Descending from the sky. A distant blue light reflecting, glimmering down the path of endless ocean. Formless white particles bounced off the reflective liquid he stood upon, an illusion of the blue light. It was raised barely above a horizon, one that made this place seem endless, though he had been here before.
The blue light seemed to have been crashing through the swirling cosmos above, leaving behind a rippling consequence of its ascension to the sky, and parting the colours of the abyss to make way for its shimmering dominance. It was a great pillar of blue, compounded by white, almost like a gate in its invitation to move forward, closer.
He knew this place had an end, it's never an endless path, it has to end at some point somewhere. He was standing on calm rippling blue liquid, below him an abyss of black, barely illuminated by the faraway blue light, the liquid below him rippled in a circumference around where he stood. Once the ripples ended, all that was left was a coarse, tearing, and enraged ocean.
Each of its waves reached high into the sky, shaped like sloping cliff sides, each wave peaked sharply and slashed deep into itself once it finally descended back into the black abyss. All that could be heard was the endless choir of oceanic waves, falling droplets, and sweeping winds carrying the thin layer of smog which permeated from the swirling currents.
His skin was coated in a smoky mist, similar to that at the end of his previous dream, it layered him in a calming dampness, cold, but not careless.
A breath, the smoke pushed away from his face, dispersing into the strange purple, red and black which encompassed the sky in a constant encircling colouration, slowly intertwining into each colour with another. Step after step, he wanted to keep going, going, with each drop his foot onto the calm glass floor, surrounded by the furious ocean, it calmed to his weight and slowly he forged a path one step at a time.
A boat in the distance. It violently thrashed in the infuriated ocean current, as if it was attempting to tear it apart, despising its existence. As he came closer, closer, with his eye he could see a black figure sitting upon it, blending in with the dark spread of the sky above it. As if it was waiting to die, the figure didn’t move nor did it seem distressed at the circumstance, it was waiting, waiting, for him to finally arrive.
With each step the water calmed, its anger, distress, and hatred exorcised from it as he came closer to the boat. Soon had come close enough for the water to finally cease its endless torment of the small fishing boat, it was oar-less, sail-less, and lacked any form of actual movement.
The black figure sitting inside had left a generous amount of space for him; however, the figure was no stranger; it beckoned him to come forward, to join it in the raft. His eye blinked at the sight, but the figure persisted, insisted that he would come, and so he did. Compared to the previous iteration figure he had spoken to, this one was different, it now saw no need to hide its visage or its truth.
The gift remained wrapped around the figure as worn, scratched, and patchy as it were the first time he’d seen it, though better fitting for his stature. The once childlike figure was now a taller man, the figure's skin was anemic as if it lacked blood or heat, and was covered in scars, patches, burns and old dark bruising. The figure's hair was sweaty, dishevelled, and short with it being a worn grey with black highlights unevenly distributed throughout. The figure had a beard, with similar colouration to his hair, if not slightly darker in its grey. The figure form did not seem withered, his physique seemed perfect, besides for the damage of the skin, a near perfect corpse.
Aaron finally joined the figure on the opposite side of the raft, and he was the epitome of confused understanding. It was then Aaron saw his eyes, inverted, it held a glaze of ethereal white surrounded by a dull inky black, a strange sight though not startling. He had known of the figure's intention of being here, and understood his purpose. However, in the end he didn’t understand the figures' existence, the one thing he couldn’t seem to find the truth for. It was then the figure would finally speak in a rough, deep, croaky voice.
“What a world. Wouldn’t you agree?” It questioned Aaron, for once he wasn’t asking them, though it was one that Aaron couldn’t answer. The figure spoke again, its voice holding a false intrigue, “You should know, after all, you made it.” He told Aaron with a conviction which was surprising for a man who sat, spoke, and looked like he did. “I see,” the figure began, it held its sentence for a moment expecting Aaron to speak, though in his confusion he didn’t. So the figure's shoulders rolled, and he would continue again.
“You know exactly what I’m going to say to you, and you want to hear it with your own ears. I hate this World, but don’t take it so seriously… Your confusion is artificial, created by the circle you’ve drawn in your own mind. You are me, but I am not you. When one's pathway, or their desire shifts, the greatest of me can create something new for themselves. That is why this World is falling apart, that is why you can see me.” The Figure paused for a few moments, a sweat slowly dripping down his head before meekly falling onto the boat, and with the calming of the surrounding water it was audible in its impact.
“Then who are you? Where am I? Why are we here?” Aaron desperately questions, he wanted simplicity, though he subconsciously knew that wish wouldn’t be granted.
“I am but A Concept. No name is needed as I am no longer present for it to matter, besides maybe for your own intrigue, but you’ve asked a question even I do not truly know.” The figure depressively answered before staring into the endless water surrounding them, “You Aaron, were A Dream. But now, now you’re A Truth. You have always seen your mind with such clarity, and threw it away for something more. You are not too different another one of me.” The figure’s eyes rolled in mild amusement, but he would nonchalantly begin gazing again.
“You are here, because you need to understand what you are. I am here to tell you, to find A Truth… The Truth of the earth, heavens, and whatever may lay above or below them both. I cannot wait to know, but I am too late to be.. There?.” The figures' words were seemingly encouraging, though vague and meaningless to Aaron. The figure would continue on, “Your next question will sadly be your last, this place will not remain much longer.” The figure finally finished, and sat there patiently, staring endlessly into the void above them, waiting for Aaron to speak again.
“Where do I start?” Aaron asked, which rose a sickly chuckle from the figure before he then turned from the sky, his inhuman glare laid upon Aaron again.
“You are already there Aaron. Gracefully directed as well no less, but you must be careful. This world is plagued with me, you, and others. Your dance with truth and death only lasts as long as others want it to. Had it been up to A Desire, or A Retribution, you would have died the moment you had fallen on your face back at that… Pit.” The figure sluggishly concluded. Though Aaron knew what he told he couldn’t help by demanding an answer to another question.
“‘A Retribution’? Is that a person?” Aaron curiously questioned the figure, the figure was silent for a moment, before a sly smile grew on his cracked lips.
“Don’t be A Glutton, after all he is already dead. We’ll meet again, I always do.” The figure reassuringly concluded. It was then the blue light ceased its illumination, and the world was left dark. An unforeseeable and instantaneous event. A calm dark, a peaceful dark, a long dark.
–
Heat, a feeling which can be as careless as it can be comforting. In his resting place Aaron would be struck by a heat which had no known purpose. The eye opened, he was greeted by a roof of smooth, dull fabric which dipped from the centre point where the structure was held and yet he felt safer than ever before.
His body was lighter than it was before, a weight had been lifted off of him, a weight which was not visible to even him. Although Aaron still had much to do, much to see, and much to learn.
Standing beside him where he lay was Max, in his hands held a strange spherical clump of fluorescent light. Its shine let off a thousand colours, each one fantastical, magnificent, and he seemed to believe so himself the way he stared into it with his eyes shooting off the light of the ball of beauty he held at his fingertips.
However, he would notice Aaron’s eye was upon him, and the form's warmth ceased as did its light, it dispelled into a pitiful flash of white hues. After which nothing remained of it, and then without warning for the first time Aaron would hear Max speak.
“You are so colourful.” Max remarked, with a curious fascination in his voice. Aaron had expected someone of his age to sound so unreserved, though it still managed to surprise him as they hadn’t properly interacted beforehand, Aaron in response squinted at Max.
“He was colourful?” Aaron thought, a captivating question. He attempted to sit up only to be stopped by Max’s hand preventing his chest from moving further forward.
“No, no, no, you’re not allowed to get up. Kira said so.” Max revealed to Aaron, waggling his finger as he spoke. To satisfy Max’s perceived responsibility he would decide to stay down on the rough fabric he was laid out on.
Aaron would decide to humour Max’s words, “Why’s that?” Aaron would ask Max. As a response Max would begin to look to the sky with his hand on his chin. Aaron could clearly see that Max wasn’t given an actual excuse by Kira, so he simply decided to talk to Max.
“What colours am I Max?” Aaron would question. As expected Max’s eyes would light up in renewed excitement.
“You’re purple, red, blue, green, and so, so much more!” Max would exclaim to him, with such elation that Aaron could only admire. “And, and you used to be so white, and grey. It’s amazing!” Max clarified, though it was information that didn’t hold much actual value to Aaron unfortunately. Aaron, intrigued, would decide to pursue an answer further from Max.
“How can you see that then?” Aaron questioned, his face captured in curiosity to encourage Max further. Max would point at one of his eyes before he began again.
If you come across this story on Amazon, it's taken without permission from the author. Report it.
“It’s my eyes. Kira says my eyes see what no one else can. Isn’t that cool? All the lights in the sky they go… Everywhere!” Max paused at the last moment of his disorderly explanation. As if a machine given a new battery Max suddenly started again. “When people get angry, sad, or happy they change colours. They go red, blue, yellow and pink. I don’t know what pink means though!” Max babbled, seemingly to have wanted to talk about this for some time. Though it didn’t matter much to Aaron, except his attention was caught truly, by what Max would tell him next.
“The only other one, who was grey, was a kid who had cool eyes like me. Everywhere he went these weird black splotches would appear.” Max would then crouch down getting closer to Aarons level, “I think he was killing people, but he was so nice.” Max whispered, he then exploded upward lifting his chin, “Kira got real upset, and me and Jason and a load of others had to run away from him. Kira said he was dangerous, like the other bad people.” Max explained, with increased volume.
Aaron assumed that these events took place when he had collapsed, which he also presumed was probably from blood-loss. Max would then stand up again raising his arms up in a confused manner.
“But the grey kid was helping us. He stopped other bad people from getting to you, the others and me.” Max told sporadically tagging on, “I helped to.” He told Aaron proudly, which would make Aaron smile at Max in response.
“Thanks Max.” Aaron kindly complimented the boy, his voice a dry whisper, after which Max would put his hands on his hips proudly. Max would then turn to the door.
“I have to make sure everyone is in their tents. I’m in charge.” Max informed Aaron, which was a surprise to him. Aaron would look at Max confused for a few moments.
“Where is Kira, Jason, and En?” Aaron inquired from Max. Only to be met by a roll of Max’s shoulders.
“I dunno’.” Max abruptly concluded with Aaron. Although Aaron trusted they probably were gone for a good reason, he didn’t believe they’d just leave him, Max, and whoever else is here. Perhaps it would be helpful to meet them. As Max exited a beam of light which both could comprehend shot through the gap in the tent's entrance.
It was daytime, the first time Aaron’s ever seen it, and to think he’d be greeted with a white eye. Aaron stretched his arms outward, causing a crackling between his bones, it felt like he’d been on the itchy cloth for a lifetime. With Max gone, he had no intention of actually staying where he was, Aaron preferred to find answers.
What Max has told him was greatly intriguing, as it suggested that something had unfolded back at the strange prison he had spent his entire life in, the cage that they all seemingly spent their life in.
Woefully he picked himself up from the ground, each individual muscle movement raising a pain from each joint and bone in his body. He couldn’t help but feel content however, it felt as if he was part of something, a feeling which he had only felt when those voices gave him one the many meaningless experiments to follow. It was better than the nothing that seemed to perpetuate his entire life up until this point, it was truly freeing.
Standing, he began to slowly pace around the tent, and the feeling of sharpness as if glass was present in his chest was perpetual. A pain which only built upon the foundation of arduous aching, burning, tearing which had stalked him since his escape from the jail, though he wouldn’t have it any other way.
Aaron moved over to the thin sheet marking his exit, a partial light already shining through it. With a swipe of his hand the exit reveals the truth behind it, with no trial or tribulation, a luxury he could’ve only wished for beforehand.
He was greeted by an orange sky, it was unspeakably marvellous, yet he couldn’t help but feel a sense of unease as the eye stared upon him, upon the world. This time though the eye was different, it was warm, fulfilling, satisfying to his being. Its harshness was no longer present, simply a memory, one he could only wait to forget.
He looked toward his left, seeing a playful group of children running around the centre fire of the camp, though the fire seemed to slowly disintegrate it still gave a warmth which the wind didn’t. The sky was calm, soothing to the skin and gave a relaxing breeze, the stagnant, faultless air he had known before was inconceivable now. He looked to his right, and there stood Max seemingly speaking to another, who he was speaking too was a tall beautiful woman.
This woman, she was infatuating, radiant, her skin was a tanned caramel with the texture of silk. Her hair was a bright cork, with strands of silver lining across her head like running water, tied in a braid which hung off her left shoulder. She had strange golden eyes, bright, enchanting. The woman wore a grey cotton poncho, over a practical outfit for the weather of the high hills. Aaron would pay them no mind however, the world he was in appeared too enticing to care for the consequence of his action. Max would notice Aaron and would immediately dash over to him to prevent him from going any further.
“Hey! I said you’re not allowed to leave.” Max asserted to Aaron, and began to start attempting to push him back into the tent. Though this would prove to be fruitless, as he was incapable of remotely moving Aaron any distance.
The angelic lady which Max was previously talking to would finally come over, and crouch down to Max’s level, “Hey, Max.” She advertised to the young boy, “I hear that you’ve been practising your light haven’t you? You should go show the others.” She asked Max, attempting to convince the boy, just to get him to do something else then follow what Kira told him.
Each word she weaved flowed into each other, silky in its delivery, and graceful in its ending. Her words seemed as enchanting as her form, though Aaron would be wrong to say that he wasn’t convinced to trust her, from such a performance.
Max would look at the woman, and would smile widely at the suggestion she put across to him. Nodding his head Max went off over to the left side of the camp to the children who were playing around the fire. The woman would stand looking at Aaron for a moment before laughing cheerfully, she would suddenly push Aaron back through the frail gateway into the tent and would then stroll in herself.
“Kira said it herself, you’re quite inquisitive aren’t you?” She questioned Aaron, though he wouldn’t answer her. Instead Aaron decided to sit down on a stool which was present in the room before he would speak.
“Do you mind telling me what’s going on, please?” Aaron asked the tall woman. The woman placed her hand on her chin, before seemingly resolving to her response, and then she would answer.
“First, Introductions. I am Gabriel, you are Aaron.” She clarified. Gabriel then took a stool from the other end of the tent and moved it nearby, which then she would sit on it. “I can’t tell you anything myself. Though I can tell you where to go if you’re that curious. However, before that I know you’re not properly equipped to travel in this environment.” She sharply explained.
She would then close her eyes for a few moments, and without warning Aaron felt a sharp, electric pain culminating at the centre of his brain. As quickly as it began, the sensation ceased, though at this point Aaron had experienced this phenomenon many times.
“I don’t know what that is.” Aaron plainly admitted to Gabriel, only to hear a quiet gasp from her once again, hidden behind her lips, which only intrigued Aaron further, he wasn’t satisfied to be given so little.
“I’m surprised you know so little. Explains your constant curiosity, and it’s also worrying. I don’t want Kira to keep you locked up here, which seems to be her current plan. I’m willing to let you go, but first I’ll see your path.” Gabriel confidently resolved.
It was then Gabriel reached forth with her palm, and as if grasping against something her fingers wrapped around an invisible structure. It was then she peered close to her fingers to observe this object. After which her attention was brought back to Aaron.
“You made a bargain with 004.” Gabriel confirmed, she held a rigid expression, though her tone held more detail. Aaron perceived that Gabriel held back regret in her voice. “That explains your confusion, making a bargain with that parasite. You must have done it for your own survival.” Gabriel calmly elaborated.
Aaron shifted upward on the stool, he knew who she was referring to. The white apparition who had given him the opportunity to survive, he hadn’t realised such a being was capable of deception so cruel.
“That’s 004?” Aaron questioned, no answer was given, though Gabriel tilts her head downward, acknowledging his question and providing a simple answer. Aaron’s eyes widened for a moment, moving his vision away from Gabriel; he didn't understand the mistake, but he knew it was one.
“Then all I can hope to do is tell you the basics. You’re remarkably capable at seeing through people, minds, and even the world itself.” Gabriel complimented. Aaron listened intently, resolving to discover all he could with the opportunity presented.
“Every single one of us. We are capable of moving our minds, as if they are our bodies. To create, to manipulate, to comprehend, we are capable of all of it with no use of our true body. To a certain extent naturally.” Gabriel explained, she outstretched her arm forward, unravelling her hand revealing her palm.
“From this, we can take an idea, and force it into reality. However, only ideas which we resonate with on a level beyond what even we are capable of seeing.” Gabriel smoothly explained.
After which a sudden wind picked up behind Aarons neck, a rock from an indistinguishable corner of the tent had suddenly flung from its place into Gabriel’s palm.
“I granted it a path, from its place to my hand. I am able to take my mind's resonance, and grant it physical application. You, Aaron, can grant your desire so much more.” Gabriel further encouraged. Then the rock flew again to the left of the room, landing uncharacteristically neatly for the speed it built up.
“It seems that the numbers which are roughly below 030, are capable of more than just physical manifestation. I couldn’t explain it, as I am incapable of performing that feat. After all, I am 037.” Gabriel abruptly surmised. She seemed saddened by the thought, as if referring to the possibilities seemed to upset her.
Aaron looked down for a few moments, he couldn’t help it, he saw the ruins of what he once unfortunately considered home. It only intrigued him further, as did the laws, though it wasn’t worth pursuing those clearly.
“How many of the people below me have you seen?” Aaron asked, intrigued by the prospect of finding someone who would know to surpass just this ‘physical’ capability. If one knows that, then surely they must know the rest surely?
He first considered Kira, though she wasn’t here currently, and his impatience only rose with each word Gabriel said. It was almost intoxicating, the prospect of becoming more than just an experiment.
“Many, including Kira. They wouldn’t care to tell you a thing. To learn it yourself would be a stark challenge as well, all uses of your mind damage it, taxing it, thinning your sanity.” Gabriel answered, a conclusion which she seemed confident in, an uncomfortable familiarity. “I cannot convince you to remain with us, and I have met enough of those below my number to realise just how shattered all of you truly are.” She abruptly concluded.
It came with a flaring emotion which had seemingly begun to boil over, she was remembering. Though Aaron was incapable of pinpointing such, he could see it, like an endless spiral in her enchanting eyes. Whatever struggle had birthed it, he couldn’t imagine its wickedness, it leaked upon him uncontrollably for a few moments.
In a sudden bout of grief and frustration Gabriel stood up and left unceremoniously. Aaron was left, to think, to plan. His curiosity had drawn an unintentional anger from her, though he lacked understanding, sympathy was still expressed.
In truth he wanted to stay, but something beyond him decided against such a conclusion, a mere feeling convinced him of another option. An option which Gabriel had possibly seen, somehow.
He realised the next step, he needed to return to where it started. To find and understand the truth, he had to return to this ‘pit’ as the man in the boat had referred to it. He had concluded that this would be the easiest form of discovering information, which Gabriel couldn’t provide, and which Kira wouldn’t provide. He believed that if he could simply enter the ‘pit’, he’d be able to understand his desire.
Despite what Gabriel had told him, he still convinced himself that it would be best to attempt to speak to Kira. Although such a consideration felt incredibly unnatural, as foreign as the thoughts which had struck his mind upon the hill. Was it a consideration born of pity? Pity for who, for what?