[Thank you, Caleb]
My skin crawled as the words rang sharp and clear in my mind.
I tried to turn, to see where the voice came from. But before I could move, the world tilted while my vision spun—
I was falling.
All I could do was brace my arms as I collided with the wooden floor.
*Thud*
'...Huh, wai— wah…'
Everything doubled as waves of drowsiness surged through me. My body trembled as I pushed myself up onto my elbows, eyelids drooping as I stared at the distant door.
"....Someone, please…help…me."
I rasped out a call for help, but it was no use. I was too weak. My voice was barely a whisper as I desperately crawled forward.
Yet even that was short lived.
*Thud*
I collapsed not long after. I tried my best to stay awake, but darkness crept at the edges of my vision.
The last thing I ever saw was my outstretched arm desperately reaching towards the door.
"...WHAT…YOU DONE…"
I awoke to a screaming voice, broken intermittently by the constant ringing in my ears.
The voice sounded muddled, as if whoever was speaking was underwater.
'What—Who?...'
"....YOU…FOOL…"
My mind flickered in and out of consciousness, everything was just a blip, a fragment going from one moment onto the next.
"....DO…ANY IDEA….WHAT…"
I couldn't move. My body felt weightless
'..Am I…Floating?'
I couldn't see clearly through my blurry vision. But there was this…red blob, faintly glowing in the distance.
'...A…Black hole?
"...INCOMPETENT…PIECE…"
I shouldn't have been able to recognize it. I couldn't even properly see it, I simply…felt it— as if the very idea of its existence was being announced to the world.
"ARRGHHH…"
Pain bloomed at the back of my head as an inhuman scream tore through the ringing of my ears. The ringing intensified until everything was just a static hum.
I felt myself being pulled to unconsciousness. I struggled to stay awake. My body felt weak. My mind Heavy.
But as my vision narrowed— a sharp sound reverberated from somewhere
*Ping*
'...wah—'
[Cease]
The world stopped for a moment as a voice cut through the static hum of my ears. Crisp and absolute.
But the moment was fleeting. All I could see was a flash of lilac that enveloped the red blob before—
Darkness.
My body jerked as I awoke, my mind was hazy, I coundn't remember anything.
A tingling sensation ran through me as my senses gradually came back to me.
'...it's cold, where…am I?'
My mind was jolted awake as I tumbled weightlessly through space and felt something obstruct my view.
'woah—huh?'
Raising an arm, I pushed it aside to get a better look at what it was. I flinched, feeling a sudden tugging sensation to my side.
I blinked as the world slowly came into focus. The first thing I saw was… a piece of white fabric.
'What the… my uniform?'
After a few moments of confusion, my gaze wandered back to my surroundings.
'...I'm in space?'
My vision was filled with chunks of rocks floating along with me, as far as my eyes could see. Their surfaces were shining, accentuating their jagged edges as golden light shone on them from behind me.
I winced. Sharp pain surged at the back of my head, memories of what happened flooded my mind.
*Hisss*
'...Voice…red...Black hole?...'
I couldn't comprehend most of the memories as they flashed one after another.
The pain came and went as I was left ruminating about what happened. Taking deep breaths I decided to take things one at a time.
'First off, lets see where this light is coming from'
I tumbled randomly for a few seconds, before I slowly orientated my body, enough so that I could just rotate my head to glance at the origins of the golden light.
'Lets see what—'
I was blinded momentarily when I raised my head. My hand instinctively raised to block the rays of light.
After blinking a couple of times, I waited until my vision adapted to the light's intensity. I could only see a bit of its apperance through the gaps between my fingers.
But from what little I could see. I was left breathless, my body slumped as I stared slack jawed at the distance.
There far off into the distance was an enormous geometric shape— a rhombus
It loomed over the horizon, its edges seemed to bend inwards, where a black sphere resided, its edges too were glowing an intense golden hue.
'...beautiful…but, I feel like I've seen that before.'
After a while of gawking, I glanced to the side and continued taking in my surroundings. Soon, it became clear to me that this place was utterly barren.
Apart from the rocks that floated around there was nothing here, nothing but—
Squinting my eyes I focused onto the distance where I saw three silhouettes.
I wanted to yell to get their attention. But stopped midway.
'What if they're hostile?'
I was perplexed on what to do next, but before I could do anything I saw two of them turn to my direction.
'...Damn'
I could barely make out their contours due to the bright light.
But from what I could gather. After both of them saw me, they turned to look at one another. Before simply…walking towards me, as if solid ground existed only for them alone.My stomach dropped as I thought of ways to escape. But after a few moments of thinking I decided to wait. I could neither run nor hide.
My head dropped as pain surged through my head, memories once again flashed into my mind, this time of something— Someone.
'...The Third Instance.'
I winced as I remembered that—that Thing.
'Did it send me? Why—'
*Tap*
*Tap*
*Tap*
My thoughts were cut short as I heard footsteps. My gaze snapped to the figure on the right. Recognition flashing instantly.
Four arms.
Black glossy skin.
Featureless Face.
I felt my heart drop, my body trembled while limbs instinctually flailed in an attempt to escape— Futile.
"AHHHHH"
I screamed as I tumbled in place.
*Tap*
*Tap*
*Tap*
My heart raced as I heard someone steped closer. I couldn't see them. The world was spinning as I continued to flail helplessly.
"HELP, PLEASE SOMEONE HEL—"
The words died in my mouth as I felt someone touch me. Everything stilled for a moment as I was suddenly grounded back to reality.
'...Huh?'
It took me a moment, but slowly I became aware of my surroundings. I seemed to have stopped tumbling. My head turned to the right, to see… a hand. Following it, my gaze stopped as it landed on someones face.
Silence reigned as I stared at it. At Her.
She took a step back, giving me space, and allowing me to see Her fully.
'...Broken'
That was the first thing that came to my mind when I took up their entire form. The proportions of their body suggest that they were female. But that's where the similarities end.
Cracks marred Her skin like weathered stone, She was missing a left arm and left leg along with a chunk of the left side of Her face.
Apart from the flowing black hair and crimson eyes Her face was almost bare, save for a rudimentary shape of what should be there.
Then slowly my head turned to the right. I flinched
That, Thing. Stood a few feet away, it waved at me before a thin slit opened where its mouth should, before smiling…the same one it gave me back at my apartment.
A shiver ran-down my spine as I quickly averted my gaze…back to Her
Unlike The Third Instance I felt…relaxed within Her presence.
Her crimson eyes looked dead as She stared at me, while I stared back.
'...If He is the Third, then Is She the Second? Or First Instance?'
I squinted. Vision narrowing as I focused on what was behind her. There in the distant, was the third figure they left behind.
'Then who's that?'
I was startled as She suddenly turned and raised Her partially broken right hand. She, too, stared at the distant figure before her raised hand clawed at the air.
The distant figure flew towards us at breakneck speeds, before quickly stopping in front of the woman's outstretched arm.
I gulped as I stared at it. The abnormal calmness that She exuded seemed to have dampened most of my sense . Because for all intents and purposes what she brought back…Was a withered corpse.
Its mouth was agape. Lips gone revealing yellow teeth.
Its eyes were nothing but hollow holes.
And what little skin was left clung tightly to bone.
I could still see strands of hair clinging desperately to parchment thin skin.
But as I continued to take in its appearance, I felt a sense of Deja vu.
A crop top over coat, grey shirt, and black pants.
'Again, I feel like I've seen him before.'
Golden light coalesced from the woman's outstretched palm, grabbing my attention. Then a fissure formed above the corpse's chest, She didn't hesitate as Her arm disappeared within the gaping maw.
Moments later She reeled Her arm back. The light intensified as I saw Her hold a glowing orb. She pulled harder as tendrils of light tenaciously clung to the orb.
*Snap*
*Snap*
*Snap*
One by one they snapped as She pulled the orb free. She stared at it for a moment before She glanced at me before turning to Him. Hands outstretched, offering the orb of light.
His smile grew wider, accepting before….staring at it. Moments passed then I watched as a purple glow slowly envelope the golden orb. Then retreating not long after.
He smiled throughout the entire process even as His gaze snapped towards me.
I wanted to say something but my chest tightened as I saw Him approach. I was frozen in place while I watched His arm reach out towards me, stopping just above my chest.
A fissure like the one from before opened above my chest and not a second later He plunged his hands inside along with the glowing Orb.My skin crawled as I felt something course through me, it was…indescribable as if my very being was slowly re-written.
It felt so…so wrong.
"Krrrshk"
"Snap"
"Crack"
I winced. Feeling uncomfortable. I felt my skin stretch. My bones cracked and were reshaped while my muscles writhe beneath my skin.
The sensation lasted seconds, but it felt like an eternity passed.
Still feeling the unnatural calmness I watched in silence as He pulled his arm out. The rift closed not long after.
Apart from being relaxed, I really didn't know what to feel.
'...what's even happening anymore?'
It seemed that whatever He was doing wasn't over yet. So I watched.
His open palm hovered above my chest. I saw Him guiding a glowing mass beneath my skin.
My body tingled as I felt it moving inside me. Like ants crawling up my blood vessels, the sensation slowly moved onto my shoulder and elbow, ending at my right hand.
It lingered there for a moment, Before He clasped my hand and brought it up in front of me.
The next few moments were nothing but awkward as I simply stared at Him.
He was too close and was still flashing that uncanny smile at me.
The crawling sensation faded as He released my hand, After which He placed his palm on my chest, and with a casual flick…I flung backwards
"—!"
I was startled. The world blurred as I was launched backwards.
I continued to soar until everything was just a speck in the distance. Everything…Except the Rhombus that loomed above all.
Its size never changed. Always Constant. Always there.
My gaze was drawn to it for some reason. But as moments passed, something began to change.
Slowly the world began to spiral, not metaphorically. Literally. The effect was slow at first, but everything began to swirl, faster and faster— Towards the sphere in the middle of the Rhombus. Until there was nothing but darkness.
Then strangely the darkness began to crumble as light entered my vision.
With a twist of my torso I turned to look at what was in front of me. What greeted me was a kaleidoscope of colors.
They twisted and spiraled towards the center of my vision. Sometimes flashing in negative colors as I flew past.
I felt nauseous as everything shifted, no longer blobs of colors, they thinned out into lines and slowly began to curve until I was surrounded by pulsing bands.
'...Sound waves?'
My eyes focused onto the center of my vision, It was slowly getting closer. My hand instinctively braced as I it quickly grew in size.
*Ting*
The back of my mind burned as time slowed to a crawl. I tried to move, but my body wouldn't respond.
'Wait'
Trying again, I realized that my body did respond. But just barely at a snail's pace.
Through this slow world I watched in fascination as my braced arm hit the growing circle in my vision.
It rippled as I made contact with it.
'What the—'
I was fascinated at the spectacle, as I watched myself being slowly consumed by something fluid.
It wasn't until the burning sensation began to fade, that I realized time slowly began to speed up
'Crap'
Without waiting another second I slowly opened my mouth and took a deep breath. I felt my lungs expand as cold air rushed down my throat. My mouth closed, just as time snapped back to normalcy.
*Floosh*
The sensation of wetness hit me first, then the sharp bite of the frigid water, before vertigo as the force of the crash stunned me for a moment.
After shaking my head I looked up. Light crept down from above, and without hesitation I began to swim upwards.
*Splash*
"EhHUUUU—Hhhhhaa"
I gasped as I broke through the water's surface.
By all rights. I should have been greeted by the line of light from before. But as I surfaced, what greeted me instead was…a sun.
*Hiss*
I raised an arm to shield my eyes from the blinding light.
Looking back down, I paused for a moment before I smacked my lips, Then lowered my head down on the water's surface.
*Sip*
I was dumbfounded after quenching my thirst, I expected this place to be the ocean.
'The water isn't salty, am I in a large lake?'
Looking around I was swimming in an endless body of water. I couldn't even see any signs of land. There was only the sun on the horizon.
I still felt emotionally numb as I looked up.
'That's weird…'
Now I'm not a meteorologist. But I know for a fact clouds formation happens far above the atmosphere.
The space above my head wasn't even tall enough to fit a two story house…so why were there clouds blanketing the sky above.
"Well isn't that—"
My witty retort was cut short as I felt a gravity shift. It was gradual at first, but suddenly my senses of up and down were reversed.
"YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!"
A scream tore through my throat, sounding more annoyed, than concerned.
*Wooosh*
The winds whistled past my ears, before my vision was consumed by the cloud formation…below?