My eyes opened to nothing but darkness. It wasn’t just dark—it was complete. I tried to move, but something rough and cold scraped against my shoulders. The walls pressed in from every side, making my chest tighten. My breath came in shallow gasps, each one feeling harder than the last.
“Where… where am I?” I whispered, my voice trembling as my fingers brushed over jagged stone. Solid rock. I was trapped.
“Hey!” I yelled, the sound bouncing back at me. “Can anyone hear me? Please! Get me out of here!” My fists pounded against the stone above me scratching my hands leaving a claw mark of blood, the sharp sting shooting into my hand. A faint rustling answered somewhere overhead, followed by tiny bits of dust raining down onto my face. I coughed, spitting out the dust that was choking me.
Then, out of nowhere, a tendril of light broke through. It wasn’t much at first—just a faint crack splitting the night—but it grew brighter. Bubbles of light churned in the empty tomb, swirling like deep-sea currents until a kraken of streaming light erupted, its golden tendrils spewing into the tiny space around me wrapping around my body. My breath hitched in my chest as debris hit my face.
“Hey, you alright?” a voice called. His voice was calm and steady like this was no big deal. The kind of voice you’d trust if you were dangling on the edge of a cliff. “Cover your face. The debris can get nasty. Trust me—use your forearms; I heard it works in car crashes too.”
I threw my arm over my eyes just as more dust fell. Seconds later, the slab above me shifted, and a hand shot through the opening. Without thinking, I grabbed it, and whoever it belonged to pulled me up into the light with one strong heave.
“You good?” the guy asked as I blinked, still coughing up dust. He looked like he’d just walked out of a dorm room—short blonde hair swept to one side, black stud earrings, and a white smile that probably worked wonders on every girl he met. His bright blue eyes locked on me like he was trying to size me up, and I couldn’t help but notice that behind all that friendliness, there was something strong about him. Confident, sure. But I could sense something else, something underneath.
“I’m Jakob,” he said with an easy grin. “What’s your name?” he extended out his hand with a tilted head.
“Ezekiel,” I rasped, wiping dirt off my face and spitting it out my mouth. My throat burned from the screaming, but I managed a weak nod. “Thanks for… getting me out. I hate enclosed spaces like that.”
“Yeah, those coffins suck,” he said casually, like this was just another day. The way he acted, I figured he could probably sleep through Pompeii without breaking a sweat. He gestured toward the walls around us, where more stone boxes were wedged into the rock like awkward puzzle pieces. “You’re the first one I’ve found alive. Do you have any idea how we got here?”
“No,” I admitted, my throat dry. “Honestly, I think I either died or got here right before I did.”
“Damn. That’s rough.” His tone stayed easy, like I’d just told him I lost my keys, not that I was possibly dead. “I don’t even remember the last thing that happened to me. I was asleep, and then… poof.” He made a little explosion gesture with his hands, the absurdity almost making me smile despite the situation.
The chill of the cavern finally caught up to me, biting at my skin. The air was damp and heavy, reeking of rusted iron and wet stone. I shivered, glancing around at the jagged walls and uneven ground. “Where are we?” I asked, my voice cracking as I asked the question.
Jakob shrugged, nodding toward a set of massive marble pillars in the distance. “No idea. But this place doesn’t look normal, does it? See those pillars? They don’t match the rest of the stone around here. It’s like two completely different places got smashed together.”
I glanced at the columns. The polished stone gleamed in the dim light of the cavern, each completed stone felt completely out of place in the jagged, uneven cavern. A part of me wanted to laugh, but I couldn’t.
“So what, you’re saying we no-clipped?” I looked at him questionably. “Like the Backrooms?”
Jakob gave me a weird look, then laughed. “Yeah. Something like that. Though I don’t know what the back rooms are. This is all just freaky, huh?”
Jakob pointed toward three unopened coffins along the far wall. “I’ve been trying to find people like you. Haven’t had much luck so far, but maybe we’ll get lucky again. These look like the last few that I haven’t opened so let’s check them out.”
As if in response, a faint thudding noise echoed through the hall. A muffled cry followed some dark entity held the mouth of whoever inside, a weak puff of air and then a voice let loose. Jakob and I exchanged a look. Without a word, we rushed toward the sound, stopping at the nearest coffin.
“Help! Please, get me out!” a muffled voice cried from within the coffin. “I can’t breathe! Please!”
Jakob and I exchanged a quick glance before rushing to the stone slab. We braced ourselves, muscles straining as we pushed. The slab groaned and shifted before crashing to the ground with a deafening thud, splitting into jagged pieces that scattered across the floor.
Inside, a young man lay curled up, his eyes wide and fearful. He gasped for air, curling up clutching his chest as if the walls were still closing in on him. “Thank you,” he wheezed. “I… I couldn’t breathe. I thought I was going to die in there.”
“You’re okay now,” Jakob reassured him, crouching down and extending a hand. His voice was calm, just like how he spoke to me. “Can you tell us your name?”
The man took Jakob’s hand hesitantly, his fingers trembling as he sat up. “I… I don’t know,” he stammered, his words tumbling out in broken breaths. He pressed his hands to his temples, digging his nails into his skin. “I can’t remember anything. Just… something about the system. It… it didn’t accept me. My skin—it felt like it was crawling. My bones—they cracked—and—and—-“
He suddenly froze, his body going rigid. His eyes rolled back, and a loud scream tore from his throat as he throbbed violently. Dark blood trickled from his nose and eyes, pooling at the corners of his mouth with foam..
“What the hell is happening?” Jakob said, his voice rising, the calm cracking for the first time that I heard.
Before I could answer, the cavern shuddered. Dust and chunks of stone rained down from the ceiling as the tremors grew stronger. The walls groaned like they might collapse at any moment.
“We have to move!” I shouted, already reaching for the man. Together, Jakob and I hauled him to his feet, half-dragging, half-carrying him toward the base of a nearby pillar, where the ground was more stable.
As we laid him down, a sharp blue flash caught my attention. I blinked, stunned, as a glowing message appeared in the upper corner of my vision:
— New Mission Acquired: Read the Grimoire —
— Accept the Quest —
— Tutorial Unlocked —
— Loading… —
— Suitable System Unlocked —
— Body Modifications Unlocked —
— System Successfully Integrated with Host —
— Directional Wheel Unlocked —
— Start Your Journey. Thrive in Your New World Because Your Old World Is Gone. —
— Main Objective: Survive. —
I stumbled back, my pulse hammering in my ears. “What the hell was that?” I asked. “Jakob, did you see it too?”
Jakob clutched his head, his body swaying as if he were about to collapse from stress. “Yeah… yeah, I saw it,” he muttered, his words slurred. “Something’s happening to me. My body feels… off. I’m so…tired.”
He staggered toward the pedestal at the center of the chamber, his breathing coming in short, shallow gasps. Sweat dripped down his face, his hands trembling as he reached for the book resting atop the pedestal.
“Jakob, don’t—” I started, but he was already gripping the book.
The moment his fingers touched it, the air around us distorted, a sharp whine piercing through the cavern. My vision blurred, the edges twisting and warping as if reality itself was unraveling.
“Jakob!” I yelled, stumbling toward him, but the world was already breaking apart.
Yellow, red, and green squares flickered like static, tearing us into fragmented pixels. I felt weightless, my body pulled in every direction at once, and yet I was motionless. The air turned electric, buzzing against my skin. I tried to scream, but no sound came.
And then—nothing.
“Ai! Are ye ready for war?” an older man growled, his face inches from mine. His brown hair was cut short, shaved on one side, with a jagged scar slicing down his scalp like a lightning bolt frozen in flesh. The stench of stale liquor and rotting teeth hit me like a fist, and I flinched back. War? What war? Where the hell am I? And where’s Jakob?
“I… I don’t even know where I am—” I stammered, my voice catching in my throat.
He grabbed my shirt and yanked me forward. His grip was iron, fingers digging into my collarbone as his glare drilled into me.
“Enough of yer games, Fredrick. Try to run, and I’ll kill ye where ye stand.” His voice dropped low, rough with years of smoke and bitterness. “See the horde out there? We hold the line, or our families back home die. I ain’t goin’ home to find my son gutted on the floor. So do yer job, or I’ll end ye myself.” He shoved me back hard enough that I stumbled.
I caught myself, breath shaky, heart pounding. I wasn’t in my body. Somehow, I was inside some guy named Fredrick—a middle-aged, worn-down soldier. My hands were rough and pale, my build stockier. It was surreal seeing my skin change right before my eyes, but that wasn’t even the worst part.
“What exactly am I supposed to fight them with?” I asked, voice unsteady, hoping he wouldn’t notice the fear creeping into my tone.
“That sword on yer back and yer bloody skills, what else?” He scowled, then spat on the ground. “Did ye hit yer head? We ain’t got coin for rifles. We’re lowly swarm guards—just meat for the grinder.”
Swarm guards? Oh, fuck this.
“I don’t know where I am,” I muttered, shaking my head. “What’s going on out there?”
The man’s eyes narrowed. He leaned in close, voice dropping into a growl. “Don’t tell me you’re playing mad to weasel out of this. Yer not gettin’ out. The Graverobbers and Scarab-Borns out there’ll butcher us if you ain’t ready. Now, take a swig.” He shoved a flask into my chest, nearly knocking the wind out of me.
I hesitated, glancing down at the dented metal container. Its cold surface pressed against my skin, the smell of cheap bourbon leaking from the cap. Slowly, I unscrewed it and took a sip. The liquid burned all the way down, making me cough.
“There’s my man, Fredrick.” He grinned, clapping me hard on the back. “That wake ye up? Now—ready yerself. We move on my count.”
I followed him, crouching low in the trench. Barbed wire twisted along the edges, tangled with broken bodies and torn clothing. The air reeked of blood, gunpowder, and something far worse—like meat left to rot in the sun. Beyond the trench lay a battlefield scarred by craters and littered with debris. Dust clung to the air, thick enough to taste. The figures in the distance weren’t human—not entirely. Hulking creatures with the heads of scarabs and muscular bodies stood over the bodies of men tearing into their flesh, their black carapaces shining almost wet in the dim light. Dead soldiers lay around them, their blood soaking the earth. And large bandages wrapped skeleton stood fighting alongside the beetle like creatures.
“On my count, son. One… two… three—GO!”
He vaulted over the trench wall, charging straight into the fray. I stood frozen for a moment, staring after him in disbelief as the battlefield erupted into chaos. Men screamed, blades clashed, and the ground trembled underfoot.
“Ah, fuck this,” I muttered under my breath. Without a second thought, I turned and bolted in the opposite direction, away from the battle, away from the death and carnage ahead. My feet pounded against the dirt as I scrambled toward a distant hill, hope flaring in my chest. If I could make it over, I might find some way out of this nightmare.
But just as I reached the base of the hill, the ground quaked violently beneath me. I stumbled, falling hard onto my hands and knees. Dust clouded my vision, and for a moment, all I could hear was the pounding of my heart. Then a massive shadow stretched over me, blocking out the pale gray sky.
I froze.
Slowly, I looked up.
Suddenly, the world stilled. My body froze, caught in a cold, suffocating bubble, trapped outside of time and space.
Tsk.
What?
Tsk.
The sound echoed in my ear, sharp and unnerving, followed by a strange breeze, as if someone was blowing air directly against me.
Then, a weight on my shoulder. A hand?
I jerked my head to my left, but there was nothing there. Then came a rustling, faint, beside me on the right. My body refused to move, locked in place within this unnatural bubble. I could only turn my head, my eyes frantically scanning for the source of the disturbance.
Tsk.
“You disappoint me, Chozeh,” a voice purred. “Come now, did you really think you could run from the system?” A laugh followed, cruel and mocking. “You’re a funny little man, I’ll give you that. I like you.”
I shook my head, desperate to pinpoint the source of the voice, but saw nothing. Until—
“Come now,” the voice beckoned, smoother, more intimate. “I only show myself when you ask. Do you want to see me, Chozeh? Do you want to feel me, Chozeh?” The words lingered like a caress. “I want to feel you. Feel your heartbeat. Tear into your stomach, your flesh and bones. Eat your liver.”
“Who are you? Why have you frozen me in place like this?” My voice shook, a knot of terror tightening in my chest.
Then, a touch. A hand brushed against my thigh—slow, deliberate deep strokes. Long, pale fingers with filthy black nails scraped against my skin through my pants, pressing harder until a thin line of ripped fabric appeared, splitting down my leg.
“You sick fuck, what are you doing? Stop touching me like that! Let go!” I shouted, struggling against the unseen force. Pulling and pulling, my neck muscles tightened against the unseen force but I could not break free.
The voice chuckled darkly. “Oh, come now, the voice of reason. I thought we were bonding. Were we not?”
I could feel it then—his presence. Something flickered at the edge of my vision, a face—long, white nose and painted skin, twisted in a grimace. Bells jangled faintly as he leaned closer.
The man looked demonic, his features contorted in a savage grin. His attire was garish—purple, black, and green, with blood splattered across his jester’s suit. Bells on his shirt tinkled with every movement.
His eyes burned like hellfire, dark crimson irises that bore into my very soul. His jester hat brushed against my skin, the bells ringing like a death knell.
“I’m just letting you know about the journey,” he whispered, the words oozing with malice. “You’ll be seeing me a lot, Chozeh. Don’t worry—you’ll find out soon enough.” He paused, a cold grin creeping across his face. “Just remember, Chozeh…”
His finger pressed into my back, sharp as a knife, slicing through skin like paper. He dragged it upward, his touch filleting my skin.”
“You can’t escape me. Or the system. Accept your fate. You and the other gods don’t like it when travelers try to interfere. But I felt your soul. It resonated with me, Chozeh. So much.” His voice became low, almost tender. “So I’ll help you. Until I don’t feel like helping anymore, and then—” His smile widened, sickeningly wide. “I’ll kill you in ways that will leave you feeling it in the afterlife. Got it?”
He leaned in closer, his grin stretching impossibly wide. He dug his fingers into my back, tearing through flesh with a sickening squelch. Blood trickled down, deeper and deeper he licked it off his long, blade-like fingers as if savoring it.
Then, he shoved me to my knees.
His presence vanished as suddenly as it came, leaving me gasping for air. The tension in the air lifted, and I could move again—finally.
But as I staggered to my feet, my vision spun. My body hit the ground, cold and sharp pain shot down my neck. I glanced up just in time to see a headless body collapse in front of me, blood spraying across the ground. A man stood over me, sword raised, flinging the blood off his blade.
It was the man from earlier—the one who’d warned me not to run.
“I’ll kill you where you stand if you try to run,” his words rang in my ears.
I guess he wasn’t joking.
This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it
Blackness crept in as my vision faded. The last thought that lingered in my mind was of the clown—the twisted, sickening way he spoke to me—and the words, “Other gods.”
—-Tutorial Failed: System Reboot—-
—-Returning Host to Original Body—-
—-Returned Host—-
I stumbled forward and collapsed to my knees. I grabbed my neck and fiddled with my bullet necklace underneath. What had I gotten myself into? A hand settled on my shoulder, and a voice broke through my foggy thoughts and foggy vision.
“Are you okay?” I jerked back involuntarily, breathing hard and letting go of the cold metal bulle. “Woah calm down. What happened to you?”
Jakob gripped my shoulder, he was clearly concerned his brows furrowed together. I looked up, feeling the warm drip of liquid running from my nose, touching it and then smearing it on my lip. A sharp pain throbbed at the base of my skull, pulling my eyes down to earth into a the rocky terrain underfoot. At least I wasn’t dead; it could’ve been worse, right? My head could be in the floor.
“Did you not—? Did you not see that?” I asked, breathless and panting, my heart was punching me in the chest. I was sweating so much from the adrenaline that I didn’t notice the searing pain wrapping around my neck.
“See what?” he looked backwards, and then back at me.
“I was… in someone else’s body. I felt it,” I muttered, my dreads falling over my face, sweat beading on my forehead. I wiped them away, moving them out my vision, my bright red eyes flaring in the darkness of the cave. Wet damp drips hit me as we moved forward looking for an escape. My brown skin flickering orange in the torchlight as if I was glowing.
Jakob’s grip tightened slightly, holding my shoulder in a way a brother does. “No, I didn’t see anything like that. Are you sure you’re alright?”
I frowned, legs aching from the fall of before. “Yeah… sure. I’m fine. Let’s just keep moving—-It's probably just the heat of this place frying my brain, or something. I don’t know I just feel weird.”
“Speaking of, Jakob. I haven't noticed, what are you wearing?” I muttered, frowning as I grabbed a fistful of the scratchy, gray fabric draped over me. “What am I wearing? Where did my clothes go? They’ve got me in rags? Wait…”
I froze, staring at my bare feet, then slowly lifted the hem of the robe. My eyes widened in disbelief. “Jakob… Jakob…”
“What is it, Ezekiel?” he asked, turning toward me with concern.
“They… they took my clothes. AND MY SHOES.” My voice cracked, rising in pitch. “They took my SHOES! They gotta die. Who would do that? Where are my shoes?!” I stood there shaking him, his eyes spinning in his head. He just stood there dazed and rocking back and forth
Jakob glanced down at himself, his expression shifting from curiosity to confusion. “Now that you mention it… I’m in a loincloth and a tunic. That’s… huh?!”
“Jakob!” I dropped to my knees, clutching my head in despair. “Who would take a man’s shoes? WHO would do that?”
Jakob blinked at me, bewildered. “Are… are you crying?” He crouched beside me, patting my shoulder awkwardly. “I’m sure you’ll get them back. Or find new ones. There’s gotta be shoes somewhere.”
I sniffled, wiping my eyes. “You think so?”
“Yeah, definitely. And honestly, I’d like to find something better than this ridiculous tunic. It’s… uh, kinda drafty. Feels like I’m wearing a skirt.” He pulled at the fabric, grimacing. “Anyway, where even are we? This doesn’t look like the same cave. It’s too dark—I can barely see anything besides rocks and walls.”
I stood up, brushing dirt off the rough robe. “I don’t think so either. It feels… different. The air’s colder and a wind is blowing this way.” I squinted into the dimness. “Wait—look, there’s a light over there.” I pointed toward a faint glow in the distance. “It’s not much, but we should follow it. It Might be a way out.”
We started toward the light, cautious but hopeful. Each step echoed faintly in the dark, the sound swallowed by the cavernous void around us. As we drew closer, the glow grew brighter, until it flooded our vision in a sudden, burst of light.
I stumbled back, raising an arm to shield my eyes. The searing brightness dulled a moment later, revealing… nothing. Just an endless expanse of white stretching in every direction, a void without walls, ground, or sky.
“Jakob… what is that?” I whispered, confused.
Before he could answer, a voice echoed in my mind:
— System Transport Complete —
— Mission Accepted: Reincarnated in a new world —
— Main Goal: ??? —
— Class Unlocked: Seer —
— Skill Unlocked: Analyse —
A chill ran down my spine as I stared into the white. Whatever this place was, it wasn’t anywhere I recognized.
Jakob exhaled, his shoulders tense. “Reincarnated… what does that even mean?” He turned to me, a flicker of fear in his eyes. “Ezekiel, what do we do now?”
I clenched my fists, feeling the rough fabric of my robe scratch my skin like it was made of a hundred rats. “First… we find out where we are. Then we figure out if anyone else is here. And after that…” I glanced at my bare feet. “We find my shoes.”
“Wait Ezekial that book, do you remember it?”
He patted his pockets, searching his persons. His brow furrowed, his movements more patting his illusionary pockets. Before he could say another word, the air shimmered, and the book appeared, summoned on a pedastool off the marble floor beneath us.
Jakob froze, his gaze darting between the book and his empty hands. “What the… Did you see that? It just proofed out of nowhere.”
“I did. What’s going on? This place looks like a solid white box. There’s literally nothing here except the marble floor.”
He reached out, as if willing something to his palm. Nothing happened. He tried again, his face contorted to show his concentration. A faint shimmer, a ripple in the air—and the book appeared above his hand, floating for a brief second before dropping into his grip. It just fell out of the sky from off of the pedastool.
We stared at each other, wide-eyed. My mind raced, thoughts spiraling. “Looks like we have some kind of… retrieval ability? Or is that just this room? This could be huge. Are we in a video game or something? Or just a different universe with different physics?”
Tentatively, I focused, reaching out in my mind, searching within the core of my chest and then expanded it to my arms and then my head. There—a small, cold weight pressed against my brain. I grasped at it, and in an instant, a dagger materialized in my hand, the cold steel glimmered in the white vastness of the room.
Jakob’s voice was barely above a whisper. “What kind of magic is this?”
“Some kind of inventory system? Are we in a video game Jakob?” I speculated, unsure about all of this. “What’s the book say? Wait let me see. I got an idea: Analyze.” I looked at it hard and spoke the words. Everything around me went grey and the book began to glow in a yellow light on its exterior, as if glowing.
—Analyze Complete—
—Book of the Void. The gaps in spacetime and the story of an interdimensional traveler. A man of the madness and a masterclass survivalist—
—Upgrade Analyze to unlock more information—
“Well that didn’t tell me anything on this besides it’s a book of the void.”
“What void?” He asked as he stretched his arm out to grab the cover.
As he opened the book, something felt as if it was looking at us. The leather cover was weathered, the pages unnaturally pristine, it honestly didn't make sense how this old book could look so good. Jakob opened it further, flipping through the pages. His eyes skimmed the text, the initial confusion on his face melting into the barren landscape around him.
“Ezekiel… you need to read this.” His face was worried.
I took the book, it was heavier than it looked. It’s dark cover, the blackness sunk into my skin. Skimming the first few lines, I read:
“You are dead. The life you once knew is gone, left behind like a fading memory. Now, you live within the bounds of this system, a new world governed by rules of power, trade, and sacrifice. Here, your body, your mind, and even your soul are mere resources, expendable in the pursuit of survival or strength.”
My chest felt hollow, an ache blooming like a flower in a summer evening. The word dead echoed in my mind, peeling away something disgusting beneath. Like a rotten fruit, my core felt wet and soft.
Dead?
We were dead. Were we truly dead?
I had to let that sink in.
“Does that mean there is no hope of return? No chance, not even the slightest? Were we reborn, or was our earth destroyed, leaving us stranded here? Agh, this raises so many questions. And not a single thing closer to an answer.
Hey Jakob. Did you get any skill? I was thinking maybe I could upgrade mine and have it tell us more in the future?” He shook his head.
“No I didn’t get anything. That sounds like a good idea but I have no clue how we could use that to escape this place. Just thinking about what he meant by all that had my mind racing.”
It felt as if my old life had vanished entirely, slipping away like a dream, one I could no longer revisit. But there was no turning back now—I had to know. I forced myself to keep reading, to at least find the rest of the answers.
“You will discover your abilities, your limitations, your classes and stats, your strengths and weaknesses. Your weapons, your skills, will materialize from your will alone. You will learn to flourish in a starved environment. You will gain power beyond your former knowledge, but the price is steep. Every choice will demand sacrifice, and every sacrifice, its benefit. You are only here to feed the machine if you can not develop with it.”
We could trade parts of ourselves for power? Souls… limbs… emotions? What the hell did that even mean? How would that even work? I just cut off a finger and I grow wings?
“The system chooses your path, but you may diverge. Choose with your intuition rather than thought, for not everything is as it seems in this world. Blood is only as thick as you make it, so choose your friends wisely.”
Skills? System? Choices? What choices? The only choice that mattered was life or death, wasn’t it? Like what is this book here getting at?”
The words here didn’t make sense. Who would make something like this? Who would think of such a cruel joke to place on a kid freshly out of high school? I kept reading, each sentence more absurd than the last. A wave of disbelief hit me like this was an absurd joke.
I looked at Jakob, who nodded at me aswell. “So… we have magic now? We are like Harry Potter or Percy Jackson or something?”
He was right. The book had made that clear, but how? It didn’t explain anything. Anything whatsoever?
I turned the page and kept reading, trying to see what would come next.
“Beyond this tomb lies the unknown. In it, the weak will be shattered. Strength is no longer a choice—it is a currency. You must become both shield and sword to those who follow you, for they will need you more than they know. But remember: the path of mercy is paved with death. Some will drift into madness, and you must let them fall. Those who cannot carry their weight will become burdens to you, slowing your progress.”
Jakob’s face hardened. He read my annoyed expression and wasn’t having it either. “He’s telling us to abandon the weak… even those who look to us for help? I’m not about to do that? Especially if there are little kids outside. What kinda of weirdo would do something like that?”
“This book is for those willing to become stone and flame, and sword and shield. Its words are written in the ashes of worlds I’ve seen, worlds I’ve conquered, and worlds I’ve left behind. Do not seek allies. Seek only those who share the same curse that binds you. You are not their kin. You will never be one of them. And if you forget that truth, the land itself will rise to remind you.”
Karion Viscus – Wayfarer of Worlds, Scribe of the Void.
Jakob placed a hand on my shoulder, his grip tight. “We can’t show this to anyone, if we find anyone and get out of this cave.”
I nodded, and the bright room suddenly dimmed. This came out of nowhere and I had to blink to readjust my eyes. It all shifted and I stepped away. Shutting my eyes hard. When I opened them everything went back to normal.
The dark, uneven walls hung over us, pressing inward with an oppressive presence, jagged rocks clawing at the shadows. It felt as though they were pushing us forward, urging us deeper into the cavern. We kept walking, our footsteps echoing faintly as dust stirred with each step. The dry, gritty air clung to my throat, making both Jakob and me cough and wish for water. I gripped my neck, trying to ease the burn and loosen it up.
After several minutes, we entered a clearing. The room opened up into a wide expanse littered with stone slabs. I reached out, running my fingers along one of them. They stood in rigid rows, cold and smooth beneath my touch, like caskets for the dead. The chill in the air seemed to preserve them, keeping decay at bay. Jakob and I braced ourselves against a few slabs, straining to pry them open, but the lids wouldn’t budge. They were too heavy, sealed by something beyond mere weight.
“Anyone here?” my voice echoed through the chamber, each word swallowed by the oppressive silence. “We’re here to help—or at least we’re trying!”
Only silence answered. Resigned, we turned toward a distant archway and pressed on, moving further through the hall.
As we neared the cave’s entrance—or exit, I suppose—a sudden gust of wind hit us, dry and stifling like the breath of a dragon. The air carried the acrid stench of sulfur, and heat radiated from the two suns above, spinning in an awkward, rhythmless dance. Jakob and I exchanged a glance, then turned back, scanning the slabs one last time.
“I didn’t see anyone in there. Are we alone?” Jakob’s voice was full of uneasiness.
I shook my head. “No… Maybe they left before us. It couldn’t just be us, right?”
We stepped outside, and the ground trembled beneath our feet—not violently, but enough to unsettle us. It felt as though something beneath the earth was shifting, stirring in its slumber. We looked ahead and it seemed people were already here. They must’ve exited before us because the looks on their faces seemed heavy with confusion
They looked dazed and disoriented—some barely older than children, clutching at one another scared. Others were older. I think the oldest was around a fifty year old lady. It turned out there were about thirty people, all as bewildered as Jakob and me.
The world beyond was alien. Barren red sands stretched endlessly toward the horizon, broken only by towering crags of cliffsides and rock walls that jutted upward. The skinned stones crawled toward us as sand peppered our faces; and squinted eyes. The wind wheezed a large lifeless exhale flowed through the desolate landscape, carrying flecks of grit that stung our eyes. Above us, two suns held each other side by side—twin brothers. One was a blazing red, the other a ghostly, pale blue. Slowly, the red sun began to eclipse the blue one, casting the land in a opulent, blood-tinged glow.
Around me, unfamiliar faces turned toward us, searching for something—anything—that made sense. Jakob nudged me to speak to them as if I had the voice to tell them what to do; but I did anyway. Suprisingly they listened to what I had to say. No booing, no pushing around no anything really.
I took a deep breath, forcing down my nerves, and raised my voice above the murmurs of fear and the warm breath of the desert on my neck. “Everyone, listen up!”
The crowd stilled, their eyes locking onto me, this was the only time in my life I may have ever felt like a movie protagonist.
“I know you’re scared,” I said, letting the words settle over them, and the awkwardness over me. “Believe me, so are we. But you’re not alone. We don’t know what brought us here, or why, but if we’re going to survive, we have to stay together.”
Jakob stood up beside me. “This place… it’s dangerous. No one’s going to make it alone. We need each other now more than ever. I don’t know any of you, but if we stick together, we might have a chance. And that has to be better than to run around aimlessly in the desert heat right? Yeah I know that nobody wants to be out here so let’s find some shelter alright guys?”
He clapped his hands, trying to break the tension. “If anyone has questions or ideas, speak up. We don’t know much more than you do, but we can start forming a plan.”
“Plus we can always talk to each other and figure some things out together, I added.”
I scanned the thirty faces before me—strangers united by fear and hope. Each one was a flicker of life against the endless, crimson wasteland.
“We’re going to survive this,” I said, forcing the empty words out. I knew what was up ahead was probably going to be something bad so best to get them to let those old feelings out slowly. “Stick with us, and we’ll figure this out.” My throat tightened as a sudden wave of homesickness hit me. God, I missed school. I missed my family: father, mother, sister.
Her.
Jakob shot me a glance, a voice echoed out loud and it had caught my attention.
“Who the hell are you two?” a tall man barked. “Where am I? How did I get here? Last thing I remember, I was in my uncle’s shop. Something fell on my head, and now I’m… here.”
He gestured to the crimson sand stretching endlessly around us. His eyes darted to the scattered people behind us. “And why are they looking at me like I’ve got answers?”
“We’re all in the same boat,” I said, raising my hands. “Name’s Ezekiel. That’s Jakob. We don’t know much either, but we need to get organized. If we don’t, this place will chew us up.”
The man’s gaze hardened. “Organize? Look, kid, I don’t know you, and I sure as hell don’t need you telling me what to do.” He crossed his arms. “I’m heading out. If you’ve got sense, you’ll follow. If not, don’t blame me when this place kills you.”
He turned to leave, but I stopped him. “Wait. You military?” I asked, noting his faded fatigues and how he carried himself.
He paused, sizing me up. “Ex-military. Sergeant, Calvin Harris.” He glanced at the horizon, where the sun was dipping low. “And you don’t need to be a soldier to see we’re in a desert. It’s going to get cold fast. If we don’t find shelter, we’re screwed.”
I nodded. “Agreed. But people here need leadership, Sergeant. You see that, right? We’re not going to survive solo. We need a plan.”
Harris studied me, his expression unreadable. Finally, he let out a low grunt. “What’s your idea?”
“First, shelter. Somewhere defensible where we can regroup and figure out what’s going on. Next, we organize—scouts, supplies, something resembling a chain of command. We work together, or we die apart.”
He gave me a small nod, almost imperceptible. “Not bad. You talk like you’ve done this before.”
“Not quite,” I admitted. “But someone has to step up.”
Harris glanced back at the group. Most of them were aimless, a few whispering nervously. “Fair enough,” he said. “I’ll take point. You two keep the stragglers in line. Start identifying people who can pull their weight. We’ll need ‘em.”
As he turned toward the dunes, I glanced at Jakob, who gave me a half-smile. “Looks like you made a friend,” he said, hefting his axe.
I rolled my eyes. “Let’s just hope he sticks around long enough to matter.”
Before I could reply, he scanned the crowd, picking out a handful of men who looked capable and a black hair woman followed behind, and then they set off toward the dunes. Over his shoulder, he added, “I’ll check the perimeter. Fill me in when I get back, you make them listen while I do the adult shit.”
Jakob stepped up beside me, watching Harris disappear into the distance. “Think we can trust him?” he asked quietly.
I didn’t answer right away. If Harris knew how to survive, we needed him. “I don’t know,” I admitted. “But right now, we don’t have much of a choice.”
Once Harris was gone, I stepped forward, raised my voice, raised my hand, waved it and called out; “Alright, everyone—group up! We’ve got a team scouting for supplies and shelter. The rest of you, stick close and keep calm.”
A low confused whisper rippled through the crowd. Then the whispers turned into irritated mutters. Then a voice yelled out from the crowd.
“Who put you and Officer Shithead in charge?” a wiry guy called out in defiance. “Bet if you take off his hat, you’ll find nothing but shit for brains underneath.”
The crowd shifted, parting to reveal the speaker. He was tall and lean, with a mop of reddish-brown hair that fell over a freckled face. His oversized band shirt read Do You See the Whales in bold red letters, with a winged whale design printed below and Gojira scrawled across the back. His sagging cargo pants looked like they belonged to someone twice his size. He shifted his weight awkwardly, caught somewhere between boldness and second thought.
Jakob cupped his hands and spoke up. “Who said that? Don’t hide in the crowd.”
The guy raised a hand, scratching the back of his neck, avoiding eye contact. “I said it,” he muttered, his voice quieter now. “Tired of military types barking orders. He’s just gonna help us and pretend we need him. I am not letting that happen.”
His shouting calmed down but he still held that mean streak of an angry badger in his eyes under that freckled face. He knew what he was doing and he knew he was testing us.
I studied him for a moment before responding. “And what’s your plan?” I asked calmly. “You got a better idea, or are you just here to stir the pot?”
Before the guy could respond, an older girl smacked him on the back of the neck, the slap ringing out in the sand. He winced and pulled his head down, rubbing the spot as he shot her a glare. “Ow—Jerissa, what the hell? You know that hurt right?!?”
The girl ignored him and just kept walking towards us. She wore thigh-high shorts and a green-and-white striped shirt that ended just above her waist showing her belly button and a star piercing attached. Arms crossed, she gave me a quick once-over before extending a hand. “Ignore my idiot brother,” she said with a sigh. “I’m Jerissa.”
I took her hand, giving it a firm shake, maybe holding it a second longer than I should have. “Ezekiel. You can call me Zeke.”
Jerissa smirked, catching the moment. “Well, Zeke, looks like you’ve got your hands full. Especially with my idiot brother making it harder.”
“Can you not flirt with every guy you meet?” the guy muttered, glaring at the ground.
Jerissa shot him a look that could cut steel, and he shut up immediately, scowling as he rubbed the back of his neck. He looked like a washed-up rocker trying to growl his way through a bad day. Jerissa turned back to me, her smirk fading as her face hardened. “Alright, so what do you need us to do?”
Before I could respond, Jakob cut me off. “First, we need to figure out who’s here and what they can do. People know each other; we need to organize into groups, figure out everyone’s strengths, and prioritize helping the ones who are struggling the most. That makes the most sense right?”
Jerissa nodded thoughtfully, glancing at the scattered group. “Makes sense. No point wandering aimlessly out here. Let’s get people talking and start listening.”
“Right.” Jerissa nodded, catching on quickly. “I’ll help with that. C’mon, Odin.” She gave her brother a pointed look, as she pulled him by the hair.
As we worked to split everyone into smaller groups, Jerissa took the lead with the women, while Jakob and I focused on the men. We told them to group by height and build, a quick way to identify those who might be better suited for different tasks. As the crowd shifted and rearranged itself, I did a quick headcount—twenty men, ten women. That’s a not so even split, with elderly people and children.
That’s when I noticed her—a small girl standing alone, separate from the crowd. She couldn’t have been older than seven, her wide eyes darting between groups, unsure where to go. She looked lost, scared.
The little girl had a dark brown skin complexion and wore a long frill night gown decorated with flowers. Each strand of braided hair hung down with a large white ball tied at the end.
I stepped toward her slowly, crouching to her level. “Hey there,” I said gently. “What’s your name?”
She shifted nervously, fidgeting with her hands. “I’m Delilah,” she said in a small voice. “What’s your name, sir?”
I smiled softly, keeping my tone light. “I’m Zeke. Delilah, I’m going to make sure you’re okay. Is that alright? Are your mom or dad here with us?”
Her expression fell, and she clutched her hands tightly. “No… The last thing I remember, my mommy was making me breakfast. Then I took a bath, and… I fell asleep in the tub. When I woke up, I was here, and… and the rocks falling scared me.”
A lump formed in my throat, but I forced myself to stay calm for her sake. “That sounds scary, Delilah. But you’re not alone now, okay?” I pointed toward Jerissa, who was busy wrangling her brother. “See that girl over there? She’s nice, and she’ll help keep you safe. If you ever need anything don’t be afraid to ask. I’m just a little busy right now ok?”
Delilah glanced at Jerissa, then back at me, a small smile creeping onto her face. “Okay, Mister Zeke.”
I patted her lightly on the head. “Good. Go on, stick close to her, alright?”
As she scampered off toward Jerissa, I straightened up and sighed. “This is going to be a handful, isn’t it, Jakob?”
Jakob crossed his arms, nodding toward Jerissa and her brother, who were still locked in an argument. “Yeah, looks like it. Maybe we should go around, ask each group what they’re good at, and start figuring out who can actually help.”
I glanced over the scattered groups—still a mix of confusion spread on their faces. People were tired, nervous, and on edge, but we didn’t have time to let that simmer. “That, I can agree with,” I said, rolling my shoulders. “Let’s get to work.”