"I- I can't do this anymore." Muttered a young man in his early 20's.
He was crouched down on hard barren ground, inside the single room cottage left by his deceased parents.
"Why did you guys have to leave me, I feel so empty." He wallowed in grief, struggling to keep his emotions in check. Tears slipping from his cheeks, down to the floor.
His mind reeled back to the earlier events, that'd transpired exactly 2 years back. Specifically on his 16th birthday. It was meant to be a day of celebration and new beginnings. But as always fate had decided to screw him of his big moment.
Yet still, he didn't care much, taking pleasure in the little things besides his parents. His father and mother were both travelers, from poor backgrounds.
Barely without any inheritance from either side of the family, left to scavenge crumbs from whatever they could find.
Their living condition were so bad they couldn't afford rent in the inner city. Forced out of the towering walls and enclosed safety, out into the dark forest. Crawling with things that would either kill you, or eat you alive.
"You should've just stayed in, and forget about the big job and payday. At least you both would've been alive, and we would be miserable together." A fake smile formed to his lips, reminiscing about the little times he shared with his family.
Raising his head, his eyes were a bit red from how long he'd been crying. The familiar view of his little house came in view, the only thing left for him.
There was barely much furniture or appliances here, even the walls had crack marks running along them. From the poor material used, and the constant advancement of predators.
It was a temporary fail safe but he didn't complain, for all he knew he was birthed in this small cottage. This was his home and safe haven, and that's all that mattered.
"There's no point in hesitating anymore, I have nothing." Broken and defeated, his eyes locked onto the small knife laying on the wooden desk in front.
The thought of ending his own life didn't seem bizarre anymore, but a better escape from reality. "At least we'll finally be together."
Maintaining his soft smile, his hand reached for the knife. Gripping the hilt tightly, the silverware casting his reflection.
Sniffing, he brought the knife up to his neck, placing the sharp edge horizontally to his throat.
'Swoosh! Swoosh~'
The air mostly fierce in this environment, had suddenly turned quiet. Like the forest itself was alive, watching his every move. A mocking and eerie pause that pushed his sanity, and dared him to end everything. The creaking of the rooftop swaying gently, further adding tension.
'Great. Even nature agrees I'm a waste product.' He rolled his eyes, clicking his tongue at the invisible camera in his head.
"I don't know if I'm actually communicating with someone or something out there." Aurelien spoke, his eyes void of the will to live.
"Or if I'm just running mad." He paused, a weak chuckle escaped his mouth. "But if there's a possibility a higher being or god is watching this right now. I want you to reincarnate me into a better world, and reunite me with my family."
That was all he asked, nothing big or fancy, just a normal life with his family. A single yearning wish he'd longed for, fantasizing about the warmth of being accepted.
Waiting, he'd hoped to receive a response back from the imaginary reality wrap stuck in his mind. 'Just a word, nothing much, just reply with anything.'
He hoped, crossing his fingers. But alas, nothing responded to his call, only the faint whispers of the wind. Mocking his weak predicament, and soon to be early demise.
"Just like I thought, no one wants me." Sighing, there was no point delaying the inevitable. Even if he somehow did have a change of heart and backed out now, chances of him dying were still incredibly high.
Alone in the dark forest with a crumbling apartment, filled with creatures born from things out of nightmares. His rate of survival was low without any experience in combat, or weapons to defend himself from harm's way.
It was a miracle how he'd survived for the past two years, rummaging on the little food items present in the house. Until he eventually ran out two days ago, leaving him starving and weaker.
Closing his eyes, his decision was already made. There was no point turning back now while he closed his eyes, the sharp stainless blade pressed against his throat. Drawing out a drop of fresh blood, the thin line appearing on his skin.
'It hurts.' The stinging sensation of pain assaulted his mind, like a jolt reminding him of his predicament. But he submitted to the pain, already dead inside.
"Goodbye world." Holding the knife tightly, he slashed furiously at his neck. The stainless steel running along his skin with precision.
"Huh? What happened?" Aurelien pondered waiting for the terrible agony, accompanied with cutting open his own flesh. Before he slowly bled to his death, writhing in sheer discomfort.
But none of that ever happened, infact there was no sensation he felt when he slashed the knife.
Opening his eyes, he brought the knife to his view. "Impossible ~" His throat caught watching in disbelief.
There wasn't any blood or stain on the knife, still intact like it was never used.
"Maybe I blacked out at the last second?" He thought, unsure what transpired during the last seconds before he slashed his throat.
There was a possibility his mind went into overdrive from the barrage of thoughts clouding his senses, creating a mirage of him slithing his own throat before he ever did.
"Let's try again." Placing the knife on his arm, he pressed the sharp edge to his skin. But unlike anything he'd expected, the steel was dull and harmless to his skin.
'You've got to be kidding me.' Trying again with much force, still nothing. He even went as far as continuously stabbing his arm with the tip, hoping for some sort of pain which never came.
"Useless!" He screamed on top his lungs, not caring if he attracted attention or not.
For years since he was birthed, the constant thought of being weak and useless plagued his mind. It just couldn't be helped, the desire for power and a good life was carved by every living being.
And an aspiring young man from a poor background was no exception.
"Wait.. could it actually mean I was right. T-there is someone out there watching me?" Aurelien body trembled at the realization of such positivity.
There was no other plausible explanation to justify this. His intentions to end his life was valid, but someone or something was clearly preventing that.
Bam!
An object collided into the cottage walls, shaking the room greatly. "Damnit. I was too loud, they must've heard me."
Aurelien cursed his luck. Just when things seemed to be taking a turn, karma decided to screw him of his turning luck.
"I can't die like this, not now when there's a shroud of hope." Picking up the knife, he headed over to the small fireplace. He has a slim frame which was quite pitiful for an eighteen year old, but he didn't mind.
Lacking the basic essentials and nutrients needed for developing children, since a young age.
Bam! Bam! Bam!
The collision outside got fiercer, rattling the whole house threatening to collapse under the force. Light derbies and dust submitted to the floor, along with some pieces of bricks.
'This isn't like them, why are they suddenly so aggressive?' Aurelien frowned, noticing a change of patterns in these predators movements.
Usually, they were savage creatures with terrifying strength and sense for one thing. Human flesh. There was no denying it, this was their environment and aurelien was basically courting death.
But he'd grown up in this forest alongside his parents, and were accustomed to the rules for survival. Always maintain a quiet state, was rule number 1. The most important of all.
"Quiet means death, and death means peace." He whispered repeatedly under his breath, controlling his ragged breathing.
Bam! Bam!
The relentless wrath of the beasts outside was absorbed by the cottage, temporarily shielding aurelien.
'Maybe I should just wait it out. They always leave after 2 minutes, but it's been more than that.' From the sounds of the rampage going on outside, he knew in his heart there was no signs of stopping in sight.
"I might actually have to leave here." He knew deep down, staying here was suicide in plain facts. And though he'd never been outside for the past 18 years, nor seen one of these creatures.
It was a fool's decision to remain here any longer.
"I'm sorry Mom and Dad." Placing the knife to his teeth, he clamped down hard with his teeth. Placing both hands to the chimney walls, supporting his body with his legs.
"So.. tired." Aurelien cursed his weak body, feeling the toll after just quarter way through. But he didn't stop, no he couldn't.
The weight of nothingness he felt compelled him to push further, to strive for survival. Along with the hope his parents might still be alive, and searching for him.