#dimesion

“Dione!” He stops in front of me, “What are you doing over here? Shouldn’t you be on Euphoria?”

I collect myself, not wanting to look helpless in front of Hayden. Then stand proudly, only I can’t keep up the facade. “I don’t even know where ‘here’ is?” I sigh, biting my lip.

“Phorja, quite far from Euphoria if I do say so myself. I didn’t think you would be the type to leave the Kingdom of Niebo.” Hayden frowns, “Don’t you have duties to fulfill to your people?”

“Hayden, the Black Queen is gone,” I look at my feet.

His voice is quiet, “What?”

“I was supposed to save her, bring her back, but he caught up with me. He took the Black Queen and now I’m here.” I gesture to the dark tunnels of Phorja. “Please help me, I-I don’t know how to get back. I’ve never traveled so far from Euphoria and-”

“I’ll lead you to the nearest portal, but you must remain silent. Unexpected guests are not welcome here.” Hayden turns on his heel and begins walking through the dark tunnels of Phorja. I follow quickly. He walks stiffly, back straight, his mouth pulled into a thin line. Hayden wears a dark uniform with a tool belt hanging around his waist, soot coats his face and hands. It’s strange, I’ve known Hayden since we were little. He was alway cheery and fun, a follower at heart.. He used to walk with a small jump in his step. Hayden one the only person I confide in, mostly complaints about my future responsibilities. I remember when we were little I promised him one day he would become my royal advisor when I became the Black Butterfly. Only, that promise is now impossible. Hayden took up an apprenticeship with an old mechanic on Phorja. And I haven’t seen him since.

“What happened exactly?”

“Excuse me?” I’m pulled out of my thoughts.

“What happened? The Black Butterfly doesn’t just get lost.”

“Oh,” I whisper, “She was out in the fields, and then… someone just snatched her up and ran off. We tracked him to the Argian Forest, our party got split up and I ended up finding him. He had her in a bag! A bag, Hayden!” I take a deep, shuddering breath. “I wrestled him for it- and won -but he opened a tear, took the bag, pushed me through, and closed the rip. Now I’m stuck here.”

“And you’ve never been beyond Euphoria?” He guesses.

“Not without the council, and even then we were only a few jumps away.”

Hayden sighs, “And you’re plan is to…”

“Find the Black Butterfly and then get back to Euphoria, saving the day.” I say proudly, though only now, as I hear the words tumble out my mouth, do I realise how hopeless this whole endeavour is. Then realization hits us both. My mouth hangs open, “Hayden…”

“You’re the Black Queen now,” He whispers.

When the Black Queen is gone and the heiress lost, then the heiress must assume the role and become host to Euphoria.

It’s now me.

Suddenly he throws his arm at me, pushing me to the wall beside him.

“Guards,” He breathes. I nod and press my back closer to the wall, hiding behind the corner. They pass, their thick boots thumping away. We continue, our pace accelerated now. He leads me up winding staircases and rusty ladders. Slowly the tunnels turn to corridors, and slowly the dim light we’ve been squinting through turns bright. The temperature is no longer cold, but a sweltering heat. Briefly, I wonder how Hayden can stand it here, wearing all those dark clothes. Then I remember that more likely than not, he never leaves the deep caverns.

Then we’re standing in a dark alley. Red light shines through the buildings. I squint as we sneak out onto the gravel streets. Everything here on Phorja looks dead. I’ve heard stories of the famous forging dimension. People say that it was once as wealthy and beautiful as Euphoria, though that cannot be true, and one day a great fire swept through the lands. It burnt everything in sight, luckily many people escaped underground in tunnels. When they emerged to the destroyed surface, the people rebuilt and used the newly discovered tunnels to make a fortune on precious metals, jewels, weapons and armor.

In one swift motion, Hayden locks my hands behind my back. “Hey!” I gasp, struggling to get free.

“Shh,” He says hastily, “Intruders aren’t welcome here, if someone sees you they’ll know.” He gestures to my bright Euphorian clothes, “This way a passerby will think you’re my prisoner.”

I take my hands from his grasp, “I’ll be fine.”

“This isn’t Euphoria, just do as I say!” He snaps. Reluctantly, I put my hands behind my back.

We walk slowly, but still with a purpose. Then I see it. The portal is not like those on Euphoria. It isn’t a light blue with ivy vines growing up old, cracked stone. Instead, it is an angry red, built within dark bedrock. I bite my lip as we  approach the growing crowd around the portal. Burly Guards stand around it, armed. They search every person who tries to go through. I realize that there is no way I’ll get through.

Hayden must realise this too, because he stops abruptly. “What are we going to do?” He asks, as if reading my mind.

“They won’t let me through, I’ve no proper identification in Phorja. And from what’ve you’ve said, the guards will not care that I’m-”

“We’re just going to have to try.” He decides, “I’ll lead you up there, through the crowds.” I take a deep breath and nod.

We give up the ruse of ‘prisoner and guard’, walking so fast that I have to take long, exaggerated strides just to keep up with Hayden. Hayden pushes through the crowd, but they part for me. I can only imagine how odd a Euphorian must look to these people. Three guards rush up and stop us.

“Identification and a written permission to pass through the portal.” One of them drones, holding a spear close to my chin.

“I am the futu- I am the Black Butterfly of Euphoria, I’ve got lost on an- an expedition… You must let me pass!” I plead strongly, Hayden stands behind me, nodding along.

The shortest of the guards snorts, “Unless you have something showing the you’ve passed through this portal, we cannot allow you to jump dimensions.” He looks at Hayden, “And we’ll have to turn you in as well for harboring an intruder.”

Then, much like before, I feel a hand on my back and I’m pushed forward. “Run!” Hayden shouts. I sprint forward, dodging out of the way of the guards. The crowd gasps behind me as I jump through the portal.

The air in this new dimension is starkly different than the air in Phorja. It is bitterly cold and a harsh wind whips at my exposed skin. My bare feet ache on the icy ground and I regret not wearing shoes when I went on the search for the Black Butterfly. I’m knocked forward by a heavy mass. It yelps as it thumps to the ground. I regain balance and turn to see Hayden pushing himself up.

“You…”

“I’ll help you, I owe you Euphorians.” I stare blankly at him as he speaks, “Besides, I couldn’t have stayed there, they would’ve executed me.”

Hayden brushes the snow from his uniform and trudges forward, in no direction in particular. “Where do we go now?” I ask, hoping he may know more than I.

“I don’t know,” He admits, “But there aren’t many deserted ice dimensions, so there must be a town somewhere.” Hayden holds out a hand, “It’ll be an adventure, just like old times.”

I avoid his hand and follow him forward. He no longer understands the ways of our people. Hayden cannot possibly know the weight that burdens my shoulders at the moment. This is no adventure. This is not a childish mission. This task is of utmost importance. It is necessary for my people’s survival. I don’t trust him enough.

“Quickly,” I order. He looks hurt, slightly, but follows regardless. My feet go numb as I walk through the snow and ice.  They are turning pale, almost colorless. Wind whips across the barren land, chilling me to the bones. I almost miss the unbearable heat of Phorja. I hope that Hayden was right to say that there’s probably a village, town or city near. Though, looking out, all I can see is more dark, dead, wastelands of ice. Then there’s a flicker, just a spark of light in the distance.

“Look,” Hayden mutters. I open my eyes wider, hoping to see more. There’s a proper flash of light this time. Blinking, a blinking light. I run forward, ignoring the sting in my feet. I hear Hayden’s boots clump after me. We push through the snow, unfearing of the possible dangers ahead.

The blinking light grows larger and large, then it’s right in front of me. A huge, lantern-like bulb protrudes from the side of a metal carriage. Only, this carriage is large, and it’s wheels are made of some dark substance. I glance a Hayden, hoping for an explanation. He doesn’t look nearly as confused as he should. A loud, obnoxious honk interrupts my thoughts. It sounds three more times, before the carriage stops moving. The blinking light dims, and I see a figure step out from a door. For a moment, only a silhouette is visible, then the person turns a beam of light on us.

The figure’s face is thin and sharp, with scaly bluish skin and a tail. Profound cheekbones and large, sunken, soulful eyes. The figure speaks in some unknown language. Then, after realizing we don’t understand, it speaks with choppy english, “Who are you?” When neither of us respond, it asks again. “I will have you know, trespassers are not permitted entry to the city,” My heart skips a beat- a city! “Step forth, or we will no longer hold our fire.”

I look to Hayden once more, he squints to see in the dim lighting. Hayden shows no signs of communicating with these people. “We mean you no harm!”

“Show your faces, and I’ll be the judge of that.”

I take Hayden’s arm and pull him forward. He stumbles into the light with me. “There, now lower your lighted weapon and tell us where we are.”

“This?” They reference to the stick of light in their hand, I nod in response. “This is a flashlight, ignorant foreigner.”

My ears turn hot at my apparent ignorance. “Where are we? What is your name?”

“I am Szomoru, you are in Foldje Jeg- the Land of Ice in your tongue.” Their strange accent mesmerizes me.

“We must speak with you ruler, it is urgent.” I tell them sternly. Szomoru nods and waves us onto the carriage.

“Come.”

We step inside, heated and whirring. Buzzing, vibrating constantly. I already hate these strange carriages. “What is this, a carriage?” I ask Hayden quietly.

“A jarmu,” Szomoru answers. “Do you not have them where you are from?”

“We call them cars on Phorja,” Hayden adds, whispering to me.

“Oh,” I whisper, nodding absentmindedly. I take in my new surroundings. With a lurch, the ‘car’ begins to move. Move, really, without creatures pulling it. Seemingly, without magic as well! With movement, comes an awful odor. It smells poisonous, worse that smoke in your eye.  Szomoru sits in a chair that is bolted to the floor, Hayden and I do the same.

“Where are we?” I ask Szomoru.

“I have already told you that, pay attention!”

“Oh, um,” Once again, my ears fire up. Though, I have to keep up a strong expression, “Where are we going?”

“The center of our kingdom, there you can meet our Vonalzo. You may talk with them about your punishment then.” Szomoru looks at me with sad eyes, as if remembering something.

“Punishment?” I gulp, glancing over at Hayden. He bites his lip and looks out a frosty window in the front of the car. Two other people seem to be controlling it from the front, they pay no attention to us.

“We are not kind to unexpected visitors.”

“Seems to be a running theme,” I mutter, defeated. Szomoru grips the arms of the chair tightly, knuckles turning white. They look nervous, I don’t pry though. It’s none of my business- I have a mission to complete. Almost as suddenly as the car began moving, it stops. I’m thrown forward, but Hayden catches me by the arm and pulls me back into my seat. I gasp, head hitting the back of the chair. Hayden holds himself down, ankles wrapped around the legs and hands gripping the arms. Szomoru does the same. I’m jealous of their obvious practice.

Szomoru leads us from the car, the other two people in there drive away. We walk through icy caverns, carved by the hands of many many peoples. Small fires flicker in the windows of houses, white smoke pouring from chimneys. It’s smaller than I’m used to. Then again, the city is large, though in the darkness it only seems to be as big as the few feet I can see. Bridges bend over icy waterways, snowy paths lead down row upon row of snow huts. Everything is symmetrical, laid out perfectly.

My feet begin to ache once more as we pass encounter a gate. Szomoru speaks to a hooded guard, saying something I don’t understand. The hooded figure grumbles, rolling their eyes, and reluctantly opens the gate. We step through and the world seems to transform.

Bright bonfires heat the streets, light spilling out, covering every surface. Dark shadows dance across market stalls that are decorated with colorful clothes. Unlike the previous section, this one is cheerful and lively. People hustle in and out of shops, smiling and greeting people. Elders lounge around, playing cards and throwing dice. However, the deeper we travel in silence, the more weary looks become. The more skittish people act.

“Heads down,” Szomoru hisses, their lizard-like tail flicking, “Come, I know a quicker way.” I comply and Hayden follows.  

We slip through the alleys, eyes on the ground, eventually coming to a larger, more grand gate. Szomoru bows when approaching the guards this time. The guards still wear hoods, though these are fancier. The stitches straighter, a gold lining hiding beneath. They hold themselves with a sort of confidence the other guards just didn’t possess.

“I am the Szomoru, a border patrol leader. I bring foreigners who are lost. They request to speak with our Vonalzo, er, Ruler.” Szomoru struggles stuttering, their shoulders scrunched. I feel bad for the acquaintance, they seem lower than these people.

The guard smirks, chuckling slightly. “We know who you are, you’re the Ruler’s little lupum.”

I can see fire flare in Szomoru’s eyes for a moment. “I just happen to have a lot of reports,” He mumbles.

The guards let out a hearty laugh and push open the thick, ice gates. “It’s okay, you can be the Ruler’s favorite.”

We walk through, and once more, the world transforms. Large houses, fancy shops and important looking buildings line the dimly lit streets. It is properly quiet here. Wealthy people stand in their windows, silhouettes visible. I look into the warm buildings and my feet ache once more. My arms are chilled, legs almost frozen over. But I still walk behind Szomoru in this frozen lands.

Hayden speaks out, his voice dry and cracked. “Why did you not speak to them in your native language?”

“Knowing english marks you as higher, they do not allow uneducated peoples through the upper gates. I-I, um, I am not the best at speaking it.” Szomoru looks up at the large staircase carved into an icy overhang that we approach. We march up the stairs, and behind the icy fog, I can make out a castle. The guards let us through, no questions asked.

I smile as we enter. The inside of the castle is grandeur even compared to the fancy surrounding buildings. Plush carpet welcomes my cold feet and warm fires light the entrance hall. However, Szomoru wastes no time. They walk swiftly down a seperate hall that leads deeper into the palace. Hayden nudges me forward, and we walk side-by-side to the throne room.

“Szomoru enters, with guests.” A guard announces.

The Ruler groans, “Szomoru, my pitiful friend, I’ve told you not to visit me. I can’t have commoners being so well known in the upper rings of our kingdom. You know tha-” They looks up and their reptilian face brightens, “Humans!”

“Humans?” I ask, wondering if perhaps this Ruler has insulted us.

“That is what you are, no?”

“I am Euphorian, and my companion is as well.” I explain, I can see Szomoru’s eyes widen.

“Hmm, silly humans, always changing.” The Ruler sits up straighter in their throne.

Szomoru cuts in, “My Vonalzo, they were found in the ice fields. I  brought them here for a trial.”

“Where are you traveling to little humans.” They ask.

I bite my lip, “Euphoria.”

“I’ve not heard of this land before… perhaps I could give you a map?”

I nod eagerly, “Please.”

The Ruler signals for a servant to scurry away to retrieve a map of the different dimensions. A few minutes later, one returns with a old and fragile looking scroll. The Ruler leads us away from the throne room, down halls that are carved ice, though golden accents and rubies make it elegant. Szomoru trails hesitantly behind, eyeing the two of us, Hayden and I, with a seemingly newfound wonder. We enter a stone room with a large slab of stone in the middle, a table. The Ruler sets down the maps and smooths it out of the stone. I approach the map.

It’s a swirl. Tiny circles connected haphazardly to larger ones. Wavy lines squiggling beneath thick ones. I squint at the names on the map. They are small, sketched with a shaky hand. The Ruler points to a small circle, in the center is the name written in some strange script.

“This is our land.”

“I don’t see Euphoria…” I mutter.

“It’s not on here.” Hayden stands behind me, peering over my shoulder. He taps the spot next to a bolded circle, “That’s Phorja.” His finger trails to the edge of the map. “Euphoria is this way.”

“We just came from Phorja! Does that mean we’re going the opposite way?”

Before Hayden can respond, a gasp settles over the room. “Phorja?” Szomoru whispered.

The Ruler sweeps in front of us. “How dare you enter our dimension!”

“We mean you no harm!” I say protest, putting my arms up to cover my face, “We only travel from there.”

Guards, alerted by the yelling, march into the stone room. “Chain them! They are spies from Phorja.”

And then the world goes dark.

I blink awake to a dark place. Dark and cold. My feet sting from running on hard surfaces. My head pounds from a blow that rendered me unconscious. Still, I push myself up.

“Hello?” I croak.

“Dione!” Someone gasps. My eyes adjust to new lighting and I can make out the form of Hayden. He slouches against a cracked wall. Ice and stone combined.

“Where is the Ruler?”

“Up in the palace, they lead us down here.”

“Why?”

“Dione, we’re prisoners.” My heart skips a beat.

“Prisoners?” Hayden nods. “But we’ve done nothing wrong! I am the heir to Euphoria. I’m royalty! We would never endanger a dimension enough to-”

Hayden puts a hand over my mouth. I can hear the sound of approaching shoes. We wait, a stream of light flashes into our hall, shining through the metal bars of our cell. It pauses at our cell. Then the sorrowful face of Szomoru appears. They crouch in front of us.

“Szomoru!” I squeal.

“Silence!” They hiss, bringing out the map from behind their back. “You are prisoners now, Phorjan scum. I brought you the map to lead you back to your home.”

“We aren’t Phorjan!”

“Shh! You come from Phorja. Phorja is a dangerous place, they destroyed our home many eons ago.”

“Why would they have an open portal here then?”

“I don’t know!”

I look to Hayden for an answer.

“There are many reasons,” He explains, “But I know that they were planning something big.”

Szomoru bites their lip. “I will still help you.”

“Thank you for your kindness, but why?”

“I always heard my sibling speaking of this place you come from, Euphoria. They called it a paradise.”

“It is,” I reminisce, interrupting them.

Szomoru continues, “They believed that, very much so. Everyone warned them not to pursue it, find it. And they did anyways. And they didn’t come back.” They get quiet, “We received notice of their death a few months later.”  

Hayden swallows.

“I’m not sure what happened, but if you are truly from there- then I must help you get there. To honor them.”

I reach through the bars, laying a hand on Szomoru’s shoulder. “Thank you, once again.”

Szomoru produces a key from their robes and unlocks the cell. We both file out. They spread out the map and point to Foldje Jeg. Hayden lets out a low gasp.

“What?” I look over to him.

“We’re in the fringe.”

“How? Phorja isn’t in the-”

“We’ve crossed over the border.” A dark cloud passes over Hayden’s face.

“What is this ‘fringe’ you speak of?” Szomoru cuts in.

“The Outer ring of endless dimensions. Dangerous, warzones, not safe- not for us.” Hayden stands up straighter. “Szomoru, you must lead us to your nearest portal.”

“I am not sure I can-”

“Open one here then.” Hayden looks to the map, “Open one that leads to any world in the Lavoric Dimensional flow.”

“Open one?” I whisper. It’s a skill that few possess. No one on Euphoria can do it, no one teaches it, who would want to leave? Valuable, much too valuable for a patrol leader to have.

Hayden nods to Szomoru’s exposed wrist, a swirly seal is burned into the flesh. “You bear the sign of a dimensional tearer, please help us.”

Szomoru nods hesitantly. Looking at the ground, they mutter something underneath their breath and bring their hands down in a slicing motion. In a shimmering shower, the very fabric of time tears. Purples and dark blues, a shadow covers an unknown land.

“Please hurry,” Szomoru grunts. “Goodbye, strangers.”

I grasp Hayden’s hand and nod to Szomoru, “We’ll be forever indebted to you, my friend.”

And with that, we step through the rip.

For a moment, I almost believe that I’ve returned to Euphoria, then I catch the scent of smoke in the air. Two deep breaths, I’m sure that it’s pollution. My eyes open to fields and fields and fields. They have tall grasses with the tips singed black. The sky is an array of dark oranges, reds, and browns. And, like I mentioned before, the scent of sickness and pollution lingers.

Hayden stumbles in front of me, eyes wide with horror. “We’re still in the fringe.”

My eyes focus on the big picture. In the distance there are screams and shouts. Thousands of armies rumble in the thrill and fear of battle. It’s a warzone.

Hayden pulls me in the opposite direction of the battle, but I pull away. “We have to find a portal!”

Together, we rush towards the armies.

Screams get louder and we slip around the outskirts of the battlefield where only a few forgotten corpses lay. It doesn’t take long before we are crouched behind a dead bush, peering into the fighting throng on people. Time blips and then, in the blink of an eye, we are next to a soldier. He turns to us without hesitation, as if we hadn’t just glitched with time itself. Hayden was right, the fringe is dangerous. Dimensions shouldn’t do that, this place isn’t stable. Maybe once it was. Maybe it was once a beautiful place. But war and rage have claimed the lands and taken them into their greedy hands.

“You two should be with your squads. We have to protect the volcano!” He points to a smoking, red volcano that sits, flaming. “Move it!”

We are ushered away.

“Where would a portal even be in this madness?” I look to Hayden who stares at the volcano with a determined glare.

“They would protect it at all costs; we have to get to the volcano!”

I nod and we push through the crowds of still-standing people. They wear heavy armor, metal, copper, leather, cloth, anything they could get their hands on. Time is now speedy. In no time, we’re approaching guards. Their eyes turn angry, and I can feel time slow once again. Not now! I plead in my mind. We must get out of this place. I can already feel the effects of this dying dimension.

“Back to your squadron, we’ve no time for soldiers so close to the portal.” The guards block our path.

“We must leave! We’re from-” Hayden puts a hand over my mouth.

“It won’t matter.” He hisses and step forward. I expect him to say something diplomatic, take my place as leader. Maybe he’ll explain our mission. Explain that I’m royalty, a ruler. Perhaps Hayden will show them that we’re lost and need to find our way back. Time seems to stop. Hayden’s fist flies, connecting with one of the guard’s throats. The guard crumples, gasping for air.

“Where does it lead?” He threatens the remaining two guards, who look fearful despite brandishing much more lethal weapons than a fist. No one even seems to notice the small comotion.

“A paradise,” One squeaks, “We can’t get through though.”

Hayden meets my gaze and we share the same thought, Euphoria. Like many times before, we push past the guards and make a dash for the volcano just as time begins to resume. We stumble to a stop, Hayden raises a fist to the nearest guard that protects a cave entrance to the volcano. His knuckles come back bloodied, but the guards slumps on the ground. I take the spear from the guards limp hand and give it to Hayden.

“You have to protect me.” I say nothing else, there isn’t anything to say. He understand perfectly well what I mean. The fate of Euphoria depends on my existence. From the moment I fell through that portal, I was the Black Butterfly. The ruler. The Queen. I am everything that balances the fragile world. I possess unimaginable power. But death could take it in an instant. Hayden nods.

Time blips once again, and now we’re in the volcano. Hayden pierces the heart of a nearby soldier. He does it with uncertainty, I can tell that he is not skilled with weapons. The soldier falls back, gripping her chest. We hurry away, deeper into the heated volcano. I’ve never seen one active before. Those on Euphoria are long dead. It’s hot and humid. Hotter than Phorja, darker than the icy fields of Foldje Jeg. I can make out the distant glow of a portal. My heart skips, so close.

No guards are stationed here. For a moment I think I can make out bones in the dim lighting, but I push the thought from my mind. Hayden sticks close to my side, I find a familiarity in his companionship. I missed him.

Then the portal is in front of us. It’s greater than anything I’ve ever seen before. Large pillars of marble and stone, woven together around a swirling mass of pure energy. Rips and smaller portals don’t give this sort of aura. They are stable and calm, but this crackles with life and electricity. It is probably the most alive thing in this entire dimension.

“Wow,” Hayden stares in awe at the portal. I hug him, wrapping my arms around his torso tightly.

“Thank you,” I whisper, then grab his hand and, like some many times before, jump through the portal.

My eyes don’t open to rolling hills or lush forest. There are no rocky roads or quaint cottages. There is only light and shadows. Then a small hole of green appears in the distance, and with it, three people.

“And our butterfly returns,” The tallest muses.

“With a friend?” The middle asks.

“I hope they’re prepared,” The shortest gives a dark smile. The trio flashes behind us, I can feel an ominous chill along my spine. It makes my hair stand on end. And thin hand nudges me forward, and two more grip Hayden back, restraining him.

“Who-” I begin.

“We are copies, mere gatekeepers to Euphoria,” The shortest responds without hesitation.

“Where are w-”

“You are in between dimensions,” The middle cuts in.

“A peculiar place to be,” The tallest say sympathetically. “Prove yourself young butterfly, and then you can return with your companion.”

And it all goes to hell.

Stinging cold and scalding fire. Pitch black and blinding light. My vision is blurred, the only clear thing I can see is Hayden. My eyes focus on his struggling figure. The three gatekeepers hold his limbs apart, pulling outwards. He writhes in pain, screeching. I lurch forward, calling to him, though no sound comes out. My hand touches his shoulder and then it changes again.

A memory. Waves lap against the shore calmly. A gentle breeze sweeps across the bay. Just another day in Euphoria. Hayden’s young face laughs at something I said before and he skips a flat stone on the water’s surface. It bounces once, twice, and on the third bounce it sinks. He looks over at me, ‘Your turn!’ Then a smooth stone forms in my palm. I let it fly through the air and skip over the surface, sending small ripples back to shore. My rock continues to go. Skipping farther and farther, until it bullets into the sky, tearing the clouds apart. Fire rains from the hole I’ve created and I watch my home, Euphoria, burn.

Then I’m back in the light and shadows place. The gatekeepers hold a bloody and weak Hayden. I gasp, “Please! Let him go!”

The middle laughs, “Catch us.”

And they disappear.

I’m hit with a sudden grief. As if I’ve lost the most important thing in my life. As if no amount of happiness and joy could ever lift this weight from my shoulders. I want to let it destroy me. Engulf my soul and do as it pleases with it. I want to give in so badly, it would be so easy. But a burning though in the back of my mind won’t let me, those gatekeepers brought this on me. I break through the cloud with a scream.

“Let him go!” I yell to the shadows, no answer. An invisible foot kicks me in the back and I fall to my knees. Hands yank my hair and stab my stomach. It feels like I’m bleeding out, despite no blood seeping through my clothes. My dress hem tears, the flowery pattern ripping like the fabric of time, space and travel.

Then I’m staring into the six eyes of the gatekeepers. “Let us show you,” One of them smirks and my eyes go blank.

White, then black. Figures much like those on Euphoria stumble through the vast multiverse. They look around in wonder, gawking at the many worlds and their inhabitants. I realize that these are humans. Some break off and colonize dimensions, some wander forever. Some are peaceful, others violent. Every person contrasts from the next. Every person is their own vibrant color. One group leads. Someone sees destruction in the future and warns them. And they find Euphoria. The leaders choose some. Only the worthiest, no, not the worthiest- not really. They choose the most powerful. The most rich. The ones they favor. And together, those leaders create a paradise that they call Euphoria. It looks the same as mine, only this one has towering, dark walls and chains. The people of this dimension are trapped, forbidden to leave.

Tears slip down my face, the grief returning. I cry and cry and cry, ugly sobs racking my tired body. I wail until my voice is gone. Looking up, I see Hayden. He isn’t broken, he is as I remember him; happy. I feel a warmth in my back and it spreads down my spine. I can feel wings grow and stretch. Gorgeous, black butterfly wings. That’s what I am, the Black Butterfly of Euphoria. The ruler, the balance, everything.

I let the wings lift my from the ground and turn my heart into stone. It weighs me down to the earth, grounding me. The three gatekeepers appear.

“Still want it?” Tallest ask curiously. It’s a choice, my choice.

“Yes,” A distorted voice that somewhat resembles my own replies, and I dive at the three of them. My hands rip through their flesh and destroy their souls. I let their evil melt into the ground. I watch the gatekeepers disappear, and it feels great. It’s exhilarating, even though I know that they’ll come back.

I land on the ground, darkness hovering around my skin, though it does not touch it. Hayden walks towards me and the small hole of green opens wide. I realize it’s the rest of the portal, the part we were blocked from. It lets out a gust of wind, ruffling our hair. I look over at Hayden.

“I did it,” I whisper.

Hayden’s hand intertwines with my own, “Please… please don’t.”

“What?” My voice breaks.

“Please don’t go back there, it’s not a good place, Dione.”

“Hayden, it’s a p-”

He cuts me off, “It’s not a paradise! It’s a haven created for greedy monsters. You’re trapped there, don’t you know? They don’t teach dimension tearing because if you leave then it could fall apart. Euphoria could do something, they could help fix broken dimensions. But they don’t, they just hide away. I escaped, this is your chance to do so as well!”

“I have a duty to my people,” My voice is ridged, practiced.

“You could have died! Did you see what those gatekeepers did to you? You’re my best friend, my closest companion, please, please don’t go Dione. Come back with me to Phorja.” Looking over at Hayden, I can see tears rolling down his face. My heart dips, though I don’t let it fall and shatter. I have a duty to my people. There is a warm feeling on my wrist and I look down to see the mark of a dimensional tearer. As if I’ve done it my entire life, as if it were an innate skill, I reach out and touch the paper thin dimensional wall. It’s fragile, it tears easily. I open a rip to Phorja.

“I will miss you, my loyal companion.” I reach out and push Hayden through the tear. It closes, and he’s gone.