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We all have our own misconceptions about the world. My personal misconception was that in a different world or in a different time, human society wouldn’t be as repressive and stale. In my past, I often idolized the early 70s, as it seemed that people in the West were generally better off and better natured. I felt that the mundanity and soul-crushing stress of mine were only products of how our modern lifestyle simply was. But reality always, always, has a cruel and twisted way of proving you--and proving me--wrong.
I bolted upright with a searing pain across the entirety of my body. My brain was aching badly and I couldn’t focus on anything. My vision was blurred up from what I thought was blood that had pooled around my eyes from the accident. I struggled to breathe, and trying to take a deep breath sent me into a wheezing and coughing fit. I spat out blood clots that were definitely a result of my injuries from the accident. I managed to struggle onto all fours, and took a minute to try to collect myself and my ringing head. Blood trickled from my eyes, and I felt areas on my clothes that were soaked with blood. Miraculously, my arms and legs were not broken in the accident, but a multitude of bruises and wounds etched themselves across both of my arms and hands. When I felt that I was okay enough to sit down, I plopped myself down on the ground.
To my surprise though, it was not pavement or concrete--it felt like soft dirt and grass. Then it began to dawn on me that it was strange how no bystanders or paramedics came to my rescue after I managed to get up. I wiped away the last bit of blood that still pooled around my eyes and looked around my surroundings. I was in a forest clearing with a lake. I looked up at the night sky, marvelling at the beauty of being able to see the tails of the galaxy. I thought to myself that this could possibly be heaven as it felt so serene and tranquil. The beauty was quite immaculate and it did not feel like something you would see even in most national parks. The trees stood mightily tall in the distance, and through the light from the moon I could make out very jagged and curved mountain ranges. A light breeze which had a surprising warmth and softness to it blew by me. The forest whistled gently with the wind, and I could hear the grass and leaves swaying. It felt as if the very forest itself was enjoying the visiting breeze. I slowly stood up, dumbfounded as to what I should do next. If this was heaven, I did expect a guide or angel of some sorts to ease me into the process of death.
However, something did feel a bit off. I looked up at the sky again--there were two moons in the sky, not one. I would have jumped up in surprise, but I had no energy to. I thought I was seeing things the first time I looked up so I brushed it off--but this time I could see very clearly that there were two moons--what seemed like a smaller satellite of sorts orbiting around the bigger body and the bigger body was orbiting--it felt like I was hit with a revelation--this was not Earth.
The absurd gravity of my situation struck me and I slumped down onto the ground. I had read many web novel series about protagonists who get transported to other worlds, but those were simply fictional escapist fantasies. Though there was a flicker of hope in my mind, reality quickly set in. I had no real tangible life skills or survival skills that could assist me to even marginally survive in this world. There were no guarantees that I would see even remotely similar plant species in this world that I would be able to recognize and could forage. I only barely know how to make fires from random Youtube recommendations, same as fashioning makeshift tools. My barely functioning brain was suddenly kicked into overdrive as I internally panicked trying to figure out what I needed to do. Nothing I had ever studied in any year in school would actually help in this case. I was entirely reliant on myself, truly, to fend for myself in this actual absurd and foreign world not like the one I had grown comfortable with. I didn't even have my parents to call on to bail me out like they would whenever I did get into financial trouble. The overwhelming self-deprecation I felt started crushing me again. You’re actually worthless. Your existence is actually pathetic and meaningless, whether on Earth or here. I felt like crying, but I was too drained. I wanted to give up and just let myself be consumed by whatever elements this world had. I didn’t even have the spirit left to curse at whatever occurrence of fate led to me being in this situation. I silently huddled myself into a ball as I suddenly felt too tired and labored to even lie down. A massive pang of regret hit me as I realized that I would never see my mother again. I always despised how she would ring me out whenever she found me just doing nothing, but I know now more than ever it was just her way of caring for me, even if it got very annoying at times. I suddenly began to miss my ex-girlfriend as well--she might have been too innocent and straightforward for her own good, but I did love how she earnestly tried to pull me out of the hole I was in. Why was it always me that got the short end of the stick? I just wanted to live a normal and happy life, but it wasn’t possible on Earth. No way it’s even remotely possible now. I had truly gotten beaten down by life so hard that it was not possible to get up anymore. I didn’t see another way out but to give up. I lied down on my back, enjoying this beautiful but now seemingly hostile and cold night sky for the last bit of my life before I died again.
***
I fell asleep not long after, and was awoken suddenly by the muffled scream of what seemed like a woman. I shot up from sleep, adrenaline pumping through my body. I could see a faint orange glow like one from a fire in the distance into the forest. The scream terrified me, but the fire gave me a flicker of hope as it could possibly imply entities I could contact--perhaps for help. Though this hope was small, I clung onto it as I slowly made my way into the forest, careful not to make any sounds as I grimaced with each jolt of pain I received from walking. I arrived near the fire, but the scene terrified me. A young woman with long flaxen hair was being choked-lifted by a burly man who was at least 2 meters tall. I watched with nervous trepidation from behind the trees.
“You elves, you’re something you know?” The man said in a grunting manner. “You really tried escaping five times you wretched bitch?!” He slapped the woman on the face as she cried out in pain. I whimaced, but I didn’t know what I could do. I was absolutely powerless in this situation. My body was still aching all over from the bruising and internal injuries I received from the crash. I pondered for a second--I could understand the language. That meant a lot. I was now resigned to the fate of my absurd death, but I was strangely placid with it . If I’m going to die though, I thought, I might as well be worth a damn no matter how small. I had absolutely nothing to lose anymore at rock bottom.
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I limped slowly and heavily towards the makeshift campsite. The man saw me and dropped the woman. She fell with a thud and groaned. She looked at me with wonder, as if the scene unfolding in front of her was unbelievable. The man sized me up.
“What d’yer want?” He asked aggressively.
“I’m not sure either. I just couldn’t stand to see you choking her.”
“Yer mean this bitch?” He grabbed the woman’s hair in a bunch and pulled her towards him. “She’s a prize I won.”
“I’m not too sure what you mean by that?” I frantically tried to keep him talking as I tried to figure out a way to solve this problem.
“We raided and raped their entire village,” the man boasted. “She was the only one that was left at the end of it, so I decided to take her in as a slave.”
“And you said she’s been disobedient?”
“The bitch tried to run away 5 times.” The man grunted as his pull on the woman’s hair became tighter. She yelped in pain as she looked at me with hope in her eyes.
Don’t look at me as if I’m going to save you or something. I don’t even know what to do in this situation. I can’t possibly fight him. I don’t know anything else. I’m a worthless person trying to make some worth of himself at Death’s Doorstep. I thought as I was beginning to get pressed into a corner.
“Were you about to kill her?”
“Sounds about right. There’s no point keeping this bitch alive, she already killed some of my men.”
“How about you give her to me? I’ve been craving for some elf woman these past few months but I haven’t been able to get my hands on some. I’ll make sure to tie her up real nice and maybe even break her arms and legs.”
The man momentarily laxed his grip on the woman’s hair as he thought about this proposition.
“She looks like she’s some serious baggage on you, why not give her to me instead then? She’s fine enough that I would feel it’s such a waste if you just killed her here. She might be useless to you, but I could think of a multitude of uses to me.”
The man grunted again. “Bitch’s my property. You can scram.”
“Make me leave.” I thought that at the very least this would give the woman enough time to make a run for it.
The man made his way towards me as I slowly braced myself for his punches or slaps. I was prepared to die right here. Right in front of me, the woman, who had gotten her hair out of the man’s grasps suddenly shot ice particles out of her hand as she stood up shakily. The man was instantly encased in a pillar of ice as his expression contorted in an ugly fashion. My jaw dropped in amazement at what I had just witnessed. This was actual magic that I was seeing being performed, not the tricky illusions that I often saw on TV or live performances. The fantasy kind that I only got to see in animated shows or games.
The ice fragmented into numerous pieces, along with the man. My adrenaline rush wore off and I collapsed to the ground. My body stung as I crawled my way towards the woman.
“Are you alright?” I shakily asked.
“I’m not hurt besides being tugged on and slapped.” She replied, her voice soft yet firm.
I rolled onto my back as I lied down, the warmth of the campfire slowly enveloping me.
I took in the fire, the forest, and the night sky. Everything felt so serene in this forest. I sighed and closed my eyes.
“You’re free to leave you know.” I said to the woman.
“I don’t know where to go if I did.”
Just like me.
“I’m not too sure where to go either.”
“Are you not from one of the human colonies or kingdoms?” Her voice, inquisitive.
“I don’t even think I’m from this planet.” I chuckled to myself.
The woman went silent for a second. I opened my eyes and found myself staring directly into hers, which startled me slightly. Her face was barely inches above mine, and I could feel loose strands of her hair tickling my face. Her irises were an intense deep azure blue that felt like it was shimmering. Her pupils were unmoving as if I was her specimen. Her features were so soft yet at the same time regal. Her skin was a pale white that was tinted with the orange from the fire. To put it bluntly, she was probably the most beautiful person I have ever seen.