The Time Now 1.10.1

"Why won't you love kinnay?" You mumble in your sleep, and you squirm like a worm between the sheets. They put an arm around you and pull you close. Their body is warm, and their heartbeat is calm, and you would always recognize that breath, that scent, that touch. You smile, and you cuddle, and you fall into a deep, dreamless sleep. Finally, safe again. A bite on your lower lip. You smile in your sleep. Your body tingles, and you spread yourself across the bed. Another taunting bite. Your smile broadens, and you show off your teeth. And gazing through your lashes, you whisper their name. "Abba." "We do love you, Alexiel," they answer your doubts and fears. "We do love you, beautiful." "Abba, lord of kinnay, who longed so much to see your face again…" you whisper. They smile and caress you, and you are happy to be together again, to make love to each other again, and to talk about nothing and everything again. "Where are we, Abba?" "We're in the Glass Dome. You've been here all along." "Kinnay doesn't remember..." Abba gets up and wraps their robe around them tightly. "It's time to wake up, Alexiel. You've slept enough. We have to talk." You listen to them and throw the covers aside. You are completely naked. "Cover yourself, child." You look around, but you see no clothing, so you wrap yourself in bedsheets. "How long has Alexiel slept?" You ask Abba with a sinking heart. "You slept for weeks…" Abba sighs and walks around the room, pacing themselves, and stopping from time to time to take a look at the scarlet sky. You stay still and wait for their lead. Only your eyes move across the space, wondering why you are still here. You enjoy the view. It's almost like being on the staircase, except you're not. And this time, you really try to focus on reality. "Kinnay…" you start speaking, and Abba turns to look at you, "...Alexiel doesn't remember the past weeks… there are only bits and pieces of memories in their head. Even the name Alexiel is strange to kinnay… Should Alexiel remember everything? Or is this how it is meant to be?" Abba keeps quiet, their eyes focused on something behind you and beyond space and time. "You should remember more of it, Alexiel. I guess it is partly our fault that you don't. We pushed you too far, but you were so promising… and it is partly your fault too!" They suddenly gaze you in the eyes, and the last words hurt you more than a beating. You would look down, but you don't dare disrespect Abba. "You drift away from us, Alexiel. You built walls around your mind, locking us away. It's like you don't want to be with us anymore…" You want to focus, you really do, but in this reddish light, Abba looks boiled, and you can't stop wondering why you would think such a thing. "You are wandering again, Alexiel…" This time you tilt your head down, guilty as charged. You hear Abba puff with discontent, and you are waiting for your punishment. "Ready to drift again, are you?" You look up, shaking your head. "We had high hopes with you, Alexiel, and Lordarchs seem to be rather disappointed lately. You fail us all, and you fail yourself. Would you still be here with us today, would you still be back with us— again and again— if we didn't have high hopes for you?"