Have you ever just passed out before? Like fully passed out from exhaustion, you wake up wondering where the hell anything is and your position in the world. Yeah, that's awesome and nice for Blake, nothing better than to wake up without even knowing you were sleeping.
What you don't want is to wake up somewhere you don't know. Were you kidnapped? Are you in danger? What could anyone want with you? And where are you? What I'm pretty sure is what comes up in anyone's mind is those scenarios, and hopefully, you are just being pranked by some friends or you are just forgetting some details and they're coming back as you wake up. The last ones happened to me a little too much. Chris still loves laughing about that.
Talking about me I'm now awake and my mind is now assessing and realizing some stuff in this order. I am on the floor it's made of stone. The cold bricks are pressing on my face and something blue is before me. Holy SHIT! I'm pretty sure sleeping shouldn't involve this much back or neck pain. Wait I know what's causing this my face is down on the floor turned left, I'm using my left arm to support my torso, butt is slightly raised u. -Wait blue!? I don't have blue curtains and my room doesn't have anything that can make this color, except if someone painted my window but I sleep with my curtains dra.-Wait I’m on the floor. And my bedroom has carpet.
“What in the holy name of Jesus Christ vampire twin sister Cassandra,” I babbled remembering some faint meme I was shared as I raise myself up so as to not be on the floor but stumbling a little as my back and neck were killing me and I really should not agitate it further. But I'm not weak so I'm ignoring my body even if it tries to rebel against me.
“Am I still dreaming?” Let's see if that's correct I'm in a hallway of grey stone, that I noticed when I was standing up. I seem to be at the end of the hall with a wall to my left side and to my right the rest of the hall, it's long as hell. With what looks like nearly hundreds of doorways lining the walls, nothing but that and some pedestals next to the doorways. Talking about looking there's no source of light in here, no torches, lanterns, or electrical lights. The only reason why I can still see is that right in front of me is a swirling mass of blue light in place of where a door should be in a frame. I look again to my right and yup same thing with the other doorways.
“Yeah I'm dreaming, I might as well look and oh a book” Yup on the pedestal is a book, a nice slightly old-looking open leather book. And next to it is a smaller leather book with the crudely carved word “Hello” on its cover. The o and e are a little off, I guess it’s because of the curves it's harder to carve. Never mind that let's open this little bad boy up. ”Reveal your secrets to me o-tome” I dramatically announce before scoffing and mentally kicking myself at what I just did.
Wow…. There is only one page here it's not even attached to the spine of the book someone stapled the piece of paper to the inside. ‘Hello, you may be wondering where you are. You are in the Hallway Of Trials a place where you get to experience hardship like no other and come out of it slightly better than before. These “Trials” are challenges that make you go through a survival scenario where you are tasked to survive for a period of time. These scenarios can be about anything from a natural disaster like a major flood and earthquake to a large infestation of beasts actively seeking you. By the end of it you are to be analyzed based on your performance in the Trial and rewarded with “points”.’-
“Pff. What is this some sort of survival roguelike? You go in you survive for a little bit then you come out grabbing stuff for your next play through” I joked to myself noticing the similarity's
‘-These points are usable inside of a shop to gain advantages in your next trial [”Ha new it”] in the form of enhancement and tools. You will encounter the shop later so don't look for it. This is all I am going to reveal as you will learn all the other things about this place in and after your first trial. This more or less is just a greeting for your arrival here. And good luck with your first time, be careful, don't think you know anything about where you are, and read the trial description nice and slow.- Matthew Pin’
Wow, he really made a book for one page, introduced some stuff in the most nondescript way possible, and then left not saying anything. What a great introduction.
Grabbing the smaller book on instinct l lean on the wall. Let's take that advice and read nice and slow.
It is one page again. It's attached to the spine this time but there is nothing on the other side. Nothing but consistent I guess.
{Welcome to the first trial: Introduction to Surviving on your own
Task: Survive for a week in the wilderness in specific a forest. Something you may not be used to or know about but you will learn that there is more than animals and dirt.
Note: There will be no animals or creatures in this trial except for small and medium-sized animals {bunnies, foxes, wolves, and deer.}
“Ok, this is kinda funny, nice one dream” I mutter to myself at the not so subtle insult before jumping in place as im startled by a piece of floating blue paper. Jesus, I was scarred by that thankfully no one else is here and I don't have to tell anyone about this embarrassing moment. Oh, and look “Trial Shop” I guess Matt was useful.
Also another sudden appearance this time by another blue piece of paper this time not startling me. ”As a gift for your first time In the Hallway of Trials, you are given one free purchase from the beginning portion of the shop. Choose wisely "nice a free gift”. Grabbing the pamphlet I see things are separated by categories each with a small cartoon image and title there are books, some weapons like a sword for some reason, and tools there we go. Hmm If I remember correctly the military and people in general usually employs knives when in the wild so I’ll go with that. And not even having to confirm just with a thought and with a flash of yellow. The pamphlet is gone and I have a new black survival knife with a simple leather holster. Wait dumb moment it's a sheath, not holster that's for a gun.
The thing is not heavy but has a discernible amount of weight on it and pulling it out of the sheath the thing was a shiny black, like steel with a simple leather handle.
After looking over, admiring, and making practice slash's in the air with the blade I get up from the wall from my sitting position and walk to the swirling light, and from my standing position jump in.
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*blink* Awesome I'm now in a small field surrounded by trees. After looking around I have the urge to try and do one of what Chris calls a 'Action hero one liner' embarrassingly enough.
Taking a breath I took out my new knife and took it from its sheath before clearing my throat. “Aham Aham. Time to get to work” I flipped my knife into the air and then tried to catch it while saying this. But since I was looking forward and not at the thing I was trying to catch from the air you would think I would just not catch it. It would just fall to the ground around me or somehow be like a meter or two somewhere else. Nope, I caught it… By its blade. I just cut up the palm of my hand, lightly but still.
With the combined power of me being shaken out of my cool guy acting scene, me not expecting to be cut, and me not expecting to be in pain.
I screamed. ”Oh shit-mmm fuck- bitcj wha- oh god heaven Jesus why?” I then had the revelation of why my cheeks flooding with red. “Holy Shiva I’m an idiot, try to catch a knife without looking you'll be Fine.” I gritted out emphasizing and dragging out 'Fine'
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"Damn it" I cursed shacking my hand rapidly to disperse the pain "Oh bitch" I gritted out stopping and then clamping down on my palm tight realizing that instead I agitated it with rapid movement causing more pain.
...
Wait a second PAIN…not normal for a dream but it happens at times even if its odd but its possible to feel pain or some other sense. But this is diffrent then all my other dreams, it always was in a sort of hazy and distant feeling semi there but not really. Not This! And now that I think of it you are not supposed to be able to read in a dream. Parts of your thinking organ turn off to conserve energy. Useless knowledge from TV is finally showing its worth.
“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA-” Yeah I'm starting to freak out here and am going to continue so for a good 5 minutes as the reality of it all finally sinks in.
I AM SCREWED. I have no survival experience never even been camping. My only source of knowledge is Bear Grylls's show in Memories from 9 years ago and the only clear thing from that is in dire scenes you should drink your own pee.
And now after likely an hour of having a small “Five stages of grief” moment. I was denying everything going back to the thought of this being a dream and then trying to prove it by forcing myself awake by bashing my head into a tree. Didnt work but forced me into anger where I screamed at the top of my lungs to the hallway, but nothing happened. I then tried to beg on my hands and knees Japan style to the hall to again no effect. Then for the last 16 minutes, I have been crying in depression. But now I'm fine and I will survive. Hopefully
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DAY 1: Found this neat little journal on me in my pockets. So I guess the Hall can be kind sometimes I guess. I have found some berries and have decided to eat them as I have been wondering about for a good hour or so. I haven't seen animals yet but a little rabbit earlier so that's good I guess. Im primarily looking to find myself a cave or clearing to make my own so I'll update this later I guess.
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I have just found out that the berries while bitter a bit also cause diarrhea as the last 5 minutes have taught me. I have written down the description of the berries in my notebook, boy this is going to be tough.
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Found myself a little cave by a lake ill camp out here today. And lucky me I remember that you can use your shoelaces to start a fire thanks Grylls you are my new hero. Also, my knife came in handy when I had to go and gather some sticks and dead leaves. Especially the large teeth on the neck(or spine?) it let me gather some good pieces. Haven't eaten all day this is going to suck.
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DAY 2: Found a rabbit that got trapped by some fallen rocks. I have never felt less guilty about something in my life, Didnt fill me because it's lean meat if I remember correctly. GOD I miss food so much.
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I have found more berries. These look like blueberries found a bush right next to the berries from yesterday. I heard you can wipe them on your skin by crushing them to tell what they do to the body as some berries can look alike I guess. I think they're fine they are blueberries probably. The problem is there is only one bush.
I don't want to get lost so I'm trying to stay in sight of the lake. I'm also trying to mark the trees to help me find this place better. That's what people do right?
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Midday got jumped by a fox in a bush it thought that I was some weakling it could easily kill. Fair but still a little hurtful. Luckily I had my knife out and I didn't fall on it so while it was trying to attack me I used my forearm to defend against its jaw. It Sctracted the hell out of my chest but survived. Especially since I threw my body onto the ground on top of it and then while it was struggling stabbed its body around 5 times. It died. Giving me 5 long scratches on my chest didn't do anything lethal but was painful. And my forearm is torn so yeah sad to say but I was on the floor crying my eyes out after cursing.
Like so ”og fuc oh dam, oh bastard son of the heir of a whore why. HWy did you curse me are you that terribly evil?” and I don't remember the other creative curses I made. I think thats sad.
Took the fox to my cave before I cleaned up my wound in the water. Don't know if it's safe but I've been drinking here for a while so hopefully. Tried to cook the fox but kinda like the rabbit I didn't know how to skin or dismantle it. So I ruined the meat as when I put it in the fire it smelt horrible and I threw It out into the lake in a hissy fit. I'm getting desperate man people can live three weeks or even a month and a half or so without food normally as long as they have water. This is because people have their fat stores but for me, I’m rail thin so I don't have much to burn since I’m moving constantly and I barely had any fat on me to start with despite being lazy and eating junk food a lot. Was thankful for that since I'm not fat but I think it's kinda screwing me over now.
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DAY 5: My wounds still hurt after resting mostly for the past 2 days and barely going out to find food and now my focus is on how hungry I am. More berry bushes would be great god. Or maybe a magical goblin who takes burnt fox in trade for a cheeseburger. Wait arnt their supposed to be animals here? I just realized Im pretty lucky I haven't died from animals finding me yet. looking down and yeah I don't think my arm is going to be fine. The thing from just a quick glance looked awful the thing was crusted over like a scab but was covered in a green color looking like a cyst.
Pushing myself up from the ground feels like trying to move through water the air feeling like it has weight to it that gives it resistance. Walking for a while I try to identify anything before I found salvation a bush of berries I looked at it for a moment before throwing myself in eating as many berries as I could grabbing and ripping as many as possible in fists before shoving them into my mouth. They looked like juicy blackberries and tasted very sweet already but the sheer amount made the sugar intense.
After eating as many was needed for satisfaction my body feels strange. My mouth was fuzzy like it was drenched in something burning acidic like pineapple juice with that feeling radiating outward to the rest of my body. My eyes were heavy demanding that they shut so that it may remain shut likely from eating so many sweet berries. And a heavy feeling was pressing down on my shoulders to the point I didnt try to fight back as I feel down to the dirt.
That was great I numbly thought to myself the feeling of fuz and weight comparable to drinking something sweet and satisfying like hot cocoe and then crawling into bed. But a small bit of that itch felt odd like a ever present scratching or peeling just underneath my flesh uncomfortable but nothing to that couldn't be ignored even as the feeling grew.
-{ END of trial attempt} Hey who said that?
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Woke up with a start eyes blinking rapidly to shake off the lingering exhaustion. My mind is back not delirious from my injuries and with the new clarity all of what happened were looked at without any hazy or blurry lenses.
Oh god I think just died I realized with a startle before looking around seeing that I was infront of the Trials "door". Drawing my head down I look toward my body and arms noticing it is healed and back to when I first went in from the small amount of fat present back under my ribs. My clothes though are pretty dirty still especially my long sleeves which are torn not to mention my chest.
After the inspection of my body a small dripping catches my senses. Looking up I search for the source of liquid before finding nothing. Reaching up to my face I touch were the liquid touched. OH its tears. I haven't cried in a while.
At that emotions seemingly appeared from nowhere as the crying intensified. Rage, anger, sadness for some reason, indignation, other emotions my words cant grasp. All seemed to swirl around drowning out the world. At a certain moment it felt less like crying and more like observing someone crying while feeling empathetic to their blight paradoxically letting the emotions still feel personal enough to not feel truly detached. I think I am screaming now sobbing I think it's technically called, the actions im doing feeling like they're done not by any logic or thought but with just emotion movements happening with nothing but instinct. After minutes maybe an hour the emotions finally die down going from a whirlwind to a breeze all that energy being gone too my body and mind exhausted.
I think going to sleep now is the best thing I can do let my body rest and mind recover.
And so before I collapse to the ground I instead lower myself as carefully as I can
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After a pretty nice bout of no sleep I’m awake now and in front of me are two kids both pretty white looking but so am I so I can't judge. Let's see about the rest of their appearance though. One is wearing a brown pair of pants and a white shirt with some torn red overalls and the other is wearing some jeans and a t-shirt depicting a cartoon controller both with some sneaker-.
Oh shit with growing realization tied with a sense of tight coiling worry in my chest I come to the only conclusion. That kids are a part of this now, and by the way their clothes look the horribly long tears depicting claws, and the sight of dried tears paired with red eyes on their faces. They just went through their first trial Attempt. Or multiple with how their cloths looked somehow worst then mine.