[ WP ] '' Welcome to Nexus , the city between ''

Niamh stares at the man greeting her before lifting her gaze to the city once again. Multiple moons hang in the sky, the light of a sun much further away than the one she ’ s used to seeing in the sky. 
 
 “ Oh, you ’ re here. ” The man ’ s expression has become much less light. “ This must be very confusing. ” 
 
 “ What do you mean? Between? And what does ‘ you ’ re here ’ mean? ” Niamh demands of him. 
 
 “ Oh darling. I ’ m so sorry. ” He comes up closer to her, moving slowly as if not to startle her. “ Look, you can take a sit over in the park and I ’ ll bring you a drink. ” 
 
 Niamh shakes her head, glancing up at the sky again. A meteor shower passes by overhead. The man clears his throat to draw her attention back to him. 
 
 “ I ’ m Vicente. ” 
 
 “ N—Niamh. ” Looking closer, she ’ s not certain that she ’ d actually call him a man. His ears taper, his skin is a shade of grey that would look unhealthy on any normal human, and his teeth certainly don ’ t look normal. “ Where am I? ” 
 
 “ Nexus, the city between. ” 
 
 “ B—Between what? ” Niamh glances up at the dazzling skyscrapers and buildings that have no business existing save that she looks at them right now. 
 
 “ Just Between. ” Vicente gives a soft, gentle smile. It ’ s oddly calmly despite his sharply pointed teeth. “ Between here and there, between dreams and reality, between life and death. ” 
 
 Niamh shudders at the last statement. “ Am I dead? ” she questions, her voice barely above a whisper. Vicente gives her a very sad smile. 
 
 “ Probably. On the cusp of dying I ’ m sure. ” Vicente shakes his head. “ Most don ’ t stay here long. A few minutes here and there at max. ” 
 
 “ I—I ’ ll take that drink. ” Niamh shivers a bit more. “ Is it warm? ” 
 
 “ I ’ ll get a hot chocolate. Unless you don ’ t like chocolate. ” Vicente eyes Niamh curiously. 
 
 “ I like chocolate. ” Niamh ’ s voice is still quiet as she speaks. 
 
 “ Here, here, take a seat. ” Vicente guides her to a seat nearby. “ I ’ ll be right back. ” 
 
 The bench appears to be in a park, but she ’ s never seen such trees and flowers before. Some give off a bioluminescent glow, waving in gentle breezes while others appear similar to plants that she ’ s seen before. With the unnatural light shining from above, it all looks alien to her. Niamh shivers in the chill. She ’ s wearing little in the way of clothing, a tank top and shorts. Trying desperately to recall what happened last, she continues to scan the area as she thinks. It ’ s all a blur though, feeling like a hazy dream. 
 
 One thing is for certain though, it feels wrong, as if she shouldn ’ t be here. 
 
 Shutting her eyes, she trembles, attempting to calm herself down from the edge of sobs. All she wants is to be back home. The idea that she might never see home again is even more terrifying. Niamh curls up on the bench, her arms tight around her legs. 
 
 “ Niamh. Here, here. ” 
 
 Looking up, eyes watery, she finds Vicente holding out a steaming cup towards her. There ’ s a few extra people hovering nearby, none of which really look human. She takes the cup, sipping at it as she trembles in fright and cold. It ’ s bitter chocolate, strong with no sugar added. Nevertheless, she continues to sip at the drink even as a couple tears roll down her face. 
 
 “ Is that better? ” Vicente questions. 
 
 “ Vicente, Vicente! ” A female voice calls out, Vicente turning to face towards it. It ’ s one of the people close by, most of them hanging back from where Niamh and Vicente are. 
 
 “ One second. ” Vicente hurries away and there ’ s quiet discussion as Niamh sips her drink, the warmth spreading throughout her body. Vicente returns with a warm jacket, offering it to Niamh and settling it in around her shoulders. “ Here you go. ” 
 
 “ T—Thank you. ” Niamh ’ s voice is still quiet. Vicente kneels in front of her, nodding. 
 
 “ It ’ ll be okay. ” He offers her another calming smile. 
 
 Niamh finally feels well enough to tearfully return it. Maybe it wouldn ’ t be so bad. 
 
 *** 
 ^ ( *You can check out more of my stuff at /r/Syraphia* )
