To Be Named At A Later Date

Traumatizing: Labyrinth Music Video

"Everything's set up?" Steven asked again, anxiously checking everyone's vests. "I just wanna make sure when they disappear that they'll work."

Alex placed a hand on Steven's shoulder. "Look, as your manager I've gotta bench you if you can't calm down, Steven."

He sighed. "You're right, I'm sorry. I just..."

Connie reached out to squeeze his hand. "Hey, it's just a simulation."

Adam was giddy with excitement, it was evident from the barely there smile and crossed arms. "I'm super excited, this is like, next level tech. This could change everything."

"And we're the first to do it," Jasmin breathed. "This feels so much bigger than me. I feel..."

"Small?" Anna supplied anxiously. "It'd be nice if we got to know what we were going to see."

Peridot adjusted her visor. "You're going to see what the simulation shows you, obviously."

"We have cameras literally everywhere." Alex tossed her a look. "They're not as smart as we are, Peri. They have feelings and stuff."

The green gem laughed. "I knew you were my favorite."

Alex's was last, and they linked hands before they entered.

The lights shut off as soon as they sat. Their chosen position was Stevens lotus, with their hands clasped and thumbs touching. Steven burst into flames easily, the music was already in his head.

Jacob was the last to catch fire, his mind was bouncing around too much. He let out his eighth breath and tried again to still his mind. Air flowed in and out of him, and for a split second he could hear himself singing a song as a kid.

His flames rose high, and finally he got connected completely.

Being completely connected was far heavier than simply singing in the booth. It was kind of like fusion, but the thoughts flowed freer instead of being funneled eventually.

It cut off suddenly and Stevens eyes opened in confusion. He couldn't see. "Am I blind?"

The rest of them blinked too, but the darkness didn't leave them.

Adam stood, using careful footing as he "looked" around. It didn't feel like he was moving but he knew he was. "I know this place."

Hazel shuddered. "Yeah? It's horrible here."

"This is where I put my feelings."

Connie sighed. "You know that's incredibly unhealthy, right?"

"Like it's so unhealthy that it's actually incredible," Anna clarified. "I thought we talked about this."

Adam seemed to dislike the train of conversation and grunted. "It's pretty empty in here. There's a reason for that."

They lapsed into a tense silence until Anna started sniffling.

"Anna, I'm sorry–," Adam began shallowly.

"No." Anna sniffed harder. "I know that smell, fresh balsam... it's... what my parents used to use for a candle."

Steven let out a low breath. "My pants are wet."

Jasmin looked to where the voice originated. "Did... you pee yourself?"

"I am sitting in at least two inches of liquid that I did not make," He elaborated. "The room is combining our consciousness. Mine has water at the bottom."

Jacob gasped and stumbled to his feet. "G-guys. You don't wanna be in my consciousness right now, I'm going through EMDR therapy! It's memory after memory
of—!"