In Another World

Prologue

A dark hallway presented before her, light seeping out from a room at the end of it.

Her footsteps were soft, as if she wasn't even touching the floor.

She made her way down the wooden path towards the door, slowly pushing it open. She peered in as her curious brown eyes took in the sights before her.

a tall and slender man leaned back in his creaky and worn out chair as he typed away on his computer.

A smile crept onto her face as her small, delicate figure slipped through the doorway, tip-toeing towards the back of his chair. Her smile turned into a grin as she pounced out into his view.

"BOO!" she exclaimed to him, her small and sweet voice echoing through the room.

The man jumped and looked down, not hesitating to let out a hearty chuckle "Well aren't you a sneaky one?" He said, reaching out to her. He stood as he picked her up, holding her in his arms as he twirled her around.

Her soft voice turned into a loud and playful giggle as she held on tight to his shirt collar.

He smiled wide and pet her head gently, his motion coming to a stop. "My princess...." the words escaping from his lips in a soft and loving tone as he held her close.

She closed her eyes, her heart warming grin still plastered across her face. The warmth from his large figure holding her close to him as if he never planned on letting go. It soothed her greatly. Her eyes opened slightly as she peered to the scenery in front of her.

Darkness. That was all she could see ahead.

- - -

Music and dim lighting filled the cramped, foggy apartment.

He walked through the small crowd of people as he carefully studied the room. Smoke and chatter seeped through the air as he made his way to the small and ragged couch on the other side of the room. He took a sip from his drink as he continued to look around at everyone, taking in the conversations. The exchanging of looks and voice between his peers.

"Hey man, you bored already?" A clear and familiar voice spoke from beside him.

His dark yet soft gaze met the eyes of the man who the voice belonged to, his lips tugging into a slight smile.

"Thomas." He said with a gentle satisfaction. "Just warming up."

Thomas plopped down on the couch next to him, pushing his shaggy light brown hair out of his face.

He watched his friend get comfortable and watched as a newly rolled joint was passed to him. He accepted the gesture as he sparked it up, taking a deep inhale. He sat back, letting the smoke fill his lungs, and exhaling as he let the feeling relax his muscles.

He looked around the room once more, studying every face, every expression, every gesture. He felt at peace, his home away from home. He never knew he would be someone to attend parties or make small talk. He was surrounded by people, some who he didn't even know, but the environment felt right to him.

He took another hit of the dimming joint as he looked over to Thomas.

His friend. His brother. The only person who truly made him feel cared for.

Thomas smiled at him in reply to his glance.

That's when the world around him disappeared.

Darkness. Thats all he could see ahead.

- - -

Blood.

Blood soaking her small and frail palms.

Blood soaking the creaking wooden floorboards beneath her.

Her feet dangled, still in his tight clutch. The view in front of her blurry as her eyes struggled to focus. She slowly looked at the image in front of her.

A mirror.

Her eyes finally focused in and immediately widened, tears swelling up in her ducts.

She quivered in fear, frozen in his hold, as she saw the gapping hole in the back of his head reflecting off the long mirror. Blood and brain matter seeped out, trailing down his back.

She wanted to scream. She wanted to scream till she could no longer speak. The sight that played before her was one she knew too well. A sight that she saw every night when she closed her eyes.

With a sudden jolt of fear, Rey sprung up from her slumber. Her breath heavy and beads of sweat trickling down the side of her face. She looked around the room, scanning and analyzing, trying to bring herself back to reality.

Her room was dark and silent, only accompanied by the sound of the AC unit blowing a cool breeze across her skin.

She exhaled as relief fell over her. She was safe. She was okay. It was just a nightmare.

- - -

Silence.

Silence is all he could hear.

He looked around the room. It was empty. Lifeless.

He slowly looked down, noticing he was still holding his drink tightly in his hand, and opening his other hand to reveal a small white capsule, ready to be consumed.

He blinked, looking back up at the room as it remained quiet and deserted.

The he heard it.

The soft moaning that rang in his ear, coming from beside him. Moans of pain and distress.

He slowly turned his head to see the horror that laid out before him.

Thomas.

Foaming fluid seeping from his widely parted lips. His eyes heavy yet large, as if he was still wide awake. His skin had turned blue and cold, his lifeless body slumped into the couch.

He was frozen in his place. He wanted to look away. He wanted to get up and get help. He needed to call someone. He needed to do something but all he could do was look at Thomas' limp figure. As if he was being forced to watch as his friend lost his life. A sight that was disturbingly familiar to him. A sight he could never wipe away.

Ben shot up out of his restless slumber, gasping to catch his breath. he placed his hand on his bare chest that glistened with sweat. He took in the surroundings of his dimly lit bedroom, his sheets laying across the floor. He assumed he kicked them off while he was fighting through yet another nightmare.

He exhaled deeply as he started to feel calm again, running his fingers through his silky black hair that was dampened with sweat. He knew there was no point in trying to fall asleep again.

Glancing at his clock, he stood up, his feet touching the cold floor. 5:00AM. He walked out of his bedroom, closing the door behind him.

He wouldn't be able to escape it. Avoiding it was all he could do at this point. Avoiding it and hoping it would finally go away.