//------------------------------// // Closer // Story: I.D. Entity // by Goldymarg //------------------------------// She had to replay the last few seconds in her head several times to register what she had just heard. Her arms went limp as she watched the doctor briskly walk into the corridor, unable to budge from that spot. “I'm not going crazy, am I?” Sunset said under her breath. “Because there's no way I could have misheard her...she definitely said my name. But...what's that supposed to mean...?!” As her breathing slowly started to quicken, a warm wind blew into the back of her head and past her face. She gagged and coughed reflexively, as something resembling smoke and ash invaded her nostrils for a split-second, making her spin around to find the source. Fanning a hand in front of her with narrowed eyes, she looked up to see a ventilation shaft above her, caked with black and gray dust. She gave the thing an annoyed stare. “Ugh. Guess it hasn't been cleaned in awhile.” Sunset sighed and relaxed her neck, though her attention was quickly drawn to something lying on the floor ahead – a plastic cylinder completely covered with origami cranes on a single side. She walked over and picked it up, its unusual heaviness making her wobble. “Must've been what I heard clatter. Did she just leave it here?” It was just large enough for her to cradle in her arms, the cranes hanging from the cylinder in tight bunches with string taped to their tails. Taking a closer look, the creases on the paper were worn and dirty, and she could could make out lines of text obviously made by a printer on the insides of the folds. “She must have a lot of time on her hands to fold this many. There's probably over a hundred of these things just on this one side.” Sunset looked behind her with the cylinder still in her arms, seeing the doctor she spoke with round a corner down the hall. “I...I better give this back before she gets away.” She held the side devoid of cranes close to her chest as she ran down the hall, feeling her teeth clench up and adrenaline well up into her limbs. She knew running in a hospital was one of the last things she should be doing, especially with something so heavy in hand, but her body was moving faster than she could think. The only thing that mattered right now was catching up to that doctor before she got away. Fortunately, she found her waiting for an elevator as she rounded the hall, slowing to a speedy walk before anyone saw her. “Um, excuse me! I think you – (gasp) – dropped this!” she shouted between breaths. The doctor turned to look at the girl hollering at her, her eyes going wide when she saw the cylinder in her arms. “Oh my goodness, I completely forgot!” She walked up to meet Sunset halfway, taking the object from her. “Thank you so much for bringing this to me! There's no telling what Ms. Dawn would have done if she woke up without her cranes!” Sunset raised an eyebrow. “Woke up? Wasn't she just awake right now?” “(Sigh), I'm afraid not, at least not right now. I told the orderly to administer 50ccs of thorazine due to her unstable state. You see, I was in the middle of taking her back to her room so I could attend to matters in ICU, so I didn't have much a choice.” Her eyes darted left and right, trying to find the right words to say. “Oh...um, okay...” Sunset hugged herself and looked away. Truth be told, she wasn't too concerned about the cranes or that senile old wreck. It was just an excuse to follow her. The only thing on her mind right now was knowing exactly what this person was talking about back there. “A...anyways, um...” This was her chance to ask. All she had to do was stop stuttering and speak clearly. Yet every time she tried to say something, her words got caught halfway in her throat. “I, uh...I-I mean, what I mean to say is, uh...” She could feel her face heat up as a bead of sweat dripped down the side of her head. Was it because she had been alone for so long? That the lack of interaction with practically anyone had made her forget how to even talk to people? It used to be so easy to bark orders and manipulate everyone to do what she wanted. It was all she ever knew how to do. But now that her past left her feeling nothing but guilt, all she could do was stand there like a deer in headlights. Was there ever a time where she could have been even a little forthcoming? “It just tears you up inside, doesn't it? Seeing a mother lose her child so soon...” Sunset jerked in place, bunching her hands up close to her chest as her head snapped towards the doctor. “You don't have to say anything, it's written all over your face. I can't really blame you either...Ms. Dawn has been a complete mess ever since she was admitted to Canterlot General. All of the doctors and nurses who take care of her are torn up about it. It's no surprise you feel the same.” “Oh...y-yeah, it's terrible...” Her eyes fell to the floor. She didn't have the heart to tell her that she could care less about a crazy lady, especially after being yelled at for no reason. “Indeed...” The doctor continued. “I even heard that Sunset was due for a piano recital at the Canterlot Amphitheater the same night she died. I still can't imagine how a girl with so much potential and status would choose to die in flames...” Sunset's eyes widened. “Flames...?” The doctor brought the tips of her fingers to her mouth. “Oh! I'm sorry, I keep forgetting that you're not from around here.” She put her hands in her coat and sighed deeply. “It was all over the news. A fire had broken out at Apollo Manor sometime in the evening, and first responders weren't even aware of it until they were notified close to an hour later. At first, the police thought it was arson, but eventually ruled it to be a suicide after a lengthy investigation.” “But why? Why would she kill herself? Was...” Sunset gripped her shoulder as a pang of guilt went through her heart. “...was she being bullied?” “That's the biggest mystery of all, really. According to all the news sources, she was actually very well off. She had a wealthy and loving family, tons of friends, and a bright future ahead of her. In fact, I don't ever remember hearing anything negative about that girl in the slightest. It's really such a tragedy...” “Uh...yeah...” She let her eyes wander away again. An awkward silence fell between the two, the only noises being squeaking wheels in the distance and people talking in muffled tones. It wasn't until the sound of the elevator chiming that the doctor spoke up again. “Oh my, I'm not sure why I'm telling you all this...I apologize again. I didn't want to upset you any further.” She hefted the cranes in her arms and walked into the elevator. “Anyway, it was nice speaking with you, miss..?” Sunset froze. There was no way she could tell her her name, not after what she had just heard. “I, uh...!” She nervously eyed the corridor behind her as she edged away, suddenly remembering that she came here with someone else. She took a step back on her heel before stammering out, “S-sorry! I gotta get going now I forgot that my friend was waiting for me okaythanksbye!” The doctor raised an eyebrow as the doors closed, with Sunset dashing away from the immediate area faster than she should have been running. She put a hand over her heart and eventually slowed to a stop, leaning against the right wall of the corridor on her shoulder. “It's probably just a coincidence...no, it has to be. I mean, I don't sound anything like what she talked about.” In the back of her mind, she was afraid that magic might have been involved. That it was somehow possible that she could have died here once, and was completely oblivious to it. She breathed a sigh of relief, “Yeah...we just share the same name. That's all. I'm not like this other Sunset Shimmer, I don't have a family here. Or a bright future. Or...or friends...” She grimaced at the floor with her head hung and tears ready to fall. Though she was relieved that she had nothing to do with this tragedy, she was also reminded of her own problems. Sighing and raising her head, she spotted Fluttershy down in the lobby looking around with a confused look on her face. She wiped her eyes with her forearm and choked back her tears as she walked towards her, not wanting to show her an upset face. Though it didn't stop her from running towards her as soon as she was spotted. “Oh, there you are! I was so worried, did you get lost carrying those files?” Sunset rubbed her hand behind her head and forced a smile. “Uh, yeah. Something like that. Everything's fine though, I took care of hauling those boxes.” Fluttershy smiled warmly. “That's good to hear. I was worried that it might've been too much for you to handle. I really appreciate you coming all this way to help me though, really.” The two of them started walking towards the exit, the timid girl next to Sunset beaming with energy. “Oh, let me tell you about what happened in pediatrics! You see, there was this little girl holding onto a stuffed bunny while getting a flu shot...” The sound of her voice had a somewhat calming effect on Sunset, though she could hardly pay attention to what she was saying. Her eyes were too focused on the ground in front of her as she walked, the last fifteen minutes still weighing heavily on her mind. (“What kind of coincidence is this? What are the odds that some girl who died in such a tragic way has the exact same name as me, let alone a girl from another world?”) The more she thought about it, the more it made her heart hurt. If her life was so good, then why would she commit suicide? How did that crazy woman almost instantly confuse her for her deceased daughter? Was it really just a coincidence, or did she have some connection to this tragedy after all? She could feel her teeth grit as she continued past the exit, the questions filling her head one after another. “Sunset Shimmer? Were you listening?” She came to a stop when she heard her name again, turning her head to face Fluttershy. Her mouth was curled into a frown as she looked into her eyes with a worried expression. “Uhm, did something happen back there? You look like you've seen a ghost.” She raised her hands defensively, “Huh?! Oh, don't worry about me, I'm fine! I just, uh...being in a hospital just kinda shook me up is all. It's nothing, really.” Fluttershy placed a hand on her chest and sighed gracefully. “Oh, thank goodness. For a moment I thought something terrible happened. You see, I didn't want to worry you, but I've heard scary rumors about room 42, a-and I completely forgot that you were going to be passing by it while carrying those boxes...” She had shrunk down and started shivering. Sunset gave a wry smile before stepping closer and putting a hand behind her back, motioning her to move forward. “Relax, nothing scary happened to me.” She took one last look behind her, catching her heart in her throat when she looked up at the third floor window. Silver Dawn was there, sitting in her wheelchair off to the side, her cranes cradled in her arms. The sight caught her off guard, but only for a moment. Pursing her lips, she turned right back around, looking ahead with a stern gaze. (“Yeah...nothing at all. None of this has anything to do with me.”) ---- Sunset fell back and let her head hit the pillow, holding a smartphone over her face with half-lidded eyes. After a few minutes of reading, she closed her eyes and sighed, lying it face down on the nightstand next to her. As she suspected, none of the articles she found on the internet told her anything more about this incident six years ago. It was all phrased differently, but they pretty much repeated everything that doctor told her. She rolled onto her left side, looking out the window of her bedroom. “Tch...I don't even know why I'm letting this get to me. I've got my own problems to deal with without having to worry about a dead girl.” The sun had set hours ago, the only lights coming from the street lamps lined along the apartment complex's cul de sac. Crickets chirped in the distance and a gentle wind blew against the window, reminding her of the steady drop in temperature. “But still...what could drive a little kid like that to kill herself, especially since she had so much? I'm not exactly happy with the way my life's going, but at least I've got a roof over my head...” She was lucky to find this place when she did. At first, the landlord was skeptical about approving a room to a fifteen year old girl with no social security card, but his tone changed instantly once she showed him some Equestrian jewels. Had she known this world valued them more than food or water, she would have brought a truckload. For now, it was enough to rent out this one bedroom for the next ten years, as well as pay for all of the furnishings and amenities. The place itself was modest, with a decently sized living room and kitchen downstairs, and a bedroom and bathroom upstairs. “Well, whatever...I guess I should just start brooding over how quick the weekend's going to fly by...” A familiar beep came from her phone, making her wince. Rolling back over, she picked it up and narrowed her eyes at the screen. It was another text from Fluttershy. - Are you really really really sure youre okay? i can come over and spend the night if you want :) Sunset couldn't help but read the message in her voice, making her frown softly. Scrolling up the list and counting, she found that this was her twentieth message. She was even getting some from Rarity and Rainbow Dash. “I really don't get any of you guys...how can you call a bully like me a friend?” She held her phone in both hands, typing yet another message back. - I'm okay Fluttershy, you don't have to worry about me. I have to charge my phone now, so we'll have to talk later. She set her phone back down, sighing again. It wasn't exactly true that her phone needed any charging, she just didn't want to talk with anyone else tonight. Leaning over and clicking the lamp off, Sunset closed her eyes and let the stiffness that had been building up from the day fade. ---- (Drip...drip...drip...) “Mmmrrpphh...” Her eyes scrunched as she groaned, rolling herself over and burying her face in her pillow. (Drip...drip...drip...) She sputtered, throwing the covers off and sitting upright. She rubbed the bridge of her nose between her fingers before cautiously opening her eyes, glaring at the wall in front of her. “Ugh, where is that noise coming from?!” She had been trying to ignore it for what felt like hours, but the intermittent sound of dripping water didn't seem to be stopping. Judging from the noise, it was as if a leaky faucet was dripping into a puddle of water over and over again. Swinging her legs off the side of the bed, Sunset stood up shakily and walked to the door, sliding her fingers against the wall to orient herself. “I so don't need this right now...better not have to call maintenance for this...” Thankfully, the bathroom was literally less than a foot away from her bedroom door. Stumbling inside, she went straight for the sink without even turning the light on, tightening the faucets with more strength than needed. (Drip...drip...drip...) “Oh, come OOON...” Feeling around the sink, she discovered that it wasn't wet anywhere, leading her to think that it was coming from the kitchen. She spun around and went straight down the stairs in a huffy state, gripping the handrail and narrowing her eyes in the darkness. Making a left and walking past the living room, she stopped in the kitchen's doorway, giving the sink to her right a full-on glare. There was just enough light coming in from the window to show her that it wasn't the source of the dripping, though she still felt compelled to walk over to it and feel the spigot to make sure. “Great. Dry as a bone. That noise could be coming from the walls for all I know.” She sighed forcefully and rested her palms on the edge, closing her eyes to try and pinpoint the source of the noise. Though no matter how hard she focused, she couldn't pinpoint where it was coming from. It was as if the dripping was coming from all around her. “Ugh, what am I gonna do...there's no way I can get any sleep with this going on.” (rustle) Her eyes snapped open as she heard something else, something like rustling cloth. And unlike the sound of water that had been tormenting her the past few minutes, this noise was clearly coming from the living room. Stepping back into the doorway, she jerked to a halt, gasping as she felt a jolt go through her chest. Someone was standing at her front door. “Wha...?! How'd you get in my house?!” Although obscured by darkness, it appeared to be a girl no more than four feet high. She was facing away from her, resting her right hand on the door with her head down. Sunset took a second to gather her wits before taking a step forward, shouting, “Look, I'm calling the cops! I'm already having a bad night, so I really don't need someone like you...huh...?” Something wasn't right about this girl. No, something was terribly wrong. She hadn't noticed it before, but the shadow she was casting on the door was off somehow. Taking a more calculated look, she could see an extra amount of light shining where her head should be. She unconsciously took a step back, not taking her eyes off her. “Whu...what's going on?” The girl dragged her fingers down across the door, the sound of her skin sliding against it louder than it should have been. She took another breath to speak, but was stopped short when her door suddenly burst into flames, igniting in a trail where she dragged her hand. Sunset lost the feeling in her legs as she doubled back, falling onto her rear and placing a hand over her mouth. The girl lethargically raised her head and turned to face her, the light from the fire being just enough to reveal what her intruder looked like. “What...what are you?!” Now she knew why her shadow so looked wrong. There was a massive oval-shaped hole in her head where her face should be, charred and burned around the edges as if it were incinerated. She wore a faded pink nightgown, the rest of her body also matted with second and third degree burns. Though along with her complete lack of a face, the one thing that made Sunset's veins run cold was her hair. Aside from being singed and covered with ash, it was a swirl of red and yellow. The same as her own hair. “No...no! It can't be you!” She had to get out of here. Now. Scrambling back a few feet, she twisted herself around and slammed a palm on the floor, sprinting towards the back door as fast as her legs could carry her. Though she only got halfway before fire literally snaked around the walls as if it were alive, blocking her only way out with a wall of flames. She threw her arms in front of herself on reaction and doubled back, feeling the heat on her face. “AAAARRRRGGGHH!!!” A crippling, stinging pain shot through her forearms, letting her know that she had just been burned. Sweat started to drip down her forehead as she looked around herself in a blind panic, desperate to find escape. Yet no matter where she looked, all she could see were flames. In the span of a few seconds, fire had spread all around her, turning her home into an unrecognizable inferno. Smoke started to enter her lungs now, forcing her to cough violently into her hand, bringing her to her knees. “Please, no – (COUGH) – what do you – (COUGH, COUGH) – want?!” She didn't have to look behind herself to know that the faceless girl was right behind her. Turning her head with her mouth still covered and her eyes watering, she found her standing within the flames, her arms at her sides and her head slightly lowered as if she were looking at her. “(COUGH) – Wh...why are you doing this?!” Tears started streaming down her face, both out of physical pain and of absolute terror. Sunset could do nothing but sit there, frozen, as the flames encircled her like a swirling vortex. The visage of the faceless girl was the last thing she could see before she herself was engulfed in fire. First her legs, then her midsection, and finally her head, burning her skin right down to the bone. A scream of unbridled agony escaped her lips. ---- “AAHH!!! AAAAAHHHHH!!!” Sunset threw something off of herself as she sat up, the sound of her own blood-curdling shriek filling her ears. She flailed around like she was having a seizure, screaming over and over again until she eventually rolled off of her bed, falling onto her side. “UGH!” Her screaming petered off as she slowly realized that she was unharmed. Moreover, the faint glow of her smartphone lying on her nightstand let her know that she was in her room. She took a moment to let her breathing slow down before arranging herself into a sitting position, bringing her knees close. Aside from her frayed nerves and the cold sweat covering her body, she was fine. “A...a dream...?” She took a deep breath to test her lungs. Sure enough, there was no irritation or difficulty. “N-no...that couldn't have been a dream...” Her words came out like a defeated whisper as she hugged her legs close, burying her head between her knees before she started crying. Just a few moments ago, she could smell the smoke. She could feel the heat. She could clearly see that terrifying, faceless wraith standing right next to her in gruesome detail. But worst of all, she remembered the pain. She could feel her entire body being set on fire, searing and burning her alive. “I felt like I was dying...” She whimpered. “I-I felt like...” As Sunset blinked a few tears out of her eyes, something in her peripheral vision caught her attention. Turning her head up and to the left, she could see a sort of black outline above the headboard of her bed. She swallowed, leaning forward towards her nightstand and clicking the light on with a shaky hand. (GASP...!) She scrambled back on her hands and backside, eventually ramming into her dresser. Etched all across the wall in giant letters was a single, messy word, charred and black as if it were burned into the wood. UNFAIR Sunset put her hand over her mouth and started shaking like a leaf, unable to keep her composure any longer. She bolted out of her bedroom on all fours, jumped down the stairs, unlocked and threw open the front door with jittery hands, and ran.