Chapter Text
I've been having these weird thoughts lately, like is any of this for real, or not?
There was only darkness—warm and numbing. It wrapped around me like a blanket after a nightmare.
The air was stale and silent, and there was an invisible breeze that pushed through my hair. I was in motion, heading downwards towards something unknown. My brain failed to relay any feeling other than calm, which left me in a state of eerie serenity just before a heavyweight pressed against my chest and my eyes burst open.
They were the color of the water that surrounded me and forced its way into my mouth and nose. I plummeted deeper into its darkness, lulling off to the sound of a heartbeat echoing in my plugged ears. A pressure began to squeeze my head, and the sun shone above, warped by the water. I couldn't breathe.
Still, there was no fear—only peace as I sank into the depths.
Abruptly, I was jolted out of my fall, and found myself on solid ground. My red jumpsuit was dry, as were my one-size-too-big slip-ons. There was no shortness of breath or blurry vision or pounding heart—not one thing to indicate I was drowning mere seconds ago. I simply stood on a sandy beach on a sunny day.
In front of me, something glinted on the ocean, bright yet cold, and blinded me. Only when the brilliant light dimmed did my arm slowly drop from my face, and I spotted a boy in its place, standing knee-deep in the water. His back was towards me, and his silver hair blew in the wind. A smile instantly found its way onto my face, and I took a hurried step towards my friend.
My breath hitched as the sea began to recede, leaving behind only wet sand. The fear that was missing when I was drowning suddenly leaped into my throat as he turned with an alarmingly placid smile. The water pulled back into a massive tidal wave behind him, and I watched with sweaty palms as he extended a gloved hand.
Did he not see the wave? Move! Look out!
My voice refuses to work, and it was then I realized that the world around me had no sound. The gulls didn't caw, the waves didn't crash, and my name wasn't being called from across the water. With no chance to warn him, I took off sprinting, kicking up soundless sound. I ended up stumbling a few times across the sinking surface, but nothing was more important than reaching him. His still outstretched hand called me forward like a beacon, and like a magnet, mine reached out.
But it was too late.
Time seemed to slow itself as the giant wave crashed over us, slamming me backward. Gritting my teeth, I struggled to find my bearings and thrashed around, looking frantically for white hair though the bubbles. There was no way to even tell which way was up or down.
A flash of yellow stood out among the shades of blue, and I spotted the black crisscross straps over his chest. We locked eyes as he stood tall like an unmovable statue preserved at the bottom of the sea, carved from porcelain, his face etched with unworried features. The only difference I could discern were his eyes—turquoise hidden behind silver bangs that held an aggressive gleam in them, one that was haughtier than his usual thoughtful gaze. We were always competing against one another, but the way he was looking at me now was unsettling, cold and ridiculing, as if he knew that I was too weak to reach him and just wanted to prove it.
He then pushed his hand forward, offering it to me—challenging me—and my earlier thoughts were shoved to the back of my mind. I was strong enough! With everything I had, I fought against the intense current, and just when my fingers brushed against his, the water swept me away like a leaf in the wind. I wanted to call his name but had already lost sight of him.
When breaking through the surface, I gasped for unneeded air. My body wasn't responding as if I had just been tossed around in the ocean and swallowed gulps of saltwater. Instead, it felt like I had just gone for a relaxing evening swim under the now orange and purple sky. I easily shook the water from my hair until someone on shore caught my eye.
A red-haired girl, the same age as me, was leaning forward, bouncing on her heels while waving her hand to get my attention. The other hand was cupped around her mouth, echoing her non-existent words. Her lips moved as if she was saying my name, and that brought me slight comfort. I waved back then began to slosh through the water, using my arms to paddle forward as if the current would pull me away again.
Her round face scrunched up like she was laughing when I finally reached the shore, ankles still in the water. Tiredly, I sighed as my friend bowed down, hiding an inaudible giggle behind her hand. A happy breath escaped as I shook my head. Silently, the redhead lifted her gaze to the sky and gaped as sapphire eyes gleamed with curiosity and concern. One could almost see in the reflection of sparkles in them.
Tilting my head, I stood straighter and followed the line of sight to whatever fascinating thing had my friend mesmerized. Dozens of meteors fell on the way to the horizon, but among them was a shadowy figure. I could easily make out the familiar clothing and elbow-length hair that was flicking around closed eyes, but I knew they were ocean-colored because...it was me.
My mouth fell open in confusion as a sudden tingling of weightlessness surged through my bones. I scrambled to grab onto anything but was already falling hundreds of feet toward the ocean. The wind was whipping my hair, making it harder to see anything but sunset colors and wispy clouds. I reached out, but the sense of falling was replaced by the familiar pressure of water. The red-haired girl stood on the surface, her eyes wide as she desperately tried to reach through the ocean, but a large ripple erased her from sight.
What could I do except close my eyes and allow the abyss of darkness to take me? Deeper and deeper and deeper…
My body flipped over and landed without a noise, not even an exhalation of breath. So, I peeked open and saw nothing ordinary, just blackness with a glowing halo from above. There was nothing underneath, yet I was standing on something solid...
I tried to take a step, only for another light to blind me. Beneath my feet, the darkness ripped away as doves flew curiously upwards, and revealed a green circular stained-glass design. It was of a beautiful girl with ebony hair, pale skin, and blood-red lips, taking a bite of an apple. Seven small circles around her head held designs of unique men in them, some with beards and one with glasses, but all with pointed hats. There were even more circles along the outer edge of woodland creatures.
I looked around as the flock disappeared into the nothingness around the stained glass, and now I was truly alone.
"So much to do, so little time..." The owner of the soft voice was nowhere to be seen though the pitch duskiness. It didn't sound exactly near or far, but maybe as if their thoughts were entering my heart. "Take your time. Don't be afraid." It was a voice that I trusted. It enveloped me with a soothing and familiar power, and I felt safe. "The door is still shut. Now, step forward. Can you do it?"
My feet were heavy, but I managed to walk. Finally, there were sounds of my footsteps and of the chain that looped down from my belt against my right thigh. It was a relief, and I took a second to memorize the noises. After a moment, I stepped directly onto the center of the platform, standing on the woman's yellow dress, and looked up. Three pedestals appeared around me, each housing a particular item.
"Power sleeps within you." To my left was a black shield outlined in red with a matching red three-circle design traced in gold on the front. "If you give it form..." to the right appeared a green-handled staff with blue mouse ornament on the tip, "it will give you strength." Then, a sword appeared in front of me with a golden hilt and the mouse design on it as well. "Choose well."
Glancing around at the three weapons, I licked my lips and stared to the left. My body instinctually moved on top of the gray trapezoid base and grabbed the floating shield. It was lighter than it appeared, yet still thick and strong. It was the same length as the sword and the staff, with its edges sharpened.
"The power of the guardian. Kindness to aid friends. A shield to repel all."
"Yes," I answered, but no sound came out.
"Your path is set." The shield vanished in my hands with a sharp light. "Now, what will you give up in exchange?" I jumped off the pedestal as if on a set course, I hopped onto a different base and hesitantly grabbed hold of the sword. "The power of the warrior. Invincible courage. A sword of terrible destruction. You give up this power?"
"Yes."
"You've chosen the power of the guardian." The steel weapon vanished just like the shield had. "You've given up the power of the warrior."
The stands started to sink as I stumbled onto the stained glass before it shattered completely, and everything fell into the void. The second platform was shades of blue and purple, with a woman wearing a silver ballgown. The circles around her head had a carriage, a castle, and horses, while the tinier circles on the edge had two figures dancing and glass slippers. I landed softly on my feet before the shield appeared in my hand.
"You've gained the power to fight." I experimentally swung the weapon outwards in a wide motion. "All right! You've got it. Use this power to protect yourself and others." Movement caught my left eye, and I glanced over at a black form appearing on the woman's dress. Curious about the new two-dimensional creature, I leaned forward. "There will be times you have to fight." My eyes widened as four creatures rose from the glass, turning three-dimensional. "Keep your light burning strong."
They had round, spherical heads with glowing yellow eyes. Their heads twitched every second, swooshing the two antennae that sprouted from there. The four enemies approached, their short bodies shuddering as if excited about spotting prey. When I realized the prey was myself, I acted on impulse and lunged forward with my shield, smashing it against one of the enemies. It vanished and the others retreated, sinking back into the surface.
"Behind you!" I reacted to the voice and whipped around in time to block an attack. Surprisingly, the little creature was strong, and I stumbled back, but once regaining my footing, I swung the weapon to the side, destroying the lurking creature. The last two appeared, rising from their own shadows. Using the thick shield, I easily plowed through one of them but didn't get to the second before it sank into the glass, creating a black puddle.
I anxiously looked around as the stained glass became soaked in darkness. Like quicksand, I descended into what looked like thick purple liquid. Submerged, completely, drowning but not suffocating, I found myself able to move freely. I rubbed at my arms, trying to get rid of the dirty second skin latching on, but the darkness was stubborn like an itch that couldn't be reached.
My cerulean eyes blinked repeatedly and found myself lying on a brand-new stained glass. It was pink and white with some blue designs and three female silhouettes. A large, ornate door was on the other side, illuminating with an inviting aura, so I walked forward. It was translucent, but when I grasped the thick, curved handle, it became solid. It opened with a shining spotlight. I moved through, and when it cleared, there was an island. Three others were present with me: two boys and a girl.
"Hold on. The door won't open just yet." The voice continued while I looked around. These three teenagers seemed familiar, and yet I couldn't remember their names. A barrier inside my mind was blocking those memories as if they weren't the real ones and only copies—those who don't deserve names. "First, tell me more about yourself."
I approached the tallest boy who blocked the wooden ramp that led to the white, sandy beach next to the dock where we tied up our boats.
His orange-red hair was styled with an enormous coif, and he wore a pale-yellow tank top with white laces tipped with green and yellow beads. His baggy pants were short and closed halfway down his calves. Olive sandals were covered in sand from running around and playing with the large ball that he held under his arm.
He didn't speak, but somehow, I just felt what he was asking, "What do you want outta life?"
"To broaden my horizons," I told him with a little bit of thought behind it, because I wanted to be strong and go beyond even that but traveling and experiencing new things made that pale in comparison. The taller teen looked a bit unimpressed by my answer.
I walked over to a short boy with tan skin, blue eyes, and sandy hair who stood in the corner of the wooden structure. He wore an open, white-lined yellow shirt with short sleeves that exposed his chest. His navy pants had uneven legs while being held up by a black fanny pack belt.
"What are you afraid of?" He wondered.
"Being different." The younger boy seemed almost amused by my answer but said nothing else.
Lastly, was the girl who sat on a wooden railing in a yellow sundress, "What's most important to you?" She asked, her green eyes gleaming in wonder.
"Friendship," I answered, without hesitation. She seemed a bit disappointed that my answer wasn't something more interesting.
The soothing voice returned, "You want to broaden your horizons. You're afraid of being different. You want friendship. Your adventure begins at midday. Keep a steady pace and you'll come through fine." I neared the railing and looked out at connecting smaller island. "The day you will open the door is both far off and very near."
With a flicker of darkness, I was back on a stained-glass platform, only this one was colored amber with a woman wearing a purple gown in the center. Her eyes were shut, and she held a rose to her chest. Around her head were three fairies, and the rest of the stained-glass floor was covered in thorns and roses.
A swarm of those shadow creatures encircled me, and though I tried fighting them off, they just kept coming. A path of rainbow glass led somewhere aloft, and I didn't wait for another second to run up. The creatures didn't follow, and I breathed out in relief, shaking my cramped arm. He would scold me if he knew, saying I needed more training, which would make me want one of her magic massages. I couldn't help but chuckle at both these thoughts before making it to the next platform and finally taking the chance to breathe.
"The closer you get to the light, the greater your shadow becomes." I glanced behind and watched as my shadow arose from the new yellow surface and morphed into a massive, muscular beast of darkness. I kept taking steps backward as its short legs formed, its thin, curled feet landing on the glass. "But don't be afraid."
How could I not? My chest rose and fell as I watched with wide dread-filled eyes at the molded monster. Its arms were quite long, and it had two relatively small, twisted wings on its back. There was a large, heart-shaped hole in its chest that penetrated straight through from the front to the back. Its head was covered in dozens of twining tendrils, which added to its intimidating height.
"And don't forget..."
I shook my head and spun around, tripping over my feet as I ran. But there was nowhere to escape. I caught myself just in time, teetering on the edge of the glass, staring down at the deep chasm of shadow. Swallowing my fear, I turn to face the monster, locking eyes with its eerie glowing ones just as the shield appears in my hand. This would defend me, and that meant I was safe.
Crouching and gripping my weapon tightly, I took a deep, calming breath and used the shield to crash into the solid beast's hand since that was the only part I could reach. The monster's movements were slow and basic, giving me the perfect advantage of being much smaller. After a few more hits, it disappeared, but I didn't have the time to be confused as the monster's fist came smashing down, narrowly missing me. The power behind it shook the glass, and I fell, watching the creature grasp at nothing and shrink down into the platform.
A dark void appears under me, dripping off the monster, and I begin to sink.
"But don't be afraid." The voice repeated, but it was getting harder to understand as the darkness started to wrap around my legs. "You hold the mightiest weapon of all." I turned onto my stomach and try reaching for the yellow glass, desperate to grab something that could save me, though my arms weren't long enough, and the darkness swirled around them, too. "So, don't forget…" I roll onto my back again and try my hardest not to be frightened as the darkness crowds my vision and suffocates me. "You are the one who will open the door."
I was devoured.