Sticker and I had our plan, and surprisingly, it went off without a hitch. They got Fishbowl and I out within minutes of “threatening” me. We actually took a stowaway with us- someone who introduced himself as Ronan. Sticker took us to the Static Realm, and that’s where I am now. I was introduced to the people at the front of the rebellion: Anna, Vicky, Ingrid, and Eden. I can’t honestly say I know too much about any of them, but they all seem a lot stronger than I am- physically and mentally.
Anna is the face of the rebellion, and naturally wanted to get all the information that they could from me, since I was Caesar’s right hand man. I’ll spare the details, but… Anna’s a little scary when they’re fired up! What’s important is I told them about my ability. Not in too much detail, but enough. They told me that I was going to help the rebellion... reconnaissance missions, basically. I tried to tell them that I can’t do it too much or I risk my own safety, but I don’t think they cared… Anyway, I’ve been travelling between the Static and Pizza realms once a week since Anna talked to me.
I try to avoid Caesar. It’s hard, honestly. If you don’t mind me rambling for a little…
I miss him. I don’t know what it is. I’ve told you before that Caesar and I have a strange kind of relationship, but I don’t know if I really explained that. Caesar felt like a breath of fresh air to me. I mean, he was the first person to talk to me in over five years, of course he’s going to be a breath of fresh air, but there was really something different about him. Ask anyone around me and they’ll laugh and say that I have a crush on him, but… God, I don’t know. Maybe I do like Caesar. Or maybe I don’t. Maybe the isolation had more of an effect on me than I thought. I don’t know, and that’s the worrying part. I’ve never been the best and explaining my feelings, and I certainly didn’t get any better while I was completely alone.
I guess it doesn’t matter right now. I’m sure it isn’t “healthy” to “bottle up my feelings” or whatever Vicky called it, but right now I have to. I don’t have time to be weak or fragile. I’ve got a job to do and people to help.
I know you aren’t going to see any of this, Caesar, but I feel like I should say something to you anyway.
If you’re feeling the same as me- whatever this is- we should talk about it. Figure it out together.
Or maybe we shouldn't. I don't know anymore.
Me again. I think I have a little more time than before, and I think it would be good to catch you up to speed. Where did I leave off...? Oh, right.
I travelled to the realm closest to the one of glass. The jump took all of my energy, and so when I got there, I almost instantly collapsed. When I woke up, I was in a cell. My surroundings weren't unpleasant, but they were certainly jarring- everything was made from what seemed to be pizza. I was alone there for a while, so I tried to search around my cell and get out, but I got nothing. The only information that I got was that there was someone in the cell next to me. They introduced themselves as Sticker. I didn't get to hold a very long conversation, though, since someone else entered my cell.
His name was Caesar. He told me who he was, what he wanted, and that he needed my help. According to him, the Static Realm was at war with his realm- the Pizza Realm. He was looking for more people to help crush the rebellion and join his side. He didn't tell me much more than that. I only asked him if he was at war in the hope of peace. He said yes, and I agreed to help him. The one thing I regret was not asking for better accommodations. Caesar only took me to the other end of the hall and put me in a slightly more furnished cell. What he did give me was a set of jobs to do- mostly mundane things that helped with his hotel/casino. With that set of tasks, I ended up with a skeleton key to all of the rooms in the hotel, casino, and the vast basement below. I suppose you could even call it a dudgeon. What I'm trying to say is... I had free access to everywhere as long as I didn't conspire with that Sticker person and the other prisoner, Fishbowl.
I, of course, conspired anyway. My sleep schedule has always been very... strange, and so I find myself up at very late hours almost every night. It turns out that Sticker also had that sleeping pattern, and so they would talk with me for hours on end. At first, I went to them at Caesar's request since he had asked me to try and convince them that we were on the right side of the war, but they wouldn't budge. Eventually, I simply gave up on Caesar's request, choosing to just talk to them instead. What I learned was... eye opening, to say the least. I'll spare you the more gory details, but Sticker explained to me that Caesar had been fueling his war effort against Sticker's homeland for a very long time, and that they weren't a prisoner of war, they were drugged and originally a mindless minion to the war. Caesar's other bodyguard, Orlando, was still under the effects of the drugs. When I asked how Caesar drugged them, they told me that it was the cheese. It actually made me laugh- I'm lactose intolerant, and so I peeled the cheese off of the pizza that Caesar offered me.
It went on like that for a while: Sticker and I would talk into the late hours of the night, and I would rush back to my cell when the first rays of sunlight peeked through the bars. During the day, I worked tables in the casino and the lounge. Aside from being prisoner, I can't say it was all that bad.
Then, the side effects of the drugs in Sticker's system wore off. They told me about their childhood in the Static Realm... and about the friends they had. That's when it clicked.
Sticker and I were childhood best friends!
With that information, we really got to talking. It was only a matter of time until Sticker finally asked me the question I knew they would:
"Will you help me escape?"
Of course. I said yes.
We made a plan and executed it on the same day. It was surprisingly simple, actually: during lunch, Sticker would smash a plate into shards, and "take me hostage" by threatening to poke my eyes out. By using me as a bargaining chip, Sticker would escape with Fishbowl and I. I questioned why it had to be me being attacked, but Sticker said some words (that I won't repeat) about my relationship with Caesar and I agreed to the plan almost immediately- even if it was just to shut them up.
I'm out of room. I'll make a part two.
My name is Zeno [XXXXXXX]. I don't know how much time I have to write, and I have even less of an idea of who'll see this, but I need help as soon as possible. To understand, you must first know who I am.
My parents are from different realms, and when they had me, I could travel between those realms at will- or at least, I could make my mind travel to those places. My body always stayed put. As I got older, I got more control over my ability, and I could even force my body to travel as well. It comes with physical drawbacks, however, so I try not to do it as much as possible. Both of my parents were dead by the time I was 15, so I would travel to other realms as a way to cope. I found my way to a realm of glass and mirrors, so beautiful that I didn't want to leave. And so, I didn't. As time went on, I started to realize that I was losing my ability. I was trapped. I'll be honest, it was hell. I counted the days by carrying smooth pieces of glass around, since as far as I could tell, there wasn't another living soul in the realm. Time dragged on until one day, I found a valley of what I thought to be trees. It looked like a good place to rest as I hadn't gotten a good night's sleep in what felt like centuries. Unfortunately, the danger of my life seems to find a way to sneak into every crevice of my soul. The "trees" weren't trees at all- they were people encased in solid glass. Glass that encased me too. I was still alive, but I wasn't able to move or speak, and I could barely breathe. It was a fate worse than death, and I thought I would spend eternity like that.
Thankfully, I didn't. Being completely still with nothing but my own mind to keep me company did give me one thing: a chance to bring back my ability. I tried for... well, God only knows how long I tried to bring myself back to normal. I'll spare you the details, but I got my strength and made a break for the realm closest to the one that had trapped me. And that is how I ended up in this insane situation.
I will have to tell you what it is later. I have a meeting today, and have to go right now. I'll try and write again soon!