It’s dark, and I can’t feel anything at all. I try to access my memories, but it’s like I’m brushing up against an invisible wall.

“So you’ve arrived.” I hear a woman’s voice, pleasant to the ears. It’s coming from a spot deeper in the dark.

“Would you mind telling me who you are?” I ask as any normal person would do.

“Ἔρεβος, but I doubt that name holds meaning to you.”

“Why can’t I see you?” I ask, which elicits a small chuckle from her.

“Have you ever tried to see without light?”

“Like what’s happening now?”

“You can see yourself now, can you not?”

I look down to find my nude body. Strangely gleaming with vitality.

“This… doesn’t seem to be my body.”

“It is as it will be.”

“You still haven’t answered. Who are you.”

“I do not answer because you would have no way of knowing. Be content with what you see.”

“Yet I cannot see you.” ‘This woman is crazy.’

“Then that is what I am. I represent darkness and shadows alike, but I will never mislead you.”

“What is it you would have me do? Why am I here?” And why is she speaking in so many riddles? They hurt my head.

“You and I are bound in contract. You have sworn to carry my will.”

“I’ll consider it.” I say blankly as I try my best to remember the past.

“There’s nothing to consider.” With those last words I’m dismissed.

‘So, where the hell am I?’ I wonder as the darkness is the same as before. It’s cold now. 

Slightly damp, and it’s a little hard to breathe. Even as my eyes adjust it’s a little hard to tell.

All I know is that I don’t have much space to move around. ‘Damn it. If I could only…’ I finally realize exactly where I am. For some sick reason I seem to be stuck in a coffin. Buried alive.

Wait.. maybe this was my fetish. It's entirely possible. I mean, what sane person would just bury another alive otherwise. I probably have a partner who would dig me out if I just yelled out a safe word.

I forgot! I don't have my memories!

‘Shit. I’m not gonna die like this.’ I start to thrash around, and I feel the thin wood begin to give way. ‘Yes! wait.. no…’ I think as dirt begins to fill the empty space. My precious air disappears at a rapid pace as I begin to panic.

Terrified I start clawing with all of my might. Not even caring when my fingernails are ripped off. I make little headway. 

The dirt begins to fill in the empty space my precious air used to occupy. My lungs are burning from exhaustion.

My vision grows blurry as consciousness fades, but I continue my mad quest for survival. I’d like to say that I burst out of the earth just as I reached my limits, but sadly, that wasn’t to be.

Again I find myself in darkness. It now makes me feel anxious and uneasy. Not the fear of the unknown, but of what it signifies. I’ll never go back to that cold damp earth if I can help it.

“Back so soon? I’d expected a bit more out of my new toy.” It’s that woman.

“I’m just gonna call you Anemone, and what the hell. Why would you send me to such a horrible place?”

“I never sent you there. It seems that was done by what you consider your loved ones.” She snickers.

I have no response for that. Was I really that bad a judge of character?

"Wait.. why anemone?"

"Well, because you're pretty like a flower..."

If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

"Oh.. well.." she actually sounds a bit bashful.

"And because you seem like an-en-o-my."

“...”

And here I am again. Only this time, I’m already choking with a mouthful of dirt. 

‘Oh joy, it seems I have my fingernails back… and now they’re gone. 

What the fuck am I? A mole or some shit?!’ The yelling in my head seems to help keep me sane.

I go at it for a few minutes before being sent back to that dark plane.

“Coming here isn’t free you know.”

“What is it costing me?”

“Memories. The least relevant at first, but more and more as your mind frays upon every visit. I’ve taken care to try and shield it as much as possible.”

“Is that why I can’t seem to remember anything?”

“Yes, now do take care not to visit too much. A woman gets flustered by your audacious advances.”

“That’s not-” cut off, and back in the dirt. I attempt a sigh, but now the dirt’s just up my nose. ‘Great, fingernails again.’

After several takes, I finally manage to drag my soiled body onto the surface. I heave as my stomach empties itself of the considerable amount of soil I’ve inhaled.

Exhausted I fall backwards… and right off the cliff.

This time she’s laughing. I can imagine her holding her sides as her breathing seems erratic. 

Just as I open my mouth to berate her, I’m whisked back into my body.

I open my eyes to stare at the sky above me. At least I have fingernails I can keep this time around. Yes, the fall was expressly for this purpose. Nails take years to grow back, after all.

For some reason the stars are almost blinding, and the cold air feels just right on my skin. 

I remember having something in my hands the first time around, so I march back up the hill.

From here I can see a cozy looking home, but its devoid of light. ‘I guess that’d be as good a place to stay as any.’

Looking down at my grave I find a leathery surface peeking out from under the dirt. I pick it up and dust it off. 

I open it to find a wealth of knowledge regarding herbs and medicine.

I continue reading as I make my way towards the house I spotted earlier. It’s even nicer up close. 

Making my way inside I find it stocked with food and plants of all sorts.

All of them detailed and sorted in the book I’m holding. All of the effects and potential uses. 

How they synergize or cancel each other out. 

Even which combinations can serve as catalysts for certain effects. Whoever wrote this was a genius.

Of course I knew it was written by me. It had my name on it, and what I can only assume is my handwriting. 

I hear a little self praise goes a long way.

I quickly put the two and two together. This house is stocked, and undoubtedly where I stayed. 

I can assume that whoever was left in charge of this place will be coming back to empty it, and that for some reason they have a vendetta against me.

Who the hell buries another person alive?! Whoever it was, they can’t be reasonable people. I quickly pack myself enough supplies and all the things I could carry that looked valuable.

As I went to put a ring on my finger it began to glow. Some kind of display appeared in my head which seemed to have a lot of cataloged items. 

I tried selecting one and the number decreased but the item itself appeared in my hand.

Convenient. I quickly put the fern back in by willing it, and set off towards the East. Making sure to cover my tracks as I traveled.