His joyless laughter died down, and Sunny was once again surrounded by chilling silence.
After a few moments, the voice spoke again:
"It's of no use, anyway. Aren't you here to become banished from fate? If you do go further and your wish comes true… there's no telling what your future will hold."
The voice grew harder to hear, as if the two of them were being slowly separated by a great distance.
"Still, I ask of you. Turn back. Do not go further. You… are not ready for what lies ahead."
Sunny remained silent for a while.
Eventually...
He scoffed.
"If you truly are the future version of myself, then you already know my answer."
Turn back? Abandon his chance of breaking the shackles of fate and the slave collar wrapped around his neck?
Never. He would rather die a thousand deaths.
"I refuse."
His voice was resolute.
There was a distant, dejected sigh.
Then, the voice resounded once again, barely audible:
"You stubborn fool… well, as expected. Go on, then. Hurry up! This Nightmare won't last much longer."
And just like that, the voice disappeared, leaving Sunny alone in the cave. The shadows embraced him again, and his ability to see in the dark returned.
'Damn traitors...'
The radiance of the Guiding Light pointed forward again.
He took a shaky breath, trying to compose himself.
"What… an insufferable bastard."
What was up with his future self and his attitude? Was it really necessary to laugh and chuckle at everything Sunny said? And did he really have to keep all the knowledge of what was about to come a secret?!
The voice did say one thing, though…
It was that the Nightmare was about to end.
Cursing under his breath, Sunny rushed forward.
'That guy... gave me the creeps. He was a bit scary, though. Which meant that I will be, too. That... is good news? Right?'
He had no time to ponder that eerie conversation right now, and was in no mood to, either. There would be time for that later, but right now... his freedom awaited.
He crossed the cave and followed the Guiding Light into another tunnel, venturing deeper and deeper into the dark mountain.
And then, finally…
He reached its very heart.
Entering a dark cavern, Sunny stumbled and came to a halt.
The cavern was vast enough that he could not see its ceiling, its walls drowning in darkness. Its floor was covered in shallow water, and at a distance, a small island rose from the glossy surface.
There was a beautiful tree growing in the middle of the island. And, nestled beneath its branches…
Sunny's eyes widened.
'What? What is this… why?'