Chapter 39 - Golden Mindscape

"Damn old-young-hag, I'll get you back," Ren winced as he rubbed his rear that was hit directly by the door on his way out.

Waiting in the middle of the hallway was the one man he was looking for with his unmistakable fiery hair. However--something struck odd to him. Sora was wearing a black tank top with silken gray sweatpants. Normally, that would be just about the most normal-looking attire you would see--on Earth, that is.

"Oh, hey! How did the meeting go?"Sora called out to Ren.

"Forget that--you've still got normal clothes? Did you really keep them this entire time? I lost mine the day I got here," Ren pouted, poking the man's tank top.

"Urr, no. Beatrice made this for me. She's made clothes like this for everyone here, I'm sure she'll make you some as well as long as you don't end up on her shitlist," Sora laughed, patting Ren on the back, "Actually, speaking of that--you're going to love your room! Come on, man, I'll show ya' there!"

Ren nodded, driven by curiosity as he quickly followed behind the crimson-haired man. He was led up a spiral staircase that overlooked the entire lounge, each step somehow causing his stomach to constantly sink further down and tingle from the height. Atop the staircase was a hallway containing a plethora of rooms, each door uniquely designed.

At the end of said hall, Sora stopped in front of a plain wooden door.

"Ready to see the room you'll be living in from now on?"

"I am," Ren nodded his head fervently.

As Sora opened the bedroom door, presenting the room to him--his eyes widened as they took in the new sight before him. It was spacious, but not large enough to overwhelm him, giving him enough room to perform his daily routine without bumping into the furniture. Despite the era of the world, the simplistic wooden grey floorboards and walling gave the room an almost modern sense to it. His bed sat against the wall, with an entrancing view through the glistening window beside it.

"Beatrice prides herself on her architectural skills--she designs every Outlander's room specifically catering to their individual tastes. It's kind of creepy that she knows all of this, but I'm sure you're not complaining," Sora smiled as he leaned against the door.

"Ah...maybe that old hag isn't so bad after all," Ren let out a satisfied sigh.

"Don't...let her hear you say that. Like, ever," Sora nervously smiled, scratching his own cheek, "well I'll leave you to it then to get settled and uh...meet me later. We'll give your friend a proper sendoff, okay?"

Ren snapped out of his quiet celebration, his gaze softening into melancholy as he nodded his head. Somehow, he forgot the grief plaguing the back of his mind. Maybe it was his own way of trying to cope by ignoring the problem altogether.

--That's like me I guess. Running away from anything that requires a semblance of effort.

"Yeah. See you tonight," Ren responded quietly.

Luckily, his mind didn't remain on the topic of death for very long as he sank into the welcoming comfort of his new bed, falling into the world of dreams.

"What was it like? I mean, your world?"

He turned his blurred gaze to see the boy sitting next to him. Even sitting inside this sepia room, clouds of gold hugged the walls, spiraling around the room as a natural force.

"My world…?" Ren responded in confusion.

As his eyesight focused, he found himself back in his room at the Althaus manor. He instantly turned to confirm it--the boy sitting next to him was his one anchor to this lonely world.

"Meinhard…" He spoke quietly, feeling his eyes ache as he desperately tried to hold his tears back.

"Huh? What is it? Did I ask something bad?" Meinhard looked at him.

"No...no, you didn't." Ren smiled.

That's right. We spoke like this every night. I was such a gloomy, boring guy, yet--he stayed with as much as he could. It was rare for him to ask about Earth, I didn't mind if he did but...it was nice to know he talked to me just because I was...well, me.

"You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to," Meinhard smiled, running his hand through his golden locks, "the same goes for that book that Althaus wants you to write...you don't have to do it. I get that maybe it's not something you want to think about."

That's right. I never told him. He didn't know a single thing about who I was on Earth. Part of me wanted to keep it that way--maybe I feared that he would think differently of me if he realized what a sorry life I led.

Suddenly, he felt an overpowering sense of dread crawl over his skin. Everything in his body told him to look at the bedroom door--sure enough, he was standing there. That wicked smile and deathly pale skin, with a trench coat that shrouded the man in an air of mystery.

"...Rouge…" Ren's voice came out in a whisper.

Ren tried to stand up, feeling his strength fade as he fell right back down against the bed. It felt like a million tiny needles were just under his skin, creating an almost static feeling throughout his body. All he could do was look at Meinhard as he desperately tried to warn his friend to run.

"...un…" Only fits of air left his lips.

--Run. Run. Run. Run. Run.

He couldn't close his eyes, forced to watch as the wicked entity inched closer and closer to the bed as blood began to seep through the walls. Soon, silver blades pierced the walls, ceiling, and floor--twisting and bending unnaturally.

"Ren…" Meinhard held his hand out to him.

Meinhard…! Rouge, please. Please, please, please, not again. I can't see this again.

Tears poured out of his aching eyes as he tried summoning any strength left in his body to meet Meinhard's extended hand.

Just as the tips of their fingers met--the endless blades conjured in every space left unfilled. All that filled his vision was crimson, feeling the warmth fade from his friend's fingertips as they became a hopeless cold.

That's right.

I'm powerless to stop anything. I'm powerless to protect those I care about. Nothing has changed since I came to this world, if anything--I've become weaker. Faced with these obstacles left and right...I've failed at every turn. Is it my "fate" to suffer in this world? Is my life meant to be entertainment for some bored gods hanging in the skies?