After the long drive back, it was getting late. However, Dante didn’t mind. He’s used to staying up late and sleeping in. His usual routine is to return home, throw something in the microwave, crack open a beer, and sit at his computer.

  He slumped in a worn-out chair of his cramped studio apartment, its unclean walls and flickering overhead lights doing little to improve his evening. The rent was too high for what he got, yet he never cared enough to look for better, and moving all his stuff was out of the question. He had other things in mind instead of looking for a new job.

  The thought of Tyr mulled heavily on him, his thoughts spiraled into the familiar territory of self-doubt. Then Tyr’s words echoed faintly in his mind: Tonight, I will show you what I see. Though it lifted his spirits, it brought about more confusion.

  What did that even mean? He thought, how did she know all these things about me…?

  Dante looked out his window next to his computer, one of the few windows of the apartment. Nothing out there. He shook his head, dismissing the thought. Thinking too much hadn’t helped him before, and it wasn’t about to help now.

  He powered up his computer, it hummed but could not drown out the neighbor upstairs who had the impeccable need to stomp his ceiling regardless of the hour. Once his computer fired up, he put on noise-canceling headphones and dove into the only escape he had: video games.

  Hours passed in a blur of flashing screens and digital landscapes. In these artificial worlds, he wasn’t Dante, the apathetic tech support guy who couldn’t hold his life together. He was a hero, a warrior, someone with purpose. Here, failure was just a restart away, and nothing felt permanent.

  No matter how hard he tried to put the thoughts out of his head, the more the day clung to him like a stench. Every victory in the game felt hollow, every moment of distraction tainted by the gnawing ache. His mind drifted back to Tyr, her enigmatic face, her strange, shimmering eyes. Her words had unsettled him more than he wanted to admit.

  Eventually, Dante paused, leaned back, and took a deep breath. The screen's glow reflected in his tired eyes as he stared at the character frozen mid-mission. He looked at the time, midnight, and sighed, “What was I supposed to be doing again?” he muttered to himself, his voice a whisper.

  Another hour went by and the rest of the world settled outside. The glow of Dante’s monitor was the only light in his cramped apartment. His focus was locked on the screen, his character in a tense battle with a towering boss. Every move mattered, one mistake, and it was over.

  The phone in his pocket buzzed.

  He flinched, just enough to miss his timing, miraculously he struck back fast enough. The vibration came again, persistent, pulling his focus from the screen. The character staggered under the boss’s relentless attacks. One mistimed dodge later, the screen flashed Game Over.

  Dante let out a long sigh, his shoulders slumped. He reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone, fully prepared to ignore whatever spam call had ruined his night. When he saw the name glowing on the screen, he froze.

  He blinked at the name and tried to process it. Tyr? I don’t remember ever exchanging numbers, not even for work.

  The phone buzzed again in his hand. He turned it over, debating whether to answer. Why would she call me now, at this hour? Is this what she meant? At 1 in the morning!?

  The vibration didn’t stop. He tapped the side button to make it go to voicemail, but instead of going to voicemail like it was meant to, the phone rang very loudly. The horrid sound was pierced through his noise-canceling headphones.

  “What the—?” He stared at the screen in disbelief. The sound grew louder, filling the small room with an awful tone. It wasn’t his soothing ringtone that he ignored every day. He swiped at the screen, trying to decline the call, though the ringing continued.

  He fiddled with the volume rocker. Nothing. He held down the power button, but the phone refused to shut off. The ringing only grew more insistent, the sound ricocheting around the apartment. It shouldn’t have been possible. It was muted, like it always has been, it shouldn’t have made any noise.

  “Answer it…”

  A whisper from somewhere, faint and yet distinct. He froze, the phone still blaring in his hand. His eyes darted around the room. No one was there. Of course, he lived alone. For a very long time, he has lived alone. No roommate. No dog or cat, nothing. Nobody. The voice could not come from his game, it was just music. And certainly not from the unanswered phone. There was no way there would ever be a strange voice, unfortunately, there was.

  He stared at the glowing screen. His pulse quickened as his finger hovered over the answer button. With a deep breath, he finally tapped to answer.

  “H-hello?” His voice wavered, dazed and confused.

  For a moment, there was faint static on the other end of the line. Then, a familiar voice broke through, calm and steady.

  “Dante.” Tyr’s voice was crystal clear through the phone, sharper than he’d ever heard a voice before. There was a playfulness that melted his heart. “Playing video games I see, trying to ignore me?” She let out a giggle.

  Dante became nervous, “No, I uh…”

  She giggled again, “I forgive you. So. About tonight. I need you to come back to the office. I have something to show you.”

  “Uh… it’s 1 in the morning… can it wait until tomorrow?” He said with a twinge of displeasure.

  “I have something to give you that will change your life. You don’t want to sit around playing video games forever, do you? Besides, how will you keep that lifestyle up without a job? Find another one? Then what? Go through the same repeated process over and over, measuring up to nothing? Come on, Dante, you know you want more than this. You are worth more than this. Please, come.”

  He responded, “Well, I uh… don’t know?”

  She happily squeaked, “It’s settled then. I’ll see you in a bit. Traffic should be light, so I’ll be expecting you soon. You can come right in through the front door. It will be open.”

  “Okay,” he muttered, his voice laced with confusion, but also a strange curiosity. Something that could change my life? I wonder what it could be and why she couldn’t have just given it to me back when I was at the office with her… whatever.

  He got a text from Tyr. Don’t leave me hanging. With a sigh of surrender, he grabbed his keys, wallet, and cracked phone. Closed out his game, locked his door, and headed to his car.

  The drive back to the office felt like a blur. He was brimming with excitement, something he had not felt for a long time. “What could she possibly want to give me? And why me? This is all too much…”

  The way to the office looked much different at that hour. Unhoused wandered the streets or slept in them. The road was despicable, littered with garbage, and lined with tents. Has it always been like this, or did this worsen throughout the day? He thought. Usually, things like people on the street would all go unnoticed by him. Despite all that, tonight was stranger than his typical nights and had him running on high alert.

  After a quick drive through light traffic, which was expected at that hour, he reached the main entrance and swung around the back to enter the admin parking lot where he used to work. Like Tyr said, everything was open.

  By the time he parked, his hands were shaking, the steering wheel cold against his grip. For a long moment, he breathed in shallow bursts to steady himself. He was filled with excitement and dread. Mostly dread, since social situations pushed him over the edge with anxiety.

  Dante sighed heavily as he opened the car door and stepped out into the night. The office area stood silent and unlit. It did not seem like anyone was in there. The rest of the hospital was mostly vacated, except for a small skeleton crew that took care of the critical care patients.

  He made his way inside, the familiar walls of the office now feeling like another time. The sound of his footsteps echoed in the empty hallway, each step placing him deeper into whatever strange reality Tyr was pulling him toward.

  What am I feeling right now? Dante thought to himself as he walked down the hallway, each step more challenging than the last. I don’t get it, calling me in the middle of the night? And why does it feel so bizarre? She’s just a woman. He shook his head, unsure of what to believe. He couldn’t shake the unease gnawing at him. Part of him screamed to turn around, to leave this all behind and forget about it. I should go home… right?

  Something deep within urged him to go forward.

  “Go to her,” said a soft, whispering voice that repeated in his mind, reverberated around him, and caused him to freeze in his tracks.

  Dante’s eyes darted around the empty hallway. No one was there. The office was silent, too silent. A faint light could be seen near the Help Desk area, past the cubicles. Tyr’s office was the source.

  “Lack of sleep, I’m sure,” he muttered to himself, in an attempt to dismiss the situation. “That’s why I’m hearing things…” He brushed off the thoughts and continued on his way.

  Soon he passed by the rows of cubicles. His desk sat as it always had, disorganized and neglected. A quick stop to gawk at it for a moment. It was as exactly as he left it, his badge still on the desk. Hmm… I always wondered about the security team here… or lack thereof. He shrugged. Then glanced toward Tyr’s office at the far end of the hall. The door was closed. It was also the only one with light spilling from underneath, a soft glow that made it stand out in the otherwise darkened space.

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  Though the rest of the office was silent, the halls vacant and still, the light, unnatural, inviting, and impossible to ignore, pulled him closer. He stood at her office door, staring at the light underneath, unsure what to make of it. With that, he knocked once, twice, and then three times as if he were testing reality,

  No answer.

  His hand hesitated before reaching for the handle, twisted it gently, and the door creaked open. Inside, the light was shining brighter, it overflowed with tangible warmth. It was different from earlier. Too bright, too perfect, like nothing in the office had any ability to be.

  As Dante entered Tyr's office, his heart lurched as his eyes fell on someone in the room. At first, he didn’t recognize her, nevertheless, the swirling eyes and ruby hair gave it away. He glanced at her up and down.

  Tyr wore a cybernetic armored suit of shimmering material, sleek and form-fitting. Sexy while being modest. The composition caught the dim light in a way that made it appear alive. It hugged her body, which suggested a fit physique. Centered on her chest was a glowing blue orb, swirling with light, the same shade of blue as her eyes.

  Dante’s gaze drifted away, his mind struggled to process the scene. He looked behind her and could see enormous white folded wings which extended from her shoulder blades. The wings were massive enough to fill the room if they unfolded and emanated a soft glow that cast an ethereal light throughout. Her entire outfit looked more like someone dressed up for a comic convention and put some serious money into it. He wasn’t sure which character she was supposed to be, though.

  Dante stood frozen, and his mind fought the idea that perhaps this was some kind of elaborate trick, the presence she radiated told him otherwise.

  The swirling eyes met him with an intensity that felt as if he were nothing more than an insect beneath her, ready to be crushed. Then, she smiled, that same adorable smile that he couldn’t resist, and the influence of her powerful presence lifted, leaving only a sense of calm in its wake.

  “Dante, thank you for coming,” she said, her voice smooth and reassuring.

  He was still struggling to make sense of what was happening. His thoughts were tangled, and words formed miserably as he processed the impossible scene in front of him. His mouth hung open in disbelief

  “Wha- What are you wearing?” he stammered. “Are you… going to a convention?”

  Tyr chuckled softly, her lips curving into a smirking smile. She looked down at herself and moved her shoulders around, “This old thing? Hehe, no. This is how I normally look.”

  Dante blinked in confusion. “Huh? Normal as in; this is real?” He pointed at her suit.

  Tyr's eyes concentrated on his, the swirling depths of blue never leaving. Fondness and complexity mixed within them, as though she knew something he couldn’t possibly understand. “Yes, Dante. This is real. Tonight marks the end of your imprisonment, and the beginning of your freedom.”

  Dante took a step back, “What does that even mean?”

  She inched her finger, “Come closer, Dante, and I will show you.”

  Is she… flirting with me? But… why me??? He thought.

  Tyr wasted no time as she decided to approach him instead. “Do you want to be free? Free from this prison that you humans call life?”

  Panic set in as he stumbled backward and fell on a couch. She continued to approach and terror rose.

  “What are you doing? What are you going to do to me?” He inched away from her advance.

  Tyr giggled, “What do you think is about to happen?”

  “I don’t know…” Dante looked away, trying to pick himself up from the couch. His heart was pounding.

  “Well…” she sat next to him, “I suppose it is rather strange. Me firing you and then asking you to come here at such an hour. A lady’s got her reasons, right?”

  “I guess so?” Dante stammered as he tried to make himself comfortable. He’s been around women before, so this wasn’t an experience that should have made him all that nervous. But something about Tyr made him feel unbearable. It wasn’t a repulsive feeling in any way, instead, an intolerably intoxicating frequency.

  Things began to calm down as she sat with him, smiling and eyelashes batting. The thought was that she was quite into role-playing. He tried to get into the idea, but it was still a very odd situation, especially with zero preparation.

  Tyr laughed like he had told her the funniest joke she ever heard in her life. She then eyed him and smiled softly, “Do you trust me? Do you want me to free you?”

  Dante nodded, “Yes, ma’am.”

  Tyr’s brow furrowed, “Ma’am? Please, Dante, I am more than just a ma’am to you. Right?” She edged closer. Smiling provocatively.

  Dante gave in to her feminine wiles, unfortunately for him, what happened next was not what he expected. With a swift motion, she pressed up to his shoulder and reached out her dainty hand. In her palm was a blue orb that matched the one in her chest.

  “This orb is called a module.” She explained. “Contained in this orb is pure energy. With it, you will have limitless power. You will become immortal, you can fly, and you can do just about anything with your mind. With this, you will be like me. Free from the prison of reality. Will you join me?”

  Dante assumed it was the latest in drug technology and that she was most definitely high out of her mind, so he thought nothing of this strange object that glowed profusely. He studied the module, and there didn’t appear to be a place for a battery. It was a solid egg-shaped orb. There were no blemishes or cracks. Perfectly shaped in every way. Unsure of what else to say, he was intrigued. The thought was that surely it would be great fun, so he nodded in agreement.

  Tyr deftly stood to her feet and proceeded to slam the orb into Dante’s chest. The shattering of the sternum squelched as the bone broke in pieces. Blood quickly gushed from his chest. Agonizing pain screamed throughout his entire body. Then he jerked involuntarily as he gasped for air. His eyes widened with shock as he convulsed.

  One of the last sensations Dante felt was the weight of the module in his chest as Tyr withdrew her hand. Blood dripped from her fingertips. Then she wiped her hand on Dante’s blood-soaking shirt. The pulsating blue orb protruded from his chest as blood continued to gush. The module frantically glowed and swirled, likewise to the one in Tyr. It throbbed with a sentient rhythm, a living object, demanding his attention.

  Before consciousness could fully dissipate, a violent wave of energy surged through the body and was overpowering. The force caused him to roll off the couch, his vision blurred into swirling darkness, and lastly, the cold floor pressed against his face.

  Tyr looked down at his dilating eyes and with a gentle smile, she uttered the following words: “It’s time to wake up.”

  An eerie voice whispered. “Yes…”

  Consciousness was lost. Dante became lifeless and Tyr was his murderer. At least that was the last thought. She watched as his body dissolved into energy and disappeared. Then she took a seat on the couch and waited. Hours went by and nothing happened. With a shrug, she walked out of the office, “See you soon, I suppose,” she said as she closed the door behind her.

  For Dante, time had stopped, and he felt suspended in nothingness. There was no up or down, it was a vast, all-encompassing blank space. It stretched out forever, an endless void. Empty of everything. Tragically, he was there, lost to the void.

  There was no light, sound, or texture. Every sensory perception had been erased, leaving only an awareness of the nothingness. Usually, when he was alone and all was silent he could hear and feel his heartbeat, but not this time. This time there was nothing. Untethered, like a speck of dust adrift in an infinite sea of emptiness.

  A peculiar presence, if you could call it that, was there with him. A strange perception crawled through him, like an echo of something ancient. Not exactly speaking, causing something to stir directly to the core of his being. Unsure if it was a voice, a feeling, or a vision, nonetheless, it was there.

  For a brief, terrifying moment, he wondered if this was the end. If this was death, it was not how he had heard of it before. It was not a peaceful release in heaven nor the burning of hell. Not purgatory and not reincarnation. This was a never-ending, solitary existence, detached from time and reality. There was no resolution and no relief. An endless emptiness.

  The perception halted and a single point of light appeared, cutting through the suffocating void. It was faint at first, barely a glimmer against the immense null that surrounded him. The light grew, slowly at first, then with increasing speed. It swelled and expanded, intensifying with a force that sent ripples through the void. The fragile flicker was now a blinding burst, radiating with such brilliance that it seemed to tear the nothingness apart.

  The light, unlike anything Dante had ever seen, was alive and sentient, an entity, pulsating with an energy that resonated deep within. It made its place within the void, pushing back against the emptiness. For a fleeting moment, he thought he could feel the light reaching into him, prodding at the deepest parts of his soul.

  The light became everything; brilliant, pure, and alive with such power and amazement. Captivated by its beauty, a disturbance crept through him. From the outer edges of the light, something dark came to be.

  At first, it was subtle, a motion in the periphery, like a shadow moving against the brightness. The shadows grew bolder. Dark tendrils slithered out from the edges of the light, their forms twisting and writhing like serpents born from the very essence of light’s edge. These were shadows, wisps of darkness, tangible, jagged, and alive, with an unmistakable malice. Their claws, sharp and cruel, reached hungrily toward the center of the light, as though they sought to devour it, to extinguish the very force that was so radiant and pure.

  It was an unsettling scene as the darkness inched closer. The light met the invasion and the conflict became a strange dance. The light and dark swirled together, intertwining in a cosmic ballet, each force struggling for dominance despite being unable to overpower the other. The light pushed away the darkness, and the darkness did not relent in its yearning for domination. There was a perception of tension between the primordial forces as they were locked in an eternal struggle.

  As they spun, their chaotic motions coalesced, the mass of light and shadow slowly taking shape. What was once a formless whirlwind solidified into something far more profound, at first it looked like an infinity symbol, pulsing with the combined energy. It quivered between brilliance and shadow, both radiant and abysmal. The symbol drew power from the very heart of the chaos. Its form, older than time, vibrated with immense power. The symbol then split into 4 bubbles, spinning around each other.

  As the strange infinity symbol floated undeniably, Dante experienced a new perception. A sudden shift in the disturbance. He felt like he was being chained and pulled into a dark place. Removed from his perch and locked away in a cage without any view. He felt something like energy was being drained and manipulated. There were no faces or forms to this experience, only the overwhelming sensation of his life force being siphoned away. It never drained completely, like an endless supply consumed by some unseen entity. Resistance was futile, helpless against the pull. A perception of being caught in the gears of a cosmic machine.

  One thing was certain, he wasn’t alone. There were other presences much like his own. All he could see were small red eyes peering at him within the cage. He couldn’t say anything, only could he watch. It was like a movie with no control. It became apparent that this was a vision but without any comprehension of what was going on.

  Time was not a factor in the place, but then something big happened and the cage weakened. Dante and the things that resided with him broke free. However, the perception was that he was the only one to truly escape. The world, if that is what it could be called, was too luminous. Whatever he was, he was beckoned to fly away from the prison he was free from. Erratically, he dodged and weaved as he could feel entities chase him. They were unseen faces with claws that brushed his body.

  There was a portal in the distance of a land so unrecognizable, it was not home, but it didn’t matter. He had to get away. With a bolt towards it, faster than light, he passed through it. Then found himself wandering through vast landscapes of deep space. The new perception observed worlds that spun in and out of existence, each one offering only a fleeting glimpse of its mystery. He drifted, aimlessly, in and out of supposed consciousness.

  Finally, after wandering the vast reaches of the cosmos, he found a peaceful place, a hidden corner in the realm of reality. Here, he could sleep. And so he did, his energy settling into quiet stillness. Allowed to exist in harmony within a compatible body. It was warm and peaceful. Regardless, there was a longing for something else.

  Dante's mind reeled as the memory dissolved. He now found himself alone and suspended in a place of many colors.

  “What is this place…”, he was finally able to ask as if someone was there.

  One thing was certain, it wasn’t the end, as he initially thought after Tyr slammed the orb into his chest. It was undeniable that his story had just begun. Suspended in time and space until a spark flared inside of him. Consciousness dissolved once more and felt as though he was being transported somewhere.