Familiar whimpering and soft sobs echoed from a faraway corner of the space, interrupting the nearby sounds of Nolan's ongoing life review. I ignored the scenes and the images within, purposely allowing those memories that included me to be background noise. I needed to find the source of the whimpering.

Even through the haunting, black fog, I needed to find my way back to Rhea.

I turned my back to Nolan, refusing to lay my eyes on the increasingly grotesque physical condition of the once handsome man I used to love. As the seconds passed, his appearance continued to take on the results of his many forms of death. Even as the stank of decay permeated the vicinity and sticky drips of dark, thick blood poured from the wounds on his forearms, I refused to look. What my memory captured was plenty and brutal enough to hammer into my mind.

My walking quickly transitioned to a jog, and then a sprint as I desperately put distance between us. I had expected him to be at my back or on my heels, but relief came over me when I realized he didn't follow.

The whimpering increased, letting me know I was moving in the right direction and getting closer to the source. My imagination made out the other Rhea on the white tiles, a trail of smeared blood behind her as she pulls herself to the main exit.

However, when a mysterious light ahead spotlighted an entirely different scene, it stopped me in my tracks.

There I was. The other Rhea, sitting alone on the living room floor of my mother's apartment. The comfy teal couch at Rhea's back looked inviting, but she refused to use it. Her hair looked like a bird's nest and her bare face was red and puffy from hours of crying.

"I know this," I whispered to myself. This was a year before starting my UpTube channel. I was a teen, suffering from an intense feeling of loneliness after Mom and Dad's separation. On her lap teetered a dogeared Carl Jung book filled with his psychological theories. I remembered doing a detailed report on him in high school. And then I realized, "Why am I seeing myself from high school?"

A chill came over me, and when I turned to confront the source, the light went out. It came back on like a flip of a switch, but this time before me in the spotlight was the other Rhea older than the previous by a couple of years. She contorted her body into several poses for the camera on the tripod. She did her hair and makeup like the popular female celebrities that were trending.

"I know this!" The familiarity of the scene brought on a sense of excitement. This was the time I was preparing to upload the video of fashion model poses that went viral and started off my career. I remembered the positive responses I received, the online friendships I made, and all the love. This one video took me from my sad, lonely existence and launched me to the well-known and much-loved fashion influencer of today.

I couldn't help but smile.

Again, the light went out, encompassing me in blackness. When the lights came back on, my eyes quickly adjusted to the other Rhea again. This time she was curled up in bed with the human sized white teddy bear with pink eyes Nolan had given me as a gift. What was the special occasion that prompted such a present? "You don't need a special occasion to enjoy gifts. You deserve all the things that bring a smile to your face," was Nolan's response when I had asked. But this occurred at the beginning of our relationship when he had to go away for business.

Again, there she was, alone and lonely, with hot tears streaming from her eyes to be blotted away and absorbed by the satin pillow. Just as her sobs shook her body, the light went out.

In the brief darkness, something occurred to me. Was this my life review? If it was, what did that mean for the other Rhea and for me?

The light came on, illuminating a scene that stopped me in my tracks. A handsome, clean-shaven Nolan with damp and messy hair atop his head. He had gotten out of the shower ten minutes ago and had thrown on a pair of pants before finding me in the kitchen of his home.

I stood in the shadows of the ethereal fog and watched as he walked up to the other Rhea and startled her at the bar counter where she sat. She laughed, giggling like the shy girl she wasn't, as he draped his muscular arms around her waist from behind.

"I thought you were going to bed." Rhea rocked on the stool, balancing as she clutched his forearms over her chest. Her form fitting black dress hugged her body and left her shoulders exposed with thin spaghetti straps.

"Not without you, beautiful." His British accent often came through when he spoke while smiling, and even now I had a difficult time ripping my gaze from his cheek dimples. "Couldn't stop thinking about you."

"Seems like every time you get naked, you think of me." She cocked her head back to investigate the blues of his eyes and he captured her lips in a kiss.

As I watched, partly reliving the moment, the memory made my heart sink. I remembered the love we had for each other, the admiration, the respect, and couldn't pinpoint the exact moment it all went sour.

Nolan pressed his chest to her back and pulled her to him by her hips. She laughed when he unbuttoned and unzipped his pants. "What are you doing?" Rhea asked with an all-knowing grin.

"I'm gonna show you how much you're on my mind." His teeth gently grazed the skin on her shoulder while his hands slid under her dress, easing it up over her thighs and hips.

I remembered the exact moment he ripped the lace panties because she yelped in surprise, but that surprise quickly turned to pleasure as he pulled her closer to the edge of the seat and guided himself into her from behind.

They both let out a pleasure-filled moan simultaneously. And I instantly relived the feeling of his hot chest against my back, especially as he guided the thin straps of the dress down over my shoulders.

She tossed her head back. Long, red hair draped their shoulders as his hips moved to a sweet rhythm only he was privy to. Still, in no time, her body undulated to his beat.

This scene had replayed a dozen times in my head following this night. One of the best moments he and I shared. Hot tears hovered on my lids as I watched them. He took care of me and fulfilled my every need. We were the source of each other's pleasure. How did it all go so wrong?

I turned my back to their lovemaking and their heavy, satisfied panting, awaiting the scene to change and highlight my tragic death. I expected turning around and seeing my handsome, beloved boyfriend crushing my head in and leaving me to die.

From a distant corner of space, Nolan's deep voice reached my ears. "I promise to make it like this forever if you promise to stay with me."

I shook my head and left the review behind, refusing to turn around, refusing to see what it was like when he placed me in a state of bliss. "You can't convince me I'm dead. I'm fighting for my life, and I'm not giving up. I won't fall for your bullshit, Nolan."

"I make the rules here." His voice grew louder, as if originating from the edge of space, like an all-powerful being. But I didn't let it stop me.

I was going to find the other Rhea and do all I could to get her out alive. This time, Nolan or his ghost wouldn't do anything to stop me. I wiped the hot tears from my cheeks with the back of my hand and continued walking, leaving the passion-filled moans and groans far behind me.

Then the slow beeping of the heart rate machine captured my attention. The mechanic beeping echoed from all areas of the space, bouncing around me, making it difficult to pinpoint exactly where it originated.

The only time I stopped walking was when the familiar beeping leveled out to one long beep. For a split second, my breaths caught due to fear.

I peered over my shoulder at the other Rhea and handsome Nolan while they continued making love. They had transitioned to Rhea sitting on the granite kitchen counter with her legs wrapped around Nolan's waist as he stood where the stool once was. They kissed like the insatiable lovers they were, moaning and panting into the kiss. Their hands explored every inch of flesh on their bodies, while they remained connected at the hips.

Annoyed, I shook my head, keeping my eyes on Rhea's blissful expressions. "You fool!" I shouted at her while making my way back to the sensual scene. "This is all he's ever given you. This is all he ever offered. How could you not see it? He never loved you. You mistook his gifts for caring, his sweet talk for respect, and his pleasure for love." Disgusted at her, at myself, I sneered.

Of course, she didn't respond, but Nolan broke the kiss to turn and look into my eyes. "You!" he growled when our eyes connected. His handsome face quickly distorted to the thick-browed, sunken black-eyed creature that roamed the ethereal space. "You bitch!"

I took in a sharp breath at the realization. "No." Surprised, my breathing increased with fear.

He approached, stepping over the threshold where the light of the scene met the foggy darkness. His naked body quickly changed from the healthy, fit specimen in the memory to one of death and decay. "You will stay because I will make you stay. You're mine. You belong to me."

This was no life review, but a trap. And I had stupidly become the fool in his game of manipulation.

As he marched toward me, I froze in a state of paralysis. Even the fog seemed to move away from him in fear.

My heart raced from the terror of him stomping his way toward me and the thought of what he would do once he had me in his grip. The racing heart in my chest confirmed I still had a chance to save the other Rhea. However, the gradual beep, beep reminded me of the ticking clock and time that was running out.

~~~

Does Rhea have it in her to save herself?