WELCOME TO WHITE SPACE.
YOU HAVE BEEN LIVING HERE FOR AS LONG AS YOU CAN REMEMBER.
Omari stood in the vast empty space. She looked around as She took in what was around her. There was only her drawing book, laptop, her tissues, her cat mewo, and a white door that casts a faint shadow.
She doesn't know where the door came from, sometimes it was there, sometimes it wasn't. But when ever she went through the door, she preferred it better than where she was at right now. There were days where she didn't want to go through the door and just enjoyed her time in the bright room. But today she wanted to open the door. So she she made her choice.
DO YOU WANT TO OPEN THE DOOR?
- Yes
No
She opens the door. A bright light shines in front, blinding her. When she blinks to adjust, She was greeted by three familiar friends playing a card game in the middle of a pastel colored room. One of them looks up as they notice her and smile. They rush up to her and grab her hands bringing them together.
"Omari! You're here it so great to see you! Me, Aubrey, and Basil were playing a game of go fish!"
"Kel!" Aubrey yells frustrated, "you messed up the cards! Now we have to start all over!"
Kel nervously scratches the back of his neck. "Oops. Sorry, Aubrey."
"Don't be upset Aubrey," Basil's soft voice chimes in. "It's just a game, you can always play next time." Aubrey puffs up her cheeks in a pout and turns away crossing her arms.
"Fine. But only is you say so Basil." Basil laughs a care free smile and turns to Omari.
"Omari, Sunny and Hero invited us for a picnic at the playground. Do you want to go see them?"
- Yes
No
Basil smiled, got up, and dusted his overalls.
"Alright everyone...let's go see Sunny and Hero!" Kel and Aubrey agreed in unison and lined up behind Omari.
"Lead the way Omari!" Kel yelled. Omari didn't say anything but she nodded and led the smaller kids out of the stump all the way to the playground.
When they arrived at the playground, Hero and Sunny were having a conversation. When Sunny noticed their arrival, he ran up and hugged Omari as tight as he could. Omari returned the gesture as well, as his hugs always made her smile. When they finished hugging Kel ran up Sunny. Sunny and Kel shared a high five and Kel pulled him in a choking hold and laughing uproariously.
"Kel, don't be so rough with Sunny." Hero gently scolded. Kel didn't see the problem, but he let go anyway. Sunny didn't seem to mind though, he quite enjoyed him and Kel's greetings.
"C'mon Hero, me and Sunny are bros. It's what we do! Do you think I would defy our friendship?" Kel joked. Hero smiles giving out a sigh and then looked at Omari.
"Omari! Me and Sunny were just looking in my cookbook. I have all types of recipes that I would like to cook! Would you like to see?"
WOULD YOU LIKE TO LOOK IN HERO'S COOKBOOK?
- Yes
No
Hero smiles and opens his cook book and lays it open for everyone to see.
"There, that way everyone can see."
Hero's cookbook had a few different recipes for desserts and dishes. He writes his most favorite dishes in his cookbook and some he would like to try to cook. Some of the pictures of the food were taken by Basil's camera, some were sketched by Hero. Basil liked to take a few pictures of Hero's cooking for his cookbook. Of course Basil took pictures of other things, but that was for Basil's photo album.
"Wow hero! These recipes look amazing!" Aubrey exclaims, "you should cook something for us!"
Hero smile turns bashful.
"They're just recipes for simple dishes it's not that great."
"Don't say that Hero! If no one eats any of your food I'll eat it all!" Kel exclaims as he laughs.
"I'm sure you can't eat it all at once Kel. But we'll help you eat some of it." Basil softly replies as he wipes the lens of his camera. "Right Sunny?" Basil turns to Sunny. Sunny nods encouragingly as he has take particular interest of Hero's chocolate coconut truffles.
Omari stares at the homemade cookies on a certain page. She dragged her finger across the black ink that read:
"Omari's homemade cookies!
Everyone loves Omari's cookies! Her cookies always make you feel like you're at home, I could eat them forever."
There was a picture Basil took of the cookies that she made for everyone. She may have not been the best cook like Hero, but her cooking was always made with love.
"Do you like it?" Omari looked up to see Hero looking at her with a warm smile. "I know it's not something I made, but it's one of my favorites." Omari flushes and nods silently.
"Hey guys, wanna come to my house and look at the new photo's I took?" Hero stood up and smiled enthusiastically.
Kel then jumped up and stretched his arms.
"Yeah! Let's go! We can't just sit here all day, let's take a little trip!" Everyone got up in agreement as they decided that they would visit Hero's house. However, Sunny decided to stay at the picnic, they didn't mind though.
"Hey guys!" They all turned to see that Boss was calling them over as he waved them over. "You guys wanna play a game of hide and seek with us?"
"Well, we were actually going to Hero's house, maybe next time?" Basil kindly replied.
"Aw c'mon! It'll be fun!" Boss encourages.
"Um, actually I don't mind. It's not like we're in a rush or anything. And like Boss said it could be fun." Hero reassures. This seem to sway the rest and thought one game of hide and seek wouldn't hurt.
Everyone, except Sunny, grouped together as Boss gave each of them a straw to see who was 'it'. Omari, had the shortest straw, so she was 'it'.
It wasn't really that hard for her find everyone, but someone was missing.
"Hey, where's Hero?" Boss asked once she was going through roll call.
"That's weird, I saw him go behind that tree." Basil replied. Aubrey then went up to the tree Basil pointed to.
"Hey Hero! You already won! You can come out now!" There was a moment of silence and more rustling when the tree revealed Berly, Van holding Hero hostage. They both gave a taunting laugh
"Berly, Van. I should've known it was you."
"Leave Hero alone! What did he ever do to you?" Kel yelled.
"You think this is about Hero?!" Berly yelled as she held a glare. "How dare you not invite us to hide and seek! You guys aren't even playing it right either! Where's the fun in playing hide and seek without head butting?!"
Van head butted Hero in the head which made him wince in pain. Kel then started getting antsy.
"Hey! Leave my older brother alone!"
"No! If we can't play, then no one can! This is a Berly and Van only zone!"
Berly and Van engaged in a fight with Omari and her friends. Berly and Van did their special attack and gave them all head butts. Omari's friends became toast!
But Omari did not succumb.
Berly and Van were shocked as they saw Omari still standing her ground. This made her able to deliver the final attack.
Omari's team was victorious.
Van dropped Hero. Hero, unharmed, landed on his feet and Kel ran to his brother and gave him a hug.
"Are you okay Hero?" Hero put his hand on top of Kel's head.
"Yeah, I'm fine. No harm done." Hero turned to Berly and Van as they stood looking meek. He smiled at the two marking when they looked at him.
"Berly, Van, it must hurt to see others play without you, doesn't it? But that doesn't mean you should ruin other people's fun."
Berly looked away with a flush, let out a scoff.
"We know that!" Hero didn't give a reply. He walked up to the flyer that prohibited Berly and Van from the playground, and took it down. Everyone looked shocked at Hero's actions.
"There does that feel better?" Hero warmly smiled at them.
"Hero! Are really sure it's okay to do that?" Kel looked at him with concern.
"They're bad news, luckily Omari held out for at the end, otherwise we'd been toast!" Aubrey chimed in. Hero looked that them and laughed.
"It's okay. I trust them. While you guys were fighting, Berly and Van made sure I didn't take the blow from your attacks as well."
"Is that true Van?" Basil looked surprised.
Berly and Van turned away from them embarrassed.
"No, their just lies! We don't need to hear them!" Berly and Van went back behind the tree, shielding themselves from the others. "This is our spot! No one is welcome here!"
As they said that there was an awkward silence.
"Well, I guess that was a thing. I think they won't be a problem if their like that then." Basil gave a nervous smile. "Now, should we get going?" Hero nodded as looked back at the tree.
"We're leaving now Berly and Van. Try not to cause trouble while we're away!" Hero said as everyone walked away.
When they reached Hero's house, Basil ran ahead of them and snapped a picture of them.
"Ah, it's a bit blurry. But that's fine. That's what gives it character." Hero passed by Basil, ruffling his hair, as walked up to the door and opened it. "Make sure to wipe your feet when you come in!" Hero then went inside leaving the door open.
Omari led everyone else inside to reveal that Hero made a bunch of of different pastries. They all sat extravagantly on the kitchen counter of the kitchen. He gave a big smile as he walked up the counter.
"I made desserts! But these desserts represent each of you! Including myself." Everyone stared in awe of it. Hero picked up the first one. It was a macaron.
"This is a macaron. It has smooth skin and known for it's soft texture. It also has a ton of different flavors! Delicate rose, rich hazel nut or salted caramel. I don't like any macaron in particular, but I like how there's always a flavor to try after the next. That's what I want to be. Someone who tries different things." Hero put the macaron back and picks up a small little bowl.
"This is a Creme brûlée. It has a rich custard base with a layer of harden caramel sugar. It's never really left the heat caramelizing process warms the top of the custard leaving the middle warm. This tends to remind me of Aubrey."
"Is it because she's cold hearted?" Kel snickered. Aubrey passed him a glare as he said this. Hero nervously laughs.
"No, but because the creme brûlée's hard shell represents Aubrey tough side to show her maturity and the soft custard represents how she is also soft and keeps her femininity. What I'm trying to say is that Aubrey is growing to be a fine, young, independent lady." Aubrey smiles at this as looks at Kel. Kel let out a scoff. Hero pets him on the head as he sets down the creme brûlée. He then picked up a small little piece of chocolate off another plate.
"This is a chocolate truffle. They may seem a bit bland, but when you take a bite out of them, the delicious filling hits your tongue. The flavor gives the truffle as unique flavor that takes you by surprise. Sunny is quite like this. He may seem a bit bland but his mind is full of such creativity. He sees the world in ways others can't." Basil takes a truffle and takes a bite. He smiles at the coconut flavor taking over his senses. Hero chuckles he eats one too as he moves to the next dessert.
He then goes to grab something behind him. He quickly tells them to step back as he sets down a dessert on fire. Aubrey yelps a bit as Basil his behind her. Kel however, stared in awe.
"This is called baked Alaska. This is one of the hardest desserts I've made. But that shows of who exactly it represents. Kel pretty much is like a baked Alaska. He is very hard to deal with, but he is a very nice. Like ice cream. Of course the fire represents how he like to shine as bright at he can." The fire wasn't as big as before when it began to die down to keep the ice cream at a warm brown color at the edges.
"Wow Hero! You're baked Alaska looks so cool like me!" Hero left the baked Alaska to cool as he pulled another plate in front of him.
"This is a cinnamon roll. Of course, Basil is what a cinnamon roll is. A sweet, innocent, little roll."
"Aw Hero, that's so nice of you!" Basil laughs. Hero gibves him a nod. Then grabs the pat plate sitting on the counter.
"And these, are chocolate chip cookies. This represents Omari. Her cookies are filled with the love she share with other. Each cookie has a piece of her love." Omari felt her cheeks turning hot. "A piece of love that everyone would want." Hero stared at he when he said this.
Everyone was happy of how generous Hero was. They all crowded around the desserts to try and take a bite of each treat. Hero and Omari continued to gaze at one another. Until a Kel pointed something out.
"Hey, Hero, that fell out of your cookbook." Kel pointed at one of the pictures that Basil gave him. He walked over to it an bent down to grab it. He glanced at his cookbook in his hand in confusion.
"Hm. That's weird. Must've been loose."
He picked it up and flipped it over. The mood in the room suddenly went eerily quiet.
"Wh-what is this? Has this photo always been here? This picture...it looks...so familiar." Everyone stared at him confused. He then let out a gasp. "Oh no..." he turned to look at them with such a petrified face. Everyone didn't notice, but he was looking a Omari specifically.
"Sunny...He-"
Everything around Omari phased out of existence. The vast empty white space took the place of her surroundings instead. She wandered around, curious of what she should do. The sound of a heart beat echoed around her, as if something traumatic has happened. She realized the door disappeared. She looked around to see there was nothing else she should do.
The knife in her hand sends waves to her hands that felt like it was vibrating. Like she was supposed to do something with it. She stared at it as her body went to autopilot, she raised the knife above her. She hesitated as the knife was still raised in the air. She felt no fear, but something deep inside her told her not to do it. But she did it anyway.
The knife plunged into the the depths between her shoulder and her neck. There was no blood, but the sound of warm, now raw flesh being pierced by the blade. He breathing suddenly stopped as her vision began to go blurry. He eyes seem to dull as he legs gave out and her feet stumbled as she fell on her side. The heartbeat of the white space stopped. And it was finally quiet.
A young girl woke up in her room. It was in the middle of the night. But the sound of a soft beeping from her home phone next her caught her attention. The red light blinked as her eyes focused. She squinted her eyes as she tried to focus. She got up from her bed and walked towards the phone she press the button that played the voice message.
"Hi Mari, is dad. I'm still in the city setting things up for our new home. Have you finished packing yet? The movers will be here when we move in a few days when we move. Also, I forgot to tell the electric company that we need a few extra days before we move. So the lights might cut out at times. I'm sorry, things have been so hard since your mother left. Especially since...anyway, I know moving is hard getting used to, but I think it's something that is best for the both of us. Just make sure you talk to your old friends before we leave. AUBREY has been trying to get in touch and since the house has been put up for sale. I think that I'd be good to reconnect with them, keep in touch with them when we move. Okay, I have to get going now. I love you sweetheart, bye. Bzzt..."
Mari stared at the phone for a long time after the message was done. She felt her stomach begin to growl as she grew hungry. She looked up at the wall where there were post-it notes.
"Hi Mari, this is a note from dad.
I left some food I made from a recipe your mother left. It's steak, it was Sunny's favorite. I hope you like it."
Mari stared at the note. She then turned and left her room. She walked into the bathroom and stared at herself in the mirror. On the other side of the bathroom mirror was another post-it note, but it seemed much older.
"Hi, Sunny! This is a note from mommy.
Remember to brush your teeth every day! Love you, XOXO."
She was the only one that actually remembered to brush their teeth between the two. So Mari's mom always left a note up for him just in case he forgot. She always did baby him al the time. But that didn't mean she was any better. Her stomach growled some more. She walked out of the bathroom to walk down the stairs. When she reach down stairs she walked into the kitchen.
She went into the fridge and took the steak out. She put it in the microwave to heat up. As she waited, she went into utensil's drawer and grabbed a fork and a kn-
"Ah-!" She yelped as she retracted her hand. She held her hand around the wound that began to bleed out on her finger. She trembled. She didn't want to look. She was too scared to look. She tried to grab a napkin near her without opening her eyes. She clumsy roamed her hand around to quickly grab some. Though she finally had it in her hands, it wasn't gracefully, she grabbed a fist full and pressed it against the cut. It hurt.
She opened her eyes and saw that the napkin was turning red due to the wet blood spreading. her hand was covered in a patch of blood. And so was the counter with her trying to grab the napkin. The scene was horrific. Her breathing began to quicken. She felt her heartbeat blare in her ear drums. She started taking huge breaths.
She was hyperventilating. She vision around her blurred and the vision of the blood seemed to spread all around the room. It oozed everywhere. She was bleeding. She was dying. Tears began to flood her eyes as she began to shake. She choked on her own breath and her legs became weaker and weaker.
SOMETHING BLEEDS FROM THE WALLS AROUND YOU.
Something takes the form of a giant puddle of thick, red blackish liquid. She quickly grabbed her knife. She was trying to slice at it. But Something stained her the more she did. She began to panic. She whimpered at Something tried to take her field of vision. She cried as she tried to rub her eyes but it just made it spread. She tried to run. But the liquid wasn't letting her go anywhere. It was too thick for her to move. It was then the liquid started to suck her in when she tried to wipe it off on her clothes.
She cried as she realized there was nothing she could do. She let out a small cry.
"Please...please help me." She whispered. She thought no one would hear her, but someone did.
"Mari..." She opened her eyes as she heard the comforting voice. "Take deep breath. I know it's scary, but don't let the fear get to you. Remember how to calm down." With those encouraging words Mari stilled for a second. She held her hands in front of her and took a deep breath. She closed her eyes was she tried to stop her trembling. When she opened her eyes, she felt like she could face it with a bit more confidence. It was then the illusion vanished and she was looking at her now bandaged hand.
She must've bandaged when she trying to calm herself. Though she get like she didn't do it herself. But that didn't matter now. The microwave continued to beep, indicating that her steak was done. She picked up the knife that she cut herself with into the sink and grabbed another one more carefully. She put the steak on the kitchen counter grabbed a chair to sit.
AH YES, A LOVELY WELL-DONE STEAK. WOULD YOU LIKE TO EAT SOME?
- Yes
No
She ate her steak quietly. Once she was done, she felt her vision blurt again. But not with the feeling of last time. She felt her stomach growl but it wasn't hunger.
Her stomach didn't agree with that.
Although her couldn't see properly, she made her way quickly up the stairs to the bathroom. She threw up. When her sickness passed, she went to the sink to wash her hands and face. She stared in the mirror once more. It was just her.
She left the bathroom to her own room, planning to go back to sleep. That when a ring came from her phone. She didn't answer but she did hear the message.
"Hi Mari, Sweetie! It's mommy! I know you're busy with your studies, which is why you didn't pick up, but I'm dropping Sunny off. He's coming back from Basil's house. I just called so you wouldn't freak out about the knocking so late. I have to run some errands, so I need you to open the door for him. Okay, that's it for now! Mommy loves you! Bye sweetie! Bzzt..."
Mari looked at the phone and left the room to go downstairs. Sunny was back? He spent the whole day at Basil's house? A knock was heard from the other side of the front door. Showing Sunny was there. And Mari didn't want to leave her little baby brother outside in the cold all alone.
WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO DO?
- Open the door
Do nothing
She slowly cracked open the door after she undid the lock. But she wasn't welcomed by the sight of her precious baby brother. Instead she was faced with a mutilated version of her brother. A sight that made her immediately close the door as soon as it was in full view. Her heartbeat quickened as she quickly locked it. She didn't want to look back out. Not when that thing was out there.
She didn't hesitate to run back up the stairs, while tripping on some steps, and run straight to her room. She took a breather as she tried to calm down.
A VERY COMFORTABLE BED. WOULD YOU LIKE TO GO TO SLEEP?
- Yes
No
She then got under her covers as she laid in the bed trying to calm her nerves. She was then taken by the warm embrace of her blanket. She felt her eyes grow heavy. And she fell to the depths of slumber.
WELCOME TO WHITE SPACE.
YOU HAVE BEEN LIVING HERE FOR AS LONG AS YOU CAN REMEMBER.