I had never gotten into fights before. I was never social enough to get into arguments, and no one would bully me. Either way, dealing with disputes or stopping them is something I have no experience with. Thus, I was highly frustrated when Sonia would not stop trying to beat up Elias. How odd, I had thought. She loved the man, yet he had a bleeding nose and a dislocated arm, thanks to her.
I will never truly understand the new era of romance.
Thankfully, Monika was the peacemaker, and we no longer had to worry about fists flying. The hard part is convincing Monika and Sonia to trust Elias, Sayroi, and Natsuki.
They all sat well enough away in the living room while Sonia and Monika stood in the kitchen, guard still up. I was now the one who had to convince them both to trust the group.
Sonia was rage-filled, "You know they have to be faking it. There's no other way."
Monika concurred, "I believe Sonia. She told me what they did. To me and her." She looked over at Natsuki and shuddered. "She killed me, Yuri. How can you stand there and tell me to trust them?"
I rubbed my eyes and sighed. Convincing them was not going to be easy. They seemed stubborn and looked like they would not change their minds. I could understand why, though.
Sonia changed the topic, "We need to tell you about something. There were unusual 'people' chasing us."
Chasing, I thought. Could it be the men from the secluded foundation or the cult-like people mentioned in its documentation?
I questioned them, "People? What did they look like?"
Sonia continued, "They weren't the people we saw at the foundation. It's not those guards in armor and such. It's more like these religious fanatics. They were talking about a third eye."
Elias spoke from the living room, still holding a frozen bag of corn on his nose. "Third eye?"
Sonia looked furious, "Shut up. You're probably with those fucking assholes."
Elias was becoming frustrated, "We're not going to do anything, and we don't know anyone else."
Sonia laughed, "Oh, I'm so sure you're not going to rip out my other eye, by the way, thanks Natsuki."
Natsuki was confused but just as frustrated as Elias, "Hey, we didn't do anything. I don't know what you're talking about."
Sonia scoffed and raised her injured hand, "Oh yeah, I'm sure you just can't remember how you stabbed my hand and gouged out my eye."
Natsuki and Sayori looked horrified at Sonia's words.
"Enough." I shouted, "This is going nowhere. Whatever happened in the past had nothing to do with them."
Sonia grunted, and Elias sat back down, defeated.
I walked to the living room, "Elias, what do you know about this third eye?"
Elias glanced at Monika before speaking, "Monika, do you know Project Libitina?"
Sonia spoke before Monika could answer. "There is no way that could be what's happening here."
Monika said, "You're talking about the Portrait Of Markov, right?"
Portrait of Markov? That was the book I had read. It was about a girl who moved to a new town, but her life was in danger due to a nearby cult performing experiments. What does a story like that have to do with our situation?
Elias continued, "Yes, if you remember Sonia, the stuff they were doing to Elyssa and Libitana, the people here, I think they are trying to activate a certain someone here with a third eye."
Someone here has a third eye that needs to be activated? None of what they are saying makes any sense. Elyssa? Libitana? None of those names sounded familiar. All this thinking about information that confuses me gave me a headache.
I questioned Elias, "Wait, the third eye, what does it do?"
Elias looked puzzled, "Well, I am not entirely sure. It can influence people around you and alter the world's cognition. In short, it alters the world and people's thoughts. But that is my guess."
I thought heavily about what he spoke of. A third eye could change people's thoughts and alter the world.
Someone here can do that.
I questioned again, "Who is believed to have that power?"
Elias went silent. I could feel him staring at me. I felt Monika and Sonia staring as well.
How could it be me? I don't feel anything. How could I have the power?
I spoke with a shaky voice, "How is it me? How do you know it is me?"
Sonia exclaimed, "Big deal, it's not like she can fucking use it yet."
Monika responded, "Sonia, just don't right now, please," Sonia scoffed.
Elias touched my shoulder, trying to comfort me in vain, "I know this is hard to hear, but you are the one with the third eye." I started hyperventilating. I am not unique. Why would someone like me have this power? I don't remember anything unusual in my life. It was all normal. My health was fine, and there were no serious illnesses. So why do I have to be the one with this power and this responsibility? How could I even use it?
I exclaimed, "How do you know it's me? It could be anyone here!"
Sonia laughed at my loud tone, "Going to explain it, dick?" She said this, looking at Elias.
He disregarded the insult, "Yuri, do you remember your parents?"
I answered, "Of course I do!"
"What are their names?"
I struggled to answer. Why? How could I not remember? I had a mother. No, not Mother. Father? I can't remember either. I don't know what my parents looked like, yet I remember them.
After a few seconds, I answered, "I can't remember my parents. Why?"
Monika tried to go to the living room, but she was stopped abruptly by Soina.
Sonia spoke, "Because you don't have parents. You were born in a cult facility we are in now. I guess that we were all brought to activate your third eye."
I remember my parents taking me to the beach as a child. I remember them taking me to a museum. I remember them buying me my first porcelain tea set. But for my life, I can't recall what they look like. Are my memories fake? But they feel so real.
Was my entire life a lie? All for just some power they can use for themselves? Were there others like me?
I calmed myself down. There was nothing to gain from panicking. I do not feel any different now than I did before. It likely means that whatever power I may have has not awakened inside me. I took a long breath as my nerves steadied but were not relaxed. I did not want to talk about my memories possibly being fake, so I discussed another topic.
"Okay," I said softly, "I don't believe this power has awoken yet, as I do not feel any different. However, I would like to know more about it if possible."
Elias sighed and took a look at Monika. She nodded and spoke, "We don't know more than what we already told you. The third eye is based loosely on old documents and files."
Sonia looked concerned, "All we know is that your power is dangerous. The only person who knows about your power is the one trying to activate it. Thus, we must escape this hellhole before they find you."
Is there even a way to escape? Indeed, there has to be.
I questioned Sonia, "Remember that door that brought us here? Maybe we can use it to leave?"
She shook her head, "That door shows up randomly. There is no way to predict when it'll appear again or where it'll even take us. If anything, we should see where those cult guys came from."
Monika spoke up, "I agree. They came from somewhere. There must be an exit."
I said, "How do you plan on finding out?"
Sonia smiled, "We'll tail them."
"We'll?"
"Me and Eli."
Elias perked up hearing her words. I wonder why she decided to involve him.
He spoke, "Now you are being nice?"
Sonia scoffed, "If they spot us, you'll be great bait."
Elias seemed disappointed but did not respond. Sonia got up from the chairs in the kitchen, dragging Monika with her. They entered the living room, closing the distance between the other girls. Sayori and Natsuki seemed glad they were being trusted. I remained skeptical. What caused Sonia's mind to change on a whim?
Sonia grabbed Elias by his arm and began dragging him towards the door. She smiled mischievously at the group, "Don't worry, I'll try and bring him back. You all just stay here. Leave it to us." Elias did not say anything. He simply was confused and waved at us as they left the house. Soina seemed eager to go. Probably because she still loves him. I wonder what he'll say to that.
Now, it was just Monika, myself, Sayori, and Natsuki.
The original four.
Natsuki broke the silence, "what now?"
No one said anything.
Sayori still seemed worried about something. She voiced that worry, "What was Soina talking about? She said we stabbed her. What does she mean by that?"
Monika looked at me as if she wanted me to answer that question.
It's probably not the best to tell them how they killed Monika and almost did the same to Sonia and me. I do not know if they could handle such information. Sayori would probably do something drastic to herself. Natsuki would probably not believe it till some convincing.
As I sat on the couch, all three expected me to answer.
"I don't know what she was talking about," I said.
Only Monika knew I was lying, but if Sonia gave her only part of the story, maybe I could get off with lying.
Natsuki said, "I doubt you don't know anything."
I sneered at her. I didn't hate her, although there was a time when I did.
Monika looked confused, "Sonia told me what happened, although I understand how you're reluctant to tell them."
As I feared, Monika saw through my lie. I shuffled uncomfortably, sitting on the couch as I pondered telling them.
Sayori grasped my hands, "Yuri, please, you must tell us. No matter how bad it is." She had a soft smile. If I told her, she may never smile that way ever again. I don't know what to do. I glanced at Monika. She had the same worried face I had. Most likely pondering the same thoughts as I.
I needed to consult Monika about this. "Monika, can I talk to you alone real quick?" Monika nodded, and Sayori looked worried. "Sayori, it's going to be quick. Then I'll come back, I promise." She gave a small smile and let go of my hands.
As Monika and I were in the kitchen, we spoke quietly, hoping the other two girls would not hear.
I proposed my concern, "Could Sayori and Natsuki handle the truth of what they had done?"
Monika shook her head, taking a glance at the two. "Maybe Natsuki, but Sayori is a definite no."
Natsuki is the most suitable one compared to Sayori. She's a bit more defensive and, thus, most likely could handle such information, although she'll most likely deny that she did such an act. Sayori was utterly unpredictable. Knowing her depression and suicide attempt, understanding what will come if she's made aware of such information is challenging.
I responded, "Well, thanks to Sonia, we must tell them regardless, as it seems they won't drop the subject anytime soon."
Monika looked lost in thought. Then it hit me. What if Sonia did not tell her everything? What did Sonia tell her, and what if it was an altered version of the truth?
I asked the question, "What exactly did Soina tell you? I want to know."
Monika looked confused, "Why does that matter?"
"It just does. I need to confirm that Sonia told you the correct information."
"Don't think she's trustworthy?"
"I am just being cautious."
"More like paranoid."
"Look where we are, of course I'm paranoid."
Monika sighed, "You got me there." She took a glance at Sayori and Natsuki. Before continuing, "She told me that Natsuki killed me, and she stabbed you and removed your eye. And that the main attackers were Sayori, Natsuki, and Eli. After that, you all woke up where you both exited your house, and that's where I came in."
Oddly, She was not told of the entire experience regarding the foundation. The reason behind this is unknown. However, there must have been a motive behind why Monika was not informed.
However, now another question is posed against me. Do I inform Monika of the events that transpired within the foundation? I do see some reasons not to that Sonia must have realized herself. One such reason could be that there is nothing to gain from her knowledge. Sonia seems to be a snarky woman, but nothing to achieve cannot be such a reason. Shouldn't she know about the foundation? Is she aware this place could be a simulation by the same cult members trying to use me?
"I see. Sonia did tell you everything. Sorry."
Telling Monika what happened after we escaped can wait. What matters now is how we tell Sayori and Natsuki what they did.
"It's okay. I understand Sonia isn't forthcoming with the truth. To be honest, I barely believe what she told me. It's all hard to believe."
I nodded in agreement. I do not know if any of this is supernatural or made to look that way. Monika looked worried. Her gleeful smile I remember seeing just days ago seems like it'll never be shown again. Her optimistic attitude was gone, and it seemed as if all she was trying to do was survive. We all were just trying not to die. Escape was what we wanted, but survival was our biggest priority.
I sighed and rubbed my eyes, trying to decide whether or not to tell them was worsening my headache.
Natsuki walked into the kitchen, "Hey, I understand you don't want to tell Sayori, but you could at least tell me." Saying this, looking stern as she was, it's like she was putting up a front. Like she didn't care, Sonia and Elias left. She didn't care that the world was an imitation.
She just cared about what she did.
Does she deserve to know? I thought. She's already been through so much, the abuse of her father and her killing him. I have to say I am surprised at such resilience. One undergoing such a traumatic series of events can not escape it unscathed so easily.
Monika looked at me, expecting me to answer. We should not tell them. They should not know the horrible things they did. They would have to live with that knowledge for years.
"Natsuki, we just don't know if we should tell you. It could traumatize you."
Natsuki looked frustrated, "Monika knows, I bet she does, and she looks just fine,"
As she said this, she glanced at Monika and gave a confused expression. I also looked at Monika to discover a horrified expression on her face. I was confused. Why would she be in such distress? What made her that way? I looked over to where Monika could not take her eyes off.
There stood a colossal cloaked man peering inside the window. His pale skin and sunken eyes glanced at me.
He cracked a smile before retreating from the window.
It was more planning for an encounter that had invaded my mind rather than panic. I ran to the door and made sure it was locked. Sayori was confused at the sudden urgency. Monika and Natsuki still stood in awe of what they had just witnessed.
I yelled at them, "Either you stand there like a fool or help me barricade this place." Monika escaped her daze of horror and began locking the windows. Natsuki remained still.
Sayori expressed her concern, "What is going on? What is happening?" She looked like she wanted to cry. I didn't have time to explain. I knew that man would return with eventually more people to take us. We could only take shelter here and hope the defense we will set up will be enough to hold the line.
The day turned to night, and the house was fortified. The refrigerator blocks the door, and windows are covered with what could be placed in front of them. We all remained inside the second-floor bedroom, all sitting away from the door. The desk I had used previously was now blocking the door once again. Oddly enough, we never saw or heard anything since we first saw the man.
Sayori had been told what we had seen, and she seemed scared. Natsuki was trying to comfort her to the best of her ability. Monika sat under the window periodically, peeking out to look for anyone. I assume she was looking for Elias and Sonia.
I did think about them when we all first entered the bedroom. I figured them being out there was dangerous. Who knows how strong those cultists could be? But Sonia was a tough woman. I know she wouldn't go down without a fight. And Elias cares very much about Sonia. It's easy to tell, even though he tries not to show it.
Why am I doomed to think I've reached salvation? Whenever I think I've made it, I'm far away from escape. My head hurts so much right now. I don't even remember who I was back then. I feel different. I feel new. Looking down at my hands, I see someone else's hands. I feel like I am no longer myself.
No one spoke a word since we entered the room. It's like we all were too scared to make a noise. How long would we have to remain here? I wonder. Would we ever see Sonia again? Or Elias? Will I ever see the sun? None of it matters anymore. I'm trapped here. All I can do is wait once again. Wait for someone to save me?
But why wait?
When I can save everyone.
I can save them.
My third eye is open.
I will save them all.
