“Lori? Are you awake?” Dex asks. 

“I… I know why I had to leave my old universe…” The memories keep playing in my head, as the full weight of what I did sinks in. “I was why he said it was too late…” I think out loud. “It wasn’t, but I…” 

“Lori, what happened?” 

“It was all my fault…” 

“Stop that. Stop it right now. You’ve been going out of your way to avoid those words ever since your mind broke. I’m not letting you slip away now, when you finally know what happened to make you abandon your old universe. And it probably wasn’t because of you.” 

“But… it was my fault. I was the attacker…”
“What? Please, explain.” 

“I… go get Sophie. I’ll show her.” My fault. My fault. My fault. “Stop it…” I mutter. 

“Lori? You got your memories back?” Sophie asks, sitting next to me. 

“I… I did. Everything was my fault.” 

“No. No it wasn’t.” Dex says. 

“You haven’t seen what I did.” 

“Let me into your mind. But I don’t think it was your fault.” Sophie says. 

“Ok, but it really was.” When she brings her fingers off my temples, she’s pale, and her hands are shaking a little. “I didn’t censor the attacks!” I exclaim, realizing my mistake. 

“N- no. You didn’t. But, that’s not important. Gethen was controlling you. It wasn’t because of you.” 

“IT WAS! You saw the attacks, and you saw how I was able to gain control. I should have realized sooner…” 

“No. Stop thinking like that. We can’t have your mind breaking again. We all saw how it affected you the first time. I’ve never healed the same broken mind twice, and I’m not about to try it.” 

“Could you please explain what’s happening?” Dex says. 

“Th- there were these attacks happening in my old universe in the weeks before I left. An- and it would have been impossible. We had no idea who was doing it, until…” I trail off, sobbing. 

“She found out that it was Gethen controlling her. Her mind almost broke because of the guilt that she had been the one attacking her friends, so they erased all the memories of it, and any time when she almost figured it out. Apparently, the council sentenced her to Exile when they found out, because they thought she might still be dangerous. So she came here, and the other you always said-” 

“That it’s too late to save everyone here. I was supposed to help another version of myself defeat the Neverseen, away from everyone who could control me, or who were trying to throw me into prison.” My fault. My fault. My fault. 

“If he was controlling you how is that your fault?” Dex asks. My fault. I should have been stronger. Better. My fault. My fault. My fault. 

“My fault. My fault. My fault.” 

“NO! LISTEN TO ME!” 

“What’s going on?” Sophie asks. 

“THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED LAST TIME! LORI! PLEASE!” 

“My fault. My fault. My fault.” My fault. My fault! My fault! My fault! My fault! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! 

Lori!

MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT!

Please! 

MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! 

Come back! 

MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! 

We need you! Whoever’s transmitting to me tries to send some images, but the horrible words swallow them up. 

MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! 

Wait! 

MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! 

Listen! 

MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT!

Lori, it’s me. Dex. Sophie is- 

MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! 

Letting me do this with some telepath trick. 

MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! 

Please come back. I- 

MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! 

Need you. 

MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! 

You make me the happiest person ever, and it WASN’T your fault! 

MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! 

Please! I don’t know what I’ll do without you! 

MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! 

I love you! 

MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! 

Help… I weakly transmit. 

MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! 

I’m here, help m-

MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! 

Lori! Lori?! LORI?! 

MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! 

LORI! COME BACK! 

MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! THE OTHERS ARE GONE! 

Go away… 

MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! YOU DID IT! YOU FAILED THEM! 

No… 

MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! WHO ARE YOU TO DECIDE  WHOSE FAULT IT IS? 

I… 

MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! 

Who am I? 

MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! WHO YOU WERE IS GONE. ONLY GUILT REMAINS.

What did I do? 

MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! EVERYTHING WRONG! 

No… 

MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! YES!  

Who are you? 

MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! YOU! THE PART OF YOU THAT IS HONEST!

Why? 

MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT!

It is… 

MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! 

It’s all… 

MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! YES! STOP FIGHTING! 

All my fault… 

MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! 

Lori! Lori!

TAKE HER DOWN! 

N- no! I won’t take her down! 

POWERLESS HERE! 

Lori, come back! Lori Ruewen! 

MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! 

Lori, it WASN’T your fault! 

YES IT WAS! 

Help me… 

POWERLESS! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! 

Lori, you can beat it! 

NO! 

Wasn’t… 

MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT! 

My fault… IT WASN’T MY FAULT! Suddenly, it’s quieter. 

Lori Ruewen! Come back! Warmth and love surround me, pulling me back. 

I’m Lori? 

Yes. Pictures of me, and everyone I love surround me, giving me the strength to keep going. 

“I’m back.”