EDITION 8 — "THE FORGOTTEN VERSION"
Darkness.
Nothing but darkness.
The Council Hall had fallen silent.
The Writer stood frozen.
Barbaric Author gripped his axe.
Futuristic Author's machines had completely shut down.
Even Nemesis, who had never shown fear before, took a step backward.
Behind the shattered doors stood a shadow.
No face.
No voice.
Only countless glowing eyes.
---
The Writer whispered:
"Who is that?"
Nemesis lowered his head.
"The one we forgot."
---
Thousands of years ago, before the other versions existed, there was another version of the Author.
A version that nobody remembered.
A version that even the Writer erased.
His name had been removed.
His memories destroyed.
His existence hidden.
Because he was never born from sadness.
Never born from anger.
Never born from loneliness.
He was born from something far worse.
Fear.
---
The Reader watched as the shadow slowly walked into the Council Hall.
Every step caused the floor to crack.
The lights disappeared.
The stars outside vanished.
Even time itself seemed to stop.
---
Barbaric Author attacked first.
His axe struck the creature.
Nothing happened.
Futuristic Author fired every weapon.
The lasers disappeared before touching it.
Redeemed Author tried speaking.
The shadow remained silent.
---
Nemesis stepped forward.
For the first time in his existence...
he was afraid.
---
Nemesis:
"I was created to protect him."
"But this one..."
"He was created to survive."
---
The shadow finally spoke.
Its voice echoed through every universe.
---
Unknown Version:
"When the Author was abandoned..."
"I was there."
"When he lost hope..."
"I was there."
"When he wanted everything to end..."
"I was there."
---
The Writer suddenly remembered.
His eyes widened.
"No..."
"It can't be you."
---
The shadow slowly turned toward him.
---
Unknown Version:
"You erased me."
"You locked me away."
"You pretended I never existed."
---
Memories began appearing around the Reader.
A child sitting alone.
A dark room.
Silent tears.
Nobody coming.
Nobody listening.
Nobody helping.
The child sat completely alone.
But behind him...
stood the shadow.
Watching.
Waiting.
Protecting.
---
The Writer fell to his knees.
"I did it because I was afraid."
The shadow answered:
"And I became fear itself."
---
Suddenly the Reader noticed something strange.
The shadow wasn't attacking anyone.
It wasn't destroying anything.
It was simply watching.
The same way it had watched the Author for years.
---
Nemesis spoke quietly.
"He is older than me."
"He is older than Tobi."
"He is the first version."
---
The Reader finally asked:
"What is your name?"
The shadow remained silent.
The Writer looked toward the Reader.
"He never had one."
"He existed before names."
---
The shadow looked at the Reader.
For the first time, its countless eyes became only two.
The voice became softer.
---
Unknown Version:
"I was forgotten."
"I was abandoned."
"But I never abandoned him."
---
The Council Hall began collapsing.
The Writer shouted:
"Everyone evacuate!"
Futuristic Author opened portals.
Barbaric Author carried the injured.
Redeemed Author helped the Reader.
Only the Writer remained.
Standing before the forgotten version.
---
Writer:
"What do you want?"
The shadow answered:
"I want him to remember."
---
Suddenly a gigantic door appeared behind the shadow.
The door was covered in chains.
Countless voices could be heard behind it.
Crying.
Screaming.
Whispering.
---
Nemesis stepped backward.
"What is behind that door?"
The forgotten version looked at him.
---
Unknown Version:
"The things even I fear."
---
The chains began breaking.
One.
Two.
Ten.
Hundreds.
The entire universe trembled.
The Writer grabbed the Reader.
"We have to leave NOW!"
As everyone escaped through the portals, the Reader looked back.
The forgotten version stood alone before the giant door.
Protecting everyone.
Just as he had protected the Author long ago.
---
Before the portal closed, he said only one sentence:
"Tell him..."
"I never hated him."
The door burst open.
Everything became white.
---
END OF EDITION 8
NEXT EDITION:
EDITION 9 — "THE DOOR OF MEMORIES"
"Some doors protect monsters. Others protect memories that should never return."