Almost as soon as those words left your lips, the creature broke contact with you and stood up. Staring down at you, it smiled an invisible smile before disintegrating into nothingness. The mask slid from your face, resting on the rocky ground beside you. With the creature now bound to its new identity, the identity that it held all along, you found yourself still unable to get up. You felt as if you had been drained of almost all of your energy. Even with the creature no longer stealing your life force from you, you still remained quite immobile. Figuring that the effects from the contact between the creature and you would not halt, you cast your gaze onto the gentle clouds above.

You had saved your life, but you needed to recover; you were just too weak at the moment to move. Thus as the sun shined on your weakened form, you noticed that a soft breeze ran down the canyon, calming you even further into sleep. Before your (e/c) eyes closed, you felt raindrops hit your tired face and heard them splash on the rocky ground around you. A peaceful smile rested on your face, when you slipped into unconsciousness, though in your exhausted state, you didn't realize that the landscape around you was falling apart.

As the scenery began to collapse, the barrier to the tunnel fell apart as well. Lucian was leaning against the wall by the door, waiting for you to return. When he heard the door open, he was expecting you to emerge, but instead only the barren dark tunnel greeted him. Worried, he narrowed his eyes and examined the tunnel more. Hearing the multiple heavy objects fall to the floor in the distance, his concern increased. He wanted to run down the tunnel and check on you, but he was hesitant due to thinking that the barrier was still up.

When the support around the door to the tunnel began to fall apart, he knew that something was wrong. With no more hesitation he ran forward and was relieved to know that the barrier had fallen, for otherwise contact with the barrier would have meant death. Thus he increased his pace to a full out sprint, charging down the smoothed rock tunnel. As he ran down the barren area, he dodged falling rocks and hoped that you were okay.

After fifteen minutes passed, he reached the canyon and tensed at seeing the scene before him. Pieces of the canyon wall fell, crashing against the ground in a loud rumble. The once perfect arches were no longer present and the water filled path could no longer be seen. Lucian scanned the area for any sign of you and when he didn't see you, he charged into the chaos. Utilizing magic, so that he could maneuver over the rocks easily, he focused his gaze on what lay ahead. Stopping on a fallen rock, his eyes widened at seeing your unconscious body lying on the rocky cliff.

Quickly, he jumped down and went over to you, checking your form for a pulse. When he found one, he sighed in relief. Noticing the mask piece at the side of your face, he picked it up and set in his pocket, making sure that it was secure. When it rested safety within his jacket pocket, he picked you up bridal style, hoping that you would wake up soon. Seeing the flame sword on the ground nearby, he managed to snap his fingers, making it disappear.

Glancing down at you, he wondered what you had gone through to get the mask piece. When you awoke he would ask you, but he knew that you had taken on no easy task. Proud of you, he kissed your forehead gently before opening a colorless portal on the ground. Jumping into it, he took you back to his mansion. Right as he left and the portal closed, the cliff broke off from the canyon, as rain fell onto the ruined space.

While Lucian brought you back to the mansion, you felt yourself wake up, though you woke up in an unexpected place. You found yourself standing on the edge of a pale green grassy cliff. A mist hung over the area while cherry blossom leaves fell from the cherry blossom tree that stood on the cliff's edge as well. Confused, you began to wonder if you were really awake. Pinching yourself hard, you winced slightly before you found yourself still standing on the cliff. Maybe you were awake, maybe in your sleep the canyon turned to its original form. The only issue with that idea was the fact that there was no canyon behind you, just an endless sea of pale green grass and mist.

Moreover, you found that the blood and dirt that had been on your clothes was now removed completely. 'This must be the effects of that creature before I claimed it to be the mask' you thought to yourself. Still you couldn't decide whether you were just in a deep sleep, or were actually awake. Was Lucian still waiting for you behind the barrier?

Sighing, you decided it would be best to explore the area, not knowing what else to do. When you went to walk on the awaiting expanse of grass, you walked into an invisible wall. Having hit the wall hard, you fell backwards, landing roughly on your back. Wincing a bit, you got back up and stared at the invisible wall with frustration. Holding your right arm out, you rested your right hand against the wall, feeling that it was indeed there and not just a trick of your mind.

Annoyed, you rested your hands on your hips and looked back at the edge of the cliff. Leaves continued to fall from the tree peacefully, which betrayed the gravity of the situation. Going back over to the tree, you held out your left hand and let some of the leaves fall into the palm of your hand. Their soft texture made you smile lightly. Turning your palm over, you let them fall onto the grassy ground before walking over to the edge. Staring out into the mist, you looked downwards, but couldn't see anything except more mist.

"Well what am I supposed to do? Jump and hope for the best?" you questioned out loud as if something would answer you.

As expected, only silence filled the air and time seemed to stop, as you decided on your next course of action. Taking one last glance at the grass covered plain behind you; you stepped out onto the mist filled air. With your first step, you felt yourself fall forward. With the air and mist now your surroundings, you twisted around, so that your back was facing the ground, allowing you to gaze into the misty sky. Gravity pulled you further and further downwards while your hair whipped around your face.

The mist grew darker as you fell further towards the awaiting ground. When you felt yourself stop, you glanced to your side to see yourself now lying against a dirt covered ground. You were puzzled by the fact that you had felt no impact. Standing up, you surveyed your surroundings and just saw the dark mist. Knowing you had no choice, but to walk forward, you progressed into the mist.

Nothing new came to your attention; it reminded you of walking through the tunnel. Maybe this strange place was just a way to recover from the effects of the creature, but you couldn't tell. Everything seemed rather real, though you felt as if there was a constant presence around you. This presence seemed familiar, but you couldn't tell who it belonged to. Seeing the mist start to disappear, you quickened your pace; however you grew rather irritated when your eyes landed on familiar scenery.

In front of you were the cherry blossom tree and the cliff's edge. You were certain that before the plain behind the tree was covered in grass, yet you had walked on dirt. Glancing behind you, you now saw that it was covered with grass once more. Furthermore, the invisible wall was now there again, blocking your path. Feeling even more irritated, you went up to the cherry blossom tree. Deciding to try and get a better view, you climbed it.

Now on one of the thicker branches, you looked out around your surroundings. Surprise washed over you, when you found yourself looking out upon a completely unfamiliar terrain. At least you thought it was unfamiliar until you glanced closer. Before you was your high school. Thinking this bizarre, you climbed back down the tree only to find an endless void now surrounding the tree. Seeing as there was no turning back, you went back up the tree and branch. Hesitantly, you walked onto the school parking lot, as the tree vanished from sight.

You wanted to believe that you were really back, but something felt off. It wasn't just the fact that you had happened upon here by climbing a tree, but the atmosphere didn't feel right either. There was fog that hung over the area, as you walked through the parking lot. Personally, you felt like you had just entered a horror video game due to the empty lot. Placing your hands into your coat pocket, you exited the parking lot and found yourself on the long street that led both to your friends' houses and your own.

Thus, you pressed onward, heading for Hannah's and Annalisa's homes. You were worried at what you would find, but you wanted to see them, even if this wasn't reality. The presence from before was still around you, but you didn't see anyone and so you pushed it aside. Until it revealed itself, you wouldn't worry about it. Right now, you just wanted to see your friends. Maybe they would be there in their homes, maybe they wouldn't be, but you had to find out. Even if they forgot you, you still remembered them, for they were part of a life you had lost.

Just to relive that life for one more moment would be enough. Inhaling and exhaling lightly, you watched as your breath danced in the now chilly air. Seeing Hannah's house come up in the distance, you felt your chest clinch in nervousness. Reaching the front door, you rested your hand on the brass doorknob and turned it. The door creaked as you opened it before revealing the familiar living room. Inside was the mint green sofa and matching armchairs. In the middle of the room rested the round glass coffee table. A mint green vase filled with pink carnations rested on top and the smell of orange and cinnamon spice tea filled the area. Books by Jane Austen and Charles Dickens filled the glass book shelf that was in the left corner of the room.

Closing the front door, you went further into the room, though stopped when you heard movement. Entering the living room from the kitchen was Hannah with a tea tray in her hands. Her sharp brown eyes caught sight of you and a small smile graced her lips.

"Ah ______, I was expecting you."