Rose Blumen ~ Exogignesthai

(Rose)

I want to see. I really want to see.

This forest beneath the surface of the green sea.

But with Nightmare fidgeting, eager to do one of these things she truly enjoys doing in life. So I’m a little worried.

In less than three minutes, one of them will tease me about it. How’s there’s no other choice for me but to surrender to their will.

And these two are amongst the kindest ones thank goodness. But here I am for the countless time, being tricked by a daiûa, offering to grant me what I desire at an ominous cost.

I’m sweating. Nightmare is smiling just as she should.

~

Blume’s wings return, soon followed by Nightmare’s wider pair. They reach us to the shore where we help them dry and get cleaner. Now that we know what to look at, I better notice what’s reaching the surface from below.

Bubble get regularly swallowed into the water, by a creature or another, while others flow to the surface and pop.

The butterflies where the most curious ones about us, but many things live below and swim instead of flying.

B – It must be hard for their wings to swim, but they have to if everything else they need is below.

R – Do flowers bloom?

N – Some do yes. It’s a little dimmer in light down there, but there’s a growing array of greenery and flowers down there as well.

R – Tell me more. How is it looking down there?

N – I noticed the trees have very little foliage, almost like burnt trees or winter. But they are alive, and covering less surface toward light with leaves.

B – The ground between their roots is completely uneven.

N – Ah yes. There’s no real flat ground anymore. It’s just an endless maze of rocks, more dense as you dig through the roots and earth, without any clear level. To some extent, what would act as a ground level is now the surface of the sea.

B – The entire ground has become spongy and muddy.

A dream environment for countless species.

R – Still no sight of anything like you?

B – Oddly no. Even the butterflies and other land or air species we can see down there look pretty much normal.

R – Well, I knew there shouldn’t be any reason to underestimate them, but still, it is a puzzling change...

Nightmare sips her infusion of sea water like tea. She glances at me.

N – You would like to see how it is for yourself, wouldn’t you, Rose?

I try to act cutely but I know how pointless it is. It could even backfire. I’m just delaying the inevitable.

B – Wouldn’t you like us to go on a sea journey together?

Now she’s the one acting cute!

They’re getting closer and closer, whispering into my ears as I lose my cool rapidly.

N – Endless sea to explore...

B – Mounds, forests and wonders...

R – ...

N – Even cities like you’ve never seen before.

B – A new land of the world you love, for you to explore...

These foul demons keep tempting me as they get too close to me, then speaking directly inside my ears and head, holding my arms and shoulders gently.

I insult them, and surrender...

~

R – I’m weak.

B – Ah ah ah!

And Blume is the one laughing. Mean one...

Not that Nightmare isn’t drooling with glee at the prospect of working the flesh of something she likes. She’s delighted at the idea of cutting me open and tweaking things in my metabolism. Her joy isn’t reassuring.

R – The minimum, okay?

N – Just what it takes to swim more easily down there. You’ll remain a mammal don’t worry.

R – A human mammal?

N – As much as can be.

Blume hugs me, with her wings and vines. She’s considerate somewhat as well, although she enjoys her teases a lot.

I lie on my blanket. Blume has actually more experience than Nightmare for living organisms under water, so she will do the main redesign.

They chat about it as if they were designing a machine or a building.

B – The shunt is obvious.

N – I’ll take care of the skin lipids barrier. I can modify the blood’s oxygen capacity. Can you tweak the digestive system’s shunt?

B – Of course. I’ll also divert a few other secondary processes here and there...

R – What are you two going to do to me!

B – We’ll make you able to hold your breath for... Maybe ten minutes? And withstand water pressure better.

N – I think we can achieve fifteen.

R – You mean I won’t breathe underwater? I’ll have to resurface?

B – Yes. The changes would be too drastic otherwise. So we’re creating a new metabolic process where you’ll be able to hold your breath differently and much longer, while swimming easily. We won’t rebuild your organs much.

N – You won’t be able to eat nor digest anything in the meanwhile when underwater, along with other uncessary functions.

R – What do you mean?

B – Nothing to worry about. You won’t feel anything missing I’m willing to bet. You’ll feel as usual.

I get what she means. Fine. I want to see.

They chat a while longer while artificial slumber carries me.

~

Nightmare and Blume give me dreams like visions of the place I’m about to discover.

I like how Blume is always there, as gigantic roses filling the void of space beyond the sky.

I would swim, and then resurface, take a few long breaths, and then dive again. Hm... Where is Nightmare?

Something strong surged inside of me.

I woke up abruptly, in the middle of their work, and grabbed Nightmare’s wrist suddenly while it was still inside my tummy.

I looked at her sharply. I didn’t care about the smell of meat or the grease and blood over her hands. I looked severe probably, as she had a surprised expression.

R – You too.

N – ...

R – You’re coming with me. You’re not staying behind or in the sky.

Nightmare’s relation to water is more complex than mine.

I let them next put me back to sleep; but I’m not letting go easily of my sister’s wrist. I could even feel her heartbeat inside for a moment.

Blume, it will be your turn to grin, for a few reasons.

I’m not leaving Night behind.

~

It took them a day of work on me. Then two more for Blume on Nightmare.

I woke up first. I felt as if my lungs were a deeper and larger void beneath my chest. I could inhale for maybe thirty seconds straight now.

And then, when I stopped willingly my breathing, my body was now doing what they called a series of shunts. It felt like parts of my head and body were suddenly relaxing or going stiff, waiting for breathing to return in slumber.

And I could walk around without breathing anymore.

~