Author’s note- Hi, back with another one! Enjoy!

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To Survive

Turning away from the ashes, I burnt away the rest of the bodies with X5 flames. Then I slumped to the ground, everything washing back onto me at once.

The poison was moving around in me, killing me faster than the hot feeling was healing me. Was I going to die here?

Rolling over, I attempted to force myself back up, to walk, limp, whatever away from the area. But nothing was working. My body stopped responding to my commands, and I started to find it harder and harder to breath. Eventually, I rolled back onto my back and started into the clouds; they floated freely, uncaring of the situation below.

Ah, if I could be like a cloud in the sky…

Stretching out my hand, I reached for one of the clouds. If I died, I bet I would be like one of them. Carefree, exempted from the killing, the viciousness of my life. All I’d have to do was let go.

But my life wasn’t over yet... Grabbing the pendant, I started struggling, doing anything I could to survive! The golden aura involuntarily leaked from my body, and the hot feeling went berserk, responding to my desire.

I got up, staggering, and I started walking, step by step. I didn’t have a destination; the only thing that mattered was I was going somewhere. I was living!

But unrespondant to my desire, my surroundings started to slowly turn dark. That didn’t matter to me, however. Was I not still thinking; was I still not letting go? I continued to walk for a while, and eventually my surroundings melted into blackness. I couldn’t move.

A moment passed as I continued to stand there, blocking my body’s shut down at every instant. And my efforts were rewarded, as my sight started to come back. Had I outlasted the poison?

A silhouette enlarged within my eyes, the person was grabbing my shoulder, shaking me. Suddenly, the faint sound of sobbing came into my ears, and the person, the girl, broke down. Chloe?

The realization of her being there made an intense feeling of comfort wash all over me. It was all over…

Me- “You’re... Here…”

I stopped fighting, and immediately I slumped into unconsciousness.

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A cool feeling surrounded my back, and a moment passed as I watched the floating clouds drift by once again. A shadow formed as one of them passed over me, and that was my cue to sit up. Not seeing a point to do anything, I stared at my reflection. Blank eyes stared back at me, but suddenly a light went within them. He was alive?

Me?- “After you succumbed to the poison, there was nothing protecting Chloe from the organization.”

It took me a while to react to those words, and I sat there dumbly, not reacting. What did he say?

Me- “Nothing… Nothing happened to Chloe yet, right?”

His expression didn’t change, assuming the blank look that was always on his face.

Me?- “...”

Me- “TELL ME!!!”

Suddenly, the space shrunk, and they all glared at me with the same expression. They spoke in unison,

Me?- “You’re already dead, right? Why does it matter?”

Me- “I’m talking to you, aren’t I? Once this space shatters, I’ll wake up, just like normal.”

Me?- “Oh really? You don’t know a thing about the place you’re in, nor do you know why you’re in here. See, in here, I’m the ruler. You will be sent out when I feel the need. No sooner.”

Suddenly, the space shifted, and the clouds became stormy once again. His expression became darker and darker.

Me- “I can shatter this place myself. I’ve done it before!”

Me?- “But this time, I won’t let you.”

My shadow suddenly extended beyond my back, and I could feel an ominous presence. Jumping up, I whipped around to face a shadowy version of myself. And suddenly, his eyes were closed, ears cut off, nose removed, and his mouth sealed. He stood there unmoving, like an unshakable mountain. And a voice like mutterings from the depths of hell came from all directions,

Me?- “You may not leave…”

A billowing dark aura came swirling around him, and suddenly, I found an inexplicable pressure pressing down on me from all directions!

Me?- “Come…”

The words were like a rope, dragging me into his direction. I could barely fight back!

Forcibly resisting, I activated my hot feeling and the flame tornado, resisting the assault for a moment. But it slowly grew stronger, continually dragging me into the abyss.

Freezing the water around my feet, I regained my foot hold, and I started to shift forward. I will not be defeated by this!

But then the black aura surrounded me, and my strength started to rapidly decline. Sliding back, I screamed out,

Me- “NO!”

The golden aura emerged and started to fight back the black aura. I regained my freedom and moved forward once again.

Me?- “Why are you running away?”

Me- “I want to live!”

Me?- “We both have the same desire then… If you stay in here, I can ensure our survival forever…”

I continued to struggle against his aura, moving forward. But in the next moment, the aura in front of me swirled, and a girl stepped out.

The first thing I saw was her throw back her beautiful black hair, and she smiled, the freckle under her smile making it so much more cute. The fragrance like a wild flower sprouting in spring surrounded her; I remembered it from our first kiss. The glasses seemed to enhance her vibrant eyes, and she drew closer to me, touching my face.

Chloe?- “I’m the reason you’re struggling so hard, right? You can stay with me here!”

Drawing away like a nymph, she giggled and said,

Chloe?- “What is it Nathaniel? Why not?”

I looked at her, and my face twisted. I wanted to believe it was real! Not caring that she was an illusion from my other side, I started talking to her.

Me- “But this is the you from my memories. This isn’t the real you, Chloe. I want to see more of you in real life, not in a fake world where everything repeats…”

Chloe looked heartbroken, and my heart wrenched painfully. But I stubbornly went on,

Me- “It would be a disgrace to both you and the real you to stay here forever… How could I when I’m the only barrier between her and the organization?”

Chloe- “But don’t you understand? I am the real Chloe! Everything about her, what you noticed and what you unconsciously noted is here! I am your Chloe! You never know if someone in real life is going to betray you, especially women! Remember Alice!?”

Alice? Tears involuntarily streaked down from my face as I remembered what I had locked away. Why I moved…

Me- “Chloe isn’t like her! And plus, Alice never liked me in the first place; she only pretended to…”

Chloe- “And that’s why it hurt so much more!”

As the tears went from my eyes, I was rapidly growing weaker. I started to get sucked away, even with the presence of the ice. But my anger suddenly surfaced; how could ‘she’ manipulate my emotions like that?

Me- “Even if she was going to betray me, so what!? If I stayed in here, I’d be betraying her first! And Chloe never knew about Alice! You’re a fucking fake!!!”

With a wave of my hand, ‘Chloe’ dispersed. And I continued walking on, to the boundary of the space. It wouldn’t be long till I could smash it.

Me?- “Don’t leave!!! I can’t protect you out there!!! What if you actually get killed!?”

The lightning stormed around him wildly, and I found my reflection at the boundary. He was tearing up with an extremely worried expression.

Me- “It would be because I wasn’t strong enough. But I will fight to the last breath!”

I sent my strongest fist forward, and the space shattered to reveal boundless darkness.

Me?- “Then take this… Maybe you can survive longer with it…”

The darkness swirled around me, and suddenly, it receded into my body. And as I was enveloped by the darkness once again, I found myself in my body.

Opening my eyes, I saw a tear stricken Chloe buried in my chest. Stroking her beautiful black hair, I whispered,

Me- “Chloe… Don’t cry...”

She looked up at me, and we went into a hug.

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Author’s note 2- Sorry for the delay; I had a big fight with my family. But chapters should be back on schedule from now on, so I will see you tom. with another chapter!