I woke up, feeling... pretty good. Today was a special day. I stretched, climbing out of bed. My room had become a little more colourful since I was younger; there were photos on the walls and colourful curtains, turning the sunlight various shades of blue and green. Schoolwork was covering my desk. But I wasn't worried about that today. I opened my bedroom door, and saw my mum smiling at me from downstairs.
Today was my birthday!
"Happy Birthday, A̴̢͉̩̬̘̲̘̖̺̰͓͎̠̫͂̅̄̄̅̔͌͑̎͝l̶̖̬̰͈̹̪͎̖̑͒̈́͌̅̈́̀̇̊̈́̚͘̚͜i̸̢̼͉̞̳̙̳̜͕̾̆͂͐̉́͒͆̊́̍̊͐͊͠c̴̤͈͚̻̥̤̓͒̂̿̍̕͜͝e̵̛̖̓̏̎̌̋̌̌̐̆͆̋̐̇͜͝!" M̴̼̃̓̓͛̊͌͌̔͘ÿ̶̡̩̤̠̬̒̈́̈̑͜ ̶̛͇̱̣̗͚̣̫͉̻̍̊̊͒̉m̴̪̓̇͋̔̏͂͋̆̓̀̀͝͝͠ǫ̵̟̯̦͖̣̻͓̰̭̱̊̓̍͑̈̂̊̑̉̚t̶̨̡̧̡̰͉̰̺̰̜̫͔͖͈̙̆̐́̆͐̓̅̀̊͒̔̈́̔͌h̵͈̖̦̑̒̂ë̷͙͈ŕ̸̛͇̥͉͎̜̻̭̹̗͓͆͗̅̓̀͒̂̎͘͠͝ ̵̮̙͍̩̺̾̀̿̀͌͆̽͒̃̋́͜͠͝ grinned, holding out her arms.
"Thanks, M̷͇̙̀̈́̃͗̓̂̃̐͋̊͊͋̀͘͝õ̵̲̥̼̣͎͇͒m̴̧̢̤͍̰̐ ̴̧̡͚̮̗̯̞͍̳̳̝̒̿̔̀͋͐́̿͐͌́͘ͅ." I said, walking down the stairs to give her a hug.
"Sweet sixteen, huh?" M̷͇̙̀̈́̃͗̓̂̃̐͋̊͊͋̀͘͝õ̵̲̥̼̣͎͇͒m̴̧̢̤͍̰̐ ̴̧̡͚̮̗̯̞͍̳̳̝̒̿̔̀͋͐́̿͐͌́͘ͅ laughed. She sighed, shaking her head. "Only two more years until you're an adult..."
"Heh, yeah..." I said, faintly blushing. "And after all... I can start learning how to drive now."
I shivered. Despite everything I'd been through in P̶̯̮̓̀̑̆̉͒͒̐̇̚ǫ̴̡̛̦̱̙̜̟̠̘͎̟̩͚̲͍̈́̓̌̂̅̍̓̕͝p̵̡̮͎͚͑̓͌͊̓͂͜͜ṱ̸̑̒̅̃͋́͠r̵̯̀͑̈́̄͆͊͑̊ǫ̵̮̯̤̯̗̘̠̠̈́̕͝ͅp̶̡̡͉͇̼̼͓̬̦͕̀̏͆̔̀̃̌͌̕̕̚ͅi̸̢̭̺̫̩̺̺̻̰͕̣͚̰̪͌͑̄̀̂͋̓̔̉͐̐͠c̶̝̦͆a̴̛͈͊̉͌̑́̇͛ ̷̧̤̻̙̺̰͍̯̬͋́, learning to drive in the real world scared me. Especially since... well, I promised myself one thing. I would be a safe driver. And I'd stay calm. I hoped, anyway.
"Yes..." M̷͇̙̀̈́̃͗̓̂̃̐͋̊͊͋̀͘͝õ̵̲̥̼̣͎͇͒m̴̧̢̤͍̰̐ ̴̧̡͚̮̗̯̞͍̳̳̝̒̿̔̀͋͐́̿͐͌́͘ͅ looked nervous. She chuckled. "Well, anyway, it's your birthday! Your friends are coming over, right?"
"Yeah," I smiled. "Ḿ̵̩̪͝a̴̧̗̦̼̍͆̃̎͐͂̐̔̋̈̓͗̄͜r̸̡̹̠̱̣̯̙̲̬̄̌͝ç̷̡̛͈̈̈́̾ų̷̨͚̫̘̯̬̙̙̲̄̆̚s̸̡͕̼̘̦̹͉̫̥̰̝͝͝ͅ ̵͔͌͝a̷͔̐ṇ̶̢̡̨̛͍̫̻͔̜̱͍̫̋͐̈́́̍d̶̖͖̦̺͚̞̺͓̈́͑̋͒͐ ̴̩̰̻̙̏̃͛C̵̱͎̼̻͙͈̞̠̦̽͋̆͗̈́̕h̴̡̬̝̼͇̫̤͖͇͔̝͑͜r̸̢̺͕̭̟͆͛ͅi̵̢͎͖̞̲̯̙̳͉͇̪̦̬̳̻̒̄͐̃s̵̢̧̮̞͍̭̣̱̥̝̯͚͈̲̾̃̄͛͝ş̴̪̬̭͙̂̅͐̀̋̈́͒͌͋̍̿́͘͠i̷̳̎͌̎̉͒͝ ̸̤̖̺͔̀͌̈́̓̈̀̔̍̇͗͊̀͐́̔."
Ironically, only two years ago C̵̱͎̼̻͙͈̞̠̦̽͋̆͗̈́̕h̴̡̬̝̼͇̫̤͖͇͔̝͑͜r̸̢̺͕̭̟͆͛ͅi̵̢͎͖̞̲̯̙̳͉͇̪̦̬̳̻̒̄͐̃s̵̢̧̮̞͍̭̣̱̥̝̯͚͈̲̾̃̄͛͝ş̴̪̬̭͙̂̅͐̀̋̈́͒͌͋̍̿́͘͠i̷̳̎͌̎̉͒͝and I had been enemies. After L̷̠̜̱̰̖̭͇̞͖͔͍̤̆̅́̀͋͠ͅǫ̵̧̯̥̳͕̜̼͇̗̩̪̟̖́̿͊̽͒ư̵̧͙̙͍̠̙̰̹̯̦̳̋͗̈́̾̎̏̓̈̀̕͠͝͠ͅͅi̵̧̧̫͓̗̙̥̮̔̐͒̂̓͑̑͆̈̎͘͜s̷͈̙̖̜̩̦̜͒a̷̛͍̝̫̜̦̣̘̠̒̆͆͛̃ ̴̡̢̛͔͈̦̤͔̭̙̮̩̻̯̠͒͑̐͘ died, however, we managed to turn things around and became pretty good friends. A nerdy kid called Ḿ̵̩̪͝a̴̧̗̦̼̍͆̃̎͐͂̐̔̋̈̓͗̄͜r̸̡̹̠̱̣̯̙̲̬̄̌͝ç̷̡̛͈̈̈́̾ų̷̨͚̫̘̯̬̙̙̲̄̆̚s̸̡͕̼̘̦̹͉̫̥̰̝͝͝ͅ also joined the friendship group, and now we were basically the Golden Trio. Some people might have wanted twenty friends but those two were enough for me. I was happy with it. Quality over quantity, right? And besides, I had plenty more friends in P̶̯̮̓̀̑̆̉͒͒̐̇̚ǫ̴̡̛̦̱̙̜̟̠̘͎̟̩͚̲͍̈́̓̌̂̅̍̓̕͝p̵̡̮͎͚͑̓͌͊̓͂͜͜ṱ̸̑̒̅̃͋́͠r̵̯̀͑̈́̄͆͊͑̊ǫ̵̮̯̤̯̗̘̠̠̈́̕͝ͅp̶̡̡͉͇̼̼͓̬̦͕̀̏͆̔̀̃̌͌̕̕̚ͅi̸̢̭̺̫̩̺̺̻̰͕̣͚̰̪͌͑̄̀̂͋̓̔̉͐̐͠c̶̝̦͆a̴̛͈͊̉͌̑́̇͛ .
P̶̯̮̓̀̑̆̉͒͒̐̇̚ǫ̴̡̛̦̱̙̜̟̠̘͎̟̩͚̲͍̈́̓̌̂̅̍̓̕͝p̵̡̮͎͚͑̓͌͊̓͂͜͜ṱ̸̑̒̅̃͋́͠r̵̯̀͑̈́̄͆͊͑̊ǫ̵̮̯̤̯̗̘̠̠̈́̕͝ͅp̶̡̡͉͇̼̼͓̬̦͕̀̏͆̔̀̃̌͌̕̕̚ͅi̸̢̭̺̫̩̺̺̻̰͕̣͚̰̪͌͑̄̀̂͋̓̔̉͐̐͠c̶̝̦͆a̴̛͈͊̉͌̑́̇͛ ... it had been a long time. I still frequently thought about my friends in there, and the new prophecy. It was scary... but I was ready. I hoped so, anyway. It had been awhile, after all. How was everyone?
Wait a minute…
Poptropica…
Didn't something… happen, there? I'd… had some big adventure, with some new friends. The memory was so distant, I could barely picture it…
"A̴̢͉̩̬̘̲̘̖̺̰͓͎̠̫͂̅̄̄̅̔͌͑̎͝l̶̖̬̰͈̹̪͎̖̑͒̈́͌̅̈́̀̇̊̈́̚͘̚͜i̸̢̼͉̞̳̙̳̜͕̾̆͂͐̉́͒͆̊́̍̊͐͊͠c̴̤͈͚̻̥̤̓͒̂̿̍̕͜͝e̵̛̖̓̏̎̌̋̌̌̐̆͆̋̐̇͜͝, ̵̢̧̨̨̻̭̮̫̱̘̖̙͙͍̝̎̚͝i̶̡̟͓͓̹͇̎̀̾s̶̬̞̎̊̏́̋̄̅͗͜͝ ̵̢̧̨̨̻̭̮̫̱̘̖̙͙͍̝̎̚͝t̷̘͖̤͔͇͊̎̅̉͐̏̚͘͝h̸̢͈̳̹͙͇̻̬̟̯̀̾̍͑̀̀̎͗̅̈́̚͜͝ḙ̸̼͕͍̥͓̊̑̀r̵̨̨̦̹̦̟̩̳̜̱͒͛̄͋̿̀͛͌̎͝ͅe̷̛̮̥̼̰̤̱̦̔̎ͅ ̴̡͕̖͍͙̳̥̯͓̇̿ş̴͉̥͎̉͋͊̍̚o̸̢̦̭͕͈͖̣̹͍̰̖̣͈͔͗̈͜m̸̺͕̓́ͅẻ̴̜̙͋̀́͛̿͝͝t̸̨͇̩̗͉̜̙̤̖͖͔͋̓̇́̋͝h̷̯͙͑̒̚͝i̵̡̛͇̬̝͙̰̼̙̹̭͒̉̐ṉ̵̛̖̓̌̄͗ḡ̵̨̡̼̳͈̯̄̒͝ ̶̛̪̯̖͈̯̜͍̬̔̔̏̒̊̀̈́̓̀͜͝w̷̩͚͇͕̘͈̜͖̥͍̙̎̈́̓̓̋̋͝͠ͅͅŗ̵̢̨̛̰̞͔̹̬̼̯̖̝͌̾̓̽̈́̓͐́̌͘͠͝ơ̶̬͈̭̻̟̟͛͆͑͛̏͊n̸̛̹̂̐̈́̈́̈́̀̈́͗̑̔͌͝͝ģ̴̛͇͎̺͖̘̤͙͕͔̏̇̀͂̽̐͝ͅ?̵̯̯͆̏̌͑̎̾̈́̏͐ ̸̨̨̛̛̺͍͔̦̻̹̜̖̟͗͛͌̈́̚͜" M̷͇̙̀̈́̃͗̓̂̃̐͋̊͊͋̀͘͝õ̵̲̥̼̣͎͇͒m̴̧̢̤͍̰̐ asked me.
I grabbed the sides of my head. It was pounding. Her voice sounded so… off.
"̷̯̳̭̿̏̈́͊̉̋̚Ǎ̸̡̰̦̼̱̜̺͝l̷͖̠̽̑̿̆͊̈́̀̒̽͌̎̀͌͘̕͜i̵̞̪̞̤̯̭̠̙̖̟͒̾͑̏̈́̃̉̃ç̴̘̳̳͚̟̟̳̥̺̰̗̥̜̝͆́͗͋͝ȩ̸͓̹̫͉̟̭̺͍̣̤̦̄̑̃̈́́͗̎̆̍̌͛͋̔̚,̷̧̡̱͈̥̹̘̜̥̠̱̝̳̮̋̍͋ͅ ̷͉̙̥̾̇̐̓̽̎̿͋͒͠y̴͎̦̓͂̇͑̎̀̾͋̑̐͘͝o̸͕̹̮͙̎̃̈́̍̆̍͛̕͘͠u̷̗̻͍̘̗̦̠̔̿̆̈́̈́͆̆̀̈͌͝͝ ̶̧̫̲͇̖͖͔̩͍͛̈́͛̒͋͒̓̓̈͋̿̚͜ͅͅk̶̖̙̾̋̔̽̾̍͋̋̑͘͝ñ̶̛̹̘̪͖̽͐̏̈́͒͋͊̕ò̷̧̭͖̪͙̲̟̓͒͛͂̀̌̄̉̀́͛̈́͜͝ẇ̸͍̱̩̱̜̌͊͂͑̀͌͊ ̸̛̞̫̤̭̯̹̟̝̍̓̈́̄͑̕͠͠Í̷̻͑͒'̸̻̥̅̄ṁ̷̢̨̻̦̥̻͕̹̘͎͔̭̠̹̑̊͑́̄̎͑̽̐̋ͅ ̶͍̳̭̹͇̭̤̙̟̺̩͙͂̈́̑̈́̎̊̚h̴̨̨̛̛͓̭͔̤͍̪͉̳̰̱̏̀̐̾͗̓͌̀̂͐̅͌̅͜ę̸̖͔̪͍̠̞̗͙͕͗̊̍̀r̷͚̪̓͋͑̓͜e̵̳̟̱͚̫̝͍͑̍͑́̋̎ ̵̨̦͇̤͚̣̳̺̫̻̔i̶̘̙̙͓̜͎̲̓̾̂̌̒̀̈́͗̃́͘͝f̵̫̲̳͈̦͍͖̝̻͕̘̰̗̜͆̓̃̎͂́͌̓̽͐̊̄ ̷̘̝̐̽͒̂̍̑̂̉̎͠y̴̞̳̠̼̅͆͝ǫ̵̘͕͔̱̘͖͓̺̥̌́̏̊̇̆͝͝ǘ̵̪͇̖͚͊̈̅̈́͋̂͒̾̚ ̸̟̼͍̦͒ṋ̷͇͓̘̞͛̂̽̔͆̉̿̍̊͆͠ĕ̷̛͙̩̼͎̒̀͐̇̋͊́̊̓ę̶̛̹̰̦̬̙͖̟̫̔́̏̍̇̀̆̍́͌̕̚͜͝d̴̨͕̮͆̎͆͑͐͌̆͗̀̊͜͝ͅͅ ̵̡̡̛̼̥͑͛̏͝t̵̙̪̪͔͆̂͋̓̈́̈́̄̄̒̈̓͑̐̓̚ö̸̡̟̳̬̦̜͓̬̜͉́̀͋͑͂̎̉͂͒̒ ̴̢̪̝̘͔͈͐̋͐̏̽́̇́̈́̐t̵̢̛̬̞̙͕̯̀̀͗̓̽͊̾̌͛̑̚̕͠à̸̖̘̼̱͓ḽ̷̨͕̞̤̣̣̯͔̠͛͋ḱ̷̡̙̬̻̂͒̾̏̐̒̾.̷͉͓͉̻̺͐͌͐͛͊͐̕̕"̵̡̨̭̲̭̳͉̭̳̞̣̥͌̀̍̈͋̾͒ͅ ̷̢̧̫͉̖͕͍̭͓̮̪͙̟̰͐̇̓̍̚͜ she asked.
"No," I said, turning away. "No, this is… this is all wrong."
Before Mom could ask anything else, I bolted outside, my head pounding. I ran down the street, no destination in mind. I didn't even know what I was doing. I just kept running, everything going past me in a blur. I thought I heard someone calling my name, but I ignored it.
Then I was on the road. There was something coming towards me.
"ALICE!" a voice screamed.
A car hit me, and I blacked out.
I stood up and looked around at this new world. The sky is a brilliant blue and little puffy clouds are here and there. I was standing on a stone bridge, which was connected with metal rods and hanging high above the ocean. On my right there's a small, dirty, light ocean coloured plane, that looks like it has been taken from the 1900s. It also has a bit of wear and tear, with little scratches on its surface. A girl was standing near it. I gasped; I recognized her. She was A̴̜͔̪͉̱̪̼͕̣̟̤͈̽̚͝m̸̢̠̖̘̟̭͙̭͇͌̑̔̉̌͒̿͝ë̶̛̛̦͓̬̺͍̬͈̘͓́͆̆̇̂͑̉̒͐̌̚̕̚ͅl̸̨̠͈͎̘͔̱̞̲͚̯͉̭͖̈̎̌̽̓ͅį̶̦̰̟͍͚̜͉̲͛͛͗̌̑̀͐̒͐͠ả̵̱͔̟̖̯̠̟͇̟͗͛͗́̐̈́͝. A̴̜͔̪͉̱̪̼͕̣̟̤͈̽̚͝m̸̢̠̖̘̟̭͙̭͇͌̑̔̉̌͒̿͝ë̶̛̛̦͓̬̺͍̬͈̘͓́͆̆̇̂͑̉̒͐̌̚̕̚ͅl̸̨̠͈͎̘͔̱̞̲͚̯͉̭͖̈̎̌̽̓ͅį̶̦̰̟͍͚̜͉̲͛͛͗̌̑̀͐̒͐͠ả̵̱͔̟̖̯̠̟͇̟͗͛͗́̐̈́͝ from Ṕ̵̧̟̝͇̗͇̮̥̬̳ô̴̡̧̖͇̘̪͚̫͖͍͎̜̂̄̾͒̏̅́̓͝͝p̴͔̉̓͘ẗ̴̢̙̳̬͉̣͕̤͉̣͖͉̘̣́͒̈͐̉̾̇́̊̿̚r̸̭̮̯̝͈͕͇̪͕̖͋̈́͘͘̚o̴͔̙͔̓̃͆̿̓͒̆̈́̐̂͗̇͆͘͝ͅp̵̨̩̯͈͈͊̆̇̅̍̔͂̈́̑͐i̵̝̜̲͆̾͗̓̔͘c̴̠̰̠̟̖͍̫̯̜͇̅͒͗̿̓͑̍͊͒̾̇̾́͊̕ā̴̜͖͛̅̾̀̈́̈́͊̐͊͗̔͝͠. But not only that. I was actually in Ṕ̵̧̟̝͇̗͇̮̥̬̳ô̴̡̧̖͇̘̪͚̫͖͍͎̜̂̄̾͒̏̅́̓͝͝p̴͔̉̓͘ẗ̴̢̙̳̬͉̣͕̤͉̣͖͉̘̣́͒̈͐̉̾̇́̊̿̚r̸̭̮̯̝͈͕͇̪͕̖͋̈́͘͘̚o̴͔̙͔̓̃͆̿̓͒̆̈́̐̂͗̇͆͘͝ͅp̵̨̩̯͈͈͊̆̇̅̍̔͂̈́̑͐i̵̝̜̲͆̾͗̓̔͘c̴̠̰̠̟̖͍̫̯̜͇̅͒͗̿̓͑̍͊͒̾̇̾́͊̕ā̴̜͖͛̅̾̀̈́̈́͊̐͊͗̔͝͠.
I breathed out very quickly and stumbled back, my head spinning. How on Earth can I be in Ṕ̵̧̟̝͇̗͇̮̥̬̳ô̴̡̧̖͇̘̪͚̫͖͍͎̜̂̄̾͒̏̅́̓͝͝p̴͔̉̓͘ẗ̴̢̙̳̬͉̣͕̤͉̣͖͉̘̣́͒̈͐̉̾̇́̊̿̚r̸̭̮̯̝͈͕͇̪͕̖͋̈́͘͘̚o̴͔̙͔̓̃͆̿̓͒̆̈́̐̂͗̇͆͘͝ͅp̵̨̩̯͈͈͊̆̇̅̍̔͂̈́̑͐i̵̝̜̲͆̾͗̓̔͘c̴̠̰̠̟̖͍̫̯̜͇̅͒͗̿̓͑̍͊͒̾̇̾́͊̕ā̴̜͖͛̅̾̀̈́̈́͊̐͊͗̔͝͠? I was there, on my computer, about to sign in... Then there was a flash... What happened? I clutched my forehead with my thumb-less hand. I squealed and looked at my body, my nausea kicking into high gear. I was about to fall over again, when an arm grabbed me. A̴̜͔̪͉̱̪̼͕̣̟̤͈̽̚͝m̸̢̠̖̘̟̭͙̭͇͌̑̔̉̌͒̿͝ë̶̛̛̦͓̬̺͍̬͈̘͓́͆̆̇̂͑̉̒͐̌̚̕̚ͅl̸̨̠͈͎̘͔̱̞̲͚̯͉̭͖̈̎̌̽̓ͅį̶̦̰̟͍͚̜͉̲͛͛͗̌̑̀͐̒͐͠ả̵̱͔̟̖̯̠̟͇̟͗͛͗́̐̈́͝ smiled at me. She wears a leather cap with a yellow eagle print; flight goggles on her neck; a brown zip-up jacket and leather pants.
"You alright?" she asked, helping me stand still. My nausea started to clear- although I had to blink a few times to get myself back into the now. I nodded, miming as words couldn't even come to my lips.
"What's your name, sweet pea?" she asked with kindness. I sighed.
"̴̧̼̥̝̬͂̈́́̕͘ͅȦ̸̛͉̭̼̞̖̎̓̌͊͌̂̆ĺ̶̨̲̫̲̺̥͇̖̯î̷̢̙̗̯̪̖̈́̂̃̽͝c̸̛̲̩̬̳̓̏̈̒̃̏̆̐̓̍̎͗è̷̛̛͖̹͖̩̘̝̘̺̭͖͇̫̤̐̏̃̍̌̍̊̒̇̚̕͘... My name's ̴̧̼̥̝̬͂̈́́̕͘ͅȦ̸̛͉̭̼̞̖̎̓̌͊͌̂̆ĺ̶̨̲̫̲̺̥͇̖̯î̷̢̙̗̯̪̖̈́̂̃̽͝c̸̛̲̩̬̳̓̏̈̒̃̏̆̐̓̍̎͗è̷̛̛͖̹͖̩̘̝̘̺̭͖͇̫̤̐̏̃̍̌̍̊̒̇̚̕͘..." I answered quietly, putting my hands by my side. I hoped for dear God that she heard me; I could be very quiet. She smiled.
"Nice to meet you, ̴̧̼̥̝̬͂̈́́̕͘ͅȦ̸̛͉̭̼̞̖̎̓̌͊͌̂̆ĺ̶̨̲̫̲̺̥͇̖̯î̷̢̙̗̯̪̖̈́̂̃̽͝c̸̛̲̩̬̳̓̏̈̒̃̏̆̐̓̍̎͗è̷̛̛͖̹͖̩̘̝̘̺̭͖͇̫̤̐̏̃̍̌̍̊̒̇̚̕͘! My name's-"
"A̴̜͔̪͉̱̪̼͕̣̟̤͈̽̚͝m̸̢̠̖̘̟̭͙̭͇͌̑̔̉̌͒̿͝ë̶̛̛̦͓̬̺͍̬͈̘͓́͆̆̇̂͑̉̒͐̌̚̕̚ͅl̸̨̠͈͎̘͔̱̞̲͚̯͉̭͖̈̎̌̽̓ͅį̶̦̰̟͍͚̜͉̲͛͛͗̌̑̀͐̒͐͠ả̵̱͔̟̖̯̠̟͇̟͗͛͗́̐̈́͝ ?" I interrupted, the words leaving before I could stop them. I clasped a hand over my mouth, mentally slapping myself.
"Yeah... that's right... How did you know?" A̴̜͔̪͉̱̪̼͕̣̟̤͈̽̚͝m̸̢̠̖̘̟̭͙̭͇͌̑̔̉̌͒̿͝ë̶̛̛̦͓̬̺͍̬͈̘͓́͆̆̇̂͑̉̒͐̌̚̕̚ͅl̸̨̠͈͎̘͔̱̞̲͚̯͉̭͖̈̎̌̽̓ͅį̶̦̰̟͍͚̜͉̲͛͛͗̌̑̀͐̒͐͠ả̵̱͔̟̖̯̠̟͇̟͗͛͗́̐̈́͝ asked, staring at me suspiciously.
"Because…" I felt odd again. A rush of deja vu hit me. "I know you."
"Huh?"
"I've met you before." I said. "I've been here before."
A̴̜͔̪͉̱̪̼͕̣̟̤͈̽̚͝m̸̢̠̖̘̟̭͙̭͇͌̑̔̉̌͒̿͝ë̶̛̛̦͓̬̺͍̬͈̘͓́͆̆̇̂͑̉̒͐̌̚̕̚ͅl̸̨̠͈͎̘͔̱̞̲͚̯͉̭͖̈̎̌̽̓ͅį̶̦̰̟͍͚̜͉̲͛͛͗̌̑̀͐̒͐͠ả̵̱͔̟̖̯̠̟͇̟͗͛͗́̐̈́͝ looked confused. "I… I don't think we have, Alice."
"No," I panted, and crawled back. "I don't understand… what's going on?"
"̴̧̼̥̝̬͂̈́́̕͘ͅÁ̵̭̈́̓̆̋́l̷̢̛̠͖̘͕̊̍͐̽͒͊̂̍ȋ̷̧̨̛̳̗͚̰̓͒̐͂̋̈́͘͠͝͝c̷̨̛̘̳̥̹̏̆͐̄͐͑͛̽͛̈́͝ę̸̧̨͈̄͆͛̄͆̊,̷̛̭̣̺̫̾̈͊́̓̿̾̽̆̉́̚ ̶͓͚̞͛͐̅͘ã̶̛̝͑̂͊̎̃̀͘̚ȓ̴͙̹̳͛̀͛̓̀͐̊̚͝͝ě̴̖͉̗͕̼͉̤̹̤͕̥͚̉̐̌̏̓͋͛̀͝ͅ ̷̡̭̺̦̾͐̄̔̒͑̈́̇̕̚͘̕͠͝y̶͓͈̞͍̼̫̪͆͒̀̄͌́͋̀͘͘͝ǒ̴̬̦̆̒̈́̃͂̍̓̀̓̚û̵̞͔͕̪̙̰̤̈́̀̐̿̇͑̊̈́͂̑̏͘͠ ̵̡̧̧̬̖̗̬̬̜̓̿͂͊̍̋̒͌́̄̾͝͠͠o̸̢͕̩̜̻̙̬̠͖̳͂́k̴̤̒̂̽̂͑͆̂ą̵̨̱͚̤͔̲̦͉̪̯͍͈̭͇͒́̾̈́͌̀y̶̧̪͓̪̖̭͎͔̤͕̟̹̟͐͊̍̒͋́̈́ͅ?̷̯̩͓̺̰͖͈̲̪̲͇͓̍̂͋͝" A̴̜͔̪͉̱̪̼͕̣̟̤͈̽̚͝m̸̢̠̖̘̟̭͙̭͇͌̑̔̉̌͒̿͝ë̶̛̛̦͓̬̺͍̬͈̘͓́͆̆̇̂͑̉̒͐̌̚̕̚ͅl̸̨̠͈͎̘͔̱̞̲͚̯͉̭͖̈̎̌̽̓ͅį̶̦̰̟͍͚̜͉̲͛͛͗̌̑̀͐̒͐͠ả̵̱͔̟̖̯̠̟͇̟͗͛͗́̐̈́͝ asked, holding out a hand.
I screamed, crawling further back. I slipped off the edge of the island, and fell. I screamed as the falling never seemed to end.
H̶͕̭̙̑̒o̸̢̪̼͍̯͖̪̪͖̺͉̰̿͛̒̄͌̓͂̓͜͝͝ṃ̴̛̣̹͇͕̹̪̤̋̑̐͌̃̓̿͒̌͐̚̚͝e̵̘̳͈̅̽̚ ̴̧̮͈̱̖̙͑̊̈́͌̐̃̓̈́̇̅̍̽̌ͅv̵̡̛̦̻̲͕̩̫̠̥̋̌͌̆̔̀̔͑̊̂̓̇͐͠ͅs̸̛̛̖̗̘̔́̀͛̽̋̽ ̷̬͕̘̓͂͊̈́͗̽̑̅̏P̴͈̗̄̌̈͊͋̾͌̆͑̒̈o̵̦̤̺͔͔̺̘̜̦̫̐̾̃͋̆̂͘p̵͇̭̂̏͊̄̋̃͛̈́͆͆͘ṱ̴̩͂̀̈́r̶̡̼̳͎͉͎̠̲̪̗̳̞̖̍̂ͅo̷̥͎͍͚̱̤̰͖̬̲̘̻̭̞̘̔͒̑p̵̢̨̨̢̛̥̫̗̻͚̣̜̝̮̑̃͋͐̊̀̍͋̑̑͘͠͠ͅĩ̴͓̞͍͕̻͇͔͔̙̺͓̠̓̉̌̽̃̊̆͐̍̎̄̀͜ć̴̨͓̝̜̱̮͚̮̹͈̦̗̲̺̝̃͒̓̿̓̒̈̒͠a̸͖̣̗̩̫͊̏͋͛̾̈͜͝. The choice seemed so easy... so obvious. I reached out to my living room.
"Alice, don't you dare!" F̵̡̡̡͈̻̯̞̦̲̘͑͋̔̃̔̃͜͝ͅi̷̮̦̠̺͕͓̇̅͑̇̈̄̀̋͘e̵̟͔͍͕̹̜͕̜̼̣͚͇̔̀̈̍̅̓̄͜͝r̵̨̨͚͈̝̜̲̤͕̠̝̝͓̄̒̒c̵̡͚̳̠̫̞̖̲͑ể̸̛͔̘̮̎̽͆̄͛̀̾̕̚͘̚͝ ̴̡̣̥͎̻̅̀̉͒F̵̨̲̼̟̜͇͚̙̼͖̓͑̐̑̀͋͋̂͛͆̓̄̾͠o̷̧̯̿́̀x̶̛̛͚̟͈̘̩͇̯̪̯͓̬̬̉̾͋͗͒͘ ̸̮̠̟̩͕̖̜͓̲̑̂̋ warned, looking old like her future self.
"I can't, F̵̡̡̡͈̻̯̞̦̲̘͑͋̔̃̔̃͜͝ͅi̷̮̦̠̺͕͓̇̅͑̇̈̄̀̋͘e̵̟͔͍͕̹̜͕̜̼̣͚͇̔̀̈̍̅̓̄͜͝r̵̨̨͚͈̝̜̲̤͕̠̝̝͓̄̒̒c̵̡͚̳̠̫̞̖̲͑ể̸̛͔̘̮̎̽͆̄͛̀̾̕̚͘̚͝ ̴̡̣̥͎̻̅̀̉͒F̵̨̲̼̟̜͇͚̙̼͖̓͑̐̑̀͋͋̂͛͆̓̄̾͠o̷̧̯̿́̀x̶̛̛͚̟͈̘̩͇̯̪̯͓̬̬̉̾͋͗͒͘ ̸̮̠̟̩͕̖̜͓̲̑̂̋." I said quietly. "It's the end." My parents were smiling at me from the living room. So inviting, so safe...
"You can take them on!" F̵̡̡̡͈̻̯̞̦̲̘͑͋̔̃̔̃͜͝ͅi̷̮̦̠̺͕͓̇̅͑̇̈̄̀̋͘e̵̟͔͍͕̹̜͕̜̼̣͚͇̔̀̈̍̅̓̄͜͝r̵̨̨͚͈̝̜̲̤͕̠̝̝͓̄̒̒c̵̡͚̳̠̫̞̖̲͑ể̸̛͔̘̮̎̽͆̄͛̀̾̕̚͘̚͝ ̴̡̣̥͎̻̅̀̉͒F̵̨̲̼̟̜͇͚̙̼͖̓͑̐̑̀͋͋̂͛͆̓̄̾͠o̷̧̯̿́̀x̶̛̛͚̟͈̘̩͇̯̪̯͓̬̬̉̾͋͗͒͘ ̸̮̠̟̩͕̖̜͓̲̑̂̋ encouraged. She eyed the godly weapons laying on the floor, shining brilliantly. "You can destroy them!"
"I can't," I insisted. "Godly power won't be able to stop them."
"No," Ŝ̸̩͐̾͋̂̑̀͌̈́̍̕͝p̵̨̺̟̜͇̰͚̟̗̱͒̊̌̃̾̾͠r̵̤̙̱̺͍͕͖̲̪̠͕̣̻̐̽̏̐̌͊͐͜͜͠͠ơ̶̢̗͙̼̠̏̇̐̆͒͜͠͝c̸̛̛̛̛͎͙͉̝͇̗̘͔̾͌͆̽̀̾̏̏̏͝͠k̶͔̬͚̟̣̭͌̎̀̔̍́͒́͛̚͝ë̷̳͓̣́̐̉͌̄̐͌̏̋͘t̷̢͙̭̗̺̺̭͕̜̂́̌̂͗̓̾̄̿̆̚͘͠͠ ̸̘̱̘̲͑̽͌̍͜ was now awake. "But what about human and... godly power? I heard humans have lots of power here..."
"I don't know..." I said, feeling weak inside. Bursts of hope within me were like firecrackers, trying to explode. But my brain wasn't giving them any ignition.
"̵̩̮̖̦͎̏́̑̽T̵̛̖̭̭̤͉̰̘̣͈͕̲̝̩̔̎̅̈́̂̐͒̆̀̀̓̓͝͝h̵̢̛̺͙͙̹̊̈́̊̂̽͌̒̃͋͝e̷̡̢͍̣̻̗̫̟͙̮̹̼͉̅̆̄̽̑͌̔̆̕͝ͅ ̴̤̱͔̞͌̌̎́̓̉̈́̕p̸̨̢͕̝̗̺̫͇͓̲̝̖̝͆͜o̵̡̡̩̝̘̺̻͎̣̺̭̳̅͂͛̓̈́́̀͆̄̈́͌͝w̴̨̞̳͔͎̳̜̭͙͒̾̕ę̷͚͚̠͓̮̫̠̗̟͌̃͂̈́̈́̈́̔̃̈́͝͝ŕ̷̢̛̘̳̲̻̻̯̼̯̬͈͓̫͓̏̉͊ ̶̛̲͓̰͓͓͇̐̄̂̎̄̈́̈́̅̚̕̚͜͝͝w̷̡͙̮̅̃̉̽̓̊̔̊̄͌̈́̚i̸̛͇̮͕̬̞̟̹͇̟̱̻̠̙̰̬l̸̝̈́͒́̒͒̿͑̍l̶̡̥̫̙͙̼̀̅͒́̔̃͐ͅ ̵͕͎̹̮̬̦̬̳͔̺̙̗̺̒͛͂̒͒̿ͅͅb̴̫͙͙̥̖͎͛̈́̉̽́̆͒̚̕̕͠͝͠e̷̡̯̭̺̻̖̠͇͎͐͊͊͊̔̈͐́̋́̋̑̽͐͝ ̵̢̝̯́ư̸̡͚̘̥̯͉͕͖̬͓͆̄̂̔̈́́͂̊̆͌͑̚͝n̷̨͓̠͉̠̲̩̙̉̉̂͝͝ͅl̵̨̧̡̢͉̞̠̙̖̫̙̭̎̋͐́̄͛̎͠͝e̵̖͓͕̥̰̦̙̒͛̈́̂̎̅̎̅̔͗ͅä̵̛̖́͌s̷̨͍̦͈̗͂͘h̸̡̫̼͚̖̙̭̳̬͔̟̫̤͚̾̈́ͅe̷͕̣̤̓̄̑̄͜d̷͕͕́̾͋͒͌͆̚͝!̷̱͌͛͊̇͂͆͗̂͘̕"̶̗͚͙͈̞̫̪̿͐̊̏̌̄̈̿͐̐̐̓͛̚ ̵̻͔͉̼͈̬͖̝͖͇̏͂̓̐̒̈̽͋ͅL̷̢̡̛͈̙̰̳̮̰͙̤̠̐̽̋͂̑̐̓̓̔̿͒͘̚͜ơ̶̘͕̮͓̬̤̯͚̥̠̌̍͘ṳ̶͋̒̈̅̍̎͐̾͐̕͠i̷̮̼͍̰̻̊̏̎͊̓̊͐̔͛̈́̈́͂̋͌s̸͍̃̐̀͆̀͗͋͌͊̃̋̕͠a̸̧̼͓͚̯͇̰͙̣̱̍̈́̉̈́̐̇ ̸̨͈͕̹͕͉͔͛͂̏̾̓́͗̅̒͘͜͜͝͠ bellowed. She raised the totems; they glowed with white energy. Suddenly, they started taking energy from ̵̻͔͉̼͈̬͖̝͖͇̏͂̓̐̒̈̽͋ͅL̷̢̡̛͈̙̰̳̮̰͙̤̠̐̽̋͂̑̐̓̓̔̿͒͘̚͜ơ̶̘͕̮͓̬̤̯͚̥̠̌̍͘ṳ̶͋̒̈̅̍̎͐̾͐̕͠i̷̮̼͍̰̻̊̏̎͊̓̊͐̔͛̈́̈́͂̋͌s̸͍̃̐̀͆̀͗͋͌͊̃̋̕͠a̸̧̼͓͚̯͇̰͙̣̱̍̈́̉̈́̐̇ ̸̨͈͕̹͕͉͔͛͂̏̾̓́͗̅̒͘͜͜͝͠, turning her skin deathly pale. Red vanished from her cheeks and light fluttered out of her eyes.
Louisa was dying.
"FINALLY!" ̶̨̡̛̯̫̯͖̠̇̎̎̎͒͂͑̋̄́̕͝Z̷̨̻̞͖̟͊̀́͜ê̸͔͔̤̼̙̄͛́̎̚ṳ̷͖̠͙̠͉͒̋s̵͖͋̿̉̑̓͛̽̽͠ boomed as the totems surrounded him. "I HAVE FULL POWER!"
I sat up, a raging fire coursing through me. It wasn't going to end this way.
"NO!" I screamed. "NOT THIS TIME!"
I ran towards Louisa, holding out my hands. I pushed her away from the totems, but then felt their power turning on me. I screamed as everything burned away.
I didn't know how much longer I could handle this. What was happening? Was I alive, or dead? I wanted to cry, and wish it all away.
I curled into a ball. I was nowhere. Nothing. A no one.
I hadn't changed at all. I was still a worthless nobody.
Tears fell down my cheeks. They landed on my hands, like tiny molten pearls.
No… what am I doing? I thought. I can't just keep sitting here and crying all the time. It won't get me anywhere. That's why I'm… such a failure.
I sat up, putting a hand on my chest. I knew what I needed to do.
I needed to find my world.
