Childhood Friend of the Zenith

Clang.
Creeeeak—!!!

The relentless sound of machinery echoed through the space.

A woman lifted her head at the ceaseless noise.

In the pitch-black darkness, where nothing was visible, she turned toward the source of the sound.

Deep within the abyss, a distant noise reverberated. The door that should have remained sealed shut had been flung open.

A door that should have never opened.
No matter what happened.
No matter how much time passed.
That door was never supposed to open again.

And yet, it stood wide open.

The woman stared at it, frozen in place.

Shhhhhhhhhhhhhh—!!!

From beyond the door, an abyssal sea of blackness gushed out, rushing forward in a wild torrent.

The flood surged, consuming the desolate void that had long been burned away, filling it in an instant.

Shhhhhh.

She felt the water seep beneath her bare feet.

As the rising waves lapped at her ankles, the woman’s eyes trembled.

How?

How had that door opened?

She couldn't understand. She had locked it away using every means possible.
It was never supposed to open.

If it had—
It meant her choice had been wrong.

Or—

‘The seal of oblivion has broken.’

To make her choice, she had abandoned something crucial.

If the door had opened, it meant someone’s forgotten memories had returned.

"No."

No. It couldn’t be.

She had locked it away with everything she had.
So why—why had it unraveled so easily?

Swooooooosh—!!

The woman pushed forward, cutting through the surging waves.

This space—once a vast, endless void—was meant to be filled by this torrent.

The memories it carried spanned countless ages, threatening to swallow her whole.
The water rose violently, as if seeking to bury her.

Yet, the woman did not stop.

No—she could not stop.

She had to reach that door. She had to seal it shut once more.

She had no choice.

The fact that it had opened was a miracle. If she left it as it was, it could turn out to be a blessing for her.

But—

‘No.’

For him, it would not be.

Determined, she pushed forward. The crushing currents weighed down on her body, but she did not falter.

Through the relentless storm of memories, she pressed on until finally—she reached the door.