Chapter 2: The City
She stood on the mountain, looking down at the city below her. She wasn't meant to be here and she knew that but it was nice to exist again, to feel the wind blowing through her hair, to smell the evening air and to take in its sights. The city had been beautiful, it had been home once. That is not to excuse all the problems that had filled it but it had been beautiful in its imperfection.
She wasn't alone for long though. The girl in the scarlet dress was also on the mountainside. "You aren't meant to be here." She said with a matter of fact tone that had an edge of unease to it.
"I think the narrator wanted me here, for this scene." She replied.
The girl in scarlet nodded and stood with the lady in grey as they looked out over the city below. Far off in the forest there were flashes of light. "You know what that is don't you?" She asked.
The girl in scarlet nodded again "That's the court of the Princess in Green."
"And those lights are the Angel of Beauty marching on the court." She finished.
Looking up to her the girl in scarlet asked with suspicion "I presume the narrator told you that. So what of the siege, will she hold out or will the Yellow Queen have yet another victory?"
"No need for a siege." She responded coldly "The Princess in Green welcomes all in her court - even the Queen."
The two of them stood there for a while taking in the view. Despite the ominous implications the flashes of light were beautiful. They illuminated the treetops like fireworks.
"It wasn't your fault."
She shook her head "You know that isn't true." and as quickly as she had arrived she was gone again. Lost in oblivion.
Someone is tugging at August's arms, pulling him up from somewhere. This feels like the real world and August knows he shouldn't be back in the real world, not after what that primal monster did to him.
But then he rememberes something, a man in a room - also called August. But he had been Samuel? He had given something up, made a sacrifice to keep the universe alive. August could feel the weight on his shoulders even now. His support was one of the few things left that was holding up reality. They couldn't possibly banish him now.
"August?" A voice pierces the darkness and August tries to open his eyes. Everything hurts from his tail to his nose and as he finally opens his eyes the sunlight is blinding.
There is a man trying to pull August up. He is sure he recognises the face but with everything that has happened he still struggles to put things together. Its all so blurry and memories aren't fitting into place.
(A) Attack: You're pretty sure you recognise the face as a threat
(B) Push him away: You don't remember his face and you aren't certain he can be trusted
(C) Let him help you: You remember this face, he's a friend