Hallucination (▉ ▉)
Beneath the crimson glow that stained the air with the hue of blood, the forest had transformed into a living nightmare—a place where reality and illusion intertwined ceaselessly, like a shattered mirror reflecting two overlapping realms of terror in Vita’s vision.
It sent her mind into disarray, her vision spinning wildly as she staggered forward, her unsteady legs struggling to support her on the soft moss that had transformed into a thin, eerie layer of red skin beneath her.
Despite this, Vita continued her frantic escape, even as the landscape around her shifted unpredictably, gradually erasing any sense of direction. Yet, amidst the turmoil, a faint whisper calling Seele’s name resonated through the cold air, serving as the delicate thread that connected Vita to her sanity.
Seele
The events of just minutes before still lingered vividly in her mind, especially the moment Vita’s gaze caught that familiar flash of blue streaking across the sky. Though fear still gnawed at her, it was swiftly overtaken by a surge of joy, however fleeting. For when she glimpsed that familiar ocean-blue hue, the thought that she had found Seele slipped into her consciousness, momentarily easing the panic that had taken hold of her.
People often say that humans have an innate fear of the unknown, a survival instinct that kicks in during uncertain times. This uncertainty can disrupt their peace of mind, leading to anxiety and heightened awareness of potential threats in unfamiliar environments or unclear situations. For many, this distorted and eerie forest, with its constantly changing illusions and the strange blue gaze piercing down from the sky, might symbolize an incomprehensible danger, a risk to their very survival. Confronting it could trigger a deep-seated fear.
However, for Vita, the experience was quite different. The moment she encountered that blue which no longer felt entirely foreign, frightening, or challenging the instincts that had once taken hold of her after seeing it in a dream. Instead, her mind immediately linked it to someone familiar: Seele, a presence she had known, whose kindness she had felt. Even if Seele’s demeanor could sometimes be enigmatic, it carried a quiet reassurance that made Vita feel safe.
That familiarity shattered the usual boundaries of fear within her.
While humans often shrink before the unknown, Vita found an anchor in her memories of Seele, transforming what should have been a threat into a glimmer of hope. Where others might tremble in the face of uncertainty, Vita let intuition guide her, trusting that Seele—whatever form she might take—would never harm her.
This was what set Vita apart, giving her an entirely different perception.
Yet, in the blink of an eye, everything abruptly returned to normal. The terrifying illusions dissolved completely, leaving Vita alone in the now-silent forest.
The world had reverted to its former state, but now a sudden wave of emptiness mingled with sorrow surged within her as she glanced around, finding no trace of Seele. The fleeting spark of happiness she had felt moments ago turned into a void, leaving her to wonder whether it had all been a fleeting dream or a reality that had slipped through her grasp.
Confronted with that thought, the fear she had suppressed for so long broke free, no longer restrained, erupting with ferocious intensity.
Now, the disappearance of that blue hue—“Seele”—did not just leave an emptiness; it ignited a new, gnawing unease. Panic gripped Vita, compelling her to search wildly in every direction, oblivious to the fact that the world around her had transformed into a grotesque sea of crimson. Living flesh and throbbing organs began to rise from the ground beneath her. Yet, despite her frantic attempts, Seele remained a fleeting shadow—elusive and unattainable in that moment.
And as her sanity slowly suffocated over time, her hand brushed against what she thought was a dry branch—no, it was a vivid red tendon, sharp as a blade.
By the time she realized, it was too late. A searing jolt of pain exploded from her shoulder as the tendon pierced through her tattered doctor’s coat, tearing into her flesh. Hot blood gushed forth, staining her sleeve and trickling between her fingers as she clutched the wound.
The agony forced a hoarse scream from her lips, but it was drowned out by the forest’s haunting cries. Amidst the pain, Vita struggled to grasp the reality that she was now ensnared—caught by the tendon still attached to a fleshy tree before her, pinning her down like a creature impaled.
Gritting her teeth, her trembling hand traced the length of what had now become a branch. It was dry and brittle, yet stubbornly firm where it joined the trunk. Taking a deep, shaky breath despite the tightness in her chest, Vita slowly knelt to relieve the tension on her shoulder. She grasped the branch a few inches from her injury, pressing her thumb firmly on one side while her other fingers pulled in the opposite direction. Summoning her last bit of strength, she twisted her wrist sharply. A faint crack echoed as the branch broke free from the trunk, though its jagged end stayed embedded deep in her shoulder.
Blood flowed more freely as the branch quivered in the wound, but Vita swiftly tore a strip of fabric from the frayed hem of her coat. The bleeding from her shoulder was unyielding, yet her years of medical training fortified her determination. She understood that pulling the branch out would be a grave mistake—it was blocking a major blood vessel, and removing it could lead to fatal blood loss in mere minutes.
Grinding her teeth harder to suppress the pain, cold sweat dripped down her face as her left hand awkwardly pressed the fabric against her shoulder wound, applying pressure despite the sharp jolts of agony with every movement.
“Pressure… I need to maintain the pressure …” Vita muttered, her voice trembling, struggling to focus amid the chaos.
As she had anticipated, the vivid red flow seeped through the cloth but gradually began to slow. For that small reprieve, Vita could only let out a shaky breath of relief.
But her respite was short-lived. Just as she attempted to rise, still feeling the remnants of pain, a sharp crack rang out beneath her feet. A gnarled root—or rather, a fresh, crimson tendril of intestine—suddenly coiled around her ankle, yanking hard. Caught off guard, Vita stumbled forward.
Despite the pain, she managed to react quickly, placing both hands on the ground to catch herself, preventing the “branch” in her shoulder from pushing further into her body. But tragically, she couldn’t avoid what came next.
In that very instant, another tendril—no, a jagged shard of red bone—burst from the fleshy ground and plunged straight into her abdomen. Pain erupted like an explosion within her, radiating from her stomach to her chest, stealing her breath. It tore through her coat, embedding itself a few inches into her flesh, and hot blood surged forth, soaking her clothing and dripping onto the moss below.
“Damn it…” Vita groaned.
The pain from her two injuries—one in her shoulder and the other in her abdomen—felt like two daggers tearing her apart, leaving her mind in chaos. Despite the overwhelming haze, Vita forced herself to look down at the wound in her stomach. The crimson shard had transformed back into a branch, embedded in her abdomen—not too deep, but still perilous if not treated.
Taking a shaky breath, even though each inhale causing the abdominal wound to throb painfully. She tore another large strip from the bottom of her coat with trembling hands, leaving the tattered garment barely covering her chest. Carefully, she wrapped the fabric around the branch in her stomach, stabilizing it to prevent further movement while pressing firmly around the wound to stem the bleeding. Each tug of the cloth sent her abdominal muscles into violent spasms, cold sweat beading on her forehead and mixing with the dried blood caked on her face.
Her hand still clamped over the shoulder wound, she pressed her other elbow against the fabric on her abdomen, using her body weight to apply pressure to both injuries at once. Blood soaked through the cloth on her stomach, but the flow lessened, if only temporarily. She gritted her teeth, suppressing a scream as the pain flared upward like wildfire.
Her head spun, and her vision blurred from blood loss, yet Vita pushed herself forward, her trembling hands clawing at the ground until she reached a large, fleshy mass nearby—too drained to care what it was. Leaning against it, she propped herself up, raising her shoulder and abdomen to help slow the bleeding. Her hands, now slick with blood, pressed desperately against both wounds, though her strength waned with each passing moment.
Then, perhaps due to the sheer volume of blood lost and the tormenting pain, Vita felt her consciousness slipping, her breaths growing shallow and erratic. Her fading vision flickered—on one side, the frigid forest; on the other, the other presented a horrific tableau of bloodied organs and a sky dripping with crimson.
And then, exhaustion enveloped her entire body, nearly forcing her magenta eyes to close. That was until a familiar silhouette emerged from the thick fog ahead. The slender figure stepped forward from the darkness, slow but resolute, unshaken by the grotesque scene surrounding her. A pristine white dress, its frayed hem fluttering lightly in the cold breeze, flowed alongside her hair, shimmering like the night itself as it swayed gracefully.
Beneath Vita’s magenta gaze, the girl stood untouched by the shifting worlds around her, undistorted by the illusions, exuding an ethereal beauty—gentle yet chilling.
Slowly, Seele approached, her deep blue eyes gazing down at Vita, their light within eyes flickering like an invisible pulse. Then she knelt, and for the first time, her pale hand reached out deliberately, lifting Vita’s blood-and-sweat-streaked face.
The first sensation that struck Vita was coldness as Seele’s skin brushed her cheek. Yet, intentional or not, that touch carried a numbing softness—an unspoken comfort that sent a shiver through Vita’s body, her breaths hitching unevenly. Still, her eyes remained locked on that blue hue as she murmured faintly.
“At last…”
With great effort, her weakened hand reached up, attempting to touch Seele, but slick with blood and exhausted her fingers only brushed the hem of the white dress before falling back down.
In response to Vita's efforts, Seele stayed quiet, her face showing no emotion. Only her blue eyes narrowed slightly as they assessed the severity of Vita’s wounds. Then, a thin mist rose from behind Seele’s back, unexpectedly coiling around Vita.
This mist was not cold; instead, it radiated a peculiar warmth that penetrated her skin, alleviating the pain in her shoulder and abdomen. The bleeding began to slow, as if the mist was working alongside her own attempts to stop the flow.
Beyond that, her vision also steadied as the illusions faded, revealing the chilling forest bathed in faint moonlight. The eerie shrieks subsided, leaving only the rustle of wind through dry branches and the subtle scent of damp earth. But none of that mattered to Vita anymore—her world had narrowed to Seele’s presence.
“I… found you…” Vita whispered, a delicate smile forming at the edges of her lips despite the persistent pain.
And as her consciousness reached its limit, her heavy eyelids drooping, Vita felt no fear. Seele’s hand remained on her cheek, and the mist enveloped her like an invisible embrace, gently guiding her into a deep, dreamless sleep where nightmares could no longer reach her.
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In her fevered state, Vita's mind seemed to float along the delicate line separating reality from dreams, leaving her with a vague awareness of a distressing, parched feeling—similar to an unyielding flame searing her throat in a desolate wasteland. Her tongue felt heavy and stuck to the roof of her mouth, and every shallow breath she took was accompanied by a painful sting, as if she were inhaling hot embers.
Then, amidst the overwhelming thirst and heat, a refreshing stream of water began to flow into her throat. It wasn’t a forceful rush like a gushing spring, but a slow, gentle trickle, seeping in bit by bit, its sweet moisture reviving the withered cells of her body. Simultaneously, she sensed the unusual softness of something warm and smooth brushing against her tongue. Though faint, it was enough to awaken her dulled senses.
Vita’s magenta eyes trembled, slowly fluttering open in the dim, hazy darkness. Her vision blurred at first, veiled by a thin mist, but it gradually sharpened as she made out the figure of someone leaning close beside her.
Their silky hair shimmered like the night sky, brushing against Vita’s cheek, while deep blue eyes shone brightly in the shadows—endless like the midnight ocean—staring directly at her with an indescribable calmness. However, what truly startled Vita’s heart was not the gaze itself, but the unexpected closeness of their presence.
Seele's lips hovered just above Vita's, so close that their breaths intertwined with the delicate mist escaping Seele's slightly parted mouth. From that point, a cool, crystalline stream of water flowed softly from Seele to Vita. Tiny droplets slipped through her cracked lips, bringing with them a subtle sweetness mixed with the metallic flavor unique to this peculiar island.
Seele's lips, surprisingly soft, contrasted sharply with the chill of her skin. They emanated a miraculous warmth, as if sourced from an unseen well of life within her delicate form. That softness pressed against Vita's lips—gentle yet intentional, a silent gesture of care—allowing her to explore their delicate shape: smooth, slightly curved, cold at the edges but warming as they drew closer.
Blinking, Vita froze, her breath catching as realization dawned. Heat surged to her face, flushing her cheeks despite her body’s lingering weakness from blood loss and exhaustion.
Instinctively, she wanted to move, to speak, but her body refused to obey, leaving her motionless as the soothing water continued to flow from Seele. Perhaps sensing the slight movement of Vita's mouth, Seele’s hand gently lifted her chin, her thumb resting beneath Vita’s jaw—icy yet tender— tilting her head back slightly to prevent the water from spilling.
Seele's fingertips moved gently over her skin, creating a numbing chill reminiscent of frost, yet with a careful touch, as if she were aware of Vita's delicate condition.
Her hair fell gracefully, the silky strands brushing against Vita's forehead and cheeks, cool and smooth like satin. They carried a subtle fragrance—not of blooming flowers or fresh grass, but something deeper and more mysterious, akin to the depths of the ocean mixed with the earthy scent of a forest after rain. A few loose strands, stirred by a gentle movement, brushed against Vita's lashes, causing her to blink softly as their light touch felt like an accidental caress.
Their proximity allowed Vita to notice every detail of Seele's face—the almost ethereal pallor of her skin illuminated by the moonlight, the striking brilliance of her blue eyes, and the slight parting of her lips, from which water flowed in complete silence.
Vita’s breathing grew more ragged— not solely due to the refreshing water soothing her dry throat, but also because of the unexpected closeness that ensued. She felt a soft pressure from Seele’s lips as she carefully adjusted their angle, ensuring the water flowed smoothly into Vita’s mouth without causing her to choke. Though those lips barely moved much, each brief touch sent a warm tingle through Vita, like a gentle current dancing across her skin.
Seele’s fingers, still resting on Vita’s chin, tightened just a bit—not forcefully, but enough to convey a steady presence, a silent reassurance amid the chaos Vita had just endured.
When the last of the water finally slipped down her throat, a cool sensation spread through her chest, dulling the lingering ache of her wounds. Only then did Seele slowly pull her lips away, though she didn’t rise immediately. She remained bent close, her face hovering near Vita’s, those deep blue eyes locking onto Vita’s wide, surprised magenta gaze.
The motion caused a single droplet, still clinging to the corner of Seele’s lips, to catch the moonlight and glisten before it rolled down, landing softly on Vita’s cheek. It left a cool trail against her feverish skin.
“Seele…” Vita said, her voice rough.
She wanted to express more, but the words got stuck in her throat as she realized Seele’s eyes narrowed—not in anger or annoyance, but as if she were delving deeper into Vita’s thoughts through her magenta gaze.
Seele’s hand lingered on Vita’s cheek, her thumb gently brushing over the wet streak left by the droplet, wiping it away with a slow, almost tender motion—yet still maintaining her characteristic cool detachment.
This made Vita’s heart race, prompting her to take a deep breath to steady her erratic pulse. But before she could regain her composure, the “warmth” from Seele’s hand began to fade, replaced by the familiar chill as she withdrew it, leaving a subtle void of longing in Vita’s chest.
Seemingly unaware of the change in Vita’s feelings, Seele’s blue eyes wandered down over her body, prompting Vita’s magenta gaze to follow suit. The wounds on her shoulder and abdomen had ceased bleeding; the branches were gone, and the blood had clotted. Although the pain lingered and her flesh was still torn, her life was no longer in immediate peril. Additionally, the water Seele had provided had rekindled a spark of energy in her weary body.
“You…” Vita hesitated, her eyes shifting from Seele’s deep blue gaze to her now-closed lips, which had just offered her sustenance. “Why…”
She couldn’t complete her thought, but her eyes conveyed a wealth of emotions—a blend of curiosity, gratitude, and something unnameable, like an invisible thread tightening in her heart.
In response to her question, Seele, as usual, offered no words. She merely tilted her head ever so slightly, and this time, her hand rose to touch the wound on Vita’s abdomen—a silent answer in her own enigmatic way—before withdrawing slowly.
At that peculiar yet familiar gesture, Vita let out an unconscious sigh of relief, her body sinking deeper into the soft moss beneath her. Though her voice was barely audible, it was filled with genuine emotion.
“Thank you…”
She had expressed those words before, uncertain if Seele truly understood their significance, yet her gaze remained locked on those blue eyes, as if trying to communicate every feeling she couldn’t articulate.
Unbeknownst to Vita, in that brief moment, Seele’s hand lingered in the air, as if tempted to reach out to her once more, only to retreat and rest on the moss beside her, creating a small but noticeable space between them.
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Based on Vita’s estimation, several days had passed since her injury. Yet, after that day, they hadn’t lingered to rest for long. Instead, they continued their journey without stopping.
It wasn’t that Seele had no intention of waiting for Vita to recover before moving forward—quite the opposite. It was Vita herself who had insisted on continuing. The reason for her proposal traced back to the time they had spent resting, waiting for her strength to return.
That day, as Vita sat eating the strange red fruits Seele had brought her, she noticed something unsettling: the trees and moss around them were gradually withering with each passing minute. The decay was especially pronounced near where Seele stood. Yet Seele seemed either unaware or unconcerned, because her attention fixed on the moonlight above.
Vita observed that the wilting wasn’t rapid, but its pace defied any natural law she knew, stirring an uneasy premonition about staying in one place too long.
That was why she had taken the initiative to suggest they keep moving, despite her wounds still being far from healed.
The injuries on her shoulder and abdomen—once oozing blood and throbbing as if gnawed by a thousand maggots—had now subsided in a way that defied explanation, though occasional twinges of pain lingered.
Looking back, just a few days earlier, those injuries had been wide open and raw, with the flesh torn and the surrounding skin bruised and swollen, as if her body were decaying from the inside. Now, however, the pain had faded to a distant ache, like a memory slipping away. The wounds had healed much faster than any medical knowledge Vita possessed; new skin had formed, delicate yet strong, no longer oozing as it had before.
Vita couldn’t quite grasp why this was happening—perhaps it was thanks to Seele and the strange energy radiating from her—but she had no desire to delve into how it worked. Because the moment she thought about it, she couldn’t help but recall those hallucinations.
The horrific visions that had invaded her mind days ago—trees swelling like living organs, their throbbing red cores pulsing, moss turning into rotting flesh, and a crimson sky dripping blood—resurfaced in her thoughts like fragmented shards, unclear yet vivid enough to quicken her heartbeat. She remembered the revulsion of a crimson tendril coiling around her ankle, the overpowering stench of decaying blood and scorched metal, the eerie shrieks from fleshy masses hovering in the air.
But now, as she gazed at the forest restored to its familiar gloom of dry branches and gray moss, she no longer cared to question why those images had appeared, whether they were real or merely the product of an exhausted mind. Perhaps it was the forest’s way of tormenting her, or something deeper—a curse, maybe—but it didn’t matter anymore.
And Vita had no intention of asking Seele, who walked silently ahead. She didn’t want to know why her body healed at an uncanny rate, why the nightmares vanished when Seele appeared, or why those deep blue eyes remained unchanged amid the horrors.
She simply accepted it without needing an explanation Maybe a part of her feared that digging deeper would disrupt the delicate balance between them, or perhaps she was just too exhausted to pursue the truth. Regardless, Seele’s presence—quiet and somewhat aloof—had unknowingly become Vita’s only lifeline in this unending nightmare.
Lowering her head, she absentmindedly brushed her fingers over the newly healed scar on her shoulder, feeling the delicate yet remarkably closed skin. Her magenta eyes then instinctively rose, captivated by the white dress that danced softly with each step of its wearer ahead of her.
But then, without warning, everything came crashing down.
Vita’s hand gripped the tattered, damp edge of her coat, soaked with cold dew and sweat, as an excruciating pain tore through her temple.
There were no strange sounds or unusual breezes—just an unseen dagger piercing her skull, as if someone were drilling into her brain with a rusty needle.
She froze, clutching her head, her magenta eyes wide with panic as the world around her began to dissolve like a painting submerged in acid.
Initially, the distortions were subtle—emaciated trees shaking violently, their bark splitting like torn skin, and the moonlight flickering like a faulty bulb, casting a sickly, pus-yellow hue. But in an instant, reality shattered like crushed bone, and a grotesque, nightmarish landscape surged forth, overwhelming her senses with sheer revulsion.
The gray-purple trees transformed from wood into grotesque tumors, their bark peeling away in large, ragged strips like flayed human skin, exposing a glistening red core beneath, slick and elastic like living organs, laced with pulsing crimson veins.
From deep, gaping fissures, a thick black liquid—not red, but viscous like congealed blood mixed with kerosene—oozed out, trickling down the trunks. It reeked of rotting flesh and charred metal, a stench so vile it twisted Vita’s stomach, threatening to make her retch.
Nearby, a tree suddenly split open, its core erupting into a grotesque, misshapen mass resembling a heart, covered in a slimy red membrane. It throbbed violently, each pulse releasing a hot, rancid mist into the air, the vibrations suffocating the atmosphere. And the sight pierced Vita’s chest like a knife.
The damp moss under Vita's feet transformed into a thin, red layer of skin, slick and shiny like decaying placenta, oozing a thick, yellowish pus that emitted such a foul odor she had to bite her lip to suppress a scream. To make matters worse, when she accidentally stepped down harder, the skin ripped open with a wet, nauseating sound, revealing a milky, pupil-less eye that emerged from the ground like a grotesque tumor, bulging through the slimy membrane and fixating on her with a chilling, silent gaze.
Above her, the sky was no longer a dark expanse; it blazed a fiery red, resembling a boiling sea of blood, split by massive, jagged gashes that looked like wounds in flesh. Thick, crimson liquid dripped from these slashes, congealed like clotted blood, falling toward the forest with a sickening drip-drip sound. Just before hitting the ground, the droplets exploded into searing red dust, hot like crematory ashes, clinging to her skin and sizzling against her flesh, carrying the overpowering stench of decaying blood and dried organs. A low, guttural shriek echoed from all directions, so haunting it deafened her ears and made her head spin as if it might fracture.
“It’s not real… just an illusion…” she muttered, her voice trembling and frail, but the hallucinations grew more vivid, more grotesque than ever, tearing at her vision like claws.
Yet, as she struggled against these visions, Vita failed to notice that amid the chaos, a dry branch from above—part of reality, not the illusion—snapped with a chilling crack. It plummeted like a lethal blade, hurtling straight toward her head with deadly speed. Lost in the nightmarish world overwhelming her sanity, she was too disoriented to react, defenseless against the impending strike.
It felt as if everything was about to end in an instant, but just then, a figure rushed forward like a gust from the depths of hell.
Seele appeared before her, her movements fluid and decisive, like a predatory phantom. Her pale, icy hand swept upward, meeting the falling branch with an unseen, otherworldly force.
A thin, pitch-black mist surged from Seele’s hand, coiling around the branch like tendrils of a corpse’s shroud. In an instant, it was wrenched off course with a sharp, piercing hiss, crashing to the ground several meters from Vita. It pierced the moss with a dull, gruesome thud, like the sound of breaking bone.
Vita stood paralyzed, her breaths coming in ragged gasps as if they might stop altogether. Her hand pressed against her chest, where her heart raced in sync with the terrifying rhythm of her hallucinations. She glanced up, her fear-clouded magenta eyes locking onto Seele, who remained still like a statue of death—save for the fierce blue glow of her eyes piercing through the darkness.
Seele’s form remained untouched by the nightmare—pristine in her white dress that fluttered softly along her hair flowing like living shadows. And she radiated an otherworldly, chilling beauty, unblemished by the grotesque scene around her.
And then, as if touched by a miracle, the grotesque world began to unravel before her eyes.
The scene shifted in an eerie metamorphosis, like a rotting painting redrawn from ashes. The slick, crimson trees shrank back as if their tumors were being drained, their pulsating organ-like cores dissolving with a ghastly hiss, replaced by dry, gray-purple bark that stood still like silent corpses.
The thick black ooze hardened, flaking off like the scales of a dead fish, transforming into ordinary sap as the nauseating stench faded, giving way to the faint earthy scent of the forest.
The thin layer of skin beneath Vita’s feet twitched one last time, the murky yellow liquid retreating into the ground as if consumed by an unseen force. In its place, gray-purple moss reemerged, shimmering under the moonlight as if covered in a delicate, slimy sheen. The milky, pupil-less eye blinked once more, releasing a cloudy droplet akin to a corpse's tear, before dissolving into a clear puddle that seeped into the moss, leaving no evidence behind.
The blood-red sky trembled violently, its jagged fissures sealing shut with a grating screech, like flesh being crudely stitched. The crimson liquid was sucked upward, vanishing into the void as if blood were being drawn from a body, revealing a pitch-black night sky pierced by the pale, cold glow of the moon.
The slimy, hovering masses of flesh turned to black smoke, their red tendrils wriggling one last time like worms incinerated alive, before dissipating into dry branches that swayed in the wind like the arms of a cadaver.
The pounding of the “heart” ceased with a chilling sigh, the shrieking wind subsided, leaving only the rustle of breeze through the branches—like the whispers of souls finally at rest. The grotesque horrors melted away, as though a nightmare had been banished by the abyss, leaving Vita standing there, witnessing the transition from madness back to a frigid reality.
And the one who had once again pulled her from the brink of death stood a few steps away, her deep blue eyes unwavering. Her white dress fluttered in the wind, the dark mist from her hand dissipating, leaving behind a chill that brushed Vita’s skin like the fleeting breath of death.
Vita stood in silence, unable to speak, her gaze fixed on Seele with a whirlwind of emotions swirling within. Then, unconsciously, instead of offering her usual thanks, the first words she managed to rasp out in a weak, hoarse voice were the name of the one who bore that blue hue—before her consciousness faded once more.
“Seele…”
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Vita didn’t know what was happening. All she knew was that when her eyes opened again, she found herself standing in a space drenched in darkness—not a pure black, but a deep crimson. The sky above was torn into massive fissures, oozing a thick, blood-like liquid that dripped in congealed clumps.
Beneath her feet, the ground was no longer moss or soil but a living, slimy layer of flesh, pulsing rhythmically as if it were the breath of some colossal creature. From this flesh emerged grotesque, shapeless masses—sometimes swelling into throbbing organs, other times shrinking into sharp, jagged outlines as if carved from shadow.
And they were everywhere, surrounding her, moving slowly and emitting a sickening rasp, like the sound of a blade slicing through raw meat, inching closer to her with deliberate menace.
Faced with this, Vita felt cold sweat trickle down her spine, her heart pounding so fiercely it threatened to burst through her ribcage. Instinctively, she glanced around, searching for anything to defend herself with. Then, bending down, her trembling hands grasped a sharp object—a fractured shard of bone protruding from the ground, icy and slick in her grip.
Without time to think, she swung the bone shard at the nearest mass of flesh as it lunged toward her. It pierced the soft, yielding tissue, tearing through with a wet, gruesome squelch. A thick red liquid sprayed out, splattering her hands—scorching like acid yet frigid as ice. She clenched her teeth, gripping her makeshift weapon tighter, her magenta eyes blazing with a mix of resolve and terror.
But they were too many, too powerful. Another mass surged from behind, its tendrils wrapping around her wrist like living ropes, squeezing so tightly she could hear her bones creak under the pressure.
Vita thrashed, her free hand slamming into the slimy flesh, but her punch only made it quiver like gelatin before rebounding with greater force, knocking her backward onto the slick, nauseating surface below.
An organ-like mass suddenly appeared before her—a crimson lung inflating and deflating as if breathing, expelling a rancid, pungent mist that stung her eyes and choked her throat. She writhed, nails clawing frantically at the flesh, but the more she struggled, the closer they pressed in. Red tendrils tightened around her limbs, dragging her down as if intent on swallowing her whole into this wretched nightmare.
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At that very moment, a low, ferocious sound reverberated from the void above, threading through Vita’s ears with a sensation both familiar and hauntingly unforgettable. The sound shook the entire space, causing the fleshy masses to convulse violently before disintegrating into pools of deep red liquid that spread across the ground.
Vita jolted, her magenta eyes widening as her ragged breaths escaped in faint white wisps into the frigid air.
And then she woke up.
Reality slowly came into view—not the gruesome nightmare of blood and flesh, but the familiar chilling forest. This time, however, she wasn’t lying on damp moss or leaning against a bare tree. Instead, she felt a steady pair of arms wrapped around her—gentle yet strong, like an invisible barrier shielding her from the encroaching darkness. Those arms were cold, yet they radiated a peculiar warmth that seeped through her tattered coat, calming the uncontrollable shivers that wracked her body.
Seele was right there beside her. Her slender form pressed against Vita, pale arms encircling her shoulders and waist, pulling her into a deliberate embrace filled with tenderness.
Seele’s slender fingers rested on Vita’s shoulder, icy yet soft, gliding lightly over her chafed skin as if to ease the lingering pain from old wounds.
Her hair shimmered in the breeze, its silken strands brushing against Vita’s cheek and neck, cool and carrying the faint, deep scent of the ocean—like an unintentional yet intimate caress.
Vita trembled, her hands instinctively clinging to Seele, her fingers gripping the hem of her white dress as if letting go would plunge her back into the horrors she’d just escaped. Her palms pressed against Seele’s back, feeling the fragility of her frame through the thin fabric, yet also an inexplicable steadiness, as if Seele were an anchor keeping her from drifting away.
Lowering her head, Vita rested her cheek on Seele’s shoulder, her warm breath contrasting sharply with Seele’s cool skin, quickening her pulse. She didn’t want to let go—couldn’t let go—of this feeling of safety, no matter where Seele came from or what she truly was.
But as Vita hesitantly raised her gaze, her weary, clouded magenta eyes meeting Seele’s deep blue ones, a new emotion surged within her—not just solace, but a dull ache, a sense of helplessness that weighed heavily on her broken heart. Silently, she tightened her embrace around Seele, wishing to merge with that cold body to escape the invisible scars on her soul.
And then, tears began to flow. Not loud cries, but quiet tears that streamed down her face, landing hotly on Seele’s pale skin, soaking through the thin dress and leaving rare warm trails on her icy form.
Vita’s shoulders trembled, and choked breaths escaped her tightly pressed lips as she struggled to contain the wave of emotions but found it impossible to hold them back.
In that moment, a cold hand brushed against Vita’s tears—not to wipe them away, but to gently trace their path, as if sensing something. Yet when Seele lifted her hand to examine it, her blue eyes widened slightly in quiet confusion, finding nothing there.
Seele’s innocent gesture didn’t escape Vita’s notice, her tear-glistened magenta eyes gazing deeply into her. Without thinking, without hesitation, Vita leaned forward, her trembling lips brushing softly against Seele’s. The unexpected kiss wasn’t fierce or demanding—it was delicate, fragile, like a wordless whisper carrying pain and a trace of lingering despair from the nightmare.
Seele’s lips were frigid, tinged with a faint metallic taste mixed with the deep scent of the sea, but Vita didn’t pull back. She lingered there for a few seconds, her warm breath forming small wisps that mingled with the cold mist from Seele, forging a brief yet profound connection between them.
Seele didn’t react immediately. Her deep blue eyes widened slightly, a flicker of something unfamiliar passing through them, but she didn’t push Vita away. Instead, she let the kiss linger, still as a statue.
As Vita drew back, her cheeks glowed a soft pink in the moonlight, her breath quickening, yet her eyes remained locked on Seele, as if she were searching for something hidden in those deep blue depths.
In response to Vita’s action, Seele’s deep blue eyes looked down at her with an indescribable stillness. She said nothing, only gently ran her fingers through Vita’s disheveled gray-brown hair, her icy digits gliding through the strands as if to soothe an unseen pain. Her other hand stayed wrapped around Vita’s waist, palm pressed against her back, imparting a strange warmth—as though silently conveying that she understood, that she was still here.
“Seele…” Vita whispered faintly, her voice mingling with stifled sobs. Tears continued to fall, streaking down her cheeks and dripping onto Seele’s shoulder, a few catching in her hair, glinting like tiny jewels under the moon’s glow.
She hugged Seele tighter, her nails lightly pressing into the fabric of Seele’s white dress—not to inflict pain, but to anchor herself, to confirm that Seele was real and not just another mirage in this endless nightmare.
Then, for the first time, a gentle sound broke Seele’s long-held silence. Her voice was soft, as clear as water flowing over stones, carrying a warm, human tone.
“Sleep,” Seele whispered, the words slipping from her barely parted lips, soft yet distinct, like a cool breeze calming Vita’s chaotic mind. “This time, it’ll be alright.”
Those words acted like a sedative, seeping into Vita’s unraveling consciousness, easing the lingering fear and pain. Her magenta eyes fluttered shut, tears ceasing though her lashes remained wet, shimmering in the moonlight.
Gradually, Vita’s body relaxed in Seele’s embrace, her breathing becoming steadier despite the occasional hitch from her earlier sobbing. Her fingers loosened their grip on the hem of Seele’s dress, resting gently on her back—a gesture of complete trust.
Time seemed to slow as Vita slipped into a deep sleep. Only then did Seele lower her head, her forehead brushing gently against Vita’s. Her pale skin was cold as ice, yet it carried an inexplicable warmth up close.
Seele’s breath—or rather, the thin mist that escaped her lips—ghosted over Vita’s cheek, carrying the deep scent of the ocean, a reminder that she didn’t entirely belong to this world. Her movements were slow, deliberate, almost ritualistic. Her closed lips parted slightly, hovering just above Vita’s as if to return the earlier kiss, but she paused, letting only the gentle mist envelop Vita’s face, shielding her from the forest’s chill.
Meanwhile, a sharp branch lay on the ground not far away, glinting under the moonlight with droplets of red blood still clinging to its surface—not Vita’s, but Seele’s. The crimson was deep, shimmering with an odd metallic sheen, thicker than normal, as if mingled with something not of this world.
This blood was from the wound Seele received while deflecting the branch to shield Vita during her delirium, when Vita had been thrashing in her nightmare, nearly harming herself.
Quietly, Seele observed the blood droplets trickling from the branch, watching as they turned pitch black. A cold glimmer appeared in her blue eyes, and the branch slowly lowered, as if moved by an invisible force, before being absorbed into the moss beneath it.
At the same time, from Seele’s left arm—where the branch had sliced her—crimson liquid continued to drip. The droplets fell, seeping into a small patch of wilted moss beneath her. Beyond that patch, where the blood spread further, it quickly evaporated into a thin wisp of smoke, causing the once-vibrant moss to wither instantly, as though its life had been sapped dry.
Then, a faint trace of confusion flickered across Seele’s expression as she regarded the wound on her arm, but it vanished just as swiftly when she noticed the gash beginning to close, her body regenerating in a way that defied human understanding.
She attempted to raise her arm—the one that was supposed to be hurt—but the movement unexpectedly startled Vita, causing her to flinch and shudder in her sleep at the sudden change.
With a soft blink, Seele quietly repositioned herself, pulling Vita closer into her arms and allowing her head to rest against her shoulder. Perhaps it was this comforting gesture that calmed Vita in her dreams; her breathing became steady, warmly brushing against Seele’s neck, no longer marked by tremors or sudden jolts.
In this dream, just as Seele had assured, there were no grotesque scenes of flesh and blood, no ghastly shrieks—only a vast, tranquil blackness. And somewhere within that void, a soft blue light glimmered, like a beacon guiding Vita safely through the storm.
—————————
Seele remained there, motionless, her deep blue eyes fixed on Vita. But moments later, her gaze shifted forward, toward the horizon where, hundreds of meters away, the sea churned violently, its waves surging as if bracing for an impending storm.
▉ ▉ ▉ ▉ ——back then———▉ ▉ ▉ ▉ ▉ ▉ ——go back——▉ ▉ ▉ ▉ ▉ ▉ ▉ ▉ ▉ ▉ ———return to ▉ ▉ ▉ you truly belong———▉ ▉ ▉ ▉ ▉ ▉———before ▉ ▉ ▉ fades completely———▉ ▉ ▉ ▉ ▉ ▉ ▉ ▉ ▉ ▉ ▉ ▉
Return to where you truly belong, Vita.