THRIVE: Book One

Carmen's screams are putting us all on edge. The longer it continues, the more afraid I am for her. Victoria and Chloe seem defeated as they try to relax her, but nothing is working.

"If she's stuck in a vision, does that mean she's locked inside the mindspace?" Chris asks. I just shrug.

"Honestly, I'm not sure." I sigh. Chloe had been painting the symbols on her hands in preparation to try and see into Carmen's mind. Her hands seem to be having trouble staying steady as she finishes up.

"Chloe, you can't do this alone. It's too dangerous." Victoria sighs.

"What are you suggesting? You're not ready." Chloe states, sitting at the head of the bed.

"Maybe not, but we all need to try together if we're going to have any hope of stopping this. You aren't strong enough on your own, none of us are." Victoria explains.

"I agree, but don't you remember what happened last time? You nearly died because you were trying to go in alone." I explain worriedly.

"You think I forgot about that?" Chloe cries "Do you even have any idea what you're doing?" she asks, frustrated.

"Well, no, but..." I try to stay positive. "You'll be there guiding us through, so let's do this," I say confidently. Victoria nods in agreement and we start to climb on either side of Carmen. Amy looks heartbroken as she watches her sister cry out in pain, knowing she can't do anything to help. I start to focus and brace myself for what's to come.

"Please, the four of you need to come back safely, okay?" Amy cries. Brian tries to comfort her, but she is turning into a mess.

"If we're going to do this, we need to go in now," Chloe states. Victoria and I reach out and place our hands on Chloe's shoulders, and Chloe grips the sides of Carmen's head.

"Let me in," Chloe says softly, and suddenly, everything goes dark.

I once again wake up in the void on the calm water's surface, but when I open my eyes, the sky looks as if it's cracking and everything is bright white. I quickly sit up and see Scara and Mahina in their original forms, and when I notice the tattoo on my leg, I realize that I am in mine too. I feel strange, more so than myself with all of these memories; I feel like a collective, it feels...right.

"Twice in twenty-four hours, I'm sick of this place." Scara sighs "Although, I don't know why it's so bright in here. My gate is dark red." she explains.

"Everyone's is different; Nika's is black and twinkly." Mahina laughs.

"Hey, don't make fun of my soul." I snap at them, "We don't have a lot of time, so where do we need to go?" I ask. Hina thinks deeply for a moment.

"Well, this place is called the gate for a reason. From here, we can go to any memory at any point in time. If I'm right, Carmen found her way into one and it triggered too much at once." she explains.

"If that's the case, then I think I have an idea where she is. How do we get there?" I ask nervously.

"Follow me." Hina reaches forth and claps her hands together, suddenly, a portal opens in front of us. Peering inside, it looks like the tunnel to Sanctum. We all carefully make our way in and follow the voices.

"I'm not telling." I hear Iker say menacingly "But I'd be happy to show you." Suddenly I can hear Rain start to scream.

"Stop!" she screams over and over. We find our way in as she rolls over onto her hands and knees, throwing up all over the floor. "Stop! I can't take it!"

"Enough of this!" Serene approaches and slaps Iker across his face, he just smiles as he licks at the side she had smacked.

"It's too much, it hurts!" she screams "Iker, please stop this!" she suddenly bashes her head against the ground. Isobel grabs her head and holds both sides, trying to focus into her mind.