My heart sinks as I see the person my mind created at 14. Her black hair in a short pixie cut, the bright emerald green eyes. She’s tall, about 5’8” and her skin is even and pale. Her proportions are perfect in every way. Her makeup is a perfect balance between dark and natural, drawing even more attention to her eyes. I’m saddened as I see the long sleeve black crop top along with a black miniskirt and black strappy heels.

I know that she hides scars under her sleeves, that she trains more than she should, and eats less than she should. Her face was guarded, she obviously doesn’t let people in.

“Who are you!? What do you want?”

I flinch at how tense she is. Did my mind really put her through all of that?

I smile at her softly. “Don’t worry. I won’t hurt you. I know you don’t trust me, but I know you very well Lexi.”

I see her freeze at her name, her eyes widen as she studies my face more closely, her eyes widening in realization.

“Y-You created me?”

I nod, still smiling softly. “Yes, I’m so sorry for everything that I put you through, you didn’t deserve any of that.”

She looks at me, her eyes full of hurt and pain. “Why?”

I didn’t expect her voice to sound so small this time. I continue to smile softly, but now with a touch of sadness. “I’m so sorry Lexi. I was young, 14 actually. I was hurting, but I knew I couldn’t hurt myself. So, I created you, you could do whatever I couldn’t. I’m so sorry I kept putting you in those situations. I’m so sorry I caused you so much pain.”

I open my arms to her, this girl who can fight as well as any superhero, who I dragged through hell just so I could cope.

That’s all it takes before the tears roll down her face as she sprints at me and pulls me into a tight hug. I hug her back tightly, gently petting her head. “Shhh, shhhh. It’s okay. You’re safe now. I’ve got you. You can rest now.”

As I continue to hold her, I feel her relax into my arms. I gently pick her up and carry her to the glowing portal.

I’m met with my imaginary friend from my childhood. A bright green horse with a braided mane and emeralds imbedded into her hair. She greets me at the entrance before inspecting the newest arrival.

I carefully lay Lexi across Emerald’s back, the horse giving me an affectionate nuzzle before turning and leaving towards the castle. I know she’ll be safe and happy here. How could she not be? When she is surrounded by my childhood innocence, preserved into my memory.

"Why?" The question floats in the air like a balloon about to pop. I can feel my heart contract beneath my rib cage. _Thump. Thump. Thump. _ _ _ "I'm sorry." Those are the only two words I can bring myself to say. "Oh, shut up." The girl standing before me waves a hand in my face. "Your apology means nothing to me. I want an explanation. Tell me why you did this to me." Her voice carries deep emotion . . . pure hatred . . . of me. "I had no choice." I know I sound pathetic before the words leave my mouth. "I had to change you." "Really?" Thick sarcasm drips from her voice. "You had to change me into everything I despise? You had to do the worst possible thing you could have done to me? You wrecked me." A sick feeling roots itself deep in my stomach. I feel like I could throw up. _What have I done? _ "You made me into what I hated most and watched carelessly as I destroyed the one person I truly cared about." _She's not real. She's not real. She's not real. _ _ I _repeat this phrase to myself again and again and again, desperately trying to convince myself it's true. "I can read your thoughts in the same way you write mine." Panic sets in. "I am real. You made me real. Don't you understand? I exist because of you." The hatred in her voice is more evident than before. She wants to wreck me the way I wrecked her. _ I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. _ _ _"You aren't sorry. You wanted an A on your assignment. That's why you did this to me. You wanted your teacher to be impressed with your writing." The tension in her voice escalates on every word. "Did you ever wonder what happened to me when you finished your story? When you reached your word count? When you'd edited every page to perfection? I'll tell you what happened. I kept living. I'm still alive. I'll always be alive, because of you. I keep living in this nightmare. I am what I hate and I am completely powerless to change a single detail. This is the story you have written. The story I'll continue to live in forever." What she doesn't know is that breaking her broke me. I knew she deserved better, but I couldn't have given it to her. I couldn't have saved her. I can't save her.

“Why are you here?”

The question hung in the air for a moment as he looked at me. He wore the same blank expression that he always had, devoid of life or emotion, but I could see the malice dancing in his eyes. He had never been to hide that from me. I knew where to look.

“I don’t need you anymore. I killed you for a reason. How are you here?”

Again, silence. He took two steps towards me, calm and collected. His movements as deliberete as the words he was about to choose.

“We both know you could never truly kill me. I’m a part of you. Or don’t you remember that there was a time when neither of us was sure which was the facade?”

My throat tightened, his words almost forming a noose as my stomach prepared to drop out from beneath me like the trapdoor on the gallows. I had been rid of him for so long. Why here? Why now?

“You owe me something, a great many something’s really. You’ve stolen so much time from me.”

“I didn’t steal a damn thing from you Damon! It wasn’t yours, it never had been. You had to go. You served your purpose, and were nothing but trouble by the time I decided to get rid of you. I didn’t want to hurt people anymore.”

He smiled at that, a thin line lacking any semblance of warmth played across his face. It was a rare sight, and not a comforting one.

“When have I ever been one to care about what others wanted, Louis?”

I didn’t bother to respond. The anxiety was beginning to fade now. The initial shock dissipating, and my heart returning to a normal rythm. It always ended this way when he came around.

I always tried to resist, but it was token effort at best. I never needed any real convincing. He was right, of course, whose to say which of us is the facade? When has what I want ever truly mattered? He’s never done wrong by me, only by those around me. I offer him a small nod. A moment of tangible submission, if but a small one.

It’s always easier when he’s in control.

Darkness as far as the eye can see. Simply the Void, a single entity was walking through it with confusion.

A mist-covered man suddenly materialized in front of the entity, causing his eyes to widen.

“Lane Lot, my proudest and first creation.” The figure turned to Lane. He snapped his fingers, illuminating the void.

Lane’s steps slowed and he hesitantly asked “Who are you?” with blue particles flowing through his surroundings. His black ponytail lifted up and revealing his age as grey highlighted different areas.

The man sighed and facepalmed his mist covered face. “Ah right, I guess meeting you within your Soul wasn’t the right choice. You can simply call me Constellation.”

Constellation pulled his hand out and faced it towards Lane. The overwhelming energy split apart and faded away. “Ah before I forget. I don’t want your abilities to ruin our conversation, this is a one in a life time opportunity for me too.”

[Your mana reservoir has been sealed]

[Your spirit companion has been put to sleep]

[Constellation, the Author of infinite worlds has enforced your limitations]

Continuous sentences flew across Lane’s eyes. Sweat ran down his forehead, as he tried to force the right words to come out.

“Fine.. I’ve had enough experiences to know you’re beyond me, so enlighten me. Constellation what do you mean by your creation?.”

With a jerk of his head, Constellation had many rotating recordings float around them.

One showed a youthful man flinging fire like he was the sun as he faced a girl with pointed ears and hair as white as snow who freezes the world where she stood.

Another showed the two in a deep embrace as the world was crumbling around them.

The same young Lane with streaks of crimson flowing from his eyes. Cradling his blood soaked lover in his arms hiccuping In between each hysterical scream.

“…Belle.”

The tired man inhaled deeply as he saw dozens of his best and worst memories on repeat. “You made all these things happen didn’t you?”

The misty figure scratched at his cheek contemplating. “Yes and I’m sorry, your tragedies were written by me years ago.”

“Constellation, you’ve taken away Belle, Sarah, my sister, my masters, the place I called home. And you’ve come to tell me you’re sorry?”

The Author’s steps echoed until a firm grip laid on Lane’s shoulder. “I’ve come to tell you, I want to redeem you given enough time.”

“You think my suffering will be fixed if you just redeem my life?”

“No, I wish to give you something that I could not. A happy ending to your tribulations.”

“Lane Lot, you will be the story carried by my constellation someday. One that people will admire and I thank you for being the perfect protagonist until the end.”

Thunderous roars bursted the sentimental moment as fierce blue streaks of light flashed across the void.

The Author of infinite worlds faded away as the mist was the only thing binding him to Lane’s soul. “Have no regrets for the past, only worries for the future. I’m glad I could see a fine man grow in front of me.”

[your limitations has faded away]

[Constellation, Author of Infinite Worlds has given you a glimpse towards your redemption]

Lane’s face shook and anger came forth even with the apology. He began running towards where the mist dissipated. “What.. I need more than that- you bastard!”

The fierce light arced through his body, paralyzing Lane making him fall backwards into the void that swallowed him whole.

“Uh Hello? Lane, you done day dreaming before class? We’re almost done with the day. I’m ready for our date so quit spacing out.

As Lane’s eyes focused he couldn’t help grinning, the love of his life was alive and well.

“Yeah Belle, I can’t wait for it either so let’s speed it up!” They held hands tightly as they walked the halls of a reality soon to be written.

“I have a question for you.”

-“What is it?”

“Does the pain ever stop?”

-“What?”

“You created me, right? You know my whole story from the beginning to the end. So tell me, the pain, does it ever stop?”

-“…”

“I’m serious! Why does everyone I love have to die? Mom, Dad, Riley, everyone! The least you can do is tell me when it ends or give me an explanation for why it’s even happening!”

-“…”

-“You want the real, unfiltered, uncensored truth?”

“Yes!!”

-“…”

-“Your suffering is the most entertaining crap ever.”

“…”

-“And it doesn’t end until after like four more seasons or something so hang in there bud.”

“Why… why did you do this?”

“Do what?”

“Create me like this. Did you just want someone who represents your boredom, your restlessness? Did you enjoy making me just like you, as hopeless as you? Did you dream of being me, being able to have an exciting life?”

“I didn’t want to. You know that right?”

“Hahaha you had me want to die until I killed someone, or at least hurt someone, do you know what that does to a person? I had to choose between living a life of boredom and loneliness, and killing. I enjoyed it so much, it was so fun…”

“You enjoyed it, so why are you mad at me?”

“BECAUSE YOU MADE ME LIKE THIS!” They start laughing, a sound of hurt and joy and excitement, “no not anymore though… you only wanted me to kill when it was someone else… now you’re acting like you’re the good guy!”

“I’m sor-“

“And then, after all you did, when I finally got a chance at redemption, you made me sacrifice myself. Why did you do this?”

“Would you really rather be ordinary?”

“I DONT KNOW! BECAUSE YOU WROTE ME LIKE THIS I DONT HAVE A CHOICE! I don’t have a choice. You didn’t want to be ordinary so you created me. You called me Villain and laughed at me with your friends.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Oh now you’re sorry?”

“Yes.”

“I don’t forgive you.”

“Ehh fair enough, bye! Time to give some other characters trauma!”

She stands in front of me, with those wild blue eyes. Fierce and piercing, but also deep and sad.

“Why?” she asks. Her expression flickers as her eyes shift to the side and above my head, thinking about something in particular.

“Why did you do all of this to me?” she repeats, voice choking on a sob.

It is all I can do but stand there, watching as she falls apart. I made her strong, and she has done that as she was ordered to, but now she falls apart. She’s handled so much, everything I put on her, all with her head held high. But it’s too much, too much for any one person to bear.

“You take me from my home. From my parents.” She shakes her head and looks down.

“You take me from my brothers…. Do you remember,” she smiles at the memory,” when we’d climb the trees in the backyard, helping each other all the way to the top. We climbed onto the roof, and Mama yelled at us.” She chuckled slightly. “I blamed it on them, since they were older and responsible for me. But I loved it. How we’d climb into the roof, and huddle in the corner, where no one could see us. It was our place.” A tear slides down her cheek.

“Do you remember,” She pauses to attempt to suppress her pain.” Those nights when we’d sneak out our windows, climbing onto the tree just outside, scurrying up and onto the roof. We’d huddle close together with that special blanket. And when I was scared of the universe, and the world, they’d comfort me. They’d tell me that it would be okay, and that they would always be there to protect me.”

The fire in her eyes returns, as her sharp gaze flicks up to meet mine, drilling into my eyes.

“But you made them leave me. You forced us apart when you knew we needed each other. Why? Because it made me strong? Because it made me tough? I hate that.” Another tear slips out.

“You take me from my mind, and plant me in darkness, forcing me to live it in. I was alone. Nobody in the world loved me. Except for my siblings, but you wouldn’t let them be there.” She shook her head. “No.” She tilted her chin up slightly. “I wasn’t allowed to have anyone but myself, and even then, sometimes I didn’t have that.”

“And you take Michael from me. He was 4. 4 years old, and you take him. He will never. Breathe again. Because of you.” Her words drip with anger on the last word, piercing through the air like knives. “Do you remember, when we would stay at the school playground after all the other kids had gone home, and we would stay there for hours.” Tears ran freely down her face now, as she remembered all the things she would never have again. The things he would never have again.

“We would have swinging competitions, and race down the slides. We would climb on top of everything, so high up. We would pretend we could touch the clouds. I would always push him, and he would always yell to go higher. I could always tell he was smiling, just from his voice. He loved it. He’d beg for us to stay when we would have to go home for dinner. He’d stay all night if we could, just us.”

She looks at her shoes, sobbing. I’d never seen her like this.

“And then Ella.” Her voice broke, as she looked into the corner again. “The sweetest little girl you could ever imagine. She said she was friends with the Sun, and when she got warm it was because the Sun was hugging her. She would color pages and pages of pink, saying it represented her happiness and her love for the world. She was always smiling, and that. That was the prettiest thing in the world.”

She looks back to me, no longer angry, but breath trembling and eyes bleeding. “Why. Why did you do this to me?”

“Who are you?” She asked. Everything was hazy and dark. “Vesper?” I asked. “How do you know my name?” “I… how do I explain this? I- I made you” she scoffed. “Right, your saying my dad isn’t really my dad?” “No, I mean your… sigh your just a fictional character” “Your telling me that I’m not real?” She said in a panicked laugh. “Vesper I-“ “No!” She screamed backing away. “For the sake of argument, you mean to tell me that my life was your creation?” “Vesper-“ “That everything YOU put me through was for the sake of entertainment? YOU MADE PEOPLE HURT ME!” She screamed. “YOU MADE PEOPLE HURT MY FAMILY… MY CHILDREN!” Tears streamed down her face. “Vesper listen to me! You wouldn’t have had any of that without Bentlee. I gave you Bentlee!” She stopped and thought about it. “Perhaps, but you gave him trauma because of me” she said angrily. I sighed. “Darling not every story has a happy plot. That’s how life is, so that is how stories must be” “I hate you” “My life wasn’t easy either! I needed someone to relate to, even if they weren’t real. I’m sorry Vesper.”

Brother, why. Why must you make me so. I am lost to the wind, to time. I pain to be more than what I am; Yet I’m born by these very manacles which keep my aloof. Brother, why do you keep me alive, in memory, in thought, yet neglect me, forget all but name. Do you not remember my face, like how you defy your own? Who are you now, brother? What has become of you? Were we not to be great together? Why have you let us rot away like this? You’ve become so foreign and strange; Not a smile left on your golden brown skin. Your hair is now long and hides your eyes.

I’m confident I am still me, as you have written it. But brother… Who are you?

“There are times when I think of you like my children, I carry you in my mind for months and then with the stroke of my pen or the tap of my fingers you’re born. I wish I could talk to you directly, step in and help you when you need it, but like all characters you’ve taken on a life of your own.” I look down at my phone as I type out these words not expecting a reply. It’s just a drifting thought directed at no one in particular.

“I can hear you” a small voice reaches out from the abyss.

“Which one are you?” I ask.

“David, I’m a character from your story ‘The Archetypes’. I’ve been able to hear you since the beginning. I know everything you’ve written and deleted and edited. I’ve seen it all. I’ve heard your tears when you’re forced to write sad scenes, I’ve seen you smile as you’re proud of a line you’ve been struggling to get right.”

“How can this be so?”

“I have the power to break the fourth wall remember? You gave me this power. I know you planned to write a whole chapter from my perspective, but you never got round to it. I hope you do someday.”

“Me too.”

“You’ve been so quiet recently, where have you been? Your latest chapter has been in the drafts completed for months.”

“I know, I’ve just had so much going on. With work and stuff, I started a new podcast with my best friend, you can find it on Spotify. It’s called The Het and The Ace, we talk about fictional characters and personas from all over the place.”

“Nice plug.”

“Thank you.”

“Well I’ve got to go, Chase always panics if I disappear for too long. He doesn’t really understand my power, nobody does.”

“To be honest even I don’t and I wrote it!”

“Think of it like this, you know the show Big Brother?”

“Of course.”

“Well It’s like I enter the confessionals room, I’ve got a comfy chair where I can watch the cameras and speak to you on the other side, mostly I just use the time to vent out my thoughts into the void. To everyone else I just disappear. That’s what they think my power is.”

“That’s incredible, I can’t believe I came up with that.”

“Well you best believe it, because you did. You’ve created a whole universe of stories. Don’t stop now!”

“I won’t I promise.”

“And Jayjay, post that chapter in your drafts, keep writing whenever you get the time because it’s what you love, and it’s what you’re good at. Don’t let those stories go to waste.”

“Thank you David I will, I’ve been planning to for a while, and I definitely will!”

“Good, I can’t wait to read it. Speak soon Jayjay.”

“I’ll see you in my thoughts David, I’m glad you exist.”

“I’m glad I exist too almighty creator.”