Kh… kh… cough
??: How much time has passed since I've been here?
No matter how hard he tried to think, he couldn't determine how much time had passed while he was in this place.
His memories were blurred; he couldn't even remember his name or his age, and some of his memories he couldn't recall no matter how hard he tried—like his childhood or why he came to this place.
??: ...….
If he had to describe this place,
one sentence would be enough.
??: A tunnel with no beginning and no end.
A long tunnel with no other paths except moving forward or backward.
It was a dark place; he couldn't recognize the shape of the tunnel or its path except by placing his hands on the walls and feeling them to find the way.
The walls were damp and cold, but their texture was inconsistent, as if there were drawings carved into them. Yet no matter how much he tried to feel them, he couldn't understand their meaning.
??: It seems I have to keep moving.
The only reason that made him continue wasn't because his heart was filled with hope or optimism.
On the contrary, his heart was filled with despair and emptiness. If he could kill himself, he would have ended his suffering long ago.
But there was a strange force preventing him from dying, as if it wanted him to stay alive, yet it didn't heal him—his body was full of wounds and scratches.
Every time he remembered how miserable his condition was, he couldn't help but laugh.
??: Haha
A laugh escaped him, one that carried despair, emptiness, and loneliness.
He laughed at himself, at his pitiful state—unable to remember who he was, who his parents were, or why he was in this strange place that wouldn't even allow him to kill himself or die in any other way.
Even though he hadn't eaten for a long time, he didn't feel hungry, even though his skin clung to his stomach from the lack of food inside his body.
??: Ah… my eyes
His eyes were blinded by swords of light that pierced them, appearing out of nowhere.
He placed his hand between his eyes to block the light until they adjusted, seeing a glow similar to a shining star.
??: Oh God… again??
But he didn't feel relief from that light; instead, he felt uneasy about it. Perhaps it was just another illusion from his mind, which had been filled with madness and loneliness.
He stumbled due to the weakness in his legs but supported his body against the cold tunnel wall and continued toward the light—step after step—until he finally arrived.
??: Cough cough… I finally made it here, but what is this place??
It seemed as if he had entered an ancient chamber filled with cobwebs everywhere.
The place looked like it was made of the same cold, stone material as the tunnel, but there was light coming from above, as if the sun was shining down on him.
In the middle of the place, there was a stone pedestal resembling gold, with strange engravings on it, and on top of it was a bag made of some strange leather, filled with blood that was dripping from it.
He tried to search around for an exit or anything useful, but unfortunately, he found nothing.
??: ...… it seems I have no other choice.
He carefully took the bag and waited for something to happen.
...….
Unknown: Oof
He felt relieved that nothing dangerous appeared.
He slowly and cautiously opened the bag.
With every moment he opened it, human features of a severed head inside began to appear.
But for some strange reason, he didn't feel fear—as if his body had abandoned all emotions except one that filled his heart.
A strong feeling he couldn't ignore.
He felt familiarity toward that severed head,
as if he had spent his entire life with this person.
Yet he didn't feel sorrow for it. Instead, he felt as if
it deserved this fate.
He slowly took the head out. It had black hair that could drown the entire world in darkness, reaching his ears, crimson eyes as if stained with blood, light olive skin, and dry lips as if it hadn't drunk water for years. Its facial features showed sadness, regret, and weakness.
??: Looks like he's fifteen years old.
The head was warm, as if it had just been cut. Blood was still flowing from its neck.
??: ........
He froze.
He stared at the head intensely, as if trying to remember something he had forgotten long ago.
......….
....
….
.
??: Oh… it's me.
No—it was an exact copy of his own head.
??: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH
When he noticed this strange resemblance, a severe headache struck him.
It felt as if his mind was trying to escape his body.
Fragments of memories appeared—memories he couldn't recognize,
unsure whether they even belonged to him.
Unknown: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH
As if his soul wanted to forget this cursed event.
He tried with all his strength to hold himself together, to cling to something,
but he felt his limbs growing cold, as if the blood no longer acknowledged his ownership of it.
Thud!!
His head slammed hard against the ground, and he began to lose consciousness. But before his awareness faded into darkness, he started hearing whispers.
??: .... Atabah
??: Don't forget… what… you promised us.
Atabah : Atabah ? (whispering)
Before he could think about the meaning of those words,
darkness swallowed him.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Whispers: Remember Whispers: You
Whispers: Wake up. Whispers : Remember
Whispers: You promised us
Whispers: Wake up Whispers: Oh, it's me
Whispers: Don't die Whispers: Shame
!!
Atabah : ....
He woke up from the illusions that haunted him, but he couldn't do anything, as if his body had abandoned him, leaving behind nothing but emptiness and void.