Two Futures

Laying on a makeshift raft that was being pulled through boundless mist by a powerful current, Sunny suddenly burst out in laughter. 

"Ah. Ah, I see now…"

Sin of Solace glanced at him with curiosity.

"What is it that you see, if you don't mind me asking?"

Sunny remained silent for a while. 

"No, it's just that… I suddenly remembered an old conversation."

Years ago, in the ruined cathedral of the Dark City, Effie — who was mostly a stranger back then — had told Sunny a strange thing. 

She had told him that the Dream Realm was not hell, like everyone believed, but instead a paradise… a dark and cruel one, but a paradise nevertheless. The kind of paradise they all deserved.

He knew now that Effie felt that way because she had been trapped in a broken body and constrained to a wheelchair in the waking world, but received a chance to be healthy and vibrant in the Dream Realm… however, that was not the only reason.