I opened my eyes to see an empty area. I looked up and saw a field of nothing. Everything was just gray, all the same color. There was no light, but I could still see.

I walked forward for a bit, with nothing else to do. I didn't hear any noises, and just looked at the land around me. There were pillars of rocks, boulders, I thought I saw a mountain off in the distance. None of it seemed like anything. It was just there.

I couldn't remember what happened before I came down here. I was in my bedroom with Elle, and then I had thrown her into the wall. She said something. I didn't remember what it was.

I must have walked around for a whole day, eventually even the large mountains just looked the same as the ground. It didn't look like anything. It was like a sky without color. You could look into it, and it would still be the same. I looked around for so long that I couldn't even tell if I was still standing up.

I tripped and fell on my back, and I couldn't get back up. Everything around me looked the same, I don't know which way I'm looking.

A noise! Finally! I heard the sound of a fast wind coming my way, but I still couldn't move. I could tell where the sound was coming from, though. I turned my head to face the sound, and slowly got up without being able to see anything. I wonder if this is how the world looks like to the blind.

The wind was coming toward me, faster than I could react. Before I knew it I could see something. There was someone right in front of me.

"Where have you come from?"

In another second they were already gone. The wind rushed right past me, it felt like I was in the middle of a tornado, but my feet didn't move. I still felt the ground underneath me.

The wind came from every direction, and voices popped up just to disappear.

"Who are you?"

"Why are you not with us?"

"He is so young!"

"How can he be one of us?"

"What is your name, young man?"

The wind didn't pick up again.

"What?"

"I asked you what your name was. I do not know how long I may remain before I am swept away once more, please do grant me an answer."

"Celio- I think that's my name?"

"You 'think'? How does one forget their own name? I have been thrown around for endless time yet I still know the moniker of Brindle the Sturdy."

"I don't know- I- I'm not sure where I am."

"Well, I still can not tell if you are truly one of us. We usually see the arrivals gather before him."

"Him? What? Arrivals-"

He was blown away by the wind.

"You are not supposed to be here."

Was that her voice? Well if she was her she could probably help me.

"Miss Larche?"

I turned around and saw her, but she didn't smile at me like she usually does.

"I do not know the name which you speak."

"It's you, isn't it? What do you mean you don't know your own name?"

"Were you not asked that mere moments ago?"

"I- What are you talking about? Where am I?"

"How do I appear before you, child?"

"What do you mean "appear"? You look like yourself, Miss Larche."

"How do you know this 'Miss Larche'?"

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"You've taught me for the past few months, how could you forget me after one night?"

She paused and opened her eyes. They didn't look like eyes at all, more like holes that let me look straight into her head. There was nothing, just pure black.

"You are of his kind, but it has been quite the time since someone has ventured to these depths. Where is your guide?"

"Guide? Do you mean Elle? I told you, I don't like her-"

"My part in this feud was meant to come much later, have they rescinded their promise to me?"

"Miss Larche, I do not mean to be mean, but you look weird. Are you sick?"

She closed her eyes again.

"Listen, child. Whoever you see before you is not what is actually before you. They are merely an image in your mind of me."

"What are you talking about? Miss Larche I want to go back to my bedroom."

"Open your eyes, child."

"What do you mean? My eyes are open. I'm looking at you right now."

She put her hands on the sides of my head. Since when were her hands so big? Was she even putting her entire hand on me? It felt like a single finger.

"Child, open your eyes."

I forced my eyes more open than they already were for a few seconds, and a burst of light was there right as I was finally able to see. The things around me were no longer gray, and I could see the mountains and pillars that had disappeared. I saw people flying around, all of them lying without moving while they were thrown between rocks and... more rocks.

I looked toward the voice that I had heard and-

Everything that had happened came back to me as I saw him. He was gigantic, bigger than any of the major cities in Articulago. How did Elle send me down here? How- just where was I? Was there a cave as large as this right below the orphanage? Everything was rushing through my head at max speed, I couldn't take it!

I closed my eyes just as I threw up. I felt his finger on my back as I threw up, slowly patting me. I felt like I would pass out. I heard some words coming from him that I couldn't make out, and after about a minute of throwing up, I was standing upright without any issue.

When I looked back at him-

Looked? My eyes were closed. How was I seeing anything?

"How can I see?"

"How do I appear before you now, child?"

"Where am I?"

"They have sent you to me for a reason I have yet to discern. They often meddle with lives that should be kept out of their control."

I had stopped throwing up but I still couldn't think straight. Why did Elle send me here? Just where am I? How could I- What- I- I can't breathe! I can't stand! I put my head down, I was about to throw up again. My chest hurt. My legs shook like they were about to crumble.

I was back. I felt his finger on me once more, and I stood with no issues.

"Must I coddle you endlessly? Do not struggle to comprehend that which is around you. You will be clear of this plane with due time. Should you wish to remain sane, you must keep your eyes fully closed."

I shut my eyes like I was forcing myself to fall asleep. I pulled them closed until I couldn't feel my face anymore, and when I finally stopped I no longer felt sick. I brought my head back up and looked forward, I saw a black dot right in front of me.

"Now, how do I appear before you at this instant?"

I could barely view him, but when I moved a bit to the side I saw a line. Something like a drawing made by a young kid.

"You look like a squiggly line, kind of like a really thin wurm?"

"Very well. Walk with me, child. I must bring you to a place away from these men."

The line started moving away, and I started walking with it. As long as I could see the line I was able to do everything normally, but when I looked away from it I felt like I would throw up again.

"How can I see?"

"Hm? Ah. Well, it would be quite the burden on your undeveloped state to explain the images you are viewing. Perhaps when you come to me again I shall grant you an explanation."

Wha- So he was just going to not answer me? Now he really seemed like Miss Larche.

"Listen, child. You are not supposed to be here."

"Then why am I here?"

"I do not know that, all I can say is that you must wait to be returned. I am going to take you to a place reserved for those closest to the gentle nightmare that lies above. While I converse with that which has stranded you here, I ask that you wait with them."

"Closest to "what lies above"? Does that mean they're close to where I came from?"

"Well, in a sense, yes. They shall accompany you for the time I shall leave you here. I would rather you find conversation with them than the others that are fully subject to the conditions of this place."

After that, we walked for moments without speaking at all. This entire time I didn't hear any footsteps from him, he sounded more like a stick being dragged on the ground.

The sound of that stick suddenly stopped, and I felt his finger stop me from walking any further.

"You are unable to traverse this part by yourself, child. Remain still, I shall bring you across."

I didn't take another step. I felt a new ground on my feet. It wasn't flat, and it was very soft. I couldn't stay standing, and I tripped and fell into it. It felt like my bed, sort of. It was kind of oily, and I felt dirty lying on it. I was just lying there waiting for him to let me go for a while. I needed to draw a bath for myself when he brought me back to the orphanage.

"You may open your eyes now, Child."

"I can't. I shut them too hard when you told me to."

"Very well."

He turned away from me and toward whatever was in front of me.

"This child is my guest, If I am to find him in a state any different than the one I view now, you shall find yourselves with a different seer."

"Truly? You let us remain here in eternity and yet we have not your trust to leave a child untouched?"

"I was primarily speaking to you. Your peers have proven their placement, you may as well be here through nothing but courtesy."

"Well, I am sure you understand what is to happen if you tread upon that courtesy. It was not yours to give."

"I do not wish to produce a heinous display of violence, however, you must acknowledge that your words incite such actions before they come to fruition."

Both of them stopped speaking, and I saw the line go far up above me. Eventually, it turned back into a dot and then fully disappeared, and I was left with random voices that were all around. I still couldn't open my eyes.

The first voice I heard was a woman's.