#psychological fiction

[iluvmattsbeard]

happy together (m.s)

master list

matt sturniolo x reader

(please take the time to read. i hope you won’t regret it.) 🤍

preview: you and Matt are happily married. life couldn’t get any better than this. you two had no problems and every day was “picture perfect.” to you it is.

a/n: hope you enjoy this 😁 make sure to read the author’s note at the end! - L 🤍

it was a bright early morning as you stood in front of the stove making pancakes. the radio played cheery music as you look out the window admiring the bright blue sky. you flip the pancake over as you kept your eyes on the view in front of you. the trees and bushes were green as ever. every day was perfect in your eyes. you hear footsteps behind you get closer to you as you look down at the pan. "good morning my love." Matt says as he wraps his arms around your waist. you smile as you speak, "good morning." he looks at the pan as he sniffs, "smells good." he says walking over to the breakfast table. he sits down as he picks up a newspaper and starts to read it.

you place the finished pancake on the stack that has already been made. you turn off the stove as you place the plate in front of him, then pouring orange juice into a glass. "thank you my love." he says putting down the newspaper. he places a cloth napkin on his lap as he starts to eat. you sit down in front of him, across the table as you start to drink your cup of coffee, leaving a lipstick print on the white mug. everything was simple and absolutely perfect. you stare at Matt as he eats his food, "so, what are your plans today?" you ask curiously. "I was thinking maybe we could go for a drive down the beach." he says taking a sip from his glass. you let out a smile, "that would be good." you say, "how's the food?" you ask. "it's absolutely perfect. like always." he says with a smile. "good." you say not taking your eyes off him.

after breakfast, you were in your room as you sat at your vanity, brushing your hair with a blank stare in your mirror. your skin was smooth, your lips were coated with red lipstick, and you had a beauty mark above your lips. you sat there admiring yourself and you smile slightly. you put down your brush as you get up without taking your eyes off the mirror as you dust off your bright blue dress. you push up the curls in your hair as you rub your lips together. you turn around as you start to head out the house. you get into the passenger seat as Matt got into the driver seat. he starts the car as he puts all the windows down. "are you ready to go sweetheart?" he asks adjusting his rear view mirror. "yes, I am." you reply. he pulls out the driveway as he starts to drive to the beach. as soon as you get there, you two just drive along the road with the ocean on your side. the breeze was going through your hair as you laid your head down on Matt's shoulder as he drove. nothing could be better than this. you wanted this everyday. to be in this moment, just the two of you.

you only needed him and you knew he only needed you. you were happy together. when you arrive home later that night, you right away make dinner. mashed potatoes, steak, and asparagus. you place the plate in front of him as you poured him a glass of whiskey. you sat across from him watching his every move. he cuts himself a slice, then taking a bite. his eyes shut as he takes in the flavor in his mouth, "you just know how to do it my love." a smile creeps onto your face as you speak, "of course I do." you made steak every night, how could you ever mess it up?

*time skip*

it was the next day, you stood in front of the stove making pancakes. you stare out the window as you admire the blue sky. just like always, the trees and bushes were green as ever. every day was perfect, it was perfect in your eyes. you stood there as your smile fades away. you look at the clock as you realize, Matt isn't in the kitchen on time. you turn off the stove as you turn around with your face blank. Matt then suddenly walks in, "good morning my love." he says with a smile. you stare at him with a blank face as you stand there, "good morning." he looks at the pan as he sniffs, "smells good." he says walking over to the breakfast table.

he sits down as he picks up the newspaper. you analyze his face as you could sense nervousness. you walk over to him as you place the plate of breakfast in front of him, pouring him orange juice into a glass, like always. "thank you my love." he says putting down the newspaper. he looks at the food as he gulps. you look into his eyes with a strong stare. he looks into your eyes as he smiles nervously, starting to eat. you clear your throat as you continue to stare at him with a blank face. he looks at you as he grabs the cloth napkin quickly, placing it on his lap. you pick up your mug as you start to drink your cup of coffee, leaving a lipstick print on the white mug. "so what are your plans for today?" you ask curiously. it was the same routine like every other day. except this time, his response catches you off guard, "i'm going to work today." you put down your mug as you speak, "that's not what you were supposed to say." he shakes his head quickly as he speaks again, "I was thinking maybe we could go for a drive down the beach." with the same blank stare, a smile forces onto your mouth, "that would be good." you say. you guys went to the beach every day, with the windows down, as you lay your head on his shoulder. the same routine.

after breakfast, you were in your room, sat at your vanity as you look at yourself in the mirror. you notice something off with your skin as you go to wipe it off gently with your thumb. when you move your hand you see your beauty mark was smudged. you stare at it as your eyebrows furrowed confusingly. you look around on your table as you find an eyeliner pencil, drawing on a new beauty mark. you look at it as you stare at yourself with a blank face. just like new. you stand up as you dust off your bright blue dress. you push up the curls in your hair as you rub your lips together. you turn around as you start to head out the house.

when you arrive home later that night, you right away make dinner. mashed potatoes, steak, and asparagus. you place the plate in front of him as you poured him a glass of whiskey. you sit down in front of him, across the table, watching his every move. he looks at the plate and stares at it, "do you think you could make something new?" he asks avoiding eye contact. you tense up as you stare at him, "what? this is what we agreed you wanted every night." you say. still avoiding eye contact he replies in a sort of whisper, "I eat this every night. I can't do it anymore. the same with breakfast." you look away from him as you shake your head slowly. “i made it specially for you.” “it’s always the same…” he whispers. you throw your hands down on the table standing up angrily, "you will eat the food I prepared for you on your plate." you shout. he flinches as he quickly cuts himself a piece of steak and eats it. you stare at him as you analyze his face, "what do you say?" you say sternly. "y-you just know how to do it my love." he stutters out. "of course, I do." you say as you sit back down. you made steak every night, how could you ever mess it up?

*time skip*

you stood in front of the stove making pancakes. the radio played the same cheery music like always, as you look out the window admiring the blue sky. when you go to flip the pancake on the pan, you look down to see it burnt. your eyebrows furrowed as you turned off the stove. "what?" you whisper to yourself. you take the pancake as you threw it in the trash, pouring batter onto the pan again. you look out the window as you shut your eyes, shaking your head slowly. you hear footsteps behind you as it gets closer, "good morning." Matt says in a sad tone, wrapping his arms around your waist. you turn around suddenly as you glare at him, "is that how you greet me?" you say. "good morning my love." he says with a forced smile.

he looks at the pan as he sees the unmade pancake. he notices, things are starting to change. Matt sits down at the breakfast table as he picks up the newspaper, pretending to read it. you let out a breath as you turn back towards the stove. why is things starting to go out of place? you thought to yourself. once the pancakes were done, you walk up to him as you place the plate in front of him, pouring orange juice into a glass. "thank you my love." he says putting down the newspaper. he places a cloth napkin on his lap as he starts to eat. you sit down in front of him, across the table as you start to drink your cup of coffee. good, things are back on track.

*time skip to later that night*

later that night, you two arrived home from the drive down the beach as you right away started dinner. mashed potatoes, steak, and asparagus. you place the plate in front of him as you pour him a glass of whiskey. Matt looks at the plate as his face was visibly somber. you stood there as you stare at him. "eat." you demand. you watch as he shakes his head hesitantly, "i-i can't do this every night." you look away as you feel yourself get heated, "I won't say it again. eat your food Matthew." you say tensely. he then looks at you in the eyes, "no." he says. you suddenly wipe all the stuff on the dinner table, causing them to fall onto the ground, with glass breaking as you scream.

Matt flinches as he starts to breathe unevenly. "can't you see all that I do for you?! for us?!" you shout angrily. "all I want is for every day to be perfect. just the two of us and I expect you to cooperate and play your part!" "t-this isn't real!" he shouts desperately. "yes this is." you say breathing heavily. "this is the life I wanted for the both of us, so it's going to stay this way. I only need you and you only need me." you say. "I don't need you. y-you have me trapped." Matt says. you look at him as your expression softens. trapped? he looks into your eyes as he whispers out, "this isn't real. there is no us." you shake your head slowly in denial, "no you're lying." you look away and when you look back, he's no where to be seen. you look around panicking, "Matt?" you call out. your heart starts to race, "Matt?!" you shout. what is going on?

"Y/n." you hear a voice say. you look around still in a panic. "Y/n?" you hear the same voice call out. you shut your eyes as you cover your ears and fall onto the ground slowly.

"Y/n?" you open your eyes being shaken by an unfamiliar woman. you look at her face, wondering who she is. "you're finally awake." she says. you sit up as you look around to find yourself in a padded room. your hand was chained up onto the bed. you look at it as you tug, "w-where am I?" you ask confusingly, looking up at her. she sits up straight, "you don't know remember what happened?" she asks. you shake your head, "no I don't. where am I?" you ask. "you're in a psychiatric hospital Y/n." she responds. your eyes widen as you shake your head, "what? no that can't be right." you say panicked. "Y/n please calm down." she says. "i-i don't belong here!" you shout tugging on the chain. "Y/n please you need to relax. do you seriously not remember anything?" she asks. "no I don't. please let me out of here." you say desperately.

"you can't be let out..." she says quietly. you stop in your place as you look at her, "w-why?" you stutter out. "I need to be with my boyfriend." you say. her face turns into a somber as she speaks out, "your boyfriend... he's dead Y/n." your face drops as you shake your head slowly, "w-what? how?!" you shout.

she gulps before responding, "you killed him Y/n." you stare at her as you felt your heart drop, "don't lie to me..." you whisper. she just stays quiet staring at you. you look away as your mouth is left agape, "i-i just saw him though." you whisper. "e-everything was perfect." the woman shakes her head, "it was all in your head Y/n." you curled up into a ball as you started to sob in your knees.

you started to remember everything. your relationship wasn't perfect. you guys constantly argued. the moment he finally decided to end things, you couldn't handle it. so you did the unthinkable. if you couldn't have him, nobody else could. you believed, the only one for him was you. but he thought other wise. the "perfect days", that "perfect routine", was all in your head. what you wanted to happen with your relationship. it wasn't real. it's what you wanted badly. but even in your head, imaginary Matt still reminded you that none of it was real. now, you sat there being consumed with guilt. you couldn't have him in your mind, and you for sure couldn't have him now.

a/n: what did you guys think of the twist? this was my take on a psychological story. i tried to not long it out because i was going to keep repeating the days but i didn’t want you guys getting bored in the middle of it lmao. one of my favorite movies is ‘Us’ so i tried to incorporate psychological aspects in my imagine. i don’t know, i wanted to try something new so, i hope you guys enjoyed this! i don’t think i’ve seen anybody else do this with one of the triplets. - L 🤍 (LIKES, COMMENTS, AND REBLOGS ARE APPRECIATED!)

#Spotify #matt sturniolo #sturniolo triplets #matthew sturniolo #matthew sturniolo imagine #matthew sturniolo x reader #matt sturniolo imagine #matt sturniolo angst #matt sturniolo fluff #matt sturniolo x reader #sturniolo triplets x reader #sturniolo #sturniolo fanfic #sturniolo x reader #sturniolo imagine #fanfic #sturniolo triplets imagines #imagine #psychological thriller #psychological horror #psychological fiction #chris sturniolo #nick sturniolo #christopher sturniolo #nicolas sturniolo #matt sturniolo smut #christopher sturniolo imagine #nick sturniolo imagine #horror #matthew sturniolo smut

[literaturecravings]

—Normal People, Sally Roone (2018)

#words #excerpts #literature #myposts! #classic literature #alternative literature #psychological fiction #normal people #sally roone #new books #bestseller books

[amessinadress]

These Violent Delights by Micah Nemerever ♟️

#this book fucking broke me #datvd #these violent delights #these violent delights micah nemerever #julian fromme #paul fleischer #dark academia #books #booklr #my collage #gay books #psychological fiction

[t0rschlusspan1k]

Not many people have ever died of love. But multitudes have perished, and are perishing every hour - and in the oddest places! - for the lack of it.

James Baldwin, Giovanni’s Room (1956)

#James Baldwin #Giovanni's Room #1956 #1950s #fiction #psychological fiction #novel #gay literature #American literature #African-American literature #quotes

[stopthinkingg]

"But I think I was also holding on to the loss, to the emptiness of the house itself, as though to affirm that it was better to be alone than to be stuck with people who were supposed to love you, yet couldn't. "

-My year of rest and relaxation, Ottesa Moshfegh

#my year of rest and relaxation #ottesa moshfegh #eileen #lapvona #homesick for another world #death in her hands #bookblr #book blog #writeblogging #litblr #literature #books #writblr #psychological fiction #psychology #fiction #contemporary literature #literary quotes #literary fiction #mental health #mental illness #books and literature #depressiv #books & libraries #booklr #book quotes #bookworm #self love #lovecore

[fiction-quotes]

I knew what he wanted to hear. He couldn't stand me being sick. Nobody can. They only want to hear that you're healing, you're in recovery, taking it one day at a time. If you're locked into sick, you should stop wasting their time and just get dead.

  —  Wintergirls (Laurie Halse Anderson)

#book quotes #psychological fiction #ya fiction #laurie halse anderson #wintergirls #mental health #mental illness #eating disorders #anorexia #disability #ableism #recovery #sickness #toxic positivity #therapy #counselling #psychology #impatience

[the-thinking-mans-mirror]

0. Author's Note

Lilian from form eleven:

This is my first “big” project. I don't know how far this will go in practice, but I am certain that, if nothing else, deep down there's always a reason why I started.

Whenever I feel lost in the process of writing, I tend to ask myself: “What do you, as a writer, want to get from this book?“. And the answer in the current moment is experience, growth, and relief.

The next question is: ”What do you want it to be like?“. Right now I am trying to achieve something equal parts enlightening, tragic, comical, and violent, in a way that each will have a reason to be there.

At last, I need to know what I want to give to the reader. If both previous questions are answered and the only thing I lack is motivation, I tend to return to the day that I decided that out of all things I ought to write this out of my heart and my head. It helps to bring back what inspired the whole story: the sense of injustice. Resentment towards one world you never asked to be brought to, and towards the one you wanted to escape to but found no comfort in. A topic very close to me, as you understand.

Except I am not settling with all this anger inside. I want to use this experience to learn to look at one problem from different angles to find the best solution, to understand people better through building characters, and, ideally, to dig deeper into my own brain to discover something new about myself as well, and either accept it and find relief or change it for the better and grow, to work towards being able to say that I love my life. And if the reader doesn't see it the same way and can't use this story for the same purposes, then what I wish to do is tell them: “You are not alone. You deserve justice in the way you need it”.

…Or to give them something fun to read, I would be just as glad to know that someone enjoyed reading what I offer, but that's all.

Of course, I can't deny that beginning is the scariest part of the process. But I've been living with fear long enough to know better than to back down last minute.

#writing #writers on tumblr #writeblr #fiction #science fiction #psychological fiction #author's note #beginner writer #new blog #the thinking man's mirror

[first--lines]

So she tells me, the words dribbling out with the cranberry muffin crumbs, commas dunked in her coffee.

  —  Wintergirls (Laurie Halse Anderson)

#book quotes #psychological fiction #ya fiction #laurie halse anderson #wintergirls

[theaskew]

The Box Man, a novel by Kobo Abe, translated by E. Dale Saunders. (First Vintage International Edition, 2001. Originally published in Japanese in 1973.)

#novel #fiction #literature #literary works #Japanese novel #Japanese fiction #Japanese literature #Japanese writer #Japanese novelist #The Box Man #Kobo Abe #psychological fiction #post modernism #avant garde #satiric #homelessness #contemporary society #book cover #book excerpt

[senyoahedor]

THE PROCEDURE

she was willing to do it differently. the rumor was she was willing to do it differently. there was their way of doing it with all of the bells and whistles that they preconditioned to doing it, but she was willing to do it differently.

she would just do it. the rumor was she would just do it. she would just do it when she felt. it wasn’t like nobody else felt the way she felt. in fact, everybody else felt the way she felt, but everybody else was abiding by the rules.

she had missed the memo that you weren’t supposed to just do it. you needed to pretend that the very idea of doing it never even occurred to you. you needed to sit with your feelings for doing it. you needed to abide by the rules.

some believed the rumors couldn’t be true because if, in fact, she just did it, even once, somebody would have had the decency to tell her not to just do it.

except, anybody who encountered her, and with whom she just did it, saw that she was just doing what was true to her. they couldn’t bring themselves to tell her to start doing what would be false to her.

they couldn’t bring themselves to tell her to start doing as they did, pretending that the very idea of doing it never even occurred to them, sitting with their feelings for doing it, abiding by the rules, and leaving any and all satisfaction to forces beyond their control.

even after an encounter with her, they wouldn’t change themselves, though they couldn’t help but let it slip here and there that she was willing to do it differently, that she would just do it.

and so, the rumors only grew for a while. some purposefully took it upon themselves to seek her out to see if she would just do it with them. she would just do it with them.

these were her circumstances for a while until she started to notice that she was the onlybody willing to just do it. it hadn't occurred to anybody else that she wouldn't want to be the onlybody. she didn’t want to be the onlybody. she didn’t want to be different.

and so, the more some sought her out to experience her difference, for her to just do it with them, the harder it was for her to do it differently, to just do it.

in the end, nobody had to tell her not to just do it. nobody had to tell her to pretend that the very idea of doing it never even occurred to her. nobody had to tell her to sit with her feelings for doing it. nobody had to tell her to abide by the rules.

it was almost unnoticeable when she submitted to their ways.

she had just been doing what was true to her. she had just been doing what she could do to make what was true for her true for everybody else. but, everybody else kept making her feel as if she was different.

she didn’t see how she could be any different from everybody else. she didn’t see how she was different from everybody else. she felt as everybody else felt. she felt as everybody else felt towards doing it.

and so, she started to try this or that with doing it to see if things would be different with them, but nothing really changed for them. and so, she would try this or that with doing it to see if things would be different with them, but nothing really changed for them.

before long, she wasn’t able to do it differently. she could no longer just do it. she wasn’t different anymore. she was the same as everybody else. the rumors went away.

#flash fiction #psychological fiction #writers on tumblr #original writing #writeblr #abyss

[gargoylepuke999]

Chuck Palahniuk, Choke

#chuck palahniuk #choke #quote #writing #bpd #psychological fiction #fight club #fiction #mf_jay

[ageoffantasy]

- My very own first student short film -

Stills from my picture "Breaking Perspective".

#student life #college #education #film #screenwriting #cinemetography #my edit #movie stills #director #art #thriller #psychological fiction #on edge #passion #grinding #software #ipadpro #broke student

[your-penguiny]

is vanessa wye doubling as neutral milk hotel or does jeff mangum just like singing about her

the entire song reminds me of the poem about the sailors on the beach vanessa wrote for strane like brother !!!!!! i feel like she wouldve liked neutral milk hotel .

#my dark vanessa #kate elizabeth russell #girlblogging #literature #femcel #female hysteria #female manipulator #psychological fiction #neutral milk hotel

[t0rschlusspan1k]

I had thought of suicide when I was much younger, it would have been for revenge, it would have been my way of informing the world how awfully it had made me suffer.

James Baldwin, Giovanni’s Room (1956)

#James Baldwin #Giovanni's Room #1956 #1950s #fiction #psychological fiction #novel #gay literature #American literature #African-American literature #cw: suicide

[fiction-quotes]

Babyhood is not a time of bliss; it’s one of terror. As babies we are trapped in a strange, alien world, unable to see properly, constantly surprised at our bodies, alarmed by hunger and wind and bowel movements, overwhelmed by our feelings. We are quite literally under attack.

  —  The Silent Patient (Alex Michaelides)

#book quotes #psychological fiction #thriller fiction #mystery fiction #alex michaelides #the silent patient #psychology #child development #babies #fear #terror #confusion #biology #human biology

[the-thinking-mans-mirror]

3. The Endless Mind Palace - part 2

“Now, I know this is going to be a very confusing part, but you’ll eventually have all your answers.”

“Not like this entire situation hasn’t been confusing, lady Chancellor… I’m still in this dark damp place and my clothes are still wet- I nearly drowned and got knows what would’ve happened to me if I didn’t run away from where I woke up at!” Atlas attempted collapsed to her knees, evidently overwhelmed. She squeezed her eyes shut and paused. “I just want the simplest explanation to this.”

“Y-Yeah,” Gabriel added, “On my end, to know how to help, the first thing I need to figure out is what exactly is going on. Also I don’t think you should call their Honor that but I guess that’s not the point right now.”

“To begin with, you can just call me Chancellor, I won’t mind,” They noted with a smile in their voice, “But yes Atlas, this could be a very stressing and possibly highly traumatizing experience for an unprepared brain, but the thing is you are actually very familiar with this.”

“How come if I barely remember anything… Please, I really don’t know how much I’ve forgotten.”

“Let me properly introduce you then,” Chancellor waited out a moment, as if letting everybody prepare themselves for what they were about to say. “Atlas, the thinking soul, the beholder of one of the three Supreme types, was considered long lost in their mind reflection, where time and space are trapped within their conscious and rely solely on it.”

“And that means that it doesn’t exist?”

“A wonderful conclusion major Blixt, and from this we can also conclude that Atlas herself doesn’t exist in our dimension as well. And in this case, in any other.”

“Then how is this possible? I don’t exist but somehow I created an entire world?”

“Not exactly - your thinking soul existing is enough for the mind reflection to manifest.” They spoke confidently, “But I must warn you, it is dangerous to you right now, as if your body will get damaged enough, there’s a possibility you will die and turn into a Hermit, like the one you’ve just met.”

“This… Thing?” Atlas needed a moment to remember about the strange corpse she didn’t even walk away from yet. Overcoming her disgust, she quickly stepped over the mutilated body and scurried down what she just realized was only a branch of an even bigger tunnel this entire time. Not so far away, what could be a five minute walk, she saw an entrance to it.

“Yes. There is no physical matter that remains in this dimension, but only memories and feelings. This way, only such «Shell» of a person remains if they know as little as you about their life.” Chancellor explained. “And ones with rich memories or strong will to live turn into monsters far freakier than these. I suggest you move around a lot if you come across one, they might have shotguns for their hands, but there’s no way they’ll catch up if you’re fast enough.”

“I…” Gabriel’s voice trembled just for a moment - a rare occasion. “I would honestly think this is some kind of joke, but you wouldn’t pull such a mean one on me, right, your Honor?”

“This is not a joking matter, everyone, but a very troublesome situation. I suggest we proceed with special caution considering that we might also be limited on time.”

Barely listening to the conversation, Atlas finally entered the new branch of the tunnel. It wasn’t any different except for the quiet splashing sound of water drops falling into puddles on the floor, yet, as she noticed, it had dim light bulbs here and there. The light from above, faint but noticeable, was fairly convenient, so she could allow herself to finally turn the flashlight off. Below her feet she noticed a railway - getting hit by a subway wouldn’t be too convenient, she noted. But in this place? She doubted there was any life other than her and whatever these creatures Chancellor talked about are.

“Okay, then… Which way do I go?” This question wasn’t really directed at anyone, but Atlas expected someone to answer for her.

“Whatever feels right to you.”

“That was very informative, but I guess that’s fair.” Atlas sighed, showing first signs of annoyance. “Right way it is.”

“Come on, you! It’s madness! I sure as hell am sure she’s already dead somewhere!” Dollan actively protested, of course - nobody wanted to be drugged to make your brain do things it has never done. An artificial waking dream was different from the transition to the Platform - also very understudied, which didn’t help - and he wasn’t going to accept his position as the guinea pig. But alas, he was already strapped up by his hands and feet to the chair with a bunch of strange tiny devices attached to his bare chest, leather of the chair feeling oddly cold against his skin.

“I don’t have the time to hear you whine.” Scolded the especially gloomy doctor Kengis. He was real, but he was not a single iota more humane than his reflection, if not worse. “We’ve discussed this before, you knew this is going to happen eventually, and when it’s about the Supreme? I can and fucking will send you down there.”

“And when, play tell, you figured it out?! And— and are you saying you can put my life on risk because of hers?! Who the hell does that!”

“For her life? Oh, no, no…” He made an unexpected step forward and, being right in front of Dollan, looked down at his face. “I really don’t care what happens to her, all you have to do is to drag her back. In any state.”

“But wouldn’t it just be useless to bring her if she dies?! Any type of the Dead in their sleep is far too dangerous for us to study.”

“We know very little about the Supremes in their living state,” The doctor stated, and Dollan had to agree, “Let alone what happens when they die. None of the three has really perished before our eyes.”

Dollan sighed through his nose and, despite breathing becoming difficult for him with each passing second, this helped him get himself together. “I understand that… The only thing I can’t get a grip on is how I’m supposed to find her.”

“Right before she shifted, we managed to catch an unknown signal that came from the speaker. We’ll use it as the “base” of your reflection, I believe that way it will overlap with the dimension she is currently in, which will make it possible for you to capture her.” And with a quick content smirk, Doctor Kengis asked, “Is everything clear?”

To that question there was never expected any other answer than “yes”, and the captain knew it all too well. The doctor just stated that there was no room for conversation anymore. This sealed his fate.

Despite being a well trained navy soldier and a police officer, out of pure fear Dollan didn’t want to see the rest of the process, so when the doctor finally grabbed the gas mask, he squeezed his eyes shut like a child. Doctor Kengis clicked his tongue - a small, but certain sound of disappointment - and pulled the rubber band over the captain’s head.

“Stop it, you. You won’t feel a thing.”

But despite the reassurance, just before blinding light flashed before Dollan’s eyes, his lungs filled with burning pain.

“Liar.”

“So, uh, Atlas… You really don’t remember anything about your life?”

It was definitely an awkward question. But Gabriel knew that the other person was probably just as eager to ask about this.

“Honestly, I’d say I don’t, but it wouldn’t be completely true.”

Deciding to take a short break after walking for what felt at least fifteen minutes, Atlas stopped in the middle of the tunnel to think. Everything what she expected to be her past felt like she was looking at it through a very dirty puddle, almost like…

“Did you guys know that most blind people don’t lose their sight completely?”

“Yes, there are many types of what’s considered blindness. Some people have blurry vision, some have it really dark, some have tunnel vision and so on.” Chancellor replied.

“How is it related, though?”

“It’s just that-…” Atlas opened her mouth to continue, but it took her a moment to collect her thought into a proper sentence. ��I didn’t forget it, but I don’t understand which of these memories of these events related to me and what aren’t, you- you get what I mean, right?”

“If it’s something you remember, I’m afraid it’s likely a real part of your life. Even if you don’t want it to be.“

“And you!” Atlas pointed her finger up at an indefinite object, but certainly wishing it was pointed at Chancellor. In this moment, the ground beneath her feet rumbled slightly, but she didn't notice it. “I still didn't receive a proper explanation of who you are and why do you know so much.”

“Well,” They began calmly, “Let's put it like this - I have my resources. I've learned about the study and in my observations I found out that it is, in fact, not a solid system. The thinking souls can come to the Platform from all across the multiverse.”

Atlas put her hands in her hair, utter despair twisting her face. “Ughhh… Now in less smart words?”

“Briefly speaking, in this place you can encounter people who you couldn't meet in your world because they simply don't exist there. That's our case.”

“So all of us here come from different worlds?!”

“Well, not really! Gabriel knows me, right?”

“I-” Gabriel suddenly snapped out of her stupor and answered. “Yeah, yeah, me and madam Chancellor, speaking shortly, know each other.”

“Good god, that makes it even more confusing!” Atlas shook her head, stressed more than ever.

“This part isn't too important right now, what you really need to know is you, as your real and thinking souls as one, need to be able to manifest to our world.”

“Not yet! First you tell me why my mind is separated from my body in the first place! Just… tell me, am I in coma or something?”

“No, I already told you - at this point your thinking soul is completely separate from your real soul, to the point that I'm almost certain it doesn't exist anymore.”

“But how?!“

Atlas yelled, her frustration reaching its peak. And the voice echoed through the tunnel, for way too long, until Atlas realized that Chancellor had gone silent. But… the surrounding environment couldn't let the echo die out. Even more, it felt like the walls were bringing the sound back and forth, as it seemed to get louder.

But just then she heard a loud bang, which just couldn't be the echo of her voice. It came from somewhere ahead, but with how loud it was, she could only hope it was small, just close.

“I suppose, you... And the others, everything in the whole dimension of mind reflections... It follows the principle of cogito ergo sum.” Chancellor spoke up, their voice wavering in a way Atlas haven't thought it could. They took strange long pauses as if they weren't certain how to put it in a better way.

“…That being, «I think, therefore I am»?”

“Indeed. Everything capable of thinking can exist on its own, and for that reason in the split of the real and thinking souls the latter is the essential part for the person's existence.”

“This is… The exact opposite of how I've thought that sort of stuff works…” Atlas sighed, rubbing the back of her head, and proceeded towards the source of the uncertain sound.

“I can't get my head around this either…” Gabriel added, probably just as confused by now.

“Everybody was shocked. And I suppose that somewhere, in every universe, there's at least one person who can separate their thinking soul completely. At least one…” Chancellor repeated, pensive.

Atlas quickly lost the energy that short adrenaline rush gave her, yet her body movements didn't give out her weariness: her footsteps were still loud and clear in the silence of the tunnel. It was certain that no talk was going to happen any time soon, because all Atlas could hear in the speaker were muffled sounds that probably came from Gabriel, and Chancellor was completely quiet. Atlas used this little moment of silence to recollect and try not to think about anything.

The sound of falling water drops now only echoed from far behind. Ahead, the area was completely dry, and Atlas noted that the ceiling lights had been fading as she advanced. Then, something else caught her eye. Atlas almost went past it, but upon realizing it was something he hadn't seen in here before, she turned around to check. Indeed, it was something entirely new. On a wall, she saw a few words hastily scribbled with what she assumed was a sharp object. After studying it, she could read it. “Why are you here” the message said, and right below she saw one more word, as faint as if it had been scratched onto the wall just a few minutes ago.

And it was, “Again?”.

Atlas shivered. In this lifeless place it felt like this message was written directly to her, as if offended by the disturbance of peace of this empty realm.

“Well… A-anyway, I think I remembered something.“

“Share anything you can with us, Atlas.“ Chancellor implored, as quick to respond as if they haven't left.

“I think I know someone from the Platform.”

“Who is it?”

“It's… Kengis. Ethan Kengis. I barely remember anything about him and who he was to me, but I am certain we weren't on good terms.”

Dollan woke up on cold concrete. It didn't take him long to realize that what he was lying on was just a small plate, and judging by the quiet sounds of water falling from the ceiling and into the pools of water below, the building was flooded just up to its level. In the darkness, he checked his pockets for the flashlight, and, to his endless happiness, it was in place.

“Get up. Time's running out.” The voice from the headset instructed.

He inspected the area around him and found out that in the distance of a short step, another plate rose from the water, followed by another one, forming a path. Not trusting himself enough to walk, he got on all fours and crawled to the space between the two plates. Carefully placing first one hand, then another, he shifted his weight forward.

His legs wobbled slightly when he realized that if at this moment he will slip, there will be nothing for him to grip firmly on to. However, despite his fear, Dollan pushed himself forward and brought his feet to the next plate.

Inhaling the damp, moldy air, he got up and crossed the next two plates until he reached the end - what he saw was a hole in the wall, just big enough for an adult to go through.

“Could she do this..?” He asked, hesitant to go in.

“Does it really matter?”

“What? Of course it does! She could be dangerous!”

“Well, if you hurry, she won't be able to recover her powers completely. It's up to you to make the job easier, Captain.” The doctor noted, his voice straining with sarcasm at the last word.

“I'm leaving as soon as I'm out of here. With the papers and everything, actually fucking leaving.”

Dollan put his hand with the flashlight into the hole and inspected the adjacent room, only to find out it was a… tunnel?

“Is it normal to have a subway tunnel right here?”

“We've spoken about this, Captain. Just go wherever it brings you, and you'll find what you're looking for.”

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