The isolated, little flower stands firm, roots soaking in the barren, red stained soil. Ha’koff, having obediently followed my lead, bends over to inspect the curious plant that’s captured my attention. He’s definitely still trapped in the delusions along with that beast. Do I need to somehow free him as well before we can leave? After briefly sniffing at the disingenuous blossom, Ha’koff coughs and hacks in disgust, angrily smashing at its leaves in retaliation.

  “Stop! Stop! This garden is hallowed ground. As lovely as you both are, you must respect my work here. Stop interfering!"

  “Don’t be ridiculous! Flowers have never hurt anybody. Especially this one! Just look at it. It’s so sweet, sacred, and serene! Unlike you, you… marvelous example of a goblin!”

  Thinking for a moment, I decide to try an experiment. Everything else’s changed, so why not this too?

  “Peed. Con dur. Gew mund,“ I confidently declare out into the bloody wastes.

  Instantly a portal opens, pleased and eager to service us again.

  “Are you trying that old game again? It’s so boring playing all alone, isn’t it? Let’s do something else together instead!”

  “Ha’koff,” I call out to get his attention. “Agobs gew. Ennu har. Gew?”

  “Hm?” he hums, looking back at me. “Gew war?”

  Scratching his head, he looks confused and oblivious to the portal’s obvious existence in the otherwise empty space. It was never that the garden blocked the portals. The flower’s curse must have simply blinded us to its presence. Can’t leave if we can’t see the door, after all. Well, I can drag Ha’koff through it with me now, even if he still can’t see it.

  “Huh? Why, I’ve never lied in my life! Well, maybe a little white lie or two, always for the benefit of others. However, aside from all of those times, my statement stands.”

  Lifting my arm, I submerge it halfway into the portal and hold it there. Ha’koff stares at me in disbelief and amazement, his jaw dropping perilously low.

  “Wow! Magic tricks, brilliant! I didn’t know you were that talented. You should’ve brought these amazing tricks out earlier. Then we could’ve spared ourselves all those… interesting conversations!”

  Is that mousey thing trying to trick us? Or is this act a part of the delusions? It’s hard to tell. After all, if he’s affected by the flower as well, then he may be stuck in a hallucinogenic playground of his own.

  Whatever. Forget him. It’s time to go. Taking Ha’koff’s leash in my hand, I gently lead him towards the exit.

  “Wait! No, no, no. Don’t go! You’ll never find what you’re looking for if you go. But you can have it all here! You can have anything you want if you stay here. This’ll be your new home. Just, forget about that dreary old home you keep going back to. You don’t need it anymore. Not when I’m here with you now! You didn’t ever really need that… place or anyone else there! Just give in. Give in!”

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

  Something deep inside me violently snaps at his last comments. Again, the deep mind forcefully rises up and effortlessly overwhelms the mind mud. As it takes control, I find myself spinning around in place to furiously glare at the little beast. How dare you! Don’t you dare speak of them like that! You don’t know. You don’t know anything about them. You have no right to speak of them like that!

  Seeing my attention returning, the mousey creature perks up and smiles brightly. He holds his little arms outstretched as far as they’ll go, enthusiastically welcoming my decision to stay. Welcomes my clear submission.

  However, the fury only grows deeper. Rather than accept his embrace, my body raises a single hand and unleashes a spray of flames upon the delicate, little flower, violently singeing it into a final, dreamy slumber. Simply ashes left scattered amongst the rest of the carelessly spilled red vitae.

  “Oh… no! Why… no! How… AAAAAaaaaaAAAAAAaaaaAAAaAAAA!”

  The deep mind quickly receding, I anxiously hurry to grab Ha’koff and shove him through the still open portal. Not the time to allow him to feel in control! Who knows what that potentially rabid animal will do after that.

  A moment later we’re back on the familiar mound. The ring behind us crumbles, and we’re left alone. Alone, except for all the curious goblins, of course. However, they all quickly lower their heads after the short excitement of an unexpected interruption is over.

  “Ha’koff. Tak… Gib…” I try several times before sighing in total defeat.

  I don’t think that there’s any way in our tongue to apologize. Instead, I pat him on the shoulder and shake my head, trying to look as sorry as this awkward, little body allows me to express. It’s probably difficult, given the naturally scowling faces that we all wear. Still, it’s worth trying.

  All that exploration was so unnerving and dangerous, but I think it was worth the risk. Somehow, as my minds are becoming stronger and more protected, these… things. These strange existences. The aspects. They’re not as terrifying anymore. They’re more sad and pathetic in many ways. They evoke an odd sort of sympathy, not dissimilar to what I’ve felt towards the other, entrapped goblins. How is that possible? It’s as though a heavy, sleepy veil has been at least partially lifted from my eyes. A covering that I didn’t even realize had been placed there.

  Regardless, that’s enough for one day. One outing? However long that was. It’s still so hard to tell in this strange place. Let’s welcome the mud once more. Even if we’ll have to leave again soon, this place is still some sort of home. Another temporary home. I do have to accept that, as sad as it makes me feel. Somehow I recognized that in the deep mind’s rage. I don’t know why, but it’s true. I don’t think that I really belong here either. Maybe none of us do?

  “Peed. Con dur. Gew peet,“ I quietly mutter into the stale, bitter air of the void.

  “Ha’koff. Agobs melt. Gew peet?” I ask, attempting a return back to our ordinary routine.

  “Hm,” he ponders, thinking hard on my proposal. “Yas. Melt melt.”

  Walking through the portal together and arriving at the pit, I allow Ha’koff to dig his own hole for the first time. Somehow it seems to make him happy. After crawling all the way down to the bottom, he does still need me to tuck him in. One thing at a time. It’s something though. He’s learning something. Even if he’ll never sing, he can at least learn to crawl.

  Smiling down affectionately upon his buried resting place, it takes me a few minutes before I can finally move on. All this ritual. The attachments that I’ve made. To Ha’koff. The others on the mound. Even to the stowaway slime who’s driving me deeper and deeper into its debt with its invaluable lessons. How did they all sneak up on me like this?

  Ever since I woke up and crawled out, I thought myself alone. Even when clearly surrounded by all the others, they were only strangers to performatively imitate. However, now that I’ve formed all these clear connections, it’s different. They speak to me. Maybe not literally, but still. They talk. Like little voices whispering to me from somewhere beyond myself, beckoning me to action.