...

Ugh...

Why does my back hurt like hell...

Wait a second...

The memories came back like a calm rain shower. Me and Seika were in Hawaii(?). A hurricane must have hit by surprise, making everyone freak out.

So where am I now? Liki's home?

Blinking, I came to see a dark room. It was so dark. Maybe a little too dark for my comfort.

I tried getting up, but the pain in my back weighed me down like a dumbbell. Or a hot air balloon sand sack.

Either way, it looks like I'll be staying in the same position until I die or something.

Die...

Tears streamed down my cheeks. I would die here. Alone. In pain without anyone around. I don't even know where I am beside the dark room.

Everything is painted black, which is why night vision is not helping me. I tried to say something, but it came out as a dry croak.

Oh shit!

The ring wasn't on my neck anymore.

Now how is anyone gonna find me? Mind link? I pictured Seika. "Seika!... help..."

"Katy?!? You're alive?!"

I flinched at her voice, even though it hurt to even do that basic movement. "Barely. I can't move. And if I try, it hurts like hell."

"Oh thank god! We thought you were dead! Your ring was out in the sea, a little broken like someone pried it off of you."

"Wait," a thought occurred to me. "Do they know?"

"Yes. They do. It was an accident, but a purposeful accident. It's weird. Don't ask on how I just thought of that."

"Where are you guys now?"

She sent me a scene. Kymari buildings didn't looked harmed from the hurricane, but surrounding cleaning robots had bit the dust. Some trees had lost their leafs, and other flowers their heads.

In return, I sent her what I could see. Darkness. She looked surprised from what I could mentally feel come through. "I have no clue where that is. Can you not see whats around the area?"

"Hold on... I'll try..."

This will be a pain in the tail, well, back, won't it?

I put all my weight in my hind legs as I shakily tried sitting up. My back protested, making me stop for a short time to make small cries. I was breathing hard. My shoulders were up high in stress.

Gritting my nonexistent teeth, I continued sitting up. My hands took a step towards my knees. It still felt like I was weighed down. Except now it's a little better now that I managed to move.

My left hand pushed down on my knee as my other hand went to its match. Lifting my head up, I looked left only to see more darkness.

And pain.

Quietly wailing, I looked to my right. Darkness still.

Light?

Behind me there was a small speck of light. It looked far away, yet near enough to touch. I put my hands on the ground and slowly twisted myself to face it.

Once I got in the position, my back protested with stabs of pain. I cried some more, tears hitting the black floor.

Do you hear me,
I'm talking to you

Lucky... haha...

I always did like that song...

Across the water across the deep blue ocean
Under the open sky, oh my, baby I'm trying
Boy I hear you in my dreams
I feel your whisper across the sea
I keep you with me in my heart
You make it easier when life gets hard

...

The lyrics are gone...

Aw...

I weakly crawled towards the light. Every step along the way hurt. Every step it hurt more.

I lost my balance and fell on my left, pain continuing to stab at my side. Why can't something kill me already?! Take away the pain! Please! I beg you!

"Shh..."

Huh..? Who's there..

A dimly glowing face appeared in front of me. It was a white mask, without any eyes or a nose. Just a mouth that could express emotions.

What was behind it, a long foggy tail. It has two arms made of the same wispy material, but no legs. The symbol of four circles, or two infinites crossing one another took up most of the face space.

"Shh... you'll be alright." The mask crooned, putting a hand up against my cheek. "Do you want another chance?"

"A chance at what... life?..."

"Exactly. That's how I help people with their problems." It hummed, smiling warmly. "But I will need something in return."

"My soul? I don't have any cash on hand, and I'm not planning on having any children. What can I offer?"

"Ew no! Not those. It's simple: another life."

My heart sank. Someone else would die so I could live. Wait, maybe-

"And don't think you can cheat with something like a fly. I know a few troubled souls who tried to pull a small one on me." It interrupted.

"Well... it can't be Seika, Lucy, Bailey, Peter or his kids. It can't be the Kymari fam... then that means..."

"Yes???"

"Can you do one of the Votaks that had killed all the humans on Earth?"

Putting both arms in a cross, it nodded. "That can be arranged. Though it might affect the future a little depending on who I kill, but for the sake of not ruining things, I'll just kill a not-even-side-character."

"Cool..." I croaked, letting myself become limp. "Hey... what are you..?"

The mask laughed. "Call me Ouroboros. For I am stuck in a job helping random people escape death. It's why you and your friend can still talk."

"Ha... I hope you get out of your job some day..."

"That won't be happening for a long... long time..."

I felt myself smile. Closing my eyes, everything seemed to come together. Pieces of a puzzle...

Tetris!...

[There should be a GIF or video here. Update the app now to see it.]