This story is based off of a dream I had last night. It felt even more disconnected and "ethereal" than usual, hence the name.

The worlds/scenarios that are referenced here were like... games? Game shows? I was some kind of admin/higher being pretending to be a "player," and the doctor was someone who I allied with and later fell in love with.

It started in a lobby with a bunch of different worlds/scenarios to choose from, represented as floating spheres. This one was some kind of zombie apocalypse. I think you had to choose to participate in them, but it was kind of unclear about that part. I didn't write it because this bit was the longest and made the strongest impression on me.

It contains vague descriptions of gore.

"You did your best," I told him quietly.

He looked up at me with despair in his eyes. "But I can't even save you."

I hated this. Hated seeing him so... defeated. It wasn't right. I reached out, cupping his cheek. "There can only be one winner in this game, doctor. Perhaps next time we will find a better way." Maybe, I will find a way to stop it next time.

He glanced out the window, looking at the zombies that roamed below. They were getting closer with every day that went by. Soon, they'd find a way up onto our towers, and then we'd really be doomed.

I didn't want to be torn apart. But it was the only way to keep him safe. I passed through the walls and floated high above the crowds of monsters.

I took a deep breath and screamed. The zombies immediately stopped whatever they were doing and surged towards me, climbing atop one another to try and reach me.

As I fell into the crowd, I saw my doctor watching me from the window. I managed a smile and tried to prepare myself for the pain.

It didn't work. Agony ripped through me, worse than anything I had ever felt. My body glitched and then-

It was over. I watched from on high, spectating the whole scenario. The pain was nothing but a dull memory now. Still, my heart ached for the man I'd left behind.

We would meet again, in the next world.