There was pitch black.
Or, I guess you could say there wasn't anything at all. I suppose this is what the feeling of "not seeing" is like, if that makes sense.
...
I can move my head around just fine. It seems like my senses are still intact.
This is really creeping me out.
Oh?
I can see. There they are. My arms, my legs.
But they're... really mine.
This body is my own. Not someone else's.
"Can you hear me?"
A voice echoed throughout the void. I tried looking around for it to no avail. After a few seconds, I heard it call again.
It's just the same incomprehensible mess as before...
"H-hello? What's going on?"
I waited for a response.
Nothing.
I tapped my feet impatiently.
Nothing.
"Wow. Just great. Am I in a coma or something? Where do I even-"
I looked down to my feet and saw that the "floor" was beginning to wobble.
"Oh."
It caved inwards, dragging down the plane of nothingness into one singularity.
.
.
.
I remember it like yesterday.
It was the day that marked the end of a long rainy season. How the heavens parted ways for the sun and painted a rainbow in the sky.
Of course, I couldn't go outside. All I could do was try and picture in my mind what the world was like. I wanted to know. The feeling of wind on your back and grass on your feet. The sand that bends beneath you and the waters that wash away footprints. The cold white frost of winter and the burns that come from summer.
Always, every single day, I would imagine of a place that was anywhere but here.
The cold, gray cobblestone and flickering candlelight whittled away my dreams. There wasn't even a window in my chambers. I can't say when it was last that I had seen sunlight. Maybe I was just born in here.
My brothers and sisters would visit occasionally, some more than others. I would straighten my back from bed and try my best to act strong as they knocked on the door. It was immensely agonizing, but I wanted to appear in good health. That way, I might be able to be free from here.
But they never seemed to believe me. And yet, I never stopped trying.
I read somewhere about how courage in the face of struggle is what gives a hero their strength.
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.
.
.
I woke up from bed, gasping for air.
"Argh... damn! My head!"
I couldn't stand. I was forced to hold myself against the wall. My legs started to buckle. My body trembled as I lowered myself to put my back against the side of my bed.
...
I need to breathe. I just need to calm myself a bit.
What was that? Who spoke?
"Hello? Hello? Are you there?"
...
I was alone in my room. It's morning again.
It just doesn't make sense. I can't remember falling asleep here. I swear I was at the colosseum, no?
And this voice of mine. It's similar- no, it's exactly the same. The voice in the dream I had.
The dream.
Right.
...
"But what if it wasn't a dream?"
I walked along the brick pathway, yawning and rubbing my eyes until they began to burn.
"Are you alright?" Audi asked, stopping midway to check up on me. "Didn't get much sleep, huh?"
"No. I had a rough day yesterday. It's nothing, really..."
She had a doubtful expression but decided against saying anything else. I don't want to worry her, though it doesn't feel great for me to hide my feelings, either.
"If you say so."
We resumed our uneventful morning walk to class.
I couldn't really focus today. My body was all... off.
At some moments, my arms were twitching and brimming with energy. Other times, I felt this strange calm wash over me.
Looking around at the people around me, I can see the faintest of... something that I can't really describe. It might sound weird, but I think I'm starting to see auras, for a lack of better words.
"Erm, are you even listening to what I have to say?" Stu asked, waving a hand in front of my eyes. "Hello?"
I was holding a spoon, but I didn't realize that I was supposed to eat my lunch.
"Wh- huh? Oh, sorry!" I said, chuckling a little. "This meal just looks too good! Wasn't thinking a thing else!"
BAM!
What? What just happened?
That didn't feel right.
I accidentally launched Stu across the lunch table.
"Gyah! He's gonna kill us and gobble us up!" Elise cried.
Audi went to his aid, checking for any signs of damage. She shook him about, though he only muttered something under his breath.
"Hey, I know he's an idiot, but what did you do that for? If he landed on his head..."
"I- I'm sorry, I didn't mean to! It was just a nudge!"
There were a lot of eyes on me. I lowered my head and kept to myself.
I swear, it was just a nudge...
Luckily, I escaped without much of an issue. But now, the thing I've been dreading is about to begin.
I'm totally unprepared right now. There's no way I can get anything productive done with my senses all messed up.
I arrived where I was supposed to be. It was time for practice... or so it was supposed to be.
"What?! You can't just close the colosseum! The game starts in a few days!"
Captain Tomas was busy arguing with two student council members.
One of them was a tall and boney (and I mean it like a skeleton, because boy was there no meat on this kid's face) third-year with a purple bowl-cut, sporting a pair of glasses that he kept pushing up every five seconds. He was busy scribbling something on a notepad
"Speaking back unprompted to a member of the student council. Another violation..."
Next to him was a short but ferocious looking girl with fangs for teeth and a stream of messy blonde locks. She was carrying around a metal bat and grinned like a maniac. And of course, she's the same year as him.
"Oh, c'mon, Mikey!" She said, snatching the notepad out of his hands. "Violation this, violation that! Y'know, if you want a punk to really learn something, then you gotta beat it into them!"
"Violence is another violation. Melissa Biscuit Beaumont, I demand at once you hand back my notepad, or else I will write that up as another violation."
"Stop calling me that every single time!"
His lanky arms reached over, and they began to wrestle over a stupid book.
...This is getting nowhere. Everyone else looks like they've given up.
I suppose I should try something.
"Excuse me, but is there a reason for the closure? It was open yesterday, was it not?"
They paused mid-fight, considering my words. After that, they dusted their clothes and changed their tune.
"Well, for one, there's an ongoing investigation regarding... an incident that occurred earlier. We cannot disclose the information of the case, but until further notice, the colosseum will be off-limits. No exceptions."
"Hmmm? How unfortunate! And here I thought we could get some more practice for the game. It's one of the largest school events, where we do our best not only in the field, but also to excite and entertain everyone. Every major game has been so close, neck and neck, but at this rate, we just don't stand a chance! I can't bear to imagine the looks on everyone's faces, how disappointed they would be, and how nobody would ever retur-"
"Eeeeugh! You're making my ears bleed with how much talking you're doing."
"I understand your frustrations, but there really is nothing that can be done. We've discussed long enough."
Damn. I really didn't want to try this. Whatever.
"B-b-b-but regardless, I don't think we can continue our club without access to the colosseum, given our member count. Surely there must be another method? A place as spacious as the colosseum?"
I felt a hand on my shoulder. To my shock, captain Tomas was telling me to stop.
"Listen, Boles. You've done enough. We'll cut our losses and find another way to get some exercise in."
"I... I guess I can't argue if that's your choice."
One by one, the team started to leave. I was on my way, too, until I heard Mikey call out to me.
"Boles. That's your name isn't it? I've heard a lot about you, from a certain junior of mine."
A certain junior?
"Huh. So... do you need anything?"
A moment of silence ensued. I could feel him looking into my eyes.
Then, he broke contact, turning his attention away to the sky.
"...No. It's nothing."