They were in a room that logically should not be able to be seen, as everything was black in different shades. However, Stephen could make out a small armchair, a lamp on a small dresser, and a door that looked to be as dark as the shadow. Looking toward where they assumed they were pulled from, they saw nothing. Looking around, the figure was nowhere to be found, the voices were quiet, but still there.

With the child’s conscience curious beside his, they looked down at their body, which they also could miraculously see, as if in dim light. Clothes tarred, with weird tingling bruises in random spots.

"Welcome home, Void."

Stephen looked around, but couldn't find the source of the voice.

"Who are you?" Stephen spoke for them.

"You already know who I am, don't you?"

"No I-"

"The child of the universe that resides with you in consciousness...it knows who I am. It can tell you, if you will listen."

In that moment, Stephen could feel himself retreating into his mind to talk to said being.

Stephen walked across the empty, quiet place to look for the child.

He found it standing with its back faced toward him. The mindspace they were in was different than usual, darker, it felt more crowded.

"Hey," Stephen called to it.

The being turned to face him, shimmering eyes and a distant look on its face. Then it smiled softly.

"Beautiful." It reached a hand toward Stephen and beckoned him to walk over.

Stephen walked up in confusion and took its hand, to which the being tightened its fingers around his own.

It closed its eyes again, smile still present. Stephen watched as it stood at absolute peace beside him.

Then it opened its eyes and turned to him with a frown.

The being turned Stephen to face it and softly put its hands over Stephen's eyes, signifying for him to close them.

Stephen could then see what the creature spoke about.

The shadow that was speaking to them appeared before him, and although it was beautiful, in black robes with midnight skin and hair that somehow took on a darker color than black itself, Stephen was terrified. He opened his eyes and they were no longer in their headspace, but back in the room instead.

"That doesn't answer the question for me." Stephen argued, looking around for the shadow again.

"I used to be what you now are. I ruled and protected this dark abyss."

"From what? There's literally nothing here."

"From itself. Chaos can slowly drive itself insane as well, for there is no Order without Chaos, and no Chaos without Order."

"So...there is something in this place that contains order...keeping this…nothingness...orderly?"

He was flooded with a feeling of mutual understanding, but no answer.

"Why do we have to be here? It’s just a small room. It looks manageable to me."

“Oh, it is so much more than this manifested space, my successor. It is vast, and ever-changing. There is no seeming end.” the shadow spoke with silent pride.

“What…what do you mean successor?” Stephen voiced skeptically.

"...I am weak. The Chaos...has ways of making one succumb to the madness it tries so hard to fix...That was my mistake. One cannot fix what simply is. And in turn...there is a toll that comes with tampering with the... inconceivable."

Stephen watched with adjusting eyes, as the room in front of them shifted, and suddenly, all was mirrors. It could see itself. Their hair, still split perfectly down the middle of blonde and raven black, still a mess, but...it seemed to be flowing...as if they were underwater...or more like in a thick substance. Their eyes, dull gray, were accompanied by deep eye bags.

The burns, scars, and bruises on the skin of its body...

They turned away.

Only faced with more mirror.

Their heart skidded and they turned again, each time, discovering more and more marks from the angles of which they would turn.

It hurt. Both the bruises, burns and their pride.

The child glanced at the body with saddened wonder, and Stephen could feel its need to try and scratch its way out again, growing every second they glanced at their new self.

"Please..." the shadow strained. The mirrors disappeared, leaving the fusion with a heavy heart and, once again, an empty place.

"You brought us here because of your mistake, and now you want us to fix it?"

"You have not much choice in the matter." The voice was firm, and then the figure appeared. Darker than the room itself, and power radiating around it.

"Everyone has choices."

"This is true. However, your choices have no power in this abyss. All I want is rest. This place is beyond my control, yet may still be manageable."

"And you couldn't choose anyone else?"

"I did."