It seemed like it was not long before I was home once more. I began my frantic search for the items on my list of supplies. The more I searched my house, the less it seemed like it belonged to me. Things I have no recollection buying, organization styles that I have never even bothered to plan out, I wasn’t even able to find half the stuff on my list. Not to mention that the house was too big for one person. I did have a guest bedroom but- ‘That’s it.’ I decided to check there next.

It looked neat but definitely lived in. ‘I guess I did get someone to rent out this room after all..’

There was just one object that seemed out of place. A picture frame on the floor. It made me so curious I couldn’t help but to see what it was. As I picked it up the glass of the frame cut my hand and I dropped it face up. “That’s weird.” I said aloud examining the picture in the frame.

The picture was plain white. Even though I definitely saw a picture on it before I dropped it.

‘██ ███ ████ █ ███████ ██ ██.’

“What?” I said looking around trying to find the source of the noise.

‘██ ███ ████ █ ███████ ██ ██. ██ ███ ████ █ ███████ ██ ██. ██ ███ ████ █ ███████ ██ ██.’

“I don’t understand.” I felt a surge of panic wash over me. “What are you saying?”

‘██ ███ ████ █ ███████ ██ ██.’

---

I jerked up in my chair startling Freyaa who had just walked in. I opened my eyes so wide that it almost hurt and looked at her.

“You alright?” She asked, placing a box on my desk “Bad dream?”

“Either that or one of those weird System TM induced hallucinations.” I blinked rapidly trying to wake up a little more. I grabbed a small object from my desk and began rolling it between my fingers. It seemed jarring to think back at those noises, but at the same time it was hard to ignore it. I usually don’t nap very easily, but it was a pretty tough day already, so I must have slipped off without realizing. Freyaa was giving me a strange look perhaps in response to my tendency to say ‘TM’ out loud. She might not think much of it, but the distinction is important. I shrugged my shoulders and she brushed it off.

“It should only last a couple more days if that’s the case. I got the stuff you asked for.” She said. “We’ll come pick you up after a few hours, if you can’t manage it on your own, we can regroup and figure something else out.”

“Got it. I’ll head out soon.” I got up and began going through the box. Even with the strange nightmare, I managed to get good rest. ‘I should be able to stay up long enough to handle this. Or fail so miserably that I decide to leave and call it a night.’