The Infinidex - Part 6

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"Alright... It's now or never!"

And with two... no... three deep breaths, I gave the door a big heave, and began to run as quickly as I could towards the direction stated by the table (I couldn't believe I was taking instructions from an inanimate object!). At the same time, I was mentally counting down the time remaining before Locks would be alerted by my escape. 17 minutes, was it? Anyway, no matter what the time limit was, I had to rush and get to the waterfall.

It was still dark, and I had to sacrifice a couple of seconds to get my bearings right. But once I got it, I just made a dash for the forest clearing.

It seemed as though I had been running for miles... I haven't ran this much and this frantically since... well... the last time I tried to escape! But I couldn't let let that bother me now. I had to get to the waterfall!.

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"Hazel!!!"

In a heartbeat, Ben, with a bad feeling within him, jumped out of bed and rushed to the room where Hazel resided. And just as he feared... The door was opened... And she was gone! Not underneath the table, not anywhere in the room!

But... but... how did she? Ahhh! I knew I should've fixed that extra lock... The one he had somehow got tampered with and broke loose.

It was 12:17 am, and Ben was fearing for her safety, what with a young girl like her going out into the rugged streets at this hour. She could get hurt... Or worse...

He had no time to lose. So he headed for the main door, which was left ajar, and went out in an attempt to retrieve her once again. But which way did she run to? Could it be the field again? Fortunately, this period of unusually rainy weather had made the dirt path in the town pretty easy to leave footprints in. And footprints were what he saw, leading from the bar to a certain direction. But it wasn't towards the field...

"Why would she want to run to the... Oh look, Ben... It doesn't matter now! You're not gonna to lose her, are you?"

And with that thought in mind, he hurriedly set foot and followed the tracks.

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It wasn't too long before I heard the sound of water crashing down from a great height. I had made it at last!

And there it was... My ticket to freedom and out of this crazy reality! It looked rather magnificent too... And the water was as clear as crystal! The only beautiful thing and a sight for sore eyes somewhat in this eerie place. Its apparent beauty paralysed me for a couple of seconds, until I suddenly remembered that I was supposed to advance towards it, not stare in awe.

I recalled what the table had said. Something about fixing my sight on the waterfall and not looking down... I didn't know why, but I couldn't get too concerned over that now. I just had to follow that table's instruction and I should be home-free... I hope.

As I approached the water, it was almost too tempting not to look down into it. It was just so pure and clean. But the thought of freedom in my reach managed to wipe it off and so, I fixed my focus on the waterfall. I was actually afraid whether I could actually walk on the water. The water was really deep further out, and worse still, I can't swim.

With one deep breath, I closed my eyes, and took that difficult first step... After the first step, I took the second, then the third and so on...

"Hey... I really AM walking on water!", I thought to myself in amazement, since I've already taken a number steps out from the bank.

I opened my eyes, and there was the waterfall only about fifteen or so steps away. I grew more excited as I approached the falling waters, not only because I was walking on water, but more on the fact that I was almost able to escape this nightmare of mine, that is if it wasn't real. I was really hoping that once I walk through the door, I would wake up in the normal reality and be back at wherever I was... However, that thought was almost shattered when I heard the rustling of grass and heavy footsteps closing in, followed by a familiar voice...

"Missy!!!"..... It was Locks! He had found me! Should I turn to look at him, or do I just remain fixed on the waterfall and continue? But what if he did something that will make me lose consciousness again, and I'll never be able to leave this place again?

Spurred by the threat of eternal imprisonment, I continued walking.

"Missy! Where da ya think you're goin'?"
("Missy! Where do you think you're going?")

At that point, I thought I heard two voices! One of them was Locks's. But the other... Strangely familiar, but I couldn't put my finger on it, neither could I afford to be bothered. I had to keep going... As I approached the waterfall, I took out the key to open the door... As well as the crystal ball, just in case I needed it.

"What? Where did ya get that key from? Und what are ya goin' ta do with that ball?"
("What? Where did you get that key from? And what are you doing with that ball?")

I ignored... But surprisingly, I didn't hear Locks coming after me, and I didn't think that he was going to do anything, but stand there and shout. As I got to within a couple of steps to the waterfall, suddenly, a beautiful golden door appeared in the waters. This must be a door that the key could open.

"No! Don't go through that door! Ya dun't know what's out there! If ya do, we'll all b'in danger!"
("No! Don't go through that door! You don't know what's in there! If you do, you could get hurt!")

We'll all be in danger? I had no idea what he meant, and the tone of his voice was one full of fear and desperate plea for me to stop. But, maybe being selfish at that time, I didn't care about that warning and inserted the key into the keyhole of the door.

The key was a perfect fit. With a turn, the door was unlocked. And I opened it in anticipation. What could be beyond this door, apart from freedom? What does freedom actually look like?

Suddenly, as I opened the door, a great intensity of light shone in my face from the other side. It was so glaring and strong, that I was completely blinded by it, and I almost lost consciousness. Because of the light, I also lost my balance, and began to fall forward through the door.

And then that was when I realised that... There was no flooring whatsoever on the other side of the door! I was going to fall! But for how long? How great was this chasm? I could not get back to my feet, and I knew my fall was imminent.

"No, Missy!"
("No, Hazel!")

"Hazel? Did I hear a Hazel? But... who's Ha...zell......", I thought to myself just as I lost all consciousness again, presumably falling......

Whatever happened immediately after that... I'll probably never know...

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"Hazelll!!!!"

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Uh-uuhh... Where am I? Did I escape?

Again, as expected, I woke up to complete darkness again... I could not see where I was, let alone my own hands and the rest of my body! Also, I felt like I was floating in mid-air. I felt a cold chill around me, and an air of uneasiness was everywhere in this abyss... I was scared... no... terrified... Is this what the table called... freedom? I felt like a bird in a cage of which I knew no dimensions of... Or was I dead?

Just as I was losing all hope, I heard a distinct noise coming from behind me. I turned around to have a look, wondering what else could possibly be existing in this place.

As I turned around, not too far a distance away, I saw some silhouettes. There were four of them, all of them seemingly sitting around a circular table of some sort. It looked like some conclave or something.

I could not make out neither their faces nor their dressings. Although judging from the silhouettes, I guessed that they were all wearing hooded robes.

Suddenly, they began to speak... Their voices powerful and frighteningly audible considering the distance from here to there...

Voice 1: I'd assume that you know why we are here for at this point of the millenia?

Voice 2: Yes indeed, my brother... We are aware of the situation.

Brother?

Voice 3: Heh... Give us the lowdown, boss...

Boss? Who are these... people?

Voice 1: As you might have heard, one of them has 'awoken' from slumber, causing a ripple in the space-reality continuum.

Voice 2: I am aware of it. And I've initially tried taking the appropriate measures in an attempt to control the situation. But I cannot comprehend how she could have done so by herself. And for what reason?

Did he lock me up with... er... Locks?

Voice 4: I concur... No way any one of them could have woken up... Unless, the cycle were to be broken.

Cycle? What exactly is this cycle? And are there more 'sleeping'?

Voice 1: I am aware of that. But unfortunately, that is exactly what had happened. There has been some tampering in the cycle.

Voice 3: Now that's a bummer...

Voice 2: What??? How could that have happened? Or... who could've done it?

Who? Are there more of these things?

Voice 1: And you all do realise that if the cycle were to be completely broken, the two worlds will merge and chaos will ensue. We cannot allow that to happen! The two realities cannot join together! If that happens, all of existence will be in jeopardy! We cannot allow such "primative" entities know of our being as well!

Chaos? What is going on arou.......

Voice 3: (mumbling) Really? Somehow, I get always the feeling that ONE of those worlds can already see what we're doing right now... Our words written on a...

Voice 1: What was that? Are you going on with your nonsense again?

Voice 3: Oh.... Nothing, nothing...

Huh???

Voice 2: So what do you have in mind to correct this, my brother? She has already escaped from him, and I'm astounded as to how she did it!

Voice 3: Well... Uh... About that...

Voice 2: I beg your pardon? You mean... You... You... But why did you...

Voice 1: Calm down, Valin... Maybe what he did would be of better help than to just keep her there. But even so, what she chooses to do now will ultimately determine the fate of all existence and reality as we know it! Therefore, we have to watch over her, make sure that she doesn't do anything that could deteriorate the situation. What's more, she has one of this reality's most powerful artifacts in her hands! One which she does not truly know how to wield, and one whose power is beyond her knowledge...

I do?

Voice 4: You mean...

Voice 1: Indeed... How did she get a hold on that, I do not know yet...

Voice 4: So, do we stop her at all costs? Do we have to resort to erasing her existence?

What? Am I going to be hunted down? What have I done?

Voice 1: No! We must not kill her. We cannot! Lest we worsen the situation. We need to make sure she follows the right path to fix this predicament. As Zardak has mentioned, she alone is the key to solve it. Speaking of which, she also has the key which can open most doors in both realities. I shall charge the three of you to try and stall her. But be careful of any ploys by whoever started this in the first place. I shall try and get to the bottom of this, and find out who is responsible for this cataclysm.

Valin: Understood, my brother...

Voice 1: As of now, this meeting that just took place shall not be told to anyone else outside of this counsel! I plead you to give me your oaths...

The other voices: Agreed!

Voice 1: The meeting shall adjourn here...

Wait! Wait! What were you talking about?

But they vanished into the darkness... And everything blanked out...

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