The Gardens of Dying Light
Chapter: Prologue : In the Nightside of Eden
Rating: PG-13
Fandom: The World Ends With You
Characters: Neku, Other
Spoilers: Weeks 1-3, Secret Reports, SexySecret Ending

You’ve had this dream before. Walking down the path, towards the shadowy figure you know is an alternate version of you. Slightly shorter, hair slightly longer – if you didn’t know any better you’d call her your twin sister.

You reach her as you always do, and just like before she offers you her hand. You take it and your fingers interlace. There is no romance in these actions – it is the need for moral support in this eerie world that pushes you together.

Ever since you were a child, your dreams have been vivid. Full of colours and shapes you didn’t know existed. At least, not before you were forced to play The Game. Now you know that anything is possible, and that the stuff of your nightmares can come to life.

You know your female companion has been through that very experience. Her eyes have the same haunted look that your own do. And when you think about your partners ‘sacrificing’ themselves for you and your heart speeds up, she gives your hand a squeeze, to anchor you in the here and now.

Together, you traipse along the path through the overgrown flowerbeds. You’ve always slowly drifted awake at this point, so everything from here on in is new to you. Another squeeze tells you that this new sensation is mutual, and some of your fears melt away.

Somehow, the pair of you reach the end of the path, but blocking your way are two figures. Something yells at you that you know these people, or one of them at least.

They turn around, and you’re both blinded, raising your free arms to block out the offending light. You lower your arm and see nothing – you’re all alone.

Slowly, you open your eyes, the vividness of the dream still flashing behind your half closed eyelids. In the bleary half morning light, one thing sticks in your head, simultaneously worrying and exciting you.

Something big is happening.

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