As Gordon plummeted through the air, the whistling wind drowned out all other sounds. Time seemed to stretch infinitely as he glanced downward at the rapidly approaching ground. He found an eerie acceptance in those fleeting moments, surrendering to the inevitable. With a deep breath, he closed his eyes and waited, embracing the encroaching darkness.
The seconds crawled by, each one a lifetime in itself. His body's weight pulled him relentlessly toward the earth, and he could almost feel gravity tightening its grip. As he inched closer and closer to his presumed end, his mind began to drift. Images of his past, moments of joy and sorrow, blended into a kaleidoscope of memories.
With a jarring thud, Gordon hit the ground. But instead of the expected, bone-crushing impact, he felt a curious sensation beneath him. The surface was soft and yielding, like an enormous trampoline. Confusion mingled with relief as he opened his eyes, daring to hope. To his astonishment, he found himself lying on a sprawling, bouncy surface, not unlike the foam pit at an amusement park.
He lay there, breathing heavily, his heart pounding in his chest as he tried to comprehend this unexpected turn of events. The world around him seemed oddly peaceful, the chaos of his fall replaced by a surreal calm. Gordon slowly sat up, feeling the resilience of the surface beneath him. His body was intact and unharmed, and as the reality of his survival began to sink in, a shaky smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.
"Huh!... I'm alive. How's this possible?" Gordon muttered, his voice cracking with disbelief.
His mind teetered on the edge of sanity as he touched the ground—hard and unyielding. The realization clashed violently with the chaos in his brain.
His heart pounded like a frantic drum, breaths coming in jagged gasps. He frantically patted the solid surface beneath him as if expecting it to morph into some semblance of reason. The cold sweat and racing thoughts made the world blur into a surreal nightmare.
"This can't be real... it just can't be," he whispered, his voice barely audible. The thin thread of rationality slipped further from his grasp, leaving him clinging desperately to the edge of madness.
Gordon, torn away from the soft landing, found himself on an endless path lined with countless doors. The cold, dimly lit corridor stretched infinitely in both directions, casting eerie shadows that danced along the walls. His heart sank as he steadied himself, dread tightening its grip on his soul.
"Where am I?" he whispered, his voice trembling with a mix of fear and sorrow. He gazed around, every door identical and uninviting.
"This place is filled with doors, but how will I return..."
Despair weighed heavily on him as he tentatively stepped forward, the floor creaking under his weight. The corridor seemed to close in on him, each door a silent guardian to unknown horrors. The endless path offered no solace, only the haunting realization that he was utterly alone in this twisted labyrinth.
The dim hallway was filled with shadows, but one door stood out among the rest. Gordon couldn't tear his eyes away from it. A soft, almost ethereal glow seeped through the cracks, casting an eerie light on the worn floorboards.
"What is that door, why is it glowing?" he whispered, more to himself than to anyone else.
Drawn to it like a moth to a flame, Gordon inched closer, his heart pounding with a mix of fear and curiosity. As he neared, he noticed a word etched into the wood beside the door. It read: 'INCOMPLETE'.
"What does this mean?" he muttered, his voice barely audible over the silence that pressed in around him. The door seemed to whisper back, the glow pulsing gently as if it were alive, holding secrets just beyond its threshold.
With every step he took toward it, the feeling of something unknown and mysterious wrapped tighter around his senses, beckoning him to uncover what lay on the other side...
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"It's precisely as it proclaims: 'incomplete,'" the voice intoned, carrying an enigmatic tone that echoed with the authority of artificial intelligence, intriguing all who heard it.
Gordon's face drained of color as the voice echoed through the empty halls. His heart pounded in his chest, drowning out the eerie silence. The air around him grew cold, and an unsettling presence pressed against his back. He swallowed hard, every hair on his body standing on end. Trembling, he turned his head ever so slowly, dreading what he might find lurking in the shadows behind him.
Right before him, a mesmerizing orb floated in mid-air, its surface shifting and swirling with an ever-changing array of colors reminiscent of the Siri icon from Apple. The sphere seemed to pulse with a life of its own, casting a captivating glow that drew him in closer.
'What is that?' Gordon wondered, his thoughts racing like wildfire through his mind as he made his way through the dimly lit chamber [https://img.wattpad.com/0d0a9cc8649702be26adf3329f2a52821f80b63d/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f4b3745356e38674a756e396c52773d3d2d313530353032383031332e313832353933373839346435346435333531343031313835393137392e6a7067?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
"What is that?" Gordon wondered, his thoughts racing like wildfire through his mind as he made his way through the dimly lit chamber. The air was thick with anticipation, each breath laden with the scent of ancient dust and forgotten dreams.
As if sensing his curiosity, the orb pulsed with a soft light, and suddenly a voice emerged, both soothing and mechanical, resonating with a depth that seemed to echo off the stone walls. "I am the custodian of forgotten secrets, Gordon. Your journey begins now. You may call me Author."
Gordon's heart quickened at the name, a strange mixture of skepticism and intrigue coursing through him. "Ok, 'Author,' where am I?" he questioned, his voice barely a whisper, as though speaking too loudly might shatter the fragile atmosphere around them.
"You stand at the threshold of the Archive of Lost Epics," the orb intoned, light swirling within its depths like restless spirits. "A realm where the stories of the past intertwine with the echoes of possibility. Here, forgotten tales linger, waiting to be rekindled by those brave enough to seek them."
Gordon took a cautious step forward, the flickering light illuminating his path. He could barely comprehend the weight of those words. "What kind of stories?" he asked, his senses sharpening with each revelation.
"Stories of heroes and villains, of love and betrayal, of worlds uncharted and destinies rewritten. Each tale resonates with lessons and truths, imparting wisdom lost to time." The orb seemed to gaze into him as if perceiving the very fabric of his being. "But beware, for knowledge comes with both enlightenment and peril."
"Why me?" Gordon asked, feeling a sudden weight of responsibility settle upon his shoulders. "What makes me worthy to uncover these secrets?"
"Your spirit is one of inquiry and adventure," The Author replied, its tone imbued with a sense of purpose. "You are chosen not for your past, but for what lies ahead. The decisions you make from this moment on will shape the very fabric of these stories."
Gordon's mind was a whirlwind of excitement and fear. The orb's light intensified, casting long shadows that flickered like whispers. "What must I do?" he asked, feeling a spark of determination ignite within him.
"First, you must decide: Will you embrace the tales of the Archive, or turn back to the familiarity of your reality? The choice is yours, but know that each choice unlocks a different path." The Author paused, its presence almost palpable in the air. "But be warned, once you step through the doors, there is no turning back."
Gordon took a deep breath, his heart resonating with the possibility of what lay ahead. The allure of adventure, the potential for discovery, and the chance to be part of something greater beckoned to him. With a resolute nod, he stepped forward, his resolve solidifying.
"I choose to embrace the stories," Gordon declared, excitement coursing through his veins. "Show me what lies beyond."
The orb hummed in approval, its light enveloping him in a soft glow. "Very well, brave seeker. Your journey begins now. Embrace the tales, learn their secrets, and let them guide you."
Gordon turned to face the large door before him, its intricate carvings calling to him like stories yearning to be told. With a steady hand, he grasped the cool knob and turned it, the soft click echoing in the stillness. As he pushed the door open, a bright light flooded the space, illuminating his surroundings with a warm, inviting glow.The door swung shut behind him, sealing away the familiar world and its limitations. In that moment, he felt a profound shift—a transition from the past to the infinite potential of the future. It was as if he had shed an old skin, ready to embrace the hero he was destined to become.
"Good luck, hero," the soft voice of Author whispered in his mind, wrapping him in a wave of reassurance as he stepped forward. With renewed courage, Gordon took a deep breath, realizing this was not just another chapter; it was the dawn of a new path, a trajectory toward his true purpose. Embracing the brilliance that surrounded him, he stepped boldly into the unknown, ready to weave the tapestry of his destiny.