Chapter 18

May 20, 2017

Today marks the one-month anniversary of my parents' death. This hospital is like a prison. My room is like my cell. My drip is like my serial number. White must be the new orange. I've been sleeping, on and off. I haven't had visitors for two days. They've been monitoring me this whole time. My head is getting better though, so I don't get why I'm still here. When will I make the jailbreak? Never.

May 21, 2017

The doctors say they may let me out tomorrow. All I can do is wait. I've already counted sheep, already counted the flecks of paint on the ceiling, already fussed with everything I can fuss with. All I can do is wait. I think I'm going insane. 

May 22, 2017

Today marks the 7th day of me being in the hospital. Nobody has come to get me yet. Nobody has been allowed in. I've been crying for the past 3 hours. I'm not sure how much longer I can stay here. My sanity is waning thin. Nobody has entered my room for the past 48 hours. I wonder if I'll ever be let out.

May 23, 2017

You know the 8-ball fortune teller balls? I got one today. I shake it as hard as I can and say:

Me: When will I be let out of here?

8-Ball: Never.

Me: Very funny.

8-Ball: Tee hee.

I stare at it. Then I ease myself off the bed. I rip out all the IV's and tubes connecting me to all the machines. For a moment I'm dizzy. I've been in bed for over a week. I'm tired of this, being in and out of medication. I walk over to the door and try the handle. It's unlocked. All this time...It's been UNLOCKED?!

Me: Jesus fucking Christ...Really...?

I step out of my room, peering around the corner. I'm passed by several doctors. Nobody notices me. I get in the elevator. There are several other people, all adults. They look me up and down. I look at myself. I'm a mess. 

I wait and wait. Then one girl, around my age, steps into the elevator. She has blonde hair, like mine. Her blue eyes reflect my bewildered face. She beams at me with her beautiful face.

Me: Do I...know you?

Mysterious Girl: Do you?

Me: Don't tell me...Is your name...Aigis...?

Mysterious Girl: Yes, indeed my name is Aigis.

I stare at Aigis. She looks into my eyes.

Aigis: How did you know my name?

Me: I used to play a video game you're in...

Aigis: Do you know where I can find Yu Narukami?

Me: Um. That was random but, yes I do. 

Aigis: Tell me. It's urgent.

   I decide to try an experiment. In my head, I say: Aigis, can you hear me?

   I get an immediate response. Yes. I can hear you very well. Now where is Yu Narukami?

   I furrow my brows. He lives on Kashigi Street. Near the entrance to the freeway.

   Aigis looks at me, a serious look on her robotic face. How do you have telepathic  powers? Do you have something called a Persona, by chance?

   I look her right in the eyes. Yes.

She stares at me. I'm on the last floor. I exit the elevator, silently. Upon entering the lobby, I'm surrounded by doctors. I attempt to find mine, but she's nowhere in sight. I push past the crowd, and out the door. They're all trying to grab at my arms, to pull me back in, but I go through anyways.

Then I realize where I am. This is no ordinary world. I'm not in Inaba anymore. I must be somewhere inside the TV. I snap my fingers. I'm wearing a royal purple gown, calf-length. I wield my sword. I sense danger. It's an iron-ey flavor in the wind. I can practically taste it. My hair curls around me. I swivel around. Ryoji stands behind me, a rose curled around his index finger.

Ryoji: My, it's a nice day, isn't it?

Me: Ryoji.

I hear footsteps behind Ryoji. Aigis is here, her Persona drawn. 

Aigis: You can not defeat this creature, girl! He will kill you!

Me: I don't care. Ryoji, what the hell are you doing here?! What am I doing here?!

I curl my lip into a snarl. As I do so, I feel my body changing shape. I turn into a ferocious dog.

Ryoji: My, my. Look what we have here. A mutt on the inside AND outside!

Me: What THE HELL DO YOU WANT?!

Ryoji: Oh, I only came to deliver a message. 

Me: From whom...?

Ryoji: Oh, our kind host of course!

Me: What does he want...?

Ryoji: He says, 'You better hurry up, or your friends will die here with me.'

My eyes widen, and my human form returns. My dress is on me again, not at all torn or ruffled.

Me: Where are they?!

Ryoji: Hm...Why do you think I'd ever tell you?

I run at him then. I clasp my fingers around his white neck. I squeeze as hard as I can. He laughs a throaty, cackly laugh. He disappears from my grasp, and reappears a  few feet from Aigis. She backs up, her teeth grit.

Me: I said...WHERE ARE THEY?!

Ryoji: It's simple. They're in the Dark Forest. 

Me: But...That's impossible. The Dark Forest is-

Ryoji: Oh, I'm aware it's big, Darling.

My shoulders slump. Ryoji cackles, and fades into dark mist. I crumple to the soft earth. Aigis steadies me, her hands on either of my shoulders.

Aigis: I'm so sorry. Ryoji was...Never like that...I don't know why he's like that now.

Me: I do.

Aigis: ?

Me: He's being controlled. It's the only explanation. 

Aigis: Why do you think that's the cause?

Me: Because I know what having something people can use you with feels like. I think we both have.

Aigis: You're right.

I struggle to my feet. I wield my weapon and raise my head to the clouds. 

Me: ARE YOU READY, YOU BASTARD?! I'M GONNA KILL YOU! LET'S FUCKING DANCE!

I do the only thing I know best. I call out. I call out to Rise, to Yu, to Kanji. I call out to Nanako, finally.

Nanako's Mind: Hello? Who's there?

Me: Nanako it's me. Can I ask you-

Nanako: How are you in my head,  Sasha...?

Me: It's hard to explain. 

Nanako: Does it have to do with the bad place in the TV? 

Me: Yes.

Nanako: I knew it!

Me: Nanako. Do you know where your Big Bro is?

Nanako: He said he was going to Junes.

Me: Nanako, thank you so much!

Nanako: You're welcome. Be careful, okay? And go beat up all the bad guys for me.

Me: I will, I promise.

I summon my Persona. What I didn't realize is...Her name. Her name is Izanami. I try to communicate with her.

Me: Izanami.

Izanami: Hello. I was wondering when you were going to have this little chat with me.

Me: Can you get me a portal back to my world?

Izanami: Don't you want to save your friends?

Me: That's what I'm trying to do.

Izanami: Child, if you leave this world at all, your friends die.

My eyes enlarge. I feel tears clustering up in my eyes.

Me: Can you tell me our location, at least?

Izanami: Will do.

Me: Thank you.

Izanami: We're approximately 40 miles southeast of the dimension portal, which I'll make an assumption is where you believe your friends to be.

Me: That assumption would be correct.

Izanami picks me up in one of her hands. We fly over the Dark Forest, headed in the direction of the dimension portal. I spot the movie set instantly. I know that somewhere around here, our "host," as Ryoji eloquently put, has everyone captive. Izanami sets me down next to dimension jumper. 

I walk to the edge of the forest. I see nothing. Then I turn around, and Izanami is being taken by another--thing. I run up to Izanami, screaming. 

Izanami: Go! Front! Forbidden!

Then, she is pulled into the ground. It's like there's quicksand under her. But, the quicksand is shaped like a snarling monster. I wield my weapon. "Front Forbidden?" What- Then I realize. She meant to say in front of the Forbidden Castle. I bend the wind to my will. Sure enough, there's an enormous tent in front of the castle. It's dwarf in size compared to the Castle, but it's enormous to the human eye.

I run inside, near completely powerless without Izanami. Inside, there is no roof. Under the pale moon lay Yu, Rise, Kanji, Naoto, Yosuke, Chie, and Yukiko, all tied up and asleep. I hear a noise behind me. It sounds like the clocking of a gun. I face my opponent. It's a boy. A boy I've never seen before.

Boy: I'm so glad you made it. I was just about to start the show. Move.

Me: What the hell do you want from us!?

Boy: Oh, no no no. No questions until the show's over, Darling.

Me: Who are you?!

Boy: My name? My name is Rino. My friends call me Rino-sama.

The boy called "Rino" laughs.

Rino: Who am I kidding?! I have no friends! But darling, you can still call me Rino-sama.

I'm taken aback. He's barechested and extraordinarily toned. The pale moonlight caresses his shoulders, his chest. I shake my head and furrow my eyebrows. 

Rino: Ah, you're the third one of these girls to not adore my charms. Too bad. You would've been a wonderful addition. Move it.

He shoves the gun into the small of my back and forces me into a corner. I see someone else in the corner. No. I see two people. It's Aigis and Naoto. They're huddled together and shivering. Rino must've had them take off most of their clothes except underwear. 

Rino: You know what to do, girl. Take the dress off.

I smirk up at Rino.

Me: Gladly. Y'know, I never said that I didn't like you. I don't know why you assumed that.

I'm purposely trying to charm him, get him weak. Then I can unleash hell on him.

Rino: Don't toy with me, girl. You're not the only one who can read minds y'know. You're not very special.

Me: I'm not...Hmmm...?

I slip out of the dress. I'm wearing a cute bra and underwear set. I'm only trying to tempt him so I can kill him. 

Rino: You may be pretty, but you're sure as hell not smarter than I am. You can't trick me. I know every trick in the book.

I pout my lips and huddle next to Naoto. I give her a look that says, 'Let's go.' She shakes her head. I tilt my head. Rino suddenly tips his fingers under my chin. 

Rino: You. Come here.

I shake my head violently, trying to escape his grasp. I try to kick him in the balls, but he catches my foot.

Rino: My, you're a feisty one. I see why you like this one, neh? Yu?

I look over at Yu. He's not asleep. He stares at me, looking me up and down. I cover myself, uncomfortable.

Rino: Darling, don't hide yourself. You know you want to show-

Me: Yes, I do. Just...Not right now.

Rino: And why not?

I raise to my full height. I start counting reasons on my fingers.

Me: First of all. We're not even dating. Second, it's a really bad time. Third, it would be too rushed. Fourth, I doubt I'm even READY for a guy to see me yet.

Rino: That's four too many excuses, Darling. With melons and everything you have, it must be so hard for Yu to resist.

I grit my teeth. Rino tries to grab my breast, but I shove his hand away. I punch him in his stupid, grinning face.

Me: Want to know something? I'm not a fucking doll. I'm not something you can toy with. I am more than you. I greater than you.

Rino: You greater than I? That's hilarious.

I slap him in the face. He clenches my hand and squeezes. I sense his move and heal it faster than he can injure it. All of a sudden, I hear a familiar voice.

Igor: My, my... It seems to me that Yu-kun's not the only Chosen One. *chuckle*

Margaret: Wield this power justly and powerfully. Good luck, O Chosen One.

Me: Chosen one, eh?

Rino: Huh?

A glowing card falls from the pale moonlight, and Rino's eyes glint with rage.

Rino: Is that how you want to play? Fine. Let's dance.

I grasp the card, snapping it with force enough to break even the most mighty of bones. I smirk at him. 

Me: I don't dance until I SAY we dance! Persona!

I summon my Wild Card, Behemoth. He flies through the open roof and lands gracefully. I give Rino a wicked grin.

Rino: Persona...!

Rino summons his Persona, a mighty god. I recognize it. He's summoned Thor. I'm glad my Persona is strong against lightning.

Rino: Let's dance, bitch.

Me: No. My name is SASHA, not bitch, you bitch.

My eyes glint with confidence. Rino runs at me with his Persona wielded. I run at him, my outfit flickering to a full battle suit. I hit the shoulder, which is like a button, and my weapon, Excallibur, is drawn. 

Me: Behemoth! Garudyne!

I summon the full force of the wind, flapping the inside of the tent, making my hair billow. It hits Thor and Rino, knocking them to the ground. Rino practically flies back to his feet.

Rino: Thor! Heavy Blow!