It hurts. Every part of his body hurts. It's as if every inch of his body is being smothered, compressed in on itself. He can feel his body bending and warping to unnatural proportions as if he were a contortionist, albeit, a crude one.
But it won't kill him. That was not its intended purpose. It was a prison, nothing more and nothing less. At least, that is what they had thought when they confined him.
Weakened and in constant pain, Abel feebly utters out a name.
"Bathsheba…"
He receives only silence as a reply.
How strange. How silly. He's calling out to the void, the antithesis of space and time, expecting someone to heed his call. It makes no sense. There seems to be no rationale or justification for doing such a thing. Then again, nothing seems to make sense within the singularity.
"Yes, Abel?"
Sure enough, a voice answers back. Slowly, Abel feels the pressure on his body begin to lift. It now feels like he's flying. Freed from his gravitational bondage, Abel glides through the darkness in search of the voice. He soon finds a platform to land on. Still having not fully recovered though, he fuzzes up the landing.
"Agh! Ugh! Uhhhhh…"
Reeling in pain, he rolls onto his backside.
"Ow… ow… ow…"
Note to self, that wasn't his brightest idea.
Picking himself back onto his feet, Abel began stumbling forward into the darkness. However, the dark was but a cover, a veil to allow for privacy. Abel reached out and grabbed a hold of it. It was like a curtain, the way it bended and holded and split itself down the middle.
"Bathsheba," he called out again.
"Yes, yes, come in."
It wasn't like she could do anything to stop him.
Abel pulled back the drapes to reveal a woman. Her back was turned to him. She had long white hair that trailed down to the middle of her back. It was tangled and sopping wet. But at least it didn't have split ends (something that she was always conscious about). She wore only a towel that she modestly wrapped around her chest and back as she brushed her luscious locks.
Abel sighed, averting his eyes slightly as he ushered himself in. Would be rude to blatantly stare, especially at such a defenseless woman.
"Not going to take a peep?"
Call it a sixth sense. Call it a womanly instinct. But she could always tell when someone or something had its eyes set on her.
"No, I was raised a gentleman," he said with that typical foxy tone of his.
"Right."
She rolled her eyes with a smile.
"Who knows. It might be the last thing you'll see before the universe is snuffed out. Quite enviable, if you ask me."
He chuckled at that, if only slightly.
"Now, what is it you need me for, Abel? You don't exactly visit without reason."
The corners of his lips curled downward ever so slightly.
"And if I did want to just chat?"
Bathsheba turned to face him. A single lock of black hair hung in the middle of her face, grazing her nose. Her lipstick-colored eyes shimmered slightly as she stared at him, scrutinizing him.
"Right. As if you would allow yourself to be injured and captured and confined to a black hole just to have a 'chat'."
She spun back around.
"Besides, I would assume you have far more pressing matters to attend to than stopping by to talk with me."
"Well, lucky for me, both happen to coincide with each other."
Luck. Right. As if that were believable.
"So you do need me for something."
"...yes."
Abel conceded defeat at their little witty banter. No point in continuing it further.
Bathsheba said nothing as she continued to dry and brush her hair.
"Please?"
No answer.
"Pretty please?"
Still no answer.
"Bathsheba, you owe me. Remember?"
His tone was far more serious and demanding. His words were cold, bordering on harsh. Finally, Bathsheba turned to face him.
Her gaze was lowered slightly, unable to look him in the eye. It was as if a newfound weight was put upon her gaze. The memory was still fresh, despite it having been eons. But to her, it felt like it had only happened maybe a week or so ago. It was so crystal clear in her mind. Of course she remembered. She remembered how he took her side when not one else did. And how he hid her away in this place, where no one else would look.
"Guess I do," she whispered.
Was that it then? Was that the reason he offered aid and sheltered her? To be a tool to have in his back pocket for later use? Maybe he intended for it, maybe he didn't. But ultimately, it didn't matter. All that mattered was her promise and his contract.
"I need you to distract the star for a short while. Do what it through whatever means you see fit, so long as it remains preoccupied."
"May I ask why?"
"There is a ship, an ark, sailing across the cosmos. It is a shelter for those not tainted by madness. It is to be the last safe haven in the universe. If it's discovered and destroyed, heh. Well, then, I've truly failed."
Couldn't let that happen now, could he? Whichever more he did it for, his own sense of accountability or his selfish ego, he didn't know.
"I just need a bit more time to finish my preparations."
"Hm hm. You and your plans," she softly giggled.
She looked up, finally able to meet his gaze.
"And what of the child? Was she a part of the plan?"
Abel's eyes widened for the briefest of moments before it was his turn to break eye contact. Bathsheba didn't need an answer. She simply wanted to ask because no one else would.
"You can't control everything Abel," she said with a soft smile. "There will always be factors and algorithms far beyond your control and planning."
"I know," he whispered bitterly. "We designed it that way, didn't we?"
He let out a laugh, albeit a hollow one.
"It's what makes things so interesting, after all."
You say that and yet, you still make plans. But you could never help yourself to not make contingencies for the future. It's just in your nature. It made no sense to do so, but such was befitting of Madness.
She spun back around, content to finish grooming herself. Abel also turned, having no further reason to stay. But before he could take a step, Bathsheba whispered out to him, one last time.
"Do you still sing that song?"
"Sometimes."
"I'm glad."
He was always such a terrible singer. At least, that melody made it just a bit more tolerable. She felt happy that she could help him in her own little way.
With that, Abel felt her presence vanish from behind him as he was left once again suspended in the void.
It hurts. Every part of his body is hurting again. Every inch of his body is being smothered, compressed in on itself. But it doesn't hurt as bad as it did before. He wonders why. But it doesn't matter. It won't be long till he is freed. He can endure the pain just a little while longer.
.
.
.
Snap. Crackle. Pop. Look here. Look at this star. Look here. Look at this planet. Look here. Look at this species. Tempting, enticing, alluring, aren't they?