The place was completely empty.
No walls.
No ground.
No sky.
Nothing at all.
Just a vast white void—like a pristine canvas untouched by a painter's hand.
Then, suddenly, the silence shattered.
A black droplet appeared out of nowhere, like liquid ink suspended in the air. It wavered and drifted, as if searching for a form to settle into. After an indeterminate amount of time, it gathered itself and became a dark sphere.
Deep within it, something flickered.
A tiny spark of light—brilliant and vivid—shimmered with dazzling colors, breathing a sense of life into the emptiness. As time passed, the black sphere began to expand, growing larger and larger, like a balloon being inflated without end, determined to swallow the white void whole.
Yet the point of light remained still.
Calm.
Unmoving.
---
Inside a modest room containing nothing more than a bed in the corner and an old computer on a desk, a young man in his early twenties slowly opened his eyes.
He stared at the ceiling with a grim expression before muttering,
"Such a strange dream… it makes no sense."
Dragging himself out of bed, he shuffled toward the bathroom, washed his face, brushed his teeth, then headed to the kitchen. There, his grandmother was cooking eggs, humming a cheerful tune.
"Good morning, beautiful singer," he said casually, eyeing the cup of coffee waiting on the table.
He sat down, poured himself a cup, and took a sip with visible satisfaction. His grandmother turned toward him, smiling warmly, and placed a plate of eggs and cheese in front of him.
"Good morning, you lazy boy."
She sat across from him, lifted her own coffee, and sipped slowly before asking,
"So? What are you planning to do today? Go out, or stay glued to that ridiculous computer again?"
Ethan raised his head as he cut into the eggs with his fork.
"I don't know… maybe I'll take a walk along the beach."
His grandmother sighed, concern evident in her eyes.
"Ethan… I know you don't have many friends, but being alone for too long isn't healthy. You should try to make some."
He lowered his gaze to his plate and sighed softly.
"I know, Grandma. Don't worry… I'm still trying to adjust to what happened recently. Maybe I'll join a gym when autumn starts."
She smiled faintly and stood up to gather the dishes.
"Alright. Just don't spend too much time staring at a screen. Go out every now and then."
Ethan chuckled.
"Yes, ma'am."
---
He put on a black shirt, jeans, and a pair of sneakers, grabbed his wallet and phone, and left the house.
His gait was uneven—his left leg barely able to support his weight.
The sun was shining brightly, scattered clouds decorating the sky, while a gentle breeze passed by from time to time. Ethan inhaled deeply, feeling a small sense of relief.
He arrived at the bus stop just in time, boarded, and took a seat by the window. As the bus began to move, his thoughts drifted back to the strange dream.
"It felt so clear… yet so mysterious. That wasn't an ordinary dream. Should I look for a dream interpreter or something?"
He continued staring at the sky through the glass, lost in thought.
---
When he reached his stop, he stepped off with some difficulty and made his way toward the beach.
The sea was a clear, vibrant blue, gentle waves brushing against the sand. The scent of salt filled the air, soothing and refreshing.
Families had set up umbrellas. Children laughed and played. People ate and drank in a joyful atmosphere.
Ethan smiled as he watched them—yet a quiet sadness lingered in his eyes.
He stood in a short line at a small stand to buy a drink, scrolling through his phone, when he heard anxious voices nearby.
"W-What is that?!" "What's happening to the sea?!"
He looked up immediately.
The beautiful blue water was changing… turning a deep, blood-red color.
Murmurs spread rapidly as people rushed out of the sea and backed away. The waves slowed, then stopped completely—until the ocean lay still, like a vast pool of blood.
A heavy silence fell over the beach. Some people began gathering their belongings, preparing to leave.
Ethan stared in shock… then decided to leave as well.
But—
The sea suddenly trembled.
At its center, a massive whirlpool formed, spinning violently. From its depths emerged enormous tendrils, dark crimson in color—resembling raw flesh or blood vessels. They rose high into the air, writhing and twisting in a horrifying display that sent chills down the spine.
People screamed as chaos erupted.
Everyone ran.
Ethan froze in place.
"Damn it… I have to run!"
He tried to move, but his left leg failed him.
"Damn this leg—!"
Suddenly, something slick wrapped around his right leg.
He looked down in terror.
A tendril had grabbed him.
He fell onto the sand, struggling desperately to break free—but it was useless.
"This thing is too strong…!"
The tendril began dragging him rapidly toward the blood-red sea. He resisted with everything he had, but his body was pulled helplessly across the sand.
He screamed at the top of his lungs,
"Damn it! I can't get free! Please—someone help me!!"
But no one dared to approach.
They watched from a distance, faces pale and trembling.
Tears streamed down his face as he shouted,
"Please… don't leave me!"
His feet were submerged. More tendrils wrapped around his arms and other leg, tightening their grip.
And then—
The whirlpool swallowed him whole.
The sea slowly returned to its blue color.
The waves resumed their motion.
People stood frozen, unable to comprehend what had just happened.
Then, suddenly—
The world froze.
The scene distorted, like static on an old television screen… and then everything returned to normal.
Families were back in place.
Children were playing.
People were eating and laughing.
As if nothing had ever happened.
There was only one small difference.
One person… was gone.