There was no way this was possible; I could only stare at the coat, my brain trying to grasp at any other kind of explanation as to why this brand new trench coat was doing in the alley still without a speck of dust. Mal proved me wrong, for there was dust on the front of the coat where you insert your arms. However, this failed to dispel the curse, which only had me looking around the alley, trying to find someone, anyone.

      "Someone was just here, watching us," Mal uttered the words which I refused to let out, the thought I wanted to deny, "Whoever it was couldn't have gone far! Aki, you call the police, I'm not letting this person just run away. I'll show them who they're dealing with!" Mal burst into a sprint before I could call out in protest. I pulled out my phone and did as Mal said.

      As I waited outside the front door, I saw Mal walking around the block; I've lost count how many times she walked around the house, and how many blocks she walked. She soon returned, grinding her teeth and clenched fists.

"There was no way I couldn't have found them! They must be hiding somewhere, I know it!"

"Mal, let's just leave it to the police to figure out—"

"No! I know how things work in the station. If there's no dead body nor any harm done, they hardly do anything about it."

"I'm sure your friends wouldn't mind helping though."

"We'll see, maybe my old partner can lend us a hand."

      Mal dialed her longtime partner, the police chief of Harrison; she was such a good officer who went up the ranks fast, so much so the police chief decided to mentor and worked with her on strenuous cases.

We sat in the living room while we were waiting, Mal simply paced around the house, checking all the windows while I remained on the couch with wide eyes.

"Mal, maybe we're overthinking this, we have no clue if that person is watching us or someone else—"

"I won't risk it either way, besides we should take care of that person even if it's not us they're watching."

Mal went out and warned all the neighbors whose house the alley went through of the mysterious stalker and questioned if they had any clue if someone could be watching them. Some had no clue while others believed it to be some a person they met sometime in the past.

      Mal was always a cautious girl, she never allowed for any possibility for loopholes, nor for any cranny or nook checked only once. Mal doesn't rest until she has exhausted all possible outcomes and ensure our security. This trait of hers naturally got more intense after becoming a police officer. She then went to the computer and wrote down all her findings thus far.

      It was already early into the evening when we heard a knock on the door, to which Mal rushed to let him in.

"Nice to meet you again Richter, though, by the sound of that phone call, we're not meeting each other again in the best of times," the man stated.

"I truly did wish we didn't have to reunite under these circumstances, but you're the only one I felt comfortable sharing this with Olsen," Mal directed him to the sofa.

Due to how he practically drags his stiff left leg on the floor while having Mal support him, the man seemed to have undergone something with his left leg. He was stout and tall, and due to worn badge he wears as a necklace, I assume he's already retired.

"Aki, this is my partner Jack Olsen. Olsen, meet my friend Akire Abramov."

He and I shook hands, he took his seat afterward, while Mal and I sat on the couch opposite to him.

"So, you think someone has been stalking you huh?" He folded his hands as he looked at me, "Mind if I get your version of the story?"

I told him and described the girl I saw, it wasn't any different from Mal's account, to why he asked for my version seemed unnecessary.

"Did you see the color of her eyes?"

I let my eyes wander; my nose scrunched the more I thought about it, "No sir, I did not pay attention to her eye color, she was too far to be able to tell."

Mal got up to show him what she wrote down, which left him squinting at the screen.

"Hm, whoever that girl was is the most bizarre one I've ever heard about," He then looked at Mal, "So you sure she was not from any house nearby?"

"I made sure of it; there was no event which involved her dressing as she was, nor was anyone able to identify her in the sketch."

He turned his gaze back to screen, "So you meaning to tell me this girl is not from here?" He looked at the sketch, then took out some files he was carrying in a suitcase. There he laid out ten folders, within containing a profile of the only redheaded girls known in the database of Lincoln.

      "I want you girls to look over them first, see if any of these girls match your sketch there."

As I gazed at the ten images spread out on the coffee table, I blurted, "None of these are her," I covered my mouth immediately after saying that. I hardly glanced at them, so I have no idea why I said that with such certainty.

Olsen raised one brow, "You didn't even compare them to the sketch, so how can you tell me none of them look like that girl?" He moved to the edge of the sofa and stared at me straight in the face, "Is there something you're not telling us, Ms. Abramov?"

      I shake my head, "Mr. Olsen, I promise I have no idea why I said that with such certainty. I must have been thinking of something else."

"Aki, if you know something you might as well tell us. He does have a point; it makes no sense why you can say none of them of her by just glancing at the pictures. Not even I can do that," Mal did the same as Olsen.

"Mal, if I could explain myself, I would, but I sincerely do not have a clue as to why I said that you believe me right? Look me in the eyes; you'll see there isn't even a point in me doing so."

      Mal turned to face me at gazed into me, the more she did, the further she frowned and squinted her eyes.

"This makes no sense; you said that for some reason, but she truly looks as if she has no idea why. She's telling the truth, she isn't hiding anything from us."

Mal's odd statement in turn only made Olsen shake his head, "You know how irrational that sounds? You're telling me this girl made a statement without any idea as to why she made it in the first place?"

She then thrust her gaze towards Olsen, "You never doubted my observations before, do you seriously think you can doubt me now?" She then raised her hand before Olsen could open his mouth, "I have no reason to bring you this way to spout nonsense. There is nothing neither me nor Aki can gain by hiding anything in times like these."

      Olsen sat back in the sofa, glancing at both of our expressions. He rubbed his forehead as if he caught a sudden migraine, "Okay, we'll just pretend she never said anything and analyze the girls in the picture and compare it with the sketch."

We proceeded to scan and make notes as to which features the girl shared in common with the girl in the sketch. Although Olsen and Mal saw in a match in some, I focused on the small details such as the shape of the nose, eyes, and other features that could narrow down our search.

      "Aki, trying to analyze it that way eliminates all of them, because none of them look exactly like her. So mind picking who you think looks like her the most?"

I looked at the pictures once more; suddenly an image flashed into my mind, it was her. From that image alone I noticed the most strange and impossible thing for her. Her eyes weren't blue, green, brown, or any normal eye color I've ever seen someone have. She had violet eyes, one feature that none of the girls came close to have nor do I think would ever have them.

      "Violet eyes," I whispered to myself.

"What's wrong Aki? You said something just now,"

"Oh, nothing!" I merely looked back at the pictures to avoid her stare. I mean, it may not be impossible, someone like me is rare as is, I almost feel like I shouldn't have these eyes either. I had heterochromia, the kind where each of my eyes is a separate color. By itself, it sounds normal until I mention my right eye is a natural amber color. Not anyone has amber eyes, some people may not even think it's real, but here I am.

      Mal turned my head to meet her eyes, "Aki, what did you say? I know you just remembered something else. Don't think you can pass this off as something you just blurted out."

"It's not important Mal, really,"

Mal tilted her head, brows raised, "Aki, you usually say most things out loud, sometimes without thinking. So if you tried to say that under your breath, it's because you said something you don't want others to know for one reason or another."

      I sighed and let my head droop, "I remembered something else about her, but you won't believe me the minute I say it."

"Just say it, Aki, I also saw her, so don't worry about that. I'm pretty sure both of us think we shouldn't even have seen someone like here around these parts. Not even any of these girls live close to us; they live in a completely different side of town."

      "Violet eyes, she had violet eyes," I shut my eyes upon saying those words. I knew how absurd it sounded, but it was what I saw.

I kept them shut until Mal suddenly took a breath in, "Then it wasn't just me."

"Wait, you saw that too?"

"Yeah, at first I thought it was blue, but the more I remember it, the more I believe there was a purple hue to her eyes."

"Do you girls seriously expect me to believe that the girl had violet eyes? There's no one with a profile like that here in Lincoln, or rather, someone like that doesn't exist."

We then heard something hit the kitchen window, Mal and I rushed to see who it was, while Olsen slowly approached it, standing behind me to get a view of who was outside with us.

      It was her. She stood straight in the middle of the window's vision, and simply shifted her gaze, making sure to stare at each one of us. She stared us dead in the eye, engraving the odd color of eyes into our minds. It was just as Mal said, under the sun her eyes looked more and more like a shade a violet than it did blue.

      "Well I'll be damned," Olsen goggled at her, then shook his head, escaping her curse, "You girls stay here, I'll have a chat with this girl, see what she wants from you two."

"Don't forget your partner Olsen, Aki can stay here to warn us if she starts running."

I have no intention of running, for I shall stand right here. I grip my head as the thought came into my head. I tried to shake my head free of it, it sounds insane, but whatever that was, it was not my thoughts.

Mal's eyes shimmered as she saw me pull my hairs in light of this invasive thought now in my head, to which she ran out the door, Olsen the following suit. The girl did not run; rather she turned to face them. I could hear their shouts from inside.

      "What do you want with these girls?" Olsen asked. The girl walked up and simply placed her hand on his forehead. Olsen attempted to move back but suddenly stood still. Olsen suddenly runs out as Mal tries to run after him. Next thing I knew I heard a car engine starting. The girl walked in through the door they left open, then grabbed my hands, "We are still waiting on your decision, my dear sister."

No way could it have been her. There has to be some logical explanation for all this. My mind was juggling the idea of going after her, but knowing I would get questioned by Mal and not be able to properly explain to her as to why I chased after some random girl on the street. Ever since I saw her, my mind has been in overdrive, trying to find some reasons behind the whole encounter, and other parts of mind want to dismiss it in its entirety.

      It was only January, and she looks to be even older than I am, I could not understand why anyone would dress that way in this time of year. Of course, the thought that she was merely going to some party crossed my mind, but it was barely 7:00 AM when I saw her. I simply let my mind rest by saying she was probably leaving a party that lasted the whole night and she had to leave in her costume due to not bringing a change of clothes with her.

      My brain was cruel, however, and thrust me to investigate the neighbors, some of who I knew well. Reality immediately reared its grotesque head once again in the form of a fact. There was no party going on throughout the entire block, and they even told me some their friends had, yet none of them involved a Greek theme. From there, another thought hit me and confused me even further, why was she walking out on the street like that, instead of just driving a car to wherever she was?

      In the small town of Lincoln, the only people who I would ever see walking on the streets are random joggers running either early in the morning or late at night. Other than that, everyone else drives a car everywhere they go. So unless the town and my neighborhood changed overnight, I should not have seen that girl at all. I was pacing back and forth in my room, occasionally pausing to entertain a new thought.

      "Looks like someone is daydreaming," Mal said as she walked in.

I stop in my tracks and fell silent, I immediately chuckle after a few seconds, "Yeah, but don't you usually knock Mal?"

When I told Mal of my weird little habits, she was understanding and always made sure to knock whenever I have the door closed.

"I did, but there's not much I can do when your door is wide open," Mal suddenly paused, then raised her brow, "Unless, you weren't daydreaming and were thinking about something else."

      I bite my lip, she was right, my door was wide open, which is something I have never done while in the middle of my daydreams. Mallory was a cop, which meant now she has been able to pick up when I lie. I knew it would be a little hard to not tell her the truth, despite how bizarre it sounds. My brain knew that yet my mouth acted against it.

"Well, I started daydreaming before I entered my room, so it must have been so intense that I forgot the door was open," I said, scratching my head.

Mal stared at me with slightly squinted eyes and arms crossed. I tried my best not to let myself get nervous. She then turned her gaze towards the wall and clicked her tongue after a few seconds.

      "Aki, what aren't you telling me? You never daydream in silence; you're always talking when in the middle of a daydream. To be honest, I surprised I didn't realize that sooner."

I lowered my head and sighed, "I really can't hide anything from you, can I?" I then look up at her, "Promise me you won't think I'm crazy for it. I'm already having trouble believing in my sanity."

"Wait, does it have to do with that person you saw during breakfast?" Mal asked.

My eyes widened, "You mean you saw her too? You saw that?"

"You might have spaced out, but I don't know why you're so surprised. I mean since you did wave I had to see at least who you were waving at."

      I sighed and let my body relax, in a way I'm glad Mal is so observant, otherwise this whole situation would have been hard to explain if I told her how absurd that girl looked.

"I will admit, she did look weird, I've never seen anyone normally dress like that, but I'm sure there's some reason behind it."

"I have tried every possible explanation Mal; I asked the neighbors. However, it just proved she wasn't from around here. Besides, who would be walking in public early in the morning dressed like that?"

Mal went over all the things I had already thought, upon doing so she merely furrowed her brows, "As weird as it is, what I don't get is why that bothers you so much. Was that girl familiar to you in any way?"

"You'll call me crazy, but she looked exactly like one of the girls I saw in my dreams," I somewhat mumble the other half of my sentence, sulking against the wall.

      "Tell me all about it, Aki. I want to hear in detail this dream of yours before I have the right to say you're crazy."

Crossing my arms, I told her what happened in my dream. While I talked about it, I expected her to interject at any given moment and tell me to brush it off. She merely listened, and patiently waited until I finished to start speaking, she asked me to describe that girl in my dreams.

Mal put a hand on her waist and looked up for a few seconds, then spoke, "Her appearance is as you said, and it is strange how irrational it is to see someone like her walking like that at that time in front of everyone. If it eases your fears Aki, we'll try to see who else saw her, and keep a lookout for her."

      "Wait, there's no way you believed I what I said."

Mal scoffed which led her to chuckle, "Of course your dream is downright crazy," she then took a few steps closer to me, "Despite whether you told me or not, whoever that girl is, she was watching you before she left, so she knows you and where we live. So if she's going to become a problem, we might need to get some police involved."

      Since then, Mal has been doing nothing but watching through every window and checking every lock on our doors to block any more intruders. She also went out to ask if any of the neighbors if they have seen that girl using a sketch she made based on the description I gave of her. Some say they have, yet upon mentioning her hair color and attire, most of them either immediately denied seeing a girl like her or simply gave Mal a look before closing the door on her.

"Great, so we got nothing on this girl. I'm also starting to hate some of our neighbors," Mal slumped on the sofa, throwing the sketch onto another, smaller sofa.

Upon sitting next to her, and closing my eyes, I let my mind wander. I recreate the encounter in mind, which then brought forth two questions in my head.

      "How likely is it for someone of her hair color in our town? Why go through the alley behind our house?"

I felt Mal's body sit up straight, which turns my gaze towards her, "I have some contacts in LPD, and they can help us find how many natural redheads are in Lincoln," I then saw her forehead wrinkle, "Why in the world did she do that anyway? There's only a certain amount I've seen walk into alleys, although it wasn't night, there is no real reason to walk down an alley."

      She got up, erect as a statue, "Let's see what's in that alley Aki. Most people don't walk down alleys unless they know there's something there they're looking for."

My face brightened up seeing the passion she's putting into this, "Sure, let's begin the investigation detective!"

Mal tilted her head and raised one brow, "Come on Aki, I get that humor is your way of coping with this situation but I'm not playing detective, I'm trying to protect us."

"Alright fine, though this is exciting in a way, I could almost write a mystery story about this!"

Mal groaned as we walked outside and into the alley behind our house. It was just barren, black gravel, with barks of dogs as you walk down the alley. Right before we reached the back of a neighbor's house next to ours, we found a long, black trench coat. It was clean, not even a speck of dust was present. The pristine appearance of this coat only means that someone was just here a second ago.

Much time has passed since the last keystroke, the last movement of the pen, since the last page filled.

However, never have will I forget how these actions never left me still, and still indulge in its thrills.

Apologies for seeming as if I lost my will, and ceased to give voice.

It was my mistake, but new I present a new choice.

As I lingered in my fantasies, biding time, within I found a brand new line.

Mature all that is old like a fine wine, and bring forth new lights to shine.

The time is now, and I shall harvest all that is ripe, and prepare to behold it with your sight

I saw the world in chaos; cities were in flames, tiny ants scattered about, some were fighting as others were killing and running, and then there was those just watching the world fall apart right in front of them: me. The scene itself would leave me speechless, but this was not the reason I remained quiet, and still, it was where I was watching this happen. I looked all around me and saw nothing but space, nor anything that held me to ground, yet here I was, standing there.

“Such a tragedy to befall the world, I pity those unfortunates,” a lady said walking towards me. She donned a white dress with some smooth cloth that wrapped around her left shoulder and came back to where she held up some of the cloth with her right hand which complemented her copper red hair, an ancient kind of attire.

“What is this? Why am I up here and not down there with the rest?”

“You speak as if you wished to be amongst them, yet our concern for you prohibited your stay.”

“Aren’t you going to thank us? We got you out of that dump before you hell really breaks loose,” another girl who approached me tipped her top hat. She dressed as a circus ringmaster, dressed mostly in white with golden bands around her hat and outlining her outfit.

She smirked and continued before I could respond, “Now don’t be selfish this time, make the right choice ’kay?”

“Why only save me though? What do you mean? Wait—“I paused as a name engraved itself in my thoughts, and was writing itself all over my skin.

“Where’s Mal? I swear if she dies while I’m up here in a place where I can’t save her from whatever chaos is going on down there, I’ll kill you!”

Mallory is a dear friend of mine, the only friend I’ve had for most of my life, seeing her down there where buildings are ablaze, where people die in batches, among those that are running away from the bloodthirsty world I now see before me, it sets my body on fire.

“Get me out of whatever this place is, I have to go back! Take me to where she is! Let me at least save Mal!” I sprinted back to my home, the place where the day before I was laughing and smiling with my family and friends. I soon ran out of breath, only to see I’m still as far away from Earth as I was before as if I were only running in place, a treadmill that never let me get any closer to my home.

I turn around to see not only two but several girls that stood there, staring at my futile attempt to run away. I felt my fists clench, and I lashed out at them only to be stopped by some invisible chains I felt on my feet that didn’t let me get any closer.

“How can you all watch this happen? Why did you force me to leave her? I’d rather be dead by her side then be with a bunch of strange people who took everything from me!”

“Cease your tongue, for we have taken nothing of value from you. I also assure you that those you care for will be fine,” the lady said as she adjusted the cloth on her arm.

“Time is running out, I cannot maintain the stability of this place any longer, it’s starting to put a strain on me to hold this for even a minute longer,” a girl shouted as cracks bean forming around the space we occupied.

“My apologies Akire, but we must take our leave. We shall be waiting on your response to your calling, for you must decide this all transpires.”

“My response to what? What do you mean my calling? Hey!” I shouted after them.

“Join us Aki, and fulfill your purpose,” the lady said as she began fading.

“We’ve reached critical stability! I can’t maintain it much longer!” Like glass, shards of the area they were in began falling.

“Farewell, dear sister of ours. I will be patiently waiting for you to come to us. Come home to your family.”

Suddenly, I heard voices in unison say, “Come home to your sisters Aki.”

“Wait!!” I screamed as my hand reached out. I then shook my head to see that I was sitting on my bed. I sigh, I hope that didn’t wake Mal up. I’m normally not the kind who dreams often, nor do I remember any of the few that I do end up having, so the fact I distinctly remember details in this dream was odd. There was an aura of familiarity to them as well. However, I dismiss the thought as some weird part of the dream.

Could there be any meaning to that dream at all? I always did find joy in speculating about things like this; sadly the dream is too crazy, so I brushed it off and sat up on the side of my bed, my feet nearly touching the ground. I suddenly heard a long yawn, to which I smiled. I walked out of my room and came into the room where Mallory was sleeping.

“Morning Aki,” she yawned.

“Morning Mal, you’re up earlier than usual.”

“Well, I had a weird dream that woke me up, can’t remember what it was about though.”

I giggled, “That’s funny, I had quite the crazy dream too.”

Mal raised her brow, “You know, I did hear a loud sound, and I’m pretty sure I was not dreaming at that point, do you know what it was Aki?”

“Oh, it was me, sorry about that. I guess I might have yelled myself awake or something.”

“What was your dream about anyway?”

I chuckled, “Well, the whole world was ending, and some weird girls saved me. I got angry at them because my friends and family were still down there and would not let me go back. Pretty weird huh?”

Mal smiled, “Your daydreams are just as weird Aki, but that’s what I like about you.”

I turned red as she said that, but she does have a point, my daydreams are like that. I have an abnormal condition in which I daydream for hours constantly, and I would even do something as childish as acting out the scenes in my head. It makes me come off as crazy, but I hope no one thinks that

“Man, it may be early in the morning, but I’m starving, how about we go down and make some breakfast Aki?” Mal said as she got up from her bed, stretching her arms in the air.

“Sure, but remember it’s your turn today, I’ve made breakfast this whole week so far.”

She chuckled, “Yeah, sorry about that; I just think you make better breakfast than I do.”

I looked up at Mal, standing 5’8 tall, compared to my lame height of 5’4. We soon went down and had breakfast. I couldn’t help but notice that she made more usual, and even tried to imitate the kind of breakfast that she enjoys the most.

“Are you trying to get me fat Mal? I know I eat a lot, but this might make me a little spoiled.”

Mal shrugged, “I guess I was in a little bit of good mood. Besides, I was in the mood for cinnamon pancakes. I have to admit though; I like the way you make them better.”

“Why? I’m pretty sure you didn’t make any more different than I would have. You used the things that I put on it right?”

“I did, but I have no idea where I went wrong. Trying to match to yours is like trying to make my cooking taste like the way my mom makes them. It’s almost impossible.”

I raised my brow, smirking, “What are you trying to say with that Mal?”

Mal shook her head, “Don’t even start,” she nudged me, which broke us into laughter, but I fell silent as I looked out the kitchen window. The window showed the sidewalk and a girl with copper red hair wearing a white tunic. She waved at me, to which I slowly wave back, half-smiling. I gazed at her as she walked into the alley behind our house.

CHAPTER 1

I fell onto the sofa like a lifeless corpse, I shook my head in hopes that all this was nothing but some delusion or that I had finally gone insane and tried to get insanity’s hands off of me. The living room before me I feel was stretching out, as if everything was becoming small and insignificant, much like the life I led on here if what these people said was true. I could feel the air becoming thicker around me and my dear friend Mallory, who sadly put herself in this abyss of insanity with me.

I looked up at Mallory, her eyes reddened and turned my gaze away from reality’s cold revleation, yet part of me refused every single second of what was happening to be reality. She sat next to me, and found as if her only option was to hug me tight. I don’t think anything I could say would be able to console her, for I cannot even begin as to how to process all these fantasies and delusions.

I wrapped my arms around her, I simply waited for her to say something, anything. I know she isn’t taking this any easier than I am, no sane human being would be able to take the information we got and still be completely sane and unaffected. She buried her head in our embrace, holding on so tight like two pieces of metal now melting together.

“Aki, please tell me what they’re saying isn’t true, please tell me it’s nothing but lies.”

Although she was still glued to me, slowly we went out of our embrace, “I don’t believe a word of it, but at the same time, what would these people gain by making up this weird story about me? I have never seen them before in my whole life, they’re nothing but strangers to me. They can have so much better to do with their time than waste it doing this nonsense to me.”

“On top of that, some of them aren’t even human, some of them don’t even seem to be good people. I could tell just by their constant looking down at everyone else. You aren’t like those people Akire, you are an amazing girl, the best friend I have ever met in my whole life. Please, tell me you’re not going with those people. Please tell me you can stay here and that nothing they say will come to be true.”

“If any single thing they say is true, if I can believe even one thing they tell me, then I really can’t stay here. It would only hurt you more if I were to stay here.”

Mallory simply turned her gaze away from me and toward the door where we know those people are waiting behind it, “But it’s just absurd, it’s complete and utter insanity what they spew! Not even putting a tin foil hat on them would do it justice because people like those, in spite of their crazy and fantastical rambles, would not believe a word they say.”

“I know, I understand all this just as much as you do. Thoughts are all running in my head asking so many questions and just trying to connect everything together,” I groan, and decided to rest my head on her lap, “I just don’t know Mal.”

“Haven’t you thought about what they said though? They—“

I lifted my head up to meet hers once more, “Mal, what they said is the only thing that is my mind right now. There hasn’t been a second so far that a thought has not been about this whole thing. We both heard what will happen to me if I stay, just like we know what will be done if I were to leave.”

“And you know you can’t just leave everything behind. Where will they even take you? What would happen to everyone you have met here? Your family, your friends,” she paused, and forced my eyes to meet hers, “What would happen to me Aki?

My body inside twisted and turned as she said that with her eyes watering up and hearing her voice choke up like that. Mallory looked so vulnerable, so afraid, a Mallory that I have only seen one other time in the years we have known each other.

“Mal, no matter what is it that they want to do, I will never let anyone separate me from you, for any reason. I am not leaving without you, and they must understand that.”

“You can’t, I already heard the conversation you guys had about bringing me along. They just can’t seem to trust me, and even if they did they told you it’s impossible to bring me along.”

I shook my head, “I could care less about what they said to me, I am not leaving until they figure this out. I’m not just going to leave everything behind and simply forget them and all the memories I have. All that just to end up leaving with them, strangers, and demand faith that I cannot have knowing the endless possibilities as to what can happen to me.”

We heard the door open as one of the “Alterations” peeks through the door. She walked in smiling, it was that girl dressed as some circus ringmaster or Alteration Gamma as she was introduced to me, “Mind if I stay and talk with the two of you?”

I simply pointed to the couch across from us, she bowed like a conductor who finished a concert, and sat, “Listen, I was eavesdropping on this little heart to heart conversation that you were having, and I have some comments to make. I may be this grandiose, eccentric girl who appears to do nothing more than to make shows spectacular, but hear me out.”

I looked at Mal, she only looked back shrugging, I respond with a sigh, “Well, I guess we can listen, although we don’t have much choice in the matter.”

“First, I only find it fair to introduce myself properly to the both of you, I apologize they weren’t more personal, Xirena is as old as time when it comes to introductions, and hardly understands the importance of knowing someone’s real name. I’m Ruby Atwell, and it is a pleasure to meet you both,” she shook our hands, and she stood poised before us.

She took off her white top hat and placed it on the coffee table, we looked at her inhuman scarlet red eyes, her current posture and expressionless face was a complete contrast to how she was earlier as a girl who was filled with an excess of energy and emotion.

“Before I begin, I must start by asking one question. For what reason do you two think I could help in this situation, knowing that the few Alterations here all have a role in making this work? What is my role according to you two?” Ruby began sounding like some professor.

We stared at her blankly, I mean what purpose would she serve, if she has any at all?

“I don’t think you really have any particular role, I mean you’re no different than us, and the others seem to have firm grip on what they’re doing and are far from what I could call human,” I told her.

Ruby giggled, “See, even the others thought that, so I had to pester them into bringing me along.”

“Yet, judging by how you speak part of me wants to guess you have your own reasons for coming here that not even these other Alterations know of.”

Ruby snapped her fingers, smirking, “Exactly!” She looked at Mal, “You know, your deductions skills were far better than I thought. You must have been an amazing officer.”

It didn’t shock us that she also knew, considering how they told us our whole lives upon our first meeting, “Well, all I can say about that is the chief of police saw very highly of me and almost wanted me to gain that position if he were to retire to pay for all the cases we solved together.”

Ruby nodded, then continued, “Now seeing the little time we can waste, there’s no point beating around the bush,” she looked at the both of us with a growing smile, then said in a low voice, “I’m here because I have a plan to fulfill Akire’s request.”

I felt my eyes widen, then looked at Mal, whose eyes began to shimmer in the tears that are too afraid to come out, “How? What is your plan?” I began to ask.

“Also, if you know how to possibly solve this, how come you haven’t told the other Alterations yet? You could have told them from the beginning so they could have brought you along. It just makes no sense why you would hide the solution from a team,” Mal questioned.

“Because as I stated earlier, it’s merely a plan have, though small it is, there is an quite concerning margin of error, and the other Alterations would not have believed my theory if I told them then. Now would be a more optimal time, because once here they will start spewing their ideas and try to connect them, except it will be an organized chaos. You see, each has a specialty in the plan which would be enough to at least get Akire out of this universe, only if all the pieces fall in nicely.”

“In other words, it could be a bit risky?” I asked.

“More than risky, if one piece fails, the whole plan falls apart and the universe would become more unstable due to the tinkering they must do to it.” In spite of her appearance and first impression, Ruby seems to have much knowledge about this situation.

“How do you even know all of this? I’m sorry but you didn’t seem like some person with some sort of PhD to be able to know this much. How come you know this while the others don’t?” Mal retorted.

“Well to be brief, you’re right. Which is why it takes someone who has several PhDs and knowledge about toying with the time and space within multiple universes and the entire dimension to know what I know,” she began staring at Mal, waiting.

Mal simply threw her hands up in the air, “Alright I’m done trying to make sense of all this, but at least it shows you really know what you’re talking about.”

“So tell me, how would this theory of yours work? Because if there is any plan that even has the smallest percent to not lose everything I have here I am willing to risk it. I want to bring those I care about with me.”

“Well, to put it brief, you must be able to awaken into Alteration Delta and find that Awakening to become one, then we simply do what I always do when travelling to different parts of space and be able to live in any universe: you and Mal together elevate into another dimension.

“What does that even mean? I can’t even begin to see how that makes sense,” I said, looking at her with my brows furrowed.

“With the Awakening, you will be able to do the same as me, and to be able to live within my universe, the closest to the Real World, you must elevate from the 4th and become 6th dimensional beings.”

As she slowly opened her eyes, she paused the rapidly vibrating clock that read 7:15 with eyes half open, she crawled out into the bathroom, and wet her face to rid herself of the remaining morning laziness. She then returned and took the jade green notebook from her night stand, sat cross legged on her bed, got her pencil out, and grumbled at the thought of writing stories, so instead decided to write a poem.

As I wake to see the morning sun, I give my stretch to life.

The light was bright and disturbed my eyes as I still lay drowsy.

Despite it all, I enjoyed the sun and felt warm with my sight.

I loved the smells of the plants nearby, making it less lousy.

I also love to feel the sand of Florida’s beach between my fingers.

In this home where I live, life is dominated by a peaceful silence.

She then felt a sudden tap on her shoulder to see that it was Mr. Corrigan and his wife.

“Sorry to disturb you Cyrene, my husband and I just need to ask you a question,”

Cyrene rolled her hand in a circle, motioning her to continue, “Well, seeing as how we have an extra room, we wanted to ask if you do not mind having a roommate. ”

Cyrene shook her head, “I don’t really mind, in fact I would like for someone to talk to. It does get pretty lonely here in this other house.”

Mrs. Corrigan hesitated before responding, “Well, allow me to introduce you to her. Come on in!”

Cyrene saw as the girl entered the room, and was left with her mouth open. The girl had a heart-shaped face with translucent skin, almond-shaped eyes that mesmerized many due to the emerald green color of her eyes which seemed a bit cloudy.

“Hello, it’s nice to meet you, my name is Almira Valcourt,” Cyrene continued staring blankly at her, her nose now scrunched.

“I apologize, did you not hear me? Did I not speak loud enough? I apologize, I know I often have to repeat myself, I do not speak very loudly.”

Mrs. Corrigan placed her hand on Almira’s shoulders, instantly making her turn toward her and tap her knee with her cane, “Mrs. Corrigan, is something the matter?”

Cyrene began knocking on the nightstand, drawing the attention to her again and looked at Mrs. Corrigan. Cyrene tapped her ears with her brow raised as Mrs. Corrigan looked at her and Almira, “Excuse me Almira, I’ll have my husband explain to you who your roommate is” she said to her, then looked at Cyrene and began to sign the messsage.

“We’re sorry to say, but your roommate is blind, I know it’ll be difficult for the two of you to communicate, but the other rooms are full and this the only real room we have left.” Cyrene covered her face with both palms, while Almira simply bowed her head.

Cyrene and Almira are polar opposites of each other in terms of disabilities; Almira is blind while Cyrene is deaf. Cyrene herself is a girl with sensuous lips that let out an impish smile. Her healthy, alluring figure fit perfectly with the rest of her body.

They sat in silence, Cyrene watched as Almira shifted around in her bed. She sighed, I can’t believe this, how am I supposed to talk to her? Is there any sort of device or technique that deaf and blind people use to communicate? She put a pillow over her head as Almira was reading a book. She then took a look at Almira’s book, observing her as her gentle fingers went over lines of dots. Cyrene got a headache attempting to understand braille. Cyrene groaned, causing Almira to look up, who was about to open her mouth until she shook her head and went back to reading.

This silence I used to love, now the eternal thorn in my spine. This silence, once peaceful, now converted into that of awkwardness. Although it can never be broken, I will break it for her ears to hear, I want to get to know her.

“Hey Almira, I’ll say at least this much. I may not be able to hear you, I can’t even hear myself, but I’ll promise you one thing. I will find a way to talk to you.”

Almira then looked toward where she heard her voice, and began to mouth words but didn’t actually say anything, enunciating so that Cyrene could read her lips, which she could always do but never really liked doing it for she knew there could misinterpretation and found it too complicated at times, “Thank you, I will promise to do my best as well.”

Cyrene began to look online any methods to be able to talk to Almira, but could not find any simple way of doing so, for some involved some weird devices or interpreters. She shook her head, Is there no good method out there? One that's at least a bit simple? She looked over at Almira, who was messing around with a smartphone in her hand. Wait, I may not have a phone like hers, but could that maybe help us, heck if we think like that even this computer can help us talk. 

"Hey Almira, do you have things on your phone that could help us talk?"

Cyrene read an "aah" as Almira's brow raised at the comment made; she raised the phone close to her mouth and began to speak, Cyrene not being to read her lips that were covered by the phone.

Almira then showed her the text that was on the screen, "My most sincere apologies, the idea had not come to me at the time. Also I have a setting where if you select all the text you have a speak option"

Cyrene then took the phone and began to write, she then selected all the text and pressed the option that read "speak" as Almira had said.

"Same here, but at the very least we have some way to talk right?"

"Indeed. If it isn't too much of a bother, I would like to ask a favor from you."

"What is it?" Cyrene's message said aloud through the phone.

"Well, this particular area and house is new to me, so if you don't mind I would like you to be my eyes and help me become accustomed to this area, perhaps even go outside."

Cyrene smiled, "It would be a pleasure, and no bother at all. I would love to show you around. Isn't it weird though? I mean you're trusting me, someone you barely know, to lead you around."

"Well, I assume good in most people, and your voice was pleasant sounding to me. Besides, we will be living here together. You can see what I can't while I can hear what you can't, we could depend on each other to complete the senses."

"I'm not the only one here though, there is quite a lot of people in this boarding house. Why me?"

"I think you may already know the answer to that question. As big as it may be, this place is a duplex, and where we are in particular isn't nearly as vast. There's only two bedrooms after all."

Cyrene looked around, Almira was right, the boarding house was in reality a duplex, with the main house being way bigger than this other house for two.

"I guess you're right."

"May I ask you a similar question? Why did you not have a roommate before? I heard from Ms. Corrigan you have been waiting for one to feel less lonely. You could have anyone else be here."

"Well, Ms. Corrigan is understanding of me, I know some people in the main house, and although a few are like us too, I just can't connect with those people, they make me feel uncomfortable just because I'm the girl with a house all to herself."

"Well, were the other rooms full?"

"No, but just because I can't hear them doesn't mean I don't notice their demeanor around me. It's just weird, I mean I feel like they do talk about me from time to time, but I won't ever be able to know if that's true or not."

"I don't find it weird at all. I feel the same way, I almost expect that someone will be staring at me whenever I use my cane out in public. I'm not offended by their act of staring however, I understand someone like me does not come around often, I could even be the first blind person they see."

Cyrene paused before writing, "I guess you have a point. You know, I enjoy talking with you Almira, but I'm pretty sure that like me, you must be hungry. How about I make some breakfast?"

"Oh, you don't have to bother really, I'm fine."

"It's getting close to noon, you can't tell me you're not hungry."

"Well, I can't deny that some breakfast doesn't sound bad, but I still need to bring my bags and well, if you don't mind, I would like a little tour of this house of yours."

"Don't worry Almira, we'll get to those after we're  finished. Let's go to the kitchen, I making eggs today."

Almira nodded, and talked into the phone again,"Would you mind if you can lend me your shoulder or arm? I have yet to become accustomed to this house."

Cyrene spoke up, "No problem at all, here," she grabbed Almira's hand and placed it on her shoulder, "Lucky for you there are no steps here like there would have been in the main house, some people trip there even when they see it all the time."

Cyrene looked as Almira covered her mouth smiling,"Is that a giggle I see?"

Almira nodded, and they walked out into the living room.

Often I look and gaze upon the stars above, and always connect dots that form the constellations, drawing lines with my hand. I then imagine myself walking upon a line, though it is invisible, my body wobbles and reaffirms its stance as I tread upon like a cat walking towards its next meal. The line is more thin a string of silk, and any step that I take upon it jolts me to the extremes to the side of the line. On the left I see a white bleakness, made of soft pads withs doors along the hallway. I hear screams and laughter, tears and banging, a chaos controlled by closed doors.

To my right were people, they were alone but cared not for their eyes fixated on pieces of paper. One wrote their own realities and destinies, one drew up the world which is home to whatever they desire, another breathed life into the mirage of a person that was set out for them to mimic, the one that stood out is the one with cameras capturing the essence of all these other people and brought it into reality.

Often I see them in the same line a few paces ahead, and they too stumble to the left, but always finish back where they started. Behind me however there are others more like me, stumbling and believing they belong to the left, some actually wandering the halls as I pass them by.

I however, though inclined to the left due to the abnormality of my mind, cannot walk for I still feel as if I do not belong. I do not go to the right for I feel inferior to them and their success and do not have the sufficient confidence to see them as my equal. I cannot go on either for I do not belong in one place more than the other.

Therefore here I stay upon the thin and accursed line. A line who has my feet stuck to it like a compact and pestering piece of gum which has dried to the shape of my foot. Such is my fate, treading between the line of insanity and creativity. The insanity of my thoughts and dreams, and the creativity which lie in between like a river between mountains.

I have spent ages upon this land just wandering, waiting, wondering when I could finally show Him what I'm made of. I hate Him thinking he's so above us, I could be his equal if I wanted to, I can create as I wish at whim as He can. I can rally more people together than He could even imagine. I hated the way He puts down women such as myself, thinking that we need to be tied down to a man. Just his view of humanity reveals the big ego He has. He said he made man in his image, but how I would describe his failed creation is weak, easily manipulated, simple minded. Simply look around at my masterpiece. How I commandeer the women to have the man listen to their every whim simply to sweep them off their feet. How just by using our bodies, men are left ogling at us, willing to pay to have even just 5 minutes to toy with our alluring figures. Others I simply put them under the control of whatever they become attached to, be it drugs, hatred, and even other men. The women he made were as weak as well, so I made them stronger, as they should, and play with hearts of all, those who do not wish that however, get punished.

All the people who immediately surrender themselves to even the most simplest of pleasures makes me lick my lips. It reminds me of the events of the First Sin. Poor Adam, the fact that he subjected himself by showing him how satisfying carnal pleasure was, and how Eve would fail to give him what I can. It was quite disgusting in spite of how brilliant it was, for I knew he was an image of Him. Eve ran away crying, knowing that he was already my puppet, but I had to suade her too, for I was close to vomiting even thinking of doing anything to that man. And He was furious with me, though I personally don't know why, I mean, they didn't eat from the tree like He said. Because He fails to see the reality that I see, and the reality that is before the both of us. The true nature that I see through his "perfect" creation.

Humans are all  selfish, disgusting creatures in a constant pursuit of pleasure. There is no exception. Those who are innocent are simply good at hiding the beast within themselves. Speaking of, I might have to visit those people myself. Oh, I can feel my mouth watering at the end of their lives and have to suffer with me for all eternity. Better yet, once I get the opportunity, He will not be safe either, I may be fighting a losing war, but no matter how it ends...

I still won all that He lost; He can't ever win.

As life runs its course, many obstacles seem to soar.

High into the sky, a swarm of flies.

Time and time again, we face our greatest adversary.

It is not the ones below or above us, but rather quite the contrary.

It is the face we see in the mirror day after day,

The one who thinks, but often has no say.

It fools us at times in believing in its helpful deeds,

Only to plant the most malignant seed.

The seed of helplessness sprouts as it makes it coup,

However one can have their tools too.

One feels as if they should fend for themselves,

And cannot ask for help, or else.

However when one is fighting against their inner self,

Wouldn't the best counter be another's help?

A friend I never asked for, but still busted in unannounced.

It remains with me, lurking, following,crawling against my entire body.

It coils like a snake, shutting me out from others.

Is it wrong to now be used to this suffocation?

I try to get its grip off of me, but it still remains.

Though it has loosened, it still follows and show its fangs to any who try to remove it.

I breathe what little I can, but I want it to be over.

Someone, anyone willing to spare their time to pay someone not in money, but in attention and caring can walk alongside me.

Never mind the beast the lurks, for the more I can be with that one person, or perhaps more than one, the more its grip will losen.

I wish not to ignore and show indifference, for it has hurt me deeply and is a curse I wish upon no one.

I want someone to listen, someone to confide in, someone who can see past my self-defense and hug me.

All I want is genuine love. Genuine care and be infected by the antidote of happiness. I don't want to be alone, I don't want to be used to the feeling no more.

Whoever is will to sacrifice even a few minutes to listen to me as I have listened to all the people who have entered and left my life, nothing will leave me more content.

I want to be a polar opposite to the me of now, and destroy the final barrier.

Whoever you are, wherever you may be, please, approach me, hug me, as odd as my request sounds, I need the connection that has never been plugged in. What our relationship becomes is of no matter, I simply need the reminder that I have someone to turn to in my times of sorrow.

If it is too odd, carry on and have a spectacular day. I wish you the best in all your endeavors. I understand the business of life, it is among the reasons why I lie in this situation. If only I had the same business I would care less for this communication.

To everyone I know, thank you for the time you have spared thus far, and for the time you have spared to allow me to pour these emotions.

(I feel odd to put this as my first post on here, for I usually bottle up everything, but I hope you enjoyed either way.)