Young Writers Society

"Greetings new travelers!"

"You just told me not to say that."

"You just told me it was okay to say that."

There was a loud sigh from the darkness.

Something was creeping in at the edges of her mind. Something - no, it felt like a someone.

She stared out at the sole source of light, and the two figures in the distance. Slowly, they started to come into focus, and she could make out more detail.

Twins. A boy and a girl. They looked in her direction.

They saw her.

Her eyes went wide when the boy spoke.

“Stay away,” she warned, still hugging herself tightly.

She could feel her own mind starting to panic, pushing the foreign influence away. Out. Out.

There was nothing to move here. Nothing but people. But she could already feel her sense stretching out, reaching for what was around her.

Now wasn’t the time to let her powers get out of control. She had to keep it together.

“I don’t know anything. Don’t ask me,” she said. Then looked out into the expanse.

“Ask them.”

Them, being the disembodied voices who did this to her.

"She isn't lying," confirmed the voice.

Zeda frowned at the disembodied voices. He’s sure Dima would too if that didn’t risk sending the human into an even worse panic. “We’re not travelers.“

And we’d appreciate going back home.

“And we’d appreciate going back home!” Zeda glares at the dark sky. “So, please. Stop whatever this is.”

Dima tried to find the energy of voices, but they were either too far away to sense or not actually there. She internally sighed. Not ideal.

There was a groan from the darkness. "We should have recorded that message."

"We're going to have to repeat that, aren't we?"

"Yes and yes."

There was the sound of a throat being cleared. "So to catch you up. This was an experiment you, which isn't complete. We perfected the spell to get people in, but before we could do that there was a little glitch which is why you're here but unfortunately we kind of haven't gotten around to writing a way for you to get out. We would all love to go home but this is going to take a second or a few hours, we'll see. Just umm we also have not patched the glitch completely just yet so you might see more people showing up. And more umm... things. Be Careful. Stay alert and try not to look tasty."

Zeda's scowl only grew. "Glitch?" What, did you trap us in a computer simulation?"

Dima turned her attention back to someone she could actually feel. She gently approached the girl and sat down in front of her on her knees. She waved.

Zeda growled at the blank sky. "Show yourselves!"

Lissa held the sides of her head, snapping her eyes shut.

“It’s not going to work,” she whispered under her breath. She knew people like this - the one who did experiments on unwilling subjects. They didn’t really care about your well-being. Not in a way that mattered. The wanted you to survive, sure, but only so they could observe you. So they could test you again. So they could play with you like a toy, over and over again.

These voices brought them here to watch them suffer. She doubted it was an accident. People always lied.

"Not entirely sure you'd exactly be able to stomach that," came the reply.

"Also no this is not the Matrix," added another voice. "That's. That's ridiculous."

Zeda curled his hands into fists. "Don't tell me what I can stomach, you cowards."

Dima sighed. She couldn't speak. If the girl didn't look at her, she couldn't communicate.

There was a sigh from the darkness but no response.

Lissa waited a moment, expecting something to happen. But when their challenge was met with silence, she once again opened her eyes.

She looked over at the twins, realizing that if the voices weren't going to help them, then it was just the three of them.

They would either help each other or be enemies.

When she stared at them she recalled the presence brushing against her mind. Though it was invasive, it wasn't hostile.

Maybe she should try to return the message.

She felt the message deep within her and extended her mind to the girl.

I don't want to hurt you either, she said. But I'm scared.

Dima nodded at that. That's okay. I can feel it. Your fear. I can... ease it if you want. That's my job. Where I'm from.

Zeda, meanwhile, growled. "Useless! Useless all three of you." He shook his head.

Lissa wasn't sure what that meant.

Cautiously, she finally got to her feet and began to inch her way closer. She made sure to take quiet steps as she entered w/in the circle of light.

What's your name? she asked instead.

When she came within a few feet, she hesitated.

"My name is Lissa," she said quietly, trying to stand up straight and not hunch over.

"Well we're trying to find a way to get y'all back so maybe be a little bit nicer."

Dima. It's a Greek name. That- She pointed at Zeda. -is my twin brother Zeda. Don't mind him. His anger is shallow. Nothing to fear.

She turned back to Lissa. Lissa is a pretty name.

Zeda huffed. "You wouldn't have to find a way to bring us back if you never brought us here!"