"Wake up!" I woke abruptly to the sound of that voice—the one thing that felt like hope. I sat up and wondered how I had gotten here from where I had been standing. I thought I had blacked out, but I didn't remember moving. What had happened to the forest? What had happened to the monster and the glitches? I was just as clueless as the first time I'd woken here. This was the third time I had returned to the same spot—the starting point.
I turned and noticed a tree stump beside me. "Has this always been here? How come I didn't notice it earlier?" At least I was on the bright side now, but where were the creatures? If I moved, would they return? I had thought I was starting to figure things out, but I was wrong.
Well, I had nothing to lose. Why sit here all day? Fear hadn't gotten me anywhere, and I was tired of it. I thought back to the pond, wondering if it was still there, and started walking in the direction I remembered. The fact that it was the first place I thought of made me wonder—was I addicted to its water?
When I reached the pond, it looked exactly the same as when I had first arrived, except the hyacinths weren't purple anymore. They were blue. I looked around, and every flower in the forest was blue. I picked one—it seemed ordinary.
Then I saw my reflection in the water. It wasn't me. She looked like me—red braids and all—but she was smiling. An eerie, strained grin stretched across her face. Without thinking, I reached in, as if I could touch her, as if she were someone else. I couldn't control myself. I had no idea why, but I wanted to touch her.
Before my hand reached the water, she started talking, mumbling aggressively. I couldn't hear the words. I leaned closer, and suddenly she stopped. Her smile widened. Then she shot her hand up, grabbed me by the hair, and yanked me into the water.
I opened my eyes—and I was back at the starting point again.
"Was this place a loop?" I whispered. Every time something major happened, I was dragged back here. I stood and made my way toward the pond again. The flowers were purple now, and my reflection was normal.
Ever since the creatures, something had changed. I felt bolder—though it didn't feel like my boldness. My actions felt outside my control.
I plunged my arms into the pond, but all I touched was the strange water. I felt nothing at all. Testing my suspicion, I leapt into it. The pond only reached my waist, but when I climbed out, I was dry. My skin, my clothes—untouched.
I picked another flower. Nothing happened.
Then, behind me, I heard it again. "ELYSIA."
I turned. No one.
I walked toward the path where I had seen the creatures before. The stench of rot grew stronger with each step, but when I reached the spot, there was nothing.
"ELYSIA."
The voice again. I spun, searching, but the forest was empty. I kept walking, though the sensation of being followed pressed against my back. I turned sharply. Nothing. Yet their presence clung to me, crawling across my skin.
I closed my eyes and willed myself to the dark side.
When I opened them, I was there.
And standing before me was one of the creatures.
Its deer-like face tilted, its hollow eyes fixed on me. I didn't shrink away. I stood, breath shallow, as more emerged around me. Dozens. Staring.
Then I heard it.
"ELYSIA."
The voice came from the creature in front of me. My stomach twisted. I was certain the voice had been coming from the sky before. And how was it speaking with a face like that?
I stumbled back, dread curling up my spine. Then all the creatures began chanting my name, the same woman's voice bursting from every mouth.
"ELYSIA. ELYSIA. ELYSIA."
It grew louder. Louder. The sound crashed in my head until everything blurred, spinning around me.
Then, without warning, the creature in front of me plunged its bony claw into my stomach.
Agony ripped through me. Hot blood poured down my body.
The creatures panicked, still chanting, their voices breaking apart. They muttered something else too, but I couldn't make out the words. The one that had stabbed me pulled its claw free, and in the same calm voice said—
"Wake up."
Darkness swallowed me.
When I opened my eyes, I was back at the starting spot again.
I looked down at myself—unharmed, as if nothing had happened. Cold sweat slicked my back. My chest heaved.
I thought of what had just happened.
And I knew I was going back.