The sun dips lower on the horizon, the ship cutting through the water as if it was chasing it. Waves gently rock the boat in a soothing motion that could lull the fussiest of babies to sleep. Zoei is sitting near the bow of the ship trying to read the next chapter in her tome. The swaying is encouraging her to close her eyes and slip into dreams.
"Don't fall asleep out here, Zoei! Looks like we might be going into some rain soon."
She jerks back awake squinting her eyes up at Nori then scans the horizon spotting the clouds off to the side. Standing up, she gives a big stretch.
"You're right Nori," she sleepily responds to him. "You should think about getting some rest too while we can. Who knows what the seas have in store for us. It is a long journey until we reach Tuliyollal." She starts to walk past Nori, gently patting him on the side of the leg. "See you in a couple hours," she calls while lazily waving to Nori behind her. Zoei can hear the chuckle flow along the wind as she leaves Nori on the top deck to descend into the lower levels to get some sleep.
Finding her stuff placed delicately upon one of the several beds in a row, she puts her book away while grabbing her carbuncle plushie to lay down. With one more stretch, she slips into slumber.
"Do not squander it..."
The sound of yelling can be heard though it sounds like it is filtered through water.
"Emet?" I call out into the void. There is no response, but suddenly I can see around me as if my eyes were opened after being closed for too long. Below me I see a scene - I'm back at Ktisis Hyperboreia. Hermes is there and I can see myself with Emet-Selch, Venat and Hythlodaeus. Emet calls out to Hermes to stop this. In the distance I can see Meteion standing there.
"No... you have to stop her!" I scream.
The scene skips forward and I see Meteion slowly walking forward, the darkness taking over her. I can't hear her speaking, but my mind vividly remembers her convincing Hermes that the only salvation is for everything to end.
Suddenly chains appear wrapping around the figures below. I gasp loudly. I can feel the chains squeezing, slowly coiling around me tightening with every second. I close my eyes trying to take a deep breath. When I open them, I am with the figures below inside my body in the memories. I look around taking in the faces of my comrades. Venat is breathing heavy, closing her eyes as the weight of the chains close around her. Hythlodaeus fists are squeezed into tight balls as if he is trying to fight the chains closing in around them. I catch their eyes and we share a panicked look before he steels his face trying to focus on the current situation. Peering around him, I see Emet-Selch. Stoic as always, he doesn't spare me a glance. His eyes are locked onto Hermes.
Hermes is focused on Meteion, his staff out at his side holding us in place. I know what comes next, but I fight anyway, as hard as I can. If only I could break free, I can take Meteion down and none of this would happen. Emet wouldn't lose his memory. Everyone would be saved here and now. I wouldn't have to lose everyone. I can feel tears streaming down my cheeks helplessly stuck in the moment with no hope of saving anyone.
Venat breaks free and takes off running towards Hermes.
"Venat! NO!" I scream, but she keeps running as if she couldn't hear me. I start thrashing, desperate to get out of the bonds.
Everything else happens quickly. Venat and Meteion launch off into the stars, clocks are spinning in the sky, and Hythlodaeus is walking towards the edge of the platform. Instead of following him, I run towards Hermes as fast as I can.
Maybe I can fix things. I can stop him. I just have to get to him. I can make this all end. I can let them remember.
I'm running as quickly as I can, but Hermes seems further away. It is as if I am treading water unable to get a good grip to move forward, the waves pushing me further away from them. I see the attack coming and suddenly I am falling. I can see Hythlodaeus's panicked expression as I slip over the edge. Emet glances over, fear crossing his face. I know Argos should be underneath me to pick me up and take Venat and I to safety. I keep waiting and waiting while falling and Argos is no where to be found. I try to look around to see what is happening. Around me is just sky. I can no longer see the platform above me.
"This isn't how it happened! I got out!" I start yelling frantically reaching into the air around me hoping to grab something to make this stop. "HELP!"
"Did you think you could win?" an eerie voice sounds out from all around me. I look around trying to find the origin of the voice. "You were never going to win. I will end all things. And everything will be as it should"
I flip over and look back up, falling backwards further into nothingness. In front of me, a dark mist takes form, two bright eyes shining through.
"You.... lose" the voice growls at me as the darkness rushes forward encompassing me.
Everything goes black.
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