“I need you to listen carefully. You don’t know me, but I know you-“

“WHAT THE BLOODY HELL IS GOING ON”

“Excuse me but you’re going to need to shut up”

“WHAT THE ACTUAL HELL?!!!? ARE YOU A STALKER!? YOU ARE ARENT YOU!!”

“SHUT UP”

“GO AWAY STALKER!”

Naruto run away

“I need you to listen to me very carefully. You don’t know me, but I know you.” The stranger had me by the shoulders, speaking low and urgently. Numbly, I felt myself nod. “I’m going to drive you home. You have five minutes tops to pack anything you may need for a week. If you’re unsure, pack it anyway. Then I’ll get you out of here, okay?” Again I felt myself nod. “Stay with me, Chrys.” I had no idea who the woman was, but her presence was oddly comforting. We arrived at my house too quickly, my brain felt like it was wading through a fog. I packed what I thought I would need, my hands just picking up items and throwing them in a bag. The woman came in and out, taking my bags with her. Then she told me my time was up, we had to go. It was like I’d step into an alternate reality. I could have sworn that as we drove, the very particles of the land around us were being torn apart and pieced back together. Hills turned to mountains to valleys to plains back to hills again. Slowly, my brain escaped the dense cloud it was trapped in and started processing. My realizations went as follows.

1. I’d just about died only to be saved by a strange woman who I swore materialized out of thin air
2. she knew where I lived
3. I was now in a car with her, with no way of know where we were going
4. I didn’t know her
5. I just got in a car with a stranger

So why was I not panicking? Why was my heart rate still so calm, my hands still so steady, my throat still so clear? She called me Chrys. Only friends and family ever call me Chrys. I turned to look at her. Her hair was the same rich brown as mine, her eyes the same golden hue. On the inside of her wrist was a semicolon tattoo. I’d been planning on getting one just like it. She wore black leather pants, which showed off her curves way to well. Her top was a simple white undershirt. From her ears hung what appeared to be red teardrop earrings, her choker sporting a matching charm. The sound of metal hitting metal rang through the silence every time she moved, the amount of bracelets she wore unreal. Finally, I found my voice. “So… who are you?” I felt like I was sixteen again, trying to figure out who the guy stopping me in the street again. Tense, but not as frightened as I probably should have been. I was graced with a smile, but no answer. She reached over and pressed something on the dash and the screen said ‘reading disc 8: track 16’ for a moment. I almost rolled my eyes. Avoiding questions. Great. Then I realized what song was one. “Stood on the cliffside screaming ‘give me a reason’ your faithless love’s the only hoax I believe in.” My soul left my body. She, the woman, was ME! Now, this is going to sound weird, but I’ve always had this idea that if I every figure out time travel, I’d go back and find myself. I didn’t know why, but I’d do it. The problem was, how was I suppose to know it was me? So silently, I told myself. Taylor Swift. Specifically, hoax from her album folklore. I stared at her again, taking in everything. Her hair was the color as mine because she was me. Her eyes were the same shade of brown because she was me. She had the very tattoo I wanted because she was me. I’ll be honest, I think I blacked out for a bit after that. I don’t remember anything for the next eighty or so miles. What I do remember is the the shimmery mist that enveloped us as we made a turn down a dirt road to the right. “I’m you.” I barely heard her answer, but I know I jolted as she said it. “And if we survive this, I promise I’ll tell you everything.”

"I need you to listen very carefully. You don't know me, but I know you.", a voice whispered from the darkness. Dr. Stevens stiffened. When he agreed to this assignment, he knew it would be dangerous, even life threatening. Still, he wasn't quite prepared for all the horrifying encounters he'd had. Visions of his loved ones being tortured and killed, monsters attempting to attack and slaughter him, mysterious labyrinths that seemed to never end. He'd been in Tenebris for almost a week now. It wasn't anything like he'd expected. The world seemed to be a vast void of nothingness. It was pitch black. Dr. Stevens couldn't see anything unless the world revealed that thing to him. Multiple times he'd wanted to give in, run away to find the nearest exit. Yet he'd come this far, and could make it further. His mission was nearly at its end, and whoever it was speaking to him would not stand in his way.

"Who are you?", he asked the unknown voice. He was answered with evil cackling. "Dear sir, can you not wager a guess?" After thinking for a moment, Dr. Stevens responded. "Are you another one of this world's illusions? Just another figment of my imagination?" Even more laughter ensued. "For a doctor, a man of science, you're not very intelligent." He paused for a moment before going on, "No. I am not an illusion, my friend. I'm real." Dr. Stevens was skeptical of this answer. "If you're real, then show yourself!", he shouted. Silence ensued. After a few moments, Dr. Stevens whispered, "Hello?".

...

"Boo!" Dr. Stevens cried out in alarm when the loud voice came from behind him. He whipped around hastily to see a figure cloaked in shadow standing there in front of him. "Who are you? What do you want?" Suddenly, the man looked up and stepped forward to reveal a shocking sight. Dr. Stevens gasped. There, in front of him, stood himself. A very different version of himself. His usually immaculately styled chocolate-brown hair was messy, with loose strands hanging about his face. His skin was a ghostly white, most likely due to the lack of light. His light brown eyes glowed softly, almost as to give off the impression of amber. The 'other' Dr. Stevens was dressed in a scientist's uniform that was similar to his own, except that it was black with luminescent orange accents.

"I am you, my friend. Well, not exactly. I'm a different version of you. One from another dimension. One who created this world." The real Dr. Stevens gasped. "You? You created this world?" The 'other him' nodded. "Yes. That's correct. It's also a story for another time." His glowing eyes bore into his frightened self. "I know you. I know your story. I know why you're here." Dr. Stevens chuckled softly. "I'm assuming this is the part where I fight you so that I can get what I want? I'd rather just get it over with already." Evil Dr. Stevens stepped closer. "Again, you're wrong. I'm not going to fight you, nor try to stop you from taking what you were sent here to take. All I ask is that you hear me out first."

Although he was weary, Dr. Stevens nodded. 'Other' Dr. Stevens smirked. "I'm not one to ramble, so I'll just get straight to the point with this. I'd like you to join me. You probably see no reason to do that, and let's face it, why should you? For the past week this world has done nothing but force you to face numerous monsters and terrifying visions. I could do nothing to stop it. But considering that you made it this far, I can see that you braved through those encounters like the hero you are. We are." He was interrupted by the other man. "What exactly are you fighting for though? Why do you need me to join you?" Evil Stevens sighed. "This world that I created has a mind of its own. Lately, it's been doing things that I never intended for it to do. I need you to help me fix it. Please, tell me you'll help me fix it."

Dr. Stevens felt sympathy for the 'other' him. He'd seen this world. It was a truly dreary place. So, that's why he said "okay" to the offer. Ultimately, although no one knows exactly how, that's how he lost his life.

“I need you to listen to me very carefully. You don’t know me, but I know you. I was in the darkness of entrance with a old fair lady wearing a black shirt and a white hat. I can told that she was kind of anxious because we only met about fifteen seconds ago. Than all of the sudden a person come in from the entrance looking tired, I quickly hide under the stage, yep I was beneath the stage talking to the woman, I am no thief no superhero just a normal person with a little bit of superhero because the old lady was in danger! The tired man looked at the old lady he saw the lady anxious than a sound came from the stage. “Now can queen Elizabeth come to the stage” “What the hell are I’m doing goodness me, that the England queen, queen Elizabeth!” Then all of the sudden a sound came out of the entrance. “Creek”the door opened quietly. I peek out, some thief were catching queen Elizabeth “NO”I shouted I run to them and caught them, “That was scary,don’t you”I ask queen Elizabeth “Um……..kind of and who are you” “Suddenly the people called”where is queen Elizabeth” “Queen Elizabeth walked on the stage then she speak……….

I need you to listen to me very carefully. You don't know me, but I know you. The fact that you're reading this means it's too late for me, but I've seen your future, and if you follow my instructions exactly, you will end up okay.

They are coming, and they will spare no one in their path. Only one place is safe, and you need to get there as fast as you can. You can't bring anyone with you or they WILL find you.

I don't have much time to explain, but you ne-

FOOLISH MORTAL, BY READING THIS YOU HAVE DOOMED YOURSELF. WE ARE COMING FOR YOU NOW, NOWHERE IS SAFE

“I need you to listen to me very carefully. You don't know me, but I know you.”

The voice came in a tangle of the wind, a whisper neither rough nor sweet in her ears.

On her balcony, above the palace gardens, Princess Rena glanced around. Vibrant green grass decorated the land, and elegant rows of topiary trees, clipped into shapes of fluffy sheep, extended for miles, rolling deep over the horizon.

Above, the rich blue sky reflected the world's calm, and, neatly positioned in her peripheral, the sun smiled, prickling Rena’s body with warmth. Cool air brushed her skin, but she felt no need to shiver. She could taste the salt of the far-off sea on her tongue, the breeze a calming murmur in her ear.

But she saw no people. Nor heard the harmonious tweet of birds.

She was alone—completely—except for that voice.

“Who said that?” Rena asked.

“Look down.”

She did as the voice said, peering down from the tip of her nose. At her feet, perched by the toes of Rena’s silver slippers, was the smooth body of a frog, stripes of deep black running down its orange back.

Rena marked her book with a pressed forget-me-not. “A frog?” She said, shuffling half an inch backwards. She didn't feel any fear toward the frog, but something in the back of her mind told her to step back. Something to do with colours—If only she knew what it was.

“You are a frog,” Rena continued. “How... peculiar. Tell me, little frog, how is it you speak?”

The frog’s throat bulged, and its two unblinking yellow eyes held the Princess’ gaze. For a moment, Rena believed herself foolish.

Too many fantastical tales, she chastised. Too many hours spent alone.

Frogs couldn't speak.

But rather than be rude—even to an affiliation of her imagination—Princess Rena crossed her ankles and curtsied.

“Apologies, little frog,” she announced, “but it appears I may have had too much sun, and therefore I must go. I bid you a good day.” She bowed her head and turned towards the white wings of silk curtains fluttering from the open windows.

“Wait. Please do not abandon me yet. Stay out here, if only for a moment.”

Rena stopped, but she didn't turn. “Is this my imagination?”

“Everything, one way or another, comes from imagination.”

“You asked me to listen,” Rena murmured. She clutched her book close to her chest and glanced at the frog over her shoulder. “Said you knew me; how is that?”

The frog’s throat ballooned, and its mouth remained closed when it spoke. “We have met before.”

“Forgive me, little frog, but had we met before, I do not believe I would have forgotten someone like you.”

Beads of slime glistened like a jewelled chain over the frog's body. Its foot twitched, and it leapt forward. “Where are we right now?” It asked.

“Pardon?”

“What do you see? Look around.”

Rena stepped around the frog and looked back across the quiet of her kingdom—at the colourful perfectness of it all. It was beautiful, as always, a fairytale painting brought to life.

“Does it feel real?”

Rena’s eyebrow raised at the frog’s question. “Real?”

"To you. Is this real to you?"

"Of course it's real. The sky, the trees, the grass— All of it. And pardon me for saying so, but it is you, little frog, who doesn't feel quite real.”

“That’s because I’m not.”

Rena frowned. “Then what are you, if not real?”

“I’m a subconscious,” the frog said, its throat bulging. “Yours, to be exact.”

Impossible, Rena thought. She wasn't some wooden puppet. She was a girl, a real girl—a princess.

A princess...

Princess?

The title sounded strange in her mind, a repeated word losing all sense of meaning.

Pulling the book closer, Rena wrapped her arms around her waist and stepped back. “What is this?” she asked. Her voice felt small, too small, caught by the wind and taken far, far out to sea. “You can't be my... Subconscious. You're a frog!”

“And you're in a story. Do you remember the tales your mother would read?”

“Excuse me, astory?”

The ground shook. Rena stumbled, and her book tumbled to the floor. A crack split in the balcony stone, and a loose fragment crumbled over the side. The frog lept, landing next to Rena’s book.

“This is important, Rena,” the frog declared. “Answer the question.”

The question.

“Yes, of course,” she said quickly, “Every night, she’d read a different tale, worlds of magic and monsters. Adventures beyond my wildest dreams. I would always say that was where I wanted to go. It was where I felt sa—”

Rena slapped a hand over her forehead.

White hot pain cut rivulets behind her eyes. Her vision blurred. Pins and needles prickled the edges of her spin. “Frog, what’s... Happening?”

“You’re remembering, Rena.”

Light flashed. A crack of thunder tore through the sky. Dark clouds scrubbed away the blue, bringing with them a howl of wind from the east.

Rena's dress whipped against her ankles, and a chill scratched its harsh claws against her skin. But despite that, sweat began to collect on her upper lip and the small of her back. Her heart quickened. Her tongue felt too large in her mouth, too dry.

This wasn't real.

“This isn't real.” Rena breathed. “Agh!” She screwed her eyes. “My mind—”

“It's natural to feel confused,” the frog said smoothly. “It will take a moment for you to understand. It's a protection Rena, a precaution; it's your body safeguarding itself.”

“It hurts,” Rena moaned. “How could I not know?”

“A part of you did. Look at your book.”

Rena glanced down and read the gold lettering, “Natural Toxins, Flora and Fauna.”

The frog hopped to the book and flicked a webbed hand over its eye. A string of slime swung from its body and over the top of the book. The cover flipped open.

Between the pages, Rena’s pressed forget-me-not caught the wind and flew into the sky. And Rena realised.

“I was poisoned. By what?”

The frog blinked.

“By you?”

Lighting flashed, and the world beyond turned white. A high whine pierced Rena’s ears. She fell backwards...

Falling...

Falling...

Metal struck the back of Rena’s head. Copper stung the inside of her mouth; she had bit her tongue.

Above, candles flickered, and she could smell the tang of smoke and mildew. Rena tried to move, but a figure, cast in shadow, loomed over the side, their hand pressing into her shoulder.

“Will she be okay?” A voice spoke, and the shadowed figure moved.

“The dream state can muddle the mind,” another said, “transporting the subconscious to where the host feels safe. The location can vary—a sunny beach, a cosy library, your grandma’s kitchen. It doesn't even have to be a real place. Where ever Miss Rena went, that's her safe place.”

“But she's back now? She's safe.”

“In time, she will be. I’ve neutralised the poison, so her body will heal, but her mind... It will... Take time.”

“I don’t know, do I? Or else they would probably know.”

“Why would you risk yourself to save me?”

“They want me as much as they want you, if not more”

“Why?”

“Because I bailed.”

“Bailed?”

“Lets just say, I wasn’t in with best group of people”

“How is that supposed to make me trust you!” She started to shout again

“Hey!” He said standing “your dad was in with them too. Ok? Give me a break. We’ve got to get out of here. they’ll be looking for us.”

“I need you to listen to me very carefully. You don’t know me, but I know you.” The stranger looked … well, strange, and Thomas couldn’t help but be startled by his sudden appearance. And by what he was saying. And by the way he was saying it. Yes, Thomas was spooked. He took a step back, but the strange man grabbed his hand and pulled him aside in a nearby street. “We should go now. Before they arrive.” “I’m not going anywhere with you! Who are you? What do you want? When are you leaving me alone?” He looked into the Main Street, carefully like he was suspected someone was looking for him. This man was trouble. “My name is Gus. I know, ridiculous right? Anyway. I am a part of an organisation that has chosen you to lead them. Now we go, before we get killed.” “I’m not…” But before I could finish my sentence, I got pulled back just in time to see the wall beside me explode. “See, we gotta go. Now! Unless you wanna get shot at and explode in terrible agony.” I didn’t understand what was happening. But he was right about one thing, I didn’t want to explode. And whoever that man was, it was better to follow him—who had just saved my life—that to wait for whoever was shooting at me or something... “You are going to explain more, aren’t you?” I tried to speak while running, though I had never run so fast in my life and I was out of breath in seconds. Okay, I had to admit I wasn’t an athlete to begin with. The other one, though, didn’t seem to have any trouble running, turning and watching out behind us, all at the same time. “If you don’t mind, I would like for us to survive first.” He took out what seemed to be a gigantic gun out of what should have been a too small pocket and shot behind him. “Yes, sure. Me too. But after?” “If you still have legs to run and ears to listen when we get out of here, sure.” That doesn’t seem promising.

“I need you to listen to me very carefully,” the man said in a slow but anxious voice. “You don’t know me, but I know you”

“Let me go you bastard!” The girl yelled

They were in a dark boiler room. The girl was sitting on a metal chair, her hands were tied behind her back and her legs were tied to the legs of the chair. The man had just removed a gag from her mouth.

“You have to listen to me,” the man said bending down and putting his hands on her shoulders.

“Don’t touch me!” She yelled

“We don’t have time for this” the man groaned, as he buried his face in his hands.

“Listen,” he said abruptly snapping his head up. “I’ll explain everything later, but right now we need to leave. I have to untie you and know that you're not going to run. can I trust you?”

“What are you talking about?!” She asked,

“Oh my god!” He said standing, losing his patience. Then there were footsteps coming through the door.

“Shit” he whispered, he ran over to her and started to untie her legs with fumbling fingers. He pulled her up and ran her over to a window that was high up and dragged over a box for them to stand on. He shattered the window with his elbow and put the gag back in her mouth, then hoisted her up to the window so she could climb through. She refused, shaking her head.

“Oh for god's sake” he whispered. The door burst open and three men in black clothing came barging in.

“There!” One of them yelled pointing at them.

He hurriedly picked her up and shoved her through the window and then climbed through himself, cutting his leg on the exposed glass.

“Damn it” he whispered, looking at the gash, it was deep.

He grabbed the girl and brought her down an alley before the other men could catch up. Led her through a maze of alleys until he finally lead her to a small, empty shop (picking the lock). Then he yanked her in, as he did so she grunted.

He lead her to a back room and pulled out the gag again.

“What the hell?!” She yelled, to him as he bent double panting. He swayed the ground swimming in his eyes. He blinked several times and swallowed until he finally stood up straight and went over to a chair in the corner still panting.

“Untie my arms!” She shouted at him.

“Please, not so, loud,” he said between short breaths. She bent down, looked into his eyes, and said in a stern tone.

“Un. tie. me.”

“No” he responded bleakly

“Why?” she complained

“Because you're not safe” he responded

“Yeah, no shit!” She yelled, “I’m being held captive by a man I’ve never met before!”

“Hand me that,” he said, pointing to a cloth behind her as if he didn’t even hear her

“What?” She asked annoyed, looking behind her

“The cloth.” He whispered.

“Why?” She asked annoyed.

“Because in case you haven’t noticed, I’m bleeding uncontrollably,” he said, very sarcastically.

“Well” she started even more sarcastically “In case you haven’t noticed, my hands are tied behind my back”

He groaned getting up slowly grabbing the cloth and sitting back down. As he rapped up the cut he said.

“What do you want to know?”

“What’s your name?” She asked immediately

He smirked and replied “Marcel.”

“Do you know my name?” She asked cautiously

“Yes,” he responded, not looking at her “Iren.” she looked shocked for a moment and then recovered

“Why are to taking me?”

“Because” he started “you are in danger and you need protection. I promised your father that I would protect you”

“My da-“

“Yes, he was in some pretty shady stuff. That’s why their after you, they think you know some of the information he had.”

“Like what?” She asked

There will be a part two, I ran out of space

"I need you to listen very carefully. You don't know me, but I know you.", a voice whispered from the darkness. Dr. Stevens stiffened. When he agreed to this assignment, he knew it would be dangerous, even life threatening. Still, he wasn't quite prepared for all the horrifying encounters he'd had. Visions of his loved ones being tortured and killed, monsters attempting to attack and slaughter him, mysterious labyrinths that seemed to never end. He'd been in Tenebris for almost a week now. It wasn't anything like he'd expected. The world seemed to be a vast void of nothingness. It was pitch black. Dr. Stevens couldn't see anything unless the world revealed that thing to him. Multiple times he'd wanted to give in, run away to find the nearest exit. Yet he'd come this far, and could make it further. His mission was nearly at its end, and whoever it was speaking to him would not stand in his way.

"Who are you?", he asked the unknown voice. He was answered with evil cackling. "Dear sir, can you not wager a guess?" After thinking for a moment, Dr. Stevens responded. "Are you another one of this world's illusions? Just another figment of my imagination?" Even more laughter ensued. "For a doctor, a man of science, you're not very intelligent." He paused for a moment before going on, "No. I am not an illusion, my friend. I'm real." Dr. Stevens was skeptical of this answer. "If you're real, then show yourself!", he shouted. Silence ensued. After a few moments, Dr. Stevens whispered, "Hello?".

...

"Boo!" Dr. Stevens cried out in alarm when the loud voice came from behind him. He whipped around hastily to see a figure cloaked in shadow standing there in front of him. "Who are you? What do you want?" Suddenly, the man looked up and stepped forward to reveal a shocking sight. Dr. Stevens gasped. There, in front of him, stood himself. A very different version of himself. His usually immaculately styled chocolate-brown hair was messy, with loose strands hanging about his face. His skin was a ghostly white, most likely due to the lack of light. His light brown eyes glowed softly, almost as to give off the impression of amber. The 'other' Dr. Stevens was dressed in a scientist's uniform that was similar to his own, except that it was black with luminescent orange accents.

"I am you, my friend. Well, not exactly. I'm a different version of you. One from another dimension. One who created this world." The real Dr. Stevens gasped. "You? You created this world?" The 'other him' nodded. "Yes. That's correct. It's also a story for another time." His glowing eyes bore into his frightened self. "I know you. I know your story. I know why you're here." Dr. Stevens chuckled softly. "I'm assuming this is the part where I fight you so that I can get what I want? I'd rather just get it over with already." Evil Dr. Stevens stepped closer. "Again, you're wrong. I'm not going to fight you, nor try to stop you from taking what you were sent here to take. All I ask is that you hear me out first."

Although he was weary, Dr. Stevens nodded. 'Other' Dr. Stevens smirked. "I'm not one to ramble, so I'll just get straight to the point with this. I'd like you to join me. You probably see no reason to do that, and let's face it, why should you? For the past week this world has done nothing but force you to face numerous monsters and terrifying visions. I could do nothing to stop it. But considering that you made it this far, I can see that you braved through those encounters like the hero you are. We are." He was interrupted by the other man. "What exactly are you fighting for though? Why do you need me to join you?" Evil Stevens sighed. "This world that I created has a mind of its own. Lately, it's been doing things that I never intended for it to do. I need you to help me fix it. Please, tell me you'll help me fix it."

Dr. Stevens felt sympathy for the 'other' him. He'd seen this world. It was a truly dreary place. So, that's why he said "okay" to the offer. Ultimately, although no one knows exactly how, that's how he lost his life.

A/N: This is awful. I'll try writing something better soon. Have a great day!