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Melissa's pov :

As Lisa grappled with her lack of options, frustration bubbled up inside her like a simmering pot ready to boil over. Despite her formidable magical abilities, she found herself at the mercy of this mysterious dimension, forced to rely on the actions of others to secure her escape.

With each passing moment, her sense of helplessness grew, gnawing away at her resolve like a relentless predator. She knew she had no choice but to wait, to bide her time in this strange and unfamiliar realm until someone else stumbled upon her plight.

The other option with her, highly unreliable was : to wait. Wait till someone in the actual world creates a portal or lands up in this dimension.

As she settled into her uneasy vigil, a wave of vulnerability washed over her, leaving her feeling exposed and defenseless. The weight of uncertainty pressed down on her shoulders, suffocating her with its suffocating embrace.

How long would she have to endure this limbo?

Would anyone even notice her absence, let alone come to her aid?

"Of course they would. Like duh! I'm the apple of everyone's eye! Hehe"

The void earned a chuckle from her.

These questions occupied her mind, swirling around like a whirlpool threatening to drag her under. In the vast expanse of the dimension, she felt utterly alone, cut off from the world she knew and the people she cared about.

The unknowns weighed heavily on her, amplifying her sense of isolation...

As she waited in the stillness of the dimension, time stretched out before her like a vast expanse of uncharted territory. In the quiet moments between her restless thoughts, Lisa stole some time to be drawn inward, compelled to reflect on the journey that had brought her to this point.

Had she changed since embarking on this journey?

The answer echoed within her with unwavering certainty:

YES, she had.

Despite the challenges and trials she had faced, she had emerged stronger, wiser, and more resilient than ever before.

In the quiet solitude of the dimension, she found clarity amidst the chaos, a newfound sense of purpose guiding her forward.

"Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine I'd find myself in a place like this."

Lisa murmured to herself, her voice tinged with a mix of awe and disbelief.

"But here I am, standing on the threshold of the unknown, facing challenges I used to think impossible."

She paused, her gaze sweeping across the dimly lit expanse of the dimension.

"They say that a Luminaire never gives up."
She continued, her voice growing stronger with each word.

"And now, more than ever, I understand the truth behind those words. Despite everything I've faced, every obstacle in my path, I'm still standing. Still fighting."

After a brief pause she continued,

"This journey has tested me in ways I never thought possible."

She admitted, a hint of vulnerability creeping into her tone.

"But it's also shown me what I'm truly capable of. The strength that lies within me, waiting to be unleashed."

Her chain of thoughts was interrupted when a sudden realization struck Lisa like a bolt of lightning, jolting her out of her reverie.

Her fingers instinctively found their way to the object that clung around her neck, its presence forgotten until now. As her fingertips enveloped around it, a glow was seen. A glow of Hope. The glow emanated an ethereal royal blue light that danced across her skin.

Some whispered words escaped her lips, barely audible amidst the silence of the dimension.

"He's icy, but my heart burns...for him."

With a sense of both curiosity and assurance, she watched as it responded to her touch, its glow pulsating in rhythm with her heartbeat.

✧✧✧✧

On his flawless porcelain face was etched the weight of longing rather disappointment, yet his features remained immaculate, save for a nearly imperceptible scar.

A single glance at his countenance was enough to enamor anyone, making the person go head over heels for him.

As time ticked by, he sank into the plush cushions of the couch. Despite his efforts to block out the chaos echoing from downstairs, it persisted, a relentless reminder that he wasn't alone at the moment. With a heavy sigh, he leaned his head back, staring up at the ceiling as if seeking solace in its familiar expanse.

In a soft, almost melancholic tone, he began to murmur some lyrics, the melody weaving through the air like a delicate thread. Each note carried with it a hint of something, a silent plea for understanding in the midst of confusion.

"I hate you, I love you, I hate that I love you,
He loves you, you love him, and I'll never be him,
Caught in this cycle I am, I cannot break free,
I hate that I love you, but you mean everything to me...."

As he voiced his self-composed chorus, a faint glow emanated from his neck, catching his attention. Curious, he lowered his gaze to investigate, only to be met with a sudden burst of crimson beams that pierced through his eyes. Startled, he instinctively jerked his head back in response to the unexpected assault on his eyes.

"Ouch, that hurt!"

He exclaimed, wincing as he managed to straighten his head back into the right position. Rubbing his victimized eyes, a groan escaped his lips, but he quickly shook off the discomfort and became fully alert.

"It's glow is never this intense. Something's awfully wrong."

He muttered through gritted teeth, his voice tinged with concern.

His hands instinctively wrapped around the glowing object.

As he did so, visions flooded his mind, glimpses seen through Lisa's eyes. Mysterious dolls, a darkened street, the sudden appearance of the toy store, and the gray darkness of an unknown dimension flashed before his eyes in rapid succession. Each image carried with it a weight of sorrowful memories, intertwining with his own emotions.

Among the swirling visions, he caught sight of his own phantom-like figure, a chilling reminder of the danger Lisa faced. In an instant, he connected the dots, piecing together the fragments of her experience.

Though the visions vanished as quickly as they came, two words continued to resonate in his mind, echoing like a sinister warning:

"Kill Lisa."

The blood in his veins ran cold as the implications of those words sank in. Panic and dread surged through him, propelling him into action as he realized the urgent need to find and protect Lisa at all costs.

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Downstairs :

The excited, high-pitched sounds of some childish adults playing video games pulsed through the living room, creating a cacophony of noise that the couch-potato couldn't ignore.

"Addiction, that's all."

He sighed, shaking his head at what he considered their addiction to mindless entertainment.

He would thoroughly enjoy lamenting on how they were some pestering idiots. Although nudging aside the fact that he was one of them!

As his friends indulged in their gaming session, he found himself chuckling at their antics, momentarily distracted from the looming sense of unease that was soon settling over him. However, his brief respite was interrupted by a shrill and angry scream from upstairs, calling out his name in a tone that brooked no argument.

"Louu!"

Ignoring the first call, he waited, testing the patience of whoever was so incensed with him. But as the scream escalated in intensity and urgency, he couldn't ignore it any longer.

"Louis!"

The second call reverberated through the house, accompanied by the stomping of feet descending the stairs. He remained outwardly calm, but the sudden tension in the room was palpable as his once engrossed friends jolted their heads in unison to look him, their expressions shifting from amusement to concern. As they eyed him head to toe, he was found to be subtly calm and peacefully lying on the couch.

"Respond!"
One of them uttered.

"Ye.."
Before he could answer, he was interrupted by yet another scream, this one shaking the very walls of the apartment.

"LOUIS AURELIUS."

"What? What?"
His voice betrayed his fear and confusion as he rose halfway from the couch to peer anxiously at the stairs, his face contorted in a mixture of concern and dread.

Louis noticed the striking split-dyed head immediately. The figure's expression morphed from intense yelling to one of deep concern and fear.

"Teleport me quick."
The boy pleaded urgently.

"Calm down first. Tell me what happened. Ahh..."

Louis began, but before he could finish, a painful groan escaped him as the one standing before him retrieved a bright, glowing object from underneath his t-shirt. The others instinctively shielded their eyes from the intense light.

"The echoes of chaos are reverberating, painting a picture of impending turmoil.."
The boy managed to utter, his eyes shimmering with unshed tears.

"Wha...Simpl... Forget it. Your colourful lexicon is too lively for my monochromatic one."

Louis uttered with a sigh, acknowledging the beauty of the sentence he had just crafted.

"Look. Now it's getting to me!"

"This isn't the moment to bring it up, Aurelius."

"Fine.. Let's go."

"What should we do?"
One of the three bystanders asked, sounding concerned.

"Stay here. If we aren't back soon, ask Jack and Jin for help."

The boy instructed, his voice steady despite the urgency of the situation.

"Ok."

The three agreed in unison.

As they both walked outside the apartment, they felt the weight of three pairs of eyes watching them closely.

He took Louis' outstretched arm, preparing to teleport.

"Ok, here we g... wait. Where are we going?"

Louis asked, confusion evident in his expression.

"Umm.. I remember.. It was a street.. quite deserted ... The sign board.. Ah! Got it."

He exclaimed, recalling the location and sharing it with Louis. As Louis nodded in understanding, a swish of yellow light enveloped them, whisking them away to their destination.

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"St. 21. Why the hell would we come here, especially at this time?"

Louis muttered, casting a dubious glance around the familiar surroundings as he hesitantly set foot on the ground after teleporting.

"As if I wish. I had told her not to take this route."
The boy grumbled, his expression a mix of dismay and irritation, though an undercurrent of concern still lingered in his voice.

"As if whoever she would listen to you!"
Louis retorted sarcastically, his tone laced with skepticism.
"Now what next?"

"I thought you would love to return to your darling couch!"
He remarked icily, his sarcasm dripping from every word.

"Not gonna leave you here alone."
Louis replied firmly, his voice low and steady.

"Aww!"
His sarcasm reached new heights.
"Thanks though."

"Shut it and come to the point now. What next?"
Louis demanded, his expression contorted in disgust at his attempt at sentimentality.

He hesitated for a moment before speaking, knowing his words were the key to their next move.

"Uhh.. umm..."
He began, trying to find the right words to convey his plan.

Louis' impatience bubbled over, prompting him to mock his friend's reluctance with a sarcastic jab.

"C'mon, what's bothering you? Is it really that bad that my ears will bleed?"

He sighed inwardly, muttering under his breath about using a memory fascitrix on Louis later to silence his prying questions.

With an embarrassed side glance at Louis, he continued..

"She has a way of making me see stars."

A sentiment that caught Louis off-guard.

Louis's breath hitched at the unexpected confession.

"Wait, who are you talking about?"

"Curiosity kills the cat. So shut it,"

He snapped, his irritation growing as he scanned their surroundings for any sign of their next move.

Before Louis could respond, their attention was drawn to a faint crimson wavy beam dancing through the air.

"Don't tell me that was part of an incantation!"
The revelation left Louis laughing hysterically at the unexpected twist contrasting the other one's serious demeanor.

"Ah, mmhm!"
He replied, relieved that Louis didn't take his words too seriously.

"This ain't the time to laugh, Aurelius."
He scolded, his tone firm.

Louis's laughter died down quickly at the serious tone in his voice.
"I know, you never call me Aurelius unless something's up."

"I need some explanations!"
Louis demanded, his curiosity piqued.

He sighed, running a hand through his hair.
"I fear Crystal might be confined or trapped in a location we're unaware of... I.. I saw it in my visions. The place... it was unlike any we have ever encountered before."
He confessed, his concern evident in his voice.

"She has a knack for attracting trouble wherever she goes."
Louis remarked with a wry smile, referring to their blasé friend.

"Today we gotta be her saviors! Let's follow wherever this beam leads us!"

Louis complied with his friend's instructions, navigating through the ominous dark street with increasing uneasiness. Reluctantly, he trailed behind the other one, who was determinedly following the trail of crimson beams.

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After a lengthy, tiring and fruitless trek, they stumbled upon an unexpected sight-a car.

Not just any run-of-the-mill car, but a freakin' Ferrari.

Not any Ferrari, but a prized possession, Éclair..

The boys' brows furrowed in confusion as they surveyed the scene.

"What is he doing here?" he muttered to Louis, his voice tinged with anger.

Louis, meanwhile, cautiously approached the familiar car, scanning its surroundings for any signs of life. But the vehicle sat empty, a silent sentinel in the dimly lit street. His feet backtracked seeing the abandoned car.

"There's no one here!"

Louis exclaimed, his voice filled with frustration and fear.

"Where is he? Where the hell is Lily?"

His words echoed off the nearby buildings, a stark reminder of their dire situation.

The other one, however, remained focused, his attention drawn to the door where the crimson beams seemed to converge.

"The beams, they stop at that door."

He observed, his tone more determined than ever.

"Maybe Lily called him to..."
Louis began, but the boy cut him off.

"Let's go inside."
He declared, his voice commanding.
"Chances are we will find them."

With a resolute expression, he reached for the doorknob, hoping for a quick entry. However, his efforts were in vain as the door remained firmly shut, refusing to yield to their demands.

His frustration grew as he tried to force the door open with no success.
"Locked," he muttered under his breath, his brows furrowing in frustration.

Louis paced back and forth, his mind racing with worry and fear.

"What do we do now?"
The stressed boy asked Louis with a voice trembling with anxiety.

"Maybe those beams pulled a fast one on us."
Louis speculated, his tone laced with doubt.
"But two grown adults stuck in an abandoned store? Sounds like a horror movie waiting to happen."

Louis squinted at the dusty sign.

"P... Pande... Pandora? Pla... Playthings!"

Louis exclaimed, striding over to his friend and spreading his arms wide as if presenting a grand revelation.

"Behold, Pandora's Playthings and Beyond!"

"A... Toystore?"
The other one arched an eyebrow, his confusion evident.

"Yep, a wonderland of childhood nightmares."
Louis quipped, his lips curling into a wry grin.

The boy nodded slowly, mulling over Louis' words.

"True, but we gotta stress on the fact that it's a toystore! Why a toystore?"

"Because we're not in the Institute anymore."
Louis replied cryptically, his eyes darting around as if expecting something sinister to jump out at them.

"And remember, we're standing on St. 21."

He shot his friend a meaningful glance, hinting at the dark significance of the location.

"Let's break it."
The tenacious boy declared, his patience wearing thin.

"Whoa, hold on! You can't just go around damaging other people's property..."
Louis began, but then thought better of it.
"Or maybe you can."
He muttered under his breath, realizing that reasoning with him was futile.

"Let's make some noise!"
The boy suggested with a mischievous glint in his eyes.

Louis hesitated..
"Are you sure? We might get in trouble... It's practically our trademark, after all!"

He waved off his concerns.
"Trouble is my middle name, buddy. Let's shake things up a bit!"

With a shared glance of determination, they both positioned themselves in front of the door. The single-minded cracked his knuckles dramatically while Louis muttered a quick prayer under his breath. Then, with a synchronized battle cry, they lunged forward, their combined force slamming against the unyielding wood.

As they stumbled back, panting from the exertion, the single-minded grinned dejectedly.

"Well, that didn't work..."

Louis rolled his eyes.

"No kidding. Maybe we should try knocking next time."

Fueled by frustration, the single-minded took a step back, his fists clenched tightly at his sides. With determined strides, he approached the door, his resolve evident in the set of his jaw.

As he reached the door, he braced himself, then threw his shoulder and sidearm against the stubborn wood.

But what awaited him on the other side was a mystery, one that he was about to uncover...

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Would he emerge to be her enigmatic savior.... Her hero ??