Chapter 1:

Awaken

In the beginning, God sealed all the evils into one box. Famine, war, hate… All of these, and many more, inhabited that box together. The first woman, Pandora, had discovered the secret hiding place of Heaven’s box and took it within her hands. Some said it was a solid gold box hidden in the mountains, others that it was intricately carved mahogany in a hidden palace. Either way, the box intrigued Pandora. It had no lock, only the will of Heaven kept it closed, but Pandora’s will was stronger, and she was able to open it. From within the box, all the evils of the world dispersed. Famine, war, hate… All these, and many more, were reborn in the world. Pandora had earned her death, but… there was one last redemption for her and the world. Inside the box, one light still lingered, the light of hope. And as that light remained in the box, one day the hearts of men would be able to conquer all evil and light the world with the torch called hope...

~*~

BAM! A girl grabbed her head as she lifted it wearily from a desk. Her light brown hair fell in cascades around her face as she raised her head and let out a shrill squeak. She tightened her grip on her head, wincing quickly and muttering some random nonsense beneath her breath amidst a few more high pitched squeaks.

A cheerful, feminine laugh sounded in rolling waves, “Slept in class again, Minako?” The laugh’s owner held a small black book bag out to the babbling underachiever.

Minako still held her head within her hands. Her large brown eyes narrowed as she let a low growl from her lips, “Shut up.” Finally regaining her composure, Minako stood up from her seat and brushed her hair back; it was a little longer than her shoulders and sparkled like chestnuts as it fell around her face. She was about average height, but stood about an inch taller in her black patten shoes. She adjusted the paisley pink bow at her chest, as the ribbon hung freely from her middy blouse. Her white socks, which had stood just below her paisley pink skirt, were then pushed down toward her ankles where they sat loosely. She clapped her hands before reaching for the book bag the other girl held out patiently, “Okay! Let’s go!”

The blonde haired girl giggled once more as she ran her fingers against the strands of her hair pulled back by bright red barrettes. “Is this special for today only, or do you do this every day when I’m not looking anymore?” She was about the same height as Minako with slightly shorter hair and a rounded face. Her outfit resembled the original condition of Minako’s, as they were school uniforms. She placed her fingers around the straps of her backpack and resituated the weight on her back.

Minako stuck her tongue out at the blonde haired girl, “Only for you, Renee.”

Renee giggled again and rolled her eyes, “How lucky, I’m the only one that gets subjected to your slob-like ways.”

Minako put her hands on her hips and whined, “If you keep laughing, we’ll never get to go!!!!” She slung to book bag over her shoulder and continued to whine, “And I’m not a slob…”

Her giggles continued, “Because I can’t laugh and walk at the same time?” She gave a quick wink, “And your unkempt bow tells me otherwise…”

She clenched her fist, “Well excuse me for not liking tight things around my neck!” She shook her head quickly, “No, just… I want to get there quickly…”

“Because Damien is hot?”

“No!!!!!! I wanna see the show!!!! I paid good money!!!!”

Renee put her hand to her face, “You’d think that with all the time we lived here, we’d have gone more often...” She removed her hand from her face, “And besides, it’s not like it was so expensive…”

Minako grabbed Renee’s hand and began running, “Look, I don’t care! This is no time to contemplate! That and I’m missing Passions to see the show today.”

Renee let out another laugh as she followed Minako’s quickened pace, “I think you’ll live for one day.”

“But… My mom was buying angel food cake!”

Renee shook her head, “It’s a wonder you’re not overweight.”

“I have a dancer’s body… It’s such a curse,” she nodded her head in a straightforward manner.

Renee clenched her fist, “Don’t say that with a straight face, Minako!!”

“Green isn’t a very flattering color on you, Renee,” Minako mused, a sickeningly huge grin covering her face.

“Arrogance doesn’t fit you well either,” Renee scoffed.

“What color is arrogance anyway?”

“Brown.”

“You’re mean, Renee!!!”

“Just telling the truth.”

“Mean!!”

Renee laughed once more as they continued running down the crowded street.

Cars sped by at lightning speeds on the road next to them. They pushed their way through the crowded sidewalk, only half mindful of the rushed people beside them. Overhead, the buildings loomed to impossible heights, making them seem almost small and meaningless within their own world. The increasing cloudiness of the day enveloped the busy streets.

“Do you think it will rain, Renee?” Minako pondered, holding her hands in front of her and briefly examining the sky.

Renee gave her a quick smirk, “So you can ponder the weather, but I can’t laugh?”

Minako took in a gasp, “That’s right! We’ll be late!”

Renee took in an exasperated sigh, “You need to work on that focusing problem of yours…”

“It’s not a focusing problem!” Minako pouted.

“My mistake, studying problem,” Renee winked.

Minako clenched her fist around her book bag, “I don’t have a studying problem!”

Renee winked again, “You’re right, it’s a disorder.”

“A disorder is worse than a problem!” Minako fumed momentarily and ran past Renee.

Renee let out another laugh and reached her hand to Minako, “Wait, wait. It was a joke!”

“Then at least make it funny!” Minako pouted, “You’re cruel, Renee!”

Renee laughed once more, “Sorry, sorry.”

“And don’t apologize if you’re not sorry, Renee!”

“Sorry…”

“You are not!”

Renee laughed once more as they ran down the street.

Even the rain could never darken their bright world. No, even then it still shone brightly. It was a world where any sadness and darkness was buried far away from the surface and its inhabitants lived in a world of unending light. Yes, even in the rain. Though, in the end, that existence seemed somewhat unfulfilling. There are people who look forward to those sad, dark, and unfortunate days in the rain.

~*~

After what seemed like an endless run, the studio finally stood before them. It was a bright, energetic room overlooking the square below. So many times, they had looked up to it, but had never actually been inside; it was a dream come true for them, like many others who had stood before the magnificence of this place. It was a place where happiness lit up the world in an instant. The audience had begun to gather on the tiered steps. They were two of fifty guests that day, finally realizing a long kept dream, albeit while missing Passions.

“We get to be on TV!!!” Renee squealed, “On TRL!!!!”

The two girls clasped hands and began to jump up and down. Their squeals were shining beams of sun on the otherwise gloomy day outside the window. Even as the fog settled the streets, their sunbeams broke through the darkness… A world that was always brightly lit. They scrambled quickly to their seats, before the best spots were taken.

The show went as normally, the crowd cheered and the colorful, enticing videos flashed across the screen; the atmosphere was infectious. But, Minako was removed from the action. As the show began, her heart had been elated to impossible heights, but it sank deeper and deeper into the ground as it progressed. Would it be buried six feet under in her lingering disappointment? What was she waiting for? There was something missing… But what? Even she couldn’t remember any more. Wasn’t she happy? To finally be on the TRL? But there was something, from very long ago, she had longed for… She put her hand to her head, letting out a low breath. Something from long ago? What exactly was it that her heart was missing?

The studio swirled into darkness. Minako’s face grew pale. Everyone around her was still cheering and smiling, even Renee. Did they not notice that empty feeling? Was the feeling of being surrounded by wonderful things and yet still missing something precious and important unknown to them? She lowered her head and turned slowly to face Renee’s smiling face, “Renee…” Minako whispered.

Renee turned to face Minako. She reached her hand to Minako's arm, “Why are you so pale?” She blinked suddenly and her body gave a forceful shudder, “I just felt something missing… Strange…”

“Me too,” Minako lowered her gaze, “What is it?”

Renee darted her eyes back and forth, looking at both sides of the room. This place seemed to be filled with an ominous darkness. She put her hand to her forehead, “I don’t remember, but there is something here… From before… Something very important… It almost seems to cry out at being lost. What an ominous feeling…”

Minako put her hands on the step; it almost seemed to be cracking slowly beneath her. “Renee…” She reached her hand toward her friend’s arm.

Renee lowered her head, her face seemed to be filled with regret, “Minako, sorry… I want to remember… But… You know I’m not good at understanding odd feelings…”

“Don’t apologize when you don’t have to…” Minako lowered her head and pulled her hand back.

Renee let out a small laugh, “You’re right… I always forget… Sorry…”

Minako clenched her hand into a fist. Why was this place filled with such ominous darkness? Why did they remember such an odd and impending feeling? She looked down to the step. Why? Why did it feel like unending darkness was consuming this place? And, why did she feel as though she would be pulled beneath it?

The step shattered underneath Minako. All that existed in the world seemed to be an endless void of darkness. She plunged into the void, an ominous river of blackness. She unclenched her fist and lashed her hand toward Renee, who still sat on the step. “RENEE!!!!!!!!!!”

Renee thrust her hand out, only a few moments too late; Minako had slipped from her grasp into the unending darkness of their ominous incomprehensible memories. She stood quickly, “Minako!!!” She put her hand to her head as she collapsed back to her seat. The darkness vanished and she was back within the world of the cheering crowd and the imagery of musicians. She folded her hands across her lap, sitting in silence. What was that strange vision? Minako… Where on earth did you go? She shut her eyes, no… Where on earth could you go?

~*~

Renee ran out on to the street. She whipped her head from side to side. Minako… Where are you? She lowered her head. That vision… Was it a dream, or… was it something important? She clenched her fist. No one else had seen that unending black world, she was sure of it. If they had, they would not have been cheering with such fervor afterwards. Maybe she had just gone insane… Minako had probably slipped past her in the rush to leave. She would be at home, sadly asking her mother what happened on Passions and if she could have some of the cake. She laughed to herself; that was exactly what Minako would do.

She gasped quickly and rose her hands to her heart. Minako… If… If she were just at her house then why was this immense sad feeling washing over her heart? She lowered her head. Minako who watches soap operas and laughs with her mother… Minako who never had a sad thought in her head, even over troublesome subjects like her grades… Renee clenched her fist again; Minako… Where are you suffering all alone? Is it… somewhere in the world I can never reach? What a cruel thing… I want to be with you… I want to hold you close and keep that darkness from consuming you. That black void… It must have been some dark world of only nightmares… Renee held her hand to her face. Minako… Hold on to your hope… I will be there as soon as I can… Somehow…

But how on earth do you get to a place that doesn’t exist anywhere?

~*~

Minako stirred and opened her eyes slowly. Darkness? She moved her fingers slowly, almost laboriously. Where? Renee? Is this TRL? She shifted her eyes to her hair lying limply on the ground almost as if it were dead. She lifted her head slowly, raising her hand to her forehead. Everywhere was a black canvas; it was nothing like her world. It was an unending void of emptiness. She had no hope of shining light on this ominous mirage of darkness. Where was it? She blinked as her eyes, continuing to adjust to the dim lighting. She seemed to sit in an empty hollow room, almost resembling a prison. Was she the only solitary person in this world of unending darkness?

At that moment, a pair of wide, bright, yellowish pupils stared back at her. “Another soul has joined us, how unfortunate to awaken…”

Minako scooted backward in shock, “Who’s there? What is this place?”

As her eyes adjusted to the lighting fully, she could make out the figure for the first time. Her darkened hair hung limply in front of her face; it was almost as black as the room surrounding them. Her clothing was dirty and torn; her face was yellowed and worn. How long had she sat here? How long had she suffered all alone in this world of unending darkness? No… There seemed to be hundreds of those same yellowed eyes glowing back at her… How many lived in this unending void?

“I should ask you the same question,” the girl replied solemnly, her eyes seeming almost as hollow as the darkness. A human who reflected the dimness of this place… It was truly frightening.

“Where is this?” Minako asked, tears forming in her eyes. The creatures before her seemed broken and almost faceless. Had the pure blackness of the world done this to them or was it something else? Could darkness really harm a person so much that they changed?

Her shadowed hands rose to her heart; for that moment in time, the expression on her face seemed almost angelic. “All of us slept in a beautiful dream. They wanted us to forget, but we remembered… And now we suffer…”

“Beautiful… dream…?” Minako lowered her gaze.

“A world of only light and happiness… There was never any hurt or despair; it was a world without darkness and suffering… But…” She clenched her fist, “Fragmented memories pulled us into darkness… Memories we never had…” She lowered her head, “Memories of only sadness…”

“Memories of what?”

“Before…”

“What happened before?” Minako clenched her hands to her heart, remembering the ominous feeling she had had before, “Something… that didn’t exist in the world…”

“I do not know… But I remember that there was something…” she shut her eyes, “I dreamed that I was searching for something from so long ago… What was it? I don’t know. Where was it? I could not tell you. But… When I woke up, I was here. And this is where I have been ever since… Searching for something that existed only in my heart…”

“Is this a nightmare?” Minako’s voice shivered, an echo of the rest of her body. Something that could not be found… Something that did not exist anywhere on earth… Something that made her entire body cry out to it…

“Wouldn’t that be nice? Then we could wake up to find everything like before.”

“Why do you still wait here? What does it do for you?”

“There is a legend of a great power sealed in a box. That power is the key to our existence. But… It seems that power was sealed away because it was evil. It’s unfortunate we depend on it more than anything.” She buried her face in her risen knees.

So much sadness filled this place. The creatures here were suffering. She could only clearly see this one figure shrouded in shadow, but those hundreds of pairs of yellowed eyes still stared at her from the depths of the darkness. They radiated only sadness from their hearts.

She rose her head once more, “But… There is a woman… Pandora… She can save us…”

“Pandora…?” She moved her hands from her heart, blinking her eyes. A woman who can save everyone?

“Deep within her heart, Pandora knows the location of the box. She can light up the world with the torch called hope.” She turned her head slowly, “When she opens the box, we will all be saved… And the evil of the world will vanish.”

“What is this evil?”

The figure shook her head, “Only Pandora knows… Perhaps… Perhaps you are her?”

“No… I am Minako…” she replied sadly in concern. Her voice quivered at the words. Why couldn’t she help? Why was there only one powerful woman who could save the world from this unending darkness?

“No… I suppose you couldn’t be Pandora… Pandora can understand the vague memories that only whisper in our hearts.”

“What do I do?” Minako’s hands shook violently. Where was Renee? She had been there with her and felt the emptiness with her, but… Where was she now? Minako shivered in her loneliness. Renee… Where on earth are you? Tears began forming in Minako’s eyes. What do I do without you here? Renee…

The figure vanished within the shadows. The piercing, yellow eyes remained momentarily before vanishing into the dark abyss. Her low voice called to Minako through the blackness, “There is nothing you can do… Only Pandora holds the torch of hope.”

Pandora… A woman who carried a torch of hope to light the world… Minako huddled against the wall and shivered. The lights of the eyes no longer lighted this world… A world of only darkness… It was terrifying… “Renee…” Tears dropped from her eyes and burst violently on the ground like a rainstorm. Where in the world am I? Can you find me in this darkness? Renee…

***

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