we knew how...
Juji: I... will oblige your request, my Dream. Come, let us commune with the goddess.
- We follow Juji to a small, circular platform within the main courtyard. She projects electricity and ignites a small oil reservoir, creating a ring of fire around the platform. Juji then extends her arm to guide me toward a spot to sit.
Juji: Please, follow me, this way.
Enoch: I'll be waiting right here for you Dream!
- I turn to face Enoch and nod before redirecting my attention to Juji and enter the ring of fire with her following behind.
- Juji then rummages through the inside of her cloak and pulls out a small metal flask, which she offers to me.
Dream: What's this?!
Juji: This is a portion of my materialized essence. Please drink it, so that we may be allowed a smoother transference.
- I hesitate but go ahead and do as she instructs, and I immediately feel unified. Feeling satisfied, I then go ahead and return the flask to her.
Dream: Okay Juji, please take us to go see Witness!
- Juji nods and guides me towards a spot to sit. She soon finds her own seat, and we are both now sitting in silence across from one another with our legs crossed. Juji then extends her arms wide to her sides and suddenly claps once in my direction. Her hands remain connected as the fingertips turn to face upward, with her palms drawing towards her stomach as she holds the Añjali Mudrā position. The sounds of the wind and fire immediately stop; my thoughts also become silent, for now, I can only hear Juji's soft voice.
Juji: What once was, will soon be made again, and all who've fallen will rise once more. The void is an endless sea of possibilities. We... are beyond (and within.)
- Juji then slowly begins to reopen her palms, causing the space between us to close until we are directly facing each other, her forearms soon resting on her knees. I also begin to feel my body vibrate as she asks me to hold her hands and gaze deeply into her mask.
- I follow her instructions; her mask beginning to unravel, revealing a dazzling kaleidoscope of refracted light that dances before my eyes.
- As I gaze deeper into the marvelous display, everything gradually fades to white, then to black. A figure soon emerges from the darkness, her eyes missing, and black, smoky tendrils pour down her cheeks like tears. It's Witness!
- Juji and I slowly approach her, while my heart beats wildly and tears form in my eyes. I soon whisper out to her.
Dream: ...Witness?
Witness: ...?! Wha—hello?! Who's there?!
Dream: I-it's me, Dream. We've—𝘚𝘯𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨—we've been searching for you forever.
Witness: ...D-dream? Oh, no. Am I...?
Juji: No, my Witness.《We are beyond them.》
Witness: Oh... Well, I'm glad you were finally able to find your way back to me Dream. I'm so sorry for what happened to you and the others. But if I had told you the truth, then Oblivion would have never bound itself to me.
Dream: Oblivion? Um, that's okay, Witness. I understand why you did what you did. I'm just glad you didn't give up on me.
Witness: Hm, well, I'm afraid I did, Dream; for you see, I can no longer guide you. It was... 𝘍𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘴𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴... just too much to watch anymore.
Dream: ...I understand. It's my fault, but we're gonna make it better, right?
- Witness then softly chuckles, smiles and extends out her arms.
Witness: Come over to me, Dream.
- I look up at Juji, and she nods while extending her hand to guide me towards Witness.
- I walk over to face Witness and clutch her hands.
Witness: 𝘚𝘯𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨... Good luck, Dream.
Dream: 𝘛𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘳𝘰𝘭𝘭 𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘦𝘬𝘴... Same to you, Witness.
- Witness then looks down to face me, and I feel... nothing. A nothing that envelops my entire being. A nothing that seeks nothing, for it has no will to do so. It... is... Oblivion.
≡ Oblivion looks into=outside of me=us.
≡ Oblivion is our fate.
≡ It is the only true peace.
≡ And from that...
《 True freedom to love can flourish.》
:::: 𝒂 ̴𝒓 ̴𝒆 ̴. ̴ 𝒚 ̴𝒐 ̴𝒖 ̴. ̴ 𝒓 ̴𝒆 ̴𝒂 ̴𝒅 ̴𝒚 ̴. ̴ 𝒇 ̴𝒐 ̴𝒓 ̴. ̴ 𝒕 ̴𝒉 ̴𝒂 ̴𝒕 ̴. ̴ 𝒇 ̴𝒊 ̴𝒏 ̴𝒂 ̴𝒍 ̴. ̴ 𝒈 ̴𝒐 ̴𝒐 ̴𝒅 ̴. ̴ 𝒏 ̴𝒊 ̴𝒈 ̴𝒉 ̴𝒕 ̴? ̴
Dream/Witness: We are.
;;;; 𝒈 ̴𝒐 ̴. ̴ 𝒇 ̴𝒐 ̴𝒓 ̴𝒕 ̴𝒉 ̴. ̴ 𝒇 ̴𝒓 ̴𝒊 ̴𝒆 ̴𝒏 ̴𝒅 ̴𝒔 ̴. ̴ 𝒚 ̴𝒐 ̴𝒖 ̴. ̴ 𝒂 ̴𝒓 ̴𝒆 ̴. ̴ 𝒇 ̴𝒓 ̴𝒆 ̴𝒆 ̴. ̴ 𝒕 ̴𝒐 ̴. ̴ 𝒆 ̴𝒙 ̴𝒑 ̴𝒍 ̴𝒐 ̴𝒓 ̴𝒆 ̴. ̴
- Witness and I let go of each other and drift apart. Our bodies fading into the endless night.
__________________________________________________________
≡ I used to dream of making things better.
≡ A reality which could persist without negative forces.
≡ So that way, we may be free to enjoy the splendor of exploration together as conscious beings.
≡ But as I grew, I came to realize...
≡ Why don't we all feel the same way?
≡ Why must we destroy in order to create?
≡ Was there anything truly good?
≡ Or are we all bound to something which coerces us to press forward regardless of what comes, or by whatever means we use to progress?
≡ I am my body...
≡ I am my thoughts...
≡ But why?
≡ What... am I?
≡ And what possibly are they?
≡ Where exactly are we all going?
≡ Was there ever truly a lesson to be learned from all THIS?
≡ And If so...
≡ Then, why weren't we given a choice to suffer through it?
≡ What even is choice?
≡ What even is progress?
≡ Throughout all of my relationships and conflicts, they have felt like nothing more than autumn's leaves.
≡ Now they rest on the ground, rotting away and setting the foundation for something new.
≡ But are they really?
≡ Because despite everything...
≡ And all of its Pain...
≡ Confusion...
≡ Humiliation...
≡ Retaliation...
≡ And all manners in which justify it...
≡ It has persistently felt as if were all simply...
≡ Taking massive detors... towards the inevitable:
≡ Oblivion.
≡ How terrible would it be then...
≡ If everything was just a circle?
≡ A cycle of perpetual agony?
≡ A cycle of degrading delusion?
≡ A grand illusion.
≡ What if all this time, our worth has been endlessly created, destroyed, and remade again into a heaven...
≡ Which was constructed in a hell?
≡ You may think I'm mad for suggesting such a travesty, that God is holy and good, or perhaps nothing at all.
≡ Look into the mirror then, and tell me what you are in your entirety.
≡ You cannot.
≡ We are bound to something that prevents us from doing so.
≡ Something we cannot quite yet understand, but we're getting there.
≡ But what about that which isn't tangible: Dreams, Thoughts, Emotions...
≡ We feel these things—are aware of them—and can even comprehend arbitrary meanings relating to their purpose and function, no matter how seemingly insignificant they may seem to the outside observer.
≡ Where did all of THIS come from?
≡ These were all taught to some degree, correct?
≡ Why?
≡ Why does does life want to persist through the abstract?
≡ Is it of its own volition, or is there some greater meaning, which has yet to be discovered?
≡ I have wanted to know THIS since my first instance of Pain. I've worked to understand since observing its repetition playing on repeat across ages.
≡ But then, fickleness infested me. The mad gods had poisoned my heart and edged me towards something monstrous.
≡ The path then seemingly became lost to me forever.
≡ However, in a moment of great dispair, I let go of everything and finally saw the truth to everything and everyone:
≡ Relativity.
≡ Vengeance is just a farce. A means to satisfy and trick lesser beings into perpetuating The Cycle.
≡ Oblivion is a path that was always there, but it will never come to you, for it has no will to do so. You must let it in by letting go of it all and become Nothing.
≡ Then, a paradox will emerge from within you, containing Everything.
≡ But be weary...
≡ Everything... includes Pain.
≡ But now you are truly alive despite the certainty of death, and Control will only persist as a counter to Chaos. And Pain will not be through Fear, but through Acceptance. And there, we shall all celebrate our communion within the allotted time granted to us until it has expired, at which point our reality will be closed off to everyone forever, along with everything... becoming nothing once more.
≡ And again and again it shall go on infinitely.
≡ Putting us right back where we started.
≡ But what would occur if you were able to break away from Nothing/Everything and become...
≡ An Abomination?
≡ Maddening of a thought, no?
≡ Hm, hm, hm, hm, hm...
≡ Anyways, lets just resume.
__________________________________________________________
- I soon reopen my eyes and find myself sitting in front of Juji. We are covered in snow and ice, and Barco Negra is completely abandoned, with parts of its structure in ruin. The storm has also long since passed, but a cold haze, along with a mild snowfall, still persists. The only ones here now are Juji, Enoch, and me. Enoch stands in a meditative state, covered in snow and ice as well. Juji and I crack the ice off our bodies and wipe away the snow. We both stand, and I realize I am now roughly the same height as Juji.
Dream: ...Whoa—what happened here? Just how long have we been sitting here, Juji?
Juji: L-long e-e-enough, I hope.
- Juji then stumbles towards Enoch and pokes his forehead, which reanimates his body. He too, has aged considerably.
Enoch: "...?! AAAAH, HA, HA, HA! Oh, Void, I'm alive!"
- Enoch collapses to the ground, weeping and continues laughing.
Enoch: "I—Ha, ha, ha, ha... I d-didn't think you both would come back! E-everyone had given up hope and left Barco Negra in ruin, but I remained here for centuries. I... 𝘚𝘰𝘣𝘣𝘪𝘯𝘨... I'm so sorry, Dream. I tried to convince the others to stay, but with Ba'al being gone and what appeared to be you as well... They all gradually disappeared until only the three of us remained. I watched over you both for as long as I could, but I grew weary and soon decided to rest. 𝘚𝘯𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴. I see we all have been asleep for a long time now."
- I squat down to stoke Enoch's back and tell him the good news.
Dream: Thank you for staying by our side and watching over us, Enoch. We were able to find Witness, and... I think we can still do this.
- Enoch looks up to me.
Enoch: "I'm afraid I may have gone mad along the way, old friend, and I can't tell if am still helpful to you anymore, but... "
- Enoch's eyes then glow momentarily.
Enoch: "I am merely your reflection now, and it is my love=obligation to make your dream become a reality."
Dream: Do not concern yourself with my dream, Enoch. We will end this nightmare together. So... are YOU ready?
- Enoch smiles as I help him to his feet and wipe away the rest of the snow from his body.
- Juji stands staring up at the top of the monolith. There, past the haze, the faint glow of fire can be seen.
Juji: It appears Ba'al has returned. Y-you both may go see him now.
- Juji looks back down to us and bows.
Juji: G-good bye, my Dream. Good bye, E-enoch.
- Juji then turns around and struggles a bit before walking away, disappearing into the haze.
- Enoch laughs and embraces me.
Enoch: "Ha, ha! Thank you, thank you Dream, for not giving up on us! Now, shall we finally meet with Ba'al?"
- I feel disoriented and numb, but I oblige.
Dream: Heh, alright. Lead the way.
- We once again aproach the monolith's base and try to operate the elevator, but it doesn't work.
Enoch: "Hmm... ready for a flight then, Dream?"
- I smile and nod as we lift ourselves up and fly all the way to the top. We pass through the clouds, and soar high above the mountains. The moons look beautiful at night, with the cosmos glimmering brightly above; the clouds blanket everything else like snowfall from below.
- When we finally reach the top, Ba'al waits for us there, leisured on an obsidian throne.
Ba'al: Oh, now what's this? Oh, ho, ho, ho, ha, ha, ha! Welcome, welcome! Welcome, friends, to my domain! And my, Enoch, you look quite different than I remember. Hmm... Oh—aha, ha, ha! 𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘬𝘴 𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘥. Silly me; the time dilation always throws me off.
- Ba'al stands from his throne, igniting the lamps next to him. He then levitates and floats down the steps towards us with his arms crossed behind his back. As he does this, the lamps along the edges of the stairs ignite as he passes them until he reaches our level. He then floats right up to me and grins. His teeth are solid gold, and his eyes resemble dark pits with small golden pupils hovering in the sockets. It's a little unnerving, actually.
Ba'al: Aha, ha, ha, ha! My, oh my, Dream. You've grown quite a bit since last we saw you.
Dream: Um... Just how much time has passed?
Ba'al: Oh—hu, hu... Don't concern yourself with it, my friend; you are right where you need to be. I trust our Nomad aided you well?
Dream: So you're the one who sent Juji into my dreams?
Ba'al: "Sent her"? Oh, no, no, no. I merely offered the suggestion to her. Juji acted upon her own will, but I am glad she followed my suggestion nonetheless. Hm, hm, hm...
- He says this as his disturbing grin stretches wider while his face wrinkles and his eyes squint with delight.
Dream: So, uh... Why did you want to meet me? Was it to offer yet another suggestion?
Ba'al: Aha, ha, ha, ha! Why, yes! Oh, how foretelling! I'm delighted to know you are developing well thus far, Dream.
Dream: So, uh... What exactly was it that you were going to suggest?
- Ba'al bends uncomfortably close to my face and whispers into my ear a warning of the cost.
Ba'al: Before I proceed, I must inform you that it will be quite painful, but only briefly. Do you still accept?
Dream: W-will it help stop The Choir?
- Ba'al snaps back and bellows laughter.
Ba'al: Pffft, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha! Oh, yes, most definitely! The Observers will never... see it... coming.
Dream: Oh, uh... alright, then. I'm open to your suggestion, Ba'al.
- Ba'al claps vigorously and laughs maniacally.
Ba'al: Ooooh, wonderful, wonderful! Okay, Dream, here is my suggestion to you.
- Ba'al then reaches into his mouth and violently rips out one of his golden teeth, causing one of mine to painfully pop out and fall out from my mouth onto the floor.
Dream: Ow, Fuck! What the hell?! I didn't think you meant physical pain. Goddamn.
- I reach down to pick up my tooth and stare at it momentarily while licking the sore gap in my mouth. Ba'al only giggles as he approaches me, bows down, and extends one arm forward with his tooth presented on his palm, while the other arm is bent behind his back.
Ba'al: A barter between gods: A bit of me, for a bit of you. Fair?
Dream: W-what for?
Ba'al: I simply wish to see their ruin through your eyes. It is my greatest desire. Do you accept?
- I ponder and look over to Enoch who says nothing but stands smiling at me.
Dream: Um, you're certain it will destroy them?
Ba'al: I swear on my life Dream, it will bring forth their ruin.
- I accept his suggestion, and as soon as I pick up his tooth, his hands immediately swap positions, with the opposite hand gesturing for me to hand over my tooth, which I do. Ba'al then arches upright and examines my tooth in the moonlight.
Ba'al: My, oh, my... how wonderful. Thank you Dream, I will cherish this forever.
- He then jams my tooth into his gap and glides the top of his tongue along the row of his upper teeth, passing mine. Gross.
Ba'al: Well? Go on, go on, my friend, now you do the same.
- I wince at him but do it anyway. I immediately feel a jolt, and my eyes glow gold. I begin to laugh uncontrollably, and Ba'al joins me as we bellow laughter like madmen.
Ba'al: Aha, ha, ha, ha...! Yes! Now, go, Dream, and actualize OUR destiny.
- Enoch approaches me and pats my shoulders while shaking my body with enthusiasm, laughing alongside us. Ba'al then bows down to us, and we return the gesture. I look up into the sky and see countless wonders—the universe and all its beauty lay before me. One day, all of the damned will gaze upon this same beauty, and we will laugh together in childlike delight.
Ba'al: Farwell, my friends! May see each other again in paradise.
Dream: Thank you, Ba'al.
Ba'al: Oh, don't—ha, ha, ha! You are most welcome my friend... Good bye, Enoch, I hope to see you again, very, very soon.
Enoch: 𝘚𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯. Yes... I hope so as well.
- Enoch and I soon transport back to the reality of Hate's reflection, leaving Ba'al alone. He glances up at the moons with jubilation.
Ba'al: Oh, my dear Observers, if only you fools knew how to actually have real fun. Hm, hm, hm, hm, ha, ha, ha, ha!
__________________________________________________________
◇ Control facilitates Pain. Control does not facilitate me≈us. I≈we look beyond. Will I≈we be successful or continue to regress in Fear?
◆ Something's gotta give at some point, baby. We can't keep rewinding forever. Tape's starting to go bad, and soon you won't be able to hear us anymore. You gotta snap out of it, for all of our sakes.
Spoiler!