My phone buzzed again in my hand as I flopped back onto the couch.
I hadn't even had time to process the whole "this ring won't come off" situation before the screen lit up with a message from Talia.
Talia:
That's okay, dude… But ugh. Trevor is such a dick, man.
Me:
There is literally no moment in time where that asshole isn't being a dick. He probably came out of the womb complaining about the temperature with that attitude.
I sent the message, and a second later, the three dots popped up, typing. She was quick.
Talia:
LMAO... For real... He just stood there after I straight-faced him, even after I literally shouted, "Leave me alone, you creep." Like?? How do you not take a hint?
From her tone, it was obvious Trevor's advances had gone from annoying to borderline intolerable. She sounded like she was inches away from decking him
So I decided to keep things light, trying to make her laugh.
Me:
He thinks "go away" means "linger awkwardly and make it worse." Classic Trevor. Well, at least he is not the grabby type. Some assholes out here think they own the girls they like. Honestly disturbing, kinda sick in the end. Then again, I am a twenty-three-year-old virgin, so what do I know?
Talia:
Damn bro... The fact that you can say that without even feeling embarrassed is wild.
She responded honestly, and so I shot my shot...jokingly, of course.
Me:
Well, why don't you be a good friend and free me from this purity chain that's shackling my confidence?
Talia:
I love you, man, but you're honestly not my type, no offense. Besides, I can't be in a sexual relationship with my homie now, can I, dude?
Reading that, I looked at my phone and muttered to myself.
"Why is she so serious all of a sudden? Does she really think I meant that seriously?"
"Sigh… Even tomboy gyarus can't tell a joke from reality these days. If I'm being real, I've had nothing but bad experiences with women. Strangely, I don't even have the drive to pursue them. And even if I did… I'd follow my mother's last advice to me."
[Never get married under any circumstances whatsoever. In this day and age, it's just prison with extra steps. Why settle down when you can buy a whore? Why have kids out of love when you can artificially produce them with current tech? Honestly, women and men alike are becoming obsolete. It's sad, sure...but it's better than getting scammed. Prenups don't mean shit anymore]
"Dear mother… Your son shall follow your teachings to the utmost. Anyway… Talia aside, what the hell is up with this ring?"
I raised my left hand to my face. I had no idea why it remained stuck on my finger, but one way or another, it was going to come off.
"I'll head to the jewelry store tomorrow and have them cut it off… For now, I am going to hit the sack. Today was way too long for me to stress over this."
With that, I gave my phone one last look and texted Talia to end the convo.
Me:
I was joking, dude. Lol. No need to get all serious about it. Anyway, I gotta bounce. TTYL.
"And send...
I tossed my phone aside, headed to my room, and got dressed for the night.
Before long, I was on my back, the lights out, the darkness of the night my last visible companion for the day.
YAWN!!
"I have a long day tomorrow. Let's get some shut-eye."
My head touched the pillow, and I quickly slipped into sleep. The stress and fatigue of the day finally took hold of me, and my body gave in.
But little did I know… Tonight was the night my peaceful, boring, mundane, and poverty-stricken life would finally end.
And as I fell into slumber, I failed to notice the ring glowing faintly, vibrating softly on my finger.
⫷♛⫸═════════◆═════════⫷♛⫸
"Theodore… Wake up."
A voice called out to me from where, I didn't know.
But it was soft… and sweet.
"Come to me… Come to me now before it's too late.
"Come to me…"
The pull in my chest stirred me first.
Not my eyes.
Not my body.
Just a heavy, dragging sense of being wanted… needed.
My eyes cracked open.
But I wasn't looking at my ceiling.
Above me, a dark gray sky stretched endlessly, the clouds thick and unmoving, blanketing every direction.
I sat up slowly... Cobblestones, I said to myself as I looked down in awe. I was lying on cobblestones. But that was not the only thing. The air was chilly, thick with mist. My breath came out in puffs, and a strange silence pressed around me.
"Is this… a dream or something?"
Only to wake up to a whole new view.
I looked around, confused. The last thing I remembered was falling asleep.
Now this was what I woke up to
"A lucid dream, huh?"
I said as I began to theorize what this place was.
As I processed the situation, the voice called again, more insistent now.
"Theodore…
I turned toward the sound, my feet crunching gravel and leaves. But I wasn't fully in control. Something was pulling me.
And soon, I quickly found myself standing at the edge of a forest...gnarled trees, their bark blackened as if charred. Roots rose from the ground like hands clawing their way out.
The world was drained of color, washed in dull greens, sick browns, and gray.
Still, I walked.
And the more I walked, the clearer the voice grew.
Until I saw it.
A large mansion.
Enormous and looming.
Its roof peaked like a cathedral's, sharp and menacing against the sky. The building was Victorian in style but grotesquely tall and stretched upward to the point it dwarfed the trees.
Black wrought-iron fences wrapped the property, twisted with thorned vines around the bars.
And from where he stood on the outside, he could see that every window was lit from within.
"You must come inside."
The voice ordered
"You must see me...we don't have much time."
It demanded.
My heartbeat slowed as I stepped through the open gate. I should have been afraid... Any sane person would've run.
But I couldn't.
There was no fear in me, only urgency... just as there was no panic nor dread. Just the need to reach… her. That voice, that presence.