Chapter 1.1: (unfamiliar surrounding)
My name is Nathaniel Emberworth Wyndham, a simple 19-year-old fellow with unruly dark hair that often shields, my dark eyes. Standing at an average height, I easily blend into the bustling streets of the city that I reluctantly call home.
In this vast city, I live in a small, modest yet cheap apartment. Days melt into nights as I split my time between college assignments and odd jobs that barely keep the lights on. Friends are a rarity in my life, but I find it comfortable in the silence that surrounds me. It is in this solitude that I thrive, finding comfort in the pages of books and the soft whispers of the wind during my aimless strolls in the nearby park.
But then suddenly my usually peaceful life took a surprising twist as I found myself in a confusing and challenging situation.
"I can't believe this is happening. I can't see anything at all. Is this what it's like to be in darkness? Or maybe I'm just in shock from a sudden jolt. Maybe I'm not really seeing anything at all. Am I even alive? I could be in a dream...or in a nightmare."
But then again, I can't shake this feeling of unease. "It's like I'm floating in nothingness. Is this what it's like to be dead? Is there anyone else here with me? Hello? Can anyone hear me!?."
No matter how many times I called out for help, my pleas were devoured by the emptiness that surrounded me. It was a place of solitude, a realm where only my presence seemed to exist.
"Am I dreaming or have I died?" In this place of nothingness, I don't know whether I am in a dream or in the afterlife.
then like a flicker of hope in the darkness, a small pixel of white and gray emerged at the corner of my vision. It danced towards me with a delicate grace, casting ripples of color and light that illuminated the bleak landscape. The once monochromatic emptiness was transformed into a vibrant mosaic of hues and patterns.
The air seemed to shimmer with a dreamlike quality, as if reality itself was bending and shifting in response to the pixel's presence. The pixel moved with a mesmerizing allure, like a living artwork before my eyes.
As I watched in awe, I realized that I wasn't just floating aimlessly in this surreal place—I was like falling slowly deeper in a deep water. Everything i see is composed of intricate pixel dots even the ground, as I slowly fall to the ground. a mysterious force gently halted my descent, leaving me floating in a sea of pixelated light and color.
Then, after a brief weightless moment of floating in mid-air about 40 feet from the ground, I thought I was safe from falling, but once again I began to fall but faster.
"Argggh!!! I'm gonna fall!!!," I exclaimed, shutting my eyes in anticipation of pain. To my surprise, however, I felt nothing as my feet slowly hit the solid ground in that strange place.
As I stand in that strange place the notion that I might be in the midst of a dream lingers in my mind as I search for clues that will confirm my current reality. As I reflect on my surroundings and ponder the possibility of dreaming, I can't help but feel a sense of intrigue and curiosity. Where am I? Am I really here, or am I simply lost in dream?
But The pixelated world around me felt too vivid, too tangible to be just a dream. I could talk and move with complete clarity, a sensation that assured me that this was no mere figment of my imagination. As I gazed at the swirling patterns and vibrant colors, a mix of wonder and unease crept over me.
I glance upward, craning my neck to take in my surroundings, and a perplexed expression crosses my face, "It appears that there is nothing to see but this pixelated landscape that surrounds me."
As I stood there a deafening, ear-shattering noise ripped through the tranquility.
BOOM!!!!! SCREEEECHHHHH!!!!!
It was as if a cacophony of crashing thunder and screeching metal had been unleashed right inside my head. It was so jarring and unexpected, my heart racing and my mind reeling.
"What's happening here...!!?" I thought to myself while confused of what is happening.
Then I found myself, unable to make a sound or move my body. Panic began to rise within me as I struggled to comprehend what was happening. I attempted to scream, but my mouth remained closed. I reached out to move, but my arms and legs felt as if they were weighed down by an invisible force.
"How long has that noise been going on? Will it ever stop!?" I thought, feeling confused and afraid and add. "How much longer do I have to endure this!?"
I patiently waited for the loud noise to come to an end.
But the constant noise has been started to grow louder and louder, to the point where it feels like my head is on the verge of exploding. It's overwhelming and feels like it's taking over, making it hard to focus or even think clearly. Each second it's getting stronger and harder to cope with, and I just don't know how much longer I can take it.
when I attempted to speak for the second time.
I noticed there were still a few lingering voices in my throat,
"Aaaaah... I can't take it anymore. Please, make..... it stop. My..head it hurts" i said with a weak trembling voice, gasping for air.
Blood started to trickle from my nose, eyes, ears, and even my mouth. I felt a sharp pain in my head and my vision started to blur. Breathing became difficult and I felt dizzy and disoriented. The sound that surrounded me seemed to pierce through my skull, making it hard to think or even move. I knew I was alone in this dream/place, i couldn't understand what was happening to me, it was terrifying. Each moment felt like an eternity as I struggled to find a way out in this place.
I collapsed to the ground, my body shaking. My heart was pounding violently in my chest, and I struggled to catch my breath. Slowly, tried to pushed myself up from the pixel floor but my arm still didn't move then i tried to open my bleeding eyes.
Through the haze of pain and confusion, I saw a bright white light that seemed to radiate from the edges of my vision.
As I blinked and struggled to focus, the white light seemed to grow brighter and more intense, filling my vision until it was all I could see. I felt a strange sense of calm wash over me, despite the loud sound and pain. It was as though the light was pulling me in, drawing me closer with its ethereal/surreal glow.
blood keep seeping from my eyes, ears, mouth and nose nonstop, i realized how truly trapped I was. My limbs refused to obey me, leaving me with only my neck and chin to propel me forward towards that blinding beacon of hope. Gritting my teeth against the agony, I forced myself to crawl, each movement tearing at my flesh and skin.
With every inch gained, the pain intensified. My chin was soon a mess of blood and torn skin, my jaw feeling as though it might dislocate with each torturous inch forward. The taste of iron filled my mouth as my teeth began to splinter under the strain.
Minutes crept by, each moment an eternity of suffering. But at last, as my body screamed for mercy, i finally reached the source of the light.
A mysterious towering figure emerged, cloaked in a suit. He stood at an imposing height, casting a shadow that seemed to stretch endlessly before him. The fabric of his suit shimmered and shifted in mesmerizing iridescence, as if woven from threads of ethereal dark lights that danced and flickered with every movement he made. And The intricate detail of the suit he was wearing seems to have a hidden mysteries and secrets.
He Approached me with deliberate steps, he exuded a weird and mysterious aura that sent a chill to my whole body, The mysterious suit clung to his massive frame, yet it was his face that truly unsettled me. A veil of constantly shifting pixels obscured in his face, creating a disorienting barrier that made it impossible to discern his true identity.
As he knelt before me, his shadow started to stretch in the ground where I was laying, I supposed to be looking away but I couldn't tear my eyes away from him. Those obscured eyes, hidden behind the Vail of constantly shifting pixels, it seemed to pierce through me, as if it was staring the depths of my very soul with each passing moment.
Then it that moment of utter despair, The mysterious figure, extended his hand towards me. With no other options, I tried to reach out but failed my arms wouldn't move. Then the mysterious figure grasped my hand, pulling me towards the light.
His touch was weird/creepy cold—ice cold.
I gasped. My vision blurred. The world around me flickered, breaking apart like pixels on a dying screen.
After struggling so much to rouse myself from the depths of the dream, desperate to escape its clutches.
I finally starting to woke up with my eyes half open and realized my surroundings were dark. I thought I was in my room and had turned off the light before falling asleep. I closed my eyes again and whispered to myself, "So it was all just a dream..."
Then I hear a drop of water dripping, and I think to myself, "Did I forget to turn off the sink completely? Or is the tape I used leaking again? Forget it, I'll fix it tomorrow." As I move my head, I feel something cold and gritty, like dirt. "What's this now? Why is the floor where I slept dirty..... Cold, and wet? Why am I once again sleeping on the floor? Oh, right, my bed is soaked from yesterday's rain that hasn't dried yet." Then, the memory of being in a bad situation in a classroom hits me.
"Wait a minute, ain't this too wet like a small puddle... Don't tell me I pee?!!!!!, but it doesn't smell like pee at all, then Where am I? If Not in my room or classroom... Does that mean I am still dreaming?" I pondered with my eyes closed.
Then a cold drop of water fell on my face.
Pling!!!
As the drop of water descends, I can feel a slight chill in the air. Suddenly, it makes contact with my skin—a sharp, brief sensation that wakes me up. The coldness radiates outwards, sending a small shiver through me. The sound is subtle but distinct, a soft plink as the droplet breaks away and splashes. I can almost hear the tiny ripples echoing in the stillness.
I abruptly opened my eyes, and found my self. completely drenched and I have no idea why. And on top of that, I am also completely naked. I mean, seriously, what on earth could have happened? How did I end up in this situation? It's absolutely bizarre and I am definitely not amused. Like, where are my clothes? And how did I get here in the first place?
I moved my right arm to push my self from the ground and felt the earthy texture of the soil beneath my fingers.
As I look down at my arm, I notice a bit of dirt still clinging to them, along with the earthy smell of my surroundings.
My heart began to pound rapidly, as if it were trying to break free from my chest
"Stay calm, panicking won't help right now. I need to gather my thoughts" I said and began to observe my surrounding.
I raised my head, Beneath me is a ceiling adorned with crystalline stalactites, my form rests supine. Amidst the cool embrace of the subterranean stream, my limbs and torso immerse in a shallow pool of pure, subterranean water
my eyes darting from side to side as I tried to make sense of my surroundings. I instinctively reached up to hold my head, feeling the pressure of the moment weighing down on me as I took in the scene before me
I slowly stood up and took three slow steps forward before pausing.
my feet slipping on the damp ground. The air was thick and humid, heavy with the scent of damp earth.
I reached out my hand to the nearest wall and felt nothing but cold, wet stone. The echo of my own footsteps bounced off the walls.
after observing my surrounding, I took a deep breath and let out a long sigh. I couldn't quite pinpoint the reason behind it was it due to my overwhelming sense of gratitude for being alive, or was it perhaps a result of my frustration at being in such a situation?
Or because I don't have any clothes on and my D is just hanging out like, "Hey, how's it going?" Lmao XD
"so I'm inside of a Cave?..." I said while scratching my head
I started to walk hoping to find the exit, and carefully ran my fingertips along the walls
It's quite challenging to get a good grip on the moss-covered cave wall. So I carefully ventured inside the cave
Time has already passed
And I'm frustrated and annoyed after slipping and hitting my head on the floor multiple times due to poor lighting
"F**k!!" I said with an angry tone, I am experiencing a lot of pain from all the sharp rocks on the ground and walls, and it's also quite dangerous because the rocks are covered in slippery moss.
I'm really confused right now because I somehow ended up inside of a cave. I don't know how I got here, and it's really puzzling me. I'm just trying to figure out what could have led me to end up in this cave. It's all just really strange and mysterious. I just can't seem to wrap my head around how this happened.
"Out of possible places why would I ended up inside of a cave, I would accept it if it's in a Forrest or on top of a mountain but whyyyy! Inside of a cave!!!!"
As I ventured deeper into the foreboding darkness of the cave, a distant murmur reached my ears, gradually growing loader and more distinct, with each step, the rhythmic sound of a flowing water reached a crescendo. Excitement coursed through me as I anticipated what lay ahead.
After walking for about 18 minutes....
Finally I have arrived where the sound of water coming from, the River have a crystal clear water, it's water color were a myriad of blues and greens, so vibrant that it was as if nature itself had painted its masterpiece here.
The river has two sides. On one side, the water flows smoothly. On the other side, it looks difficult to access as the narrow hole from where the water emerges is blocked by a cave rocks.
"But the water here appears to be safe, as stagnant water in caves can contain a high amount of harmful bacteria. In contrast, flowing water, which constantly changes and moves, carries a lower risk of causing sickness. Stagnant water in caves can harbor various types of harmful bacteria that must be eliminated through boiling or purification before drinking."
I eagerly approached the river, indulging myself in a thirst-quenching drink and rejuvenating face wash.
"That hits the spot!"
As I washed my face I gazed out at the river, it's flowing steadily southward,
"I'm not even sure what this is... maybe an underground river, maybe an artesian spring. I don't really know, and honestly, it doesn't matter."
then suddenly, a great Idea pops into my head
"If I follow the flow of this river, it might lead me to the exit."
As I walked, a glimmer of light in the distance caught my eye, and I quickened my pace to reach it.
'"I see a light! Maybe it's the exit!" I said excitedly as I hurried towards it. And when I arrived...