There was a single chair at the head of the table. Its crystalline structure twinkled with the chandelier lights and its ruby velvet cushions invited her to take a seat. Marina lowered herself, pausing momentarily before sitting herself down. The feast before her could feed her and three armies. Before she knew it, her hands spooned heaps of food onto her plate, sometimes grabbing full plates and placing them in front of herself without a thought to take only enough for one. There was no break between bites, neither hands empty at any one time. The clock ticked on and Marina was insatiable. Plates remained full and glasses not once depleted. It was not until her mother’s voice chimed sweetly once again that Marina ceased her feasting to search for the source of these words.

“You must be quite weary from your journey, sugar bear.”

A bolt of electricity buzzed through Marina’s spine, jolting her mind awake from the trance she had seemed to be in. Sugar bear? Mama used to call me that all the time. Mama was the only one who called me that…until… Marina shook her head, but the echo of the words lingered.

“Sugar bear, please listen. Time is of the essence.”

No matter how hard she looked, squinted, closed her eyes and opened them wide, her mother was nowhere in sight. The voice was so real, so close. It didn’t sound like it was spoken from in front of her, but it was certainly not behind her. In fact, it was as if it was filling her head. And then, it spoke once more.

“This is the Tower of the Universe, and you are now God. Whatever you wish, you can make a reality. You must learn the rules if you choose to accept your new destiny.”