Autumn brown

I was thrown in what was an unknown, unfamiliar place. Despite that statement however, it was awfully nostalgic. And as my feet touched solid ground, what was known as an overpowering ‘instinct’ drove me. The destination was far ahead, in due time this place would crumble; and it was why I, as well as many others had to move.

First-world dream problems was that I could see nothing. The entire surrounding was dark, the lightless kind. Lost, I ceased any movement other than breathing and the slight twitch of facial expression. Observing my dark surroundings, I was strangely in calm despite the somewhat unexpected/ expected situation I found myself in. It was slowly and gradually that vague silver linings took shape. They slowly formed into forms of buildings that were stiffly rectangular and in a standing vertical position. The buildings had little to no design crafted on. It was plain and unattractive; only producing the slightest and bare minimum glow in order to light our surroundings to lead us there. The buildings itself weren’t luminous but the lines that shaped it were. A semi-transparent building, reminding one of a glass city.

The city, of course were everything but bundled together. Instead, they were aligned in an irregular horizontal manner. The purpose of it I suspect was that the path intended to lead us, to wherever we had to go and so we went accordingly. The journey was yet to start however, as platforms of solid marble appeared in an orderly fashion but placed, like the buildings irregularly. One by one they emerged from the empty solid ground whereupon I stood. The size of either of the platforms were random I think. Empty spaces were not left with holes of abyss but were filled with still waters in replacement. It was deep and although the liquid was clear, what led was the lack of light. Unable to estimate the depth of water, I simply glance towards my surrounding that were filled with humanoid figures in vague approximation to my age. The water flowed from an unknown source. No pipes to be seen or rain that filled the gaps.

A variety of human beings took place, before their faces were seen in vague description; only their presences lingered. I could somehow tell that they were there, probably having the same thoughts of I. the difference despite all odds was that their goals were clearer. They knew and understood what awaited them and the result of such. Unlike I, which travelled accordingly like some sort of migratory bird, their eyes were clear.

They formed packs err- groups. In twos, threes, fours. As for Me? I had one too. It was only in coincidence but I had felt his presence that was closer all this while, he was there all this time in serene silence. To describe this nameless companion of mine was an easy task. He had autumn brown hair with streaks of slight butterscotch. A distinct face I might add, Dark brown eyes and a well-proportioned face alongside a seemingly forever plastered smile that I took comfort in. Not in disgust nor suspicion. The man was of quiet nature, a listener in shorter terms. Approachable; the atmosphere around him oozed with ease and nostalgia, as if you’d known him for decades; have a heartbreak, a problem? Hell yes! But worry not. Walk up to him and he’ll listen; either in wanted silence or in given short lived advice.

A decent and pleasant guy; so we traveled. Our journey heads north, the intentions of the path laid out a given. From the start and throughout the journey I was a talkative one. Words that come one after another in a rapid manner. As if the mere sound of my voice was there in the form of words to sooth myself from this ever unknown instinct to move forward. It went against my original nature however as I’d preferred the calmness of a short-lived story and a type of sound that would lay low; not a machine gun of a mouth.

Ripples formed on the still and dark waters of the lands we were in. small droplets that could almost be seen as adorable splashed in a mild manner; staining the black marbled tiles with their cool bodies. Strangely, whereupon adolescents enjoyed games in these shallows waters, I feared it instead. The clear but dark depth seemed bottomless and will hold no bias towards any entity no matter how prodigious, powerful one could be. All were equal if caught in traps of air-filled bubbles (the ones that splashed). Perhaps fish were an exception? Nonetheless, the feeling of dread was one I’d rather avoid. ‘It’ll swallow me and I’ll drown’.  The other living beings played around in a mischievous manner in the given shallow liquids of this realm. The waters surround the tiles as well as the glowing buildings, filling in any empty gaps. The scene was strange one, people were traveling either in strained tension or chatting calmly in a slacked manner. I was of the latter but my pleasant partner the one before that. He was still smiling, closer to a grin. His eyes enjoyed the talkative me as it broke the already quiet place (and pace). But like I, as well as many others the journey tired out our bodies. A slight exhaustion that autumn brown failed to cover could not escape my eyes. Sweat dribbled down, and I’d doubt that was even possible in this temperature-less place if it weren’t for the fact I’d seen those droplets myself.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

Despite such troubles of exhaustion) no worries were stumbled upon. We needed no food nor water to survive. Moving only forward in accordance to the path given. That was all. It was half way through the journey however that the weight occurred. The ‘weight’ was an intensified gravity. The pressure forced upon was not heavy to the point where we would be at our knees but more so a slight tug downwards. The feeling was strange and foreign but felt a tad bit weird nonetheless (like when you’d just got out of the bed sort of feeling alongside the weight of the world on your shoulders and you’ll wish no involvement of the already occurring end of this world; the exaggeration of filtered and sugar coated words of society pulls at you, creating ripples in your once pure and still mind. Corrupted, trapped, with no chance of flee.) It was an exaggeration, but hey! Okay…

Moving on, the desperation of our goals were like individual weights (perhaps the one we felt). The journey will and shall continue. Resume the path given, resume for what we seek is still far ahead. After what seemed of hours maybe closer to that of days the destination took slight shape in forms of yet again, stiff standing buildings. But, right at that moment the luminous and never ending row of light sources grew. That shot up in height, the lights glowing brighter that ever leaving sense of inferiority and powerlessness remaining. The surprise of such warm welcome shook my core, the scene was somewhat beautiful in a serene sense. Blending to the white, circus-like lights that seemed to mock us upon our arrival. Ahead were more buildings, pitch black in colour; differing in various heights? The eerie black building were of similar material to that of the floors’ tiles. Smooth in surface and shorter that the formerly shorter glowing, vertically arranged city. The sight placed in a somewhat crowded manner but not too tightly. Giving space to walk and breathe thankfully.

The glowing stiff pillars stood proudly (still) guiding us.

Ahead was our fate, destiny. Without taking a single glance to what we’ve passed we searched suitable platforms (which was the said city that is ahead) to take ‘camp’ on. Soon, the majority had taken claim on at least a climbable platform. The city of black glass absorbed sources of given light; the silhouettes of owners glowed. Seemingly through the gifts of glass. I as well as autumn brown too found one suitable of rest. A single plat form weren’t limited to only one but more people. 3 in vague estimation. (Indeed spacious)

Taking seat, the grounded tiles slowly dissolved, literally into the rippling water whereupon they once were. Unclaimed building shattered, creating a surrounding of jagged shards. The fluids of nightmare crept closer, higher, covering and filling of what was left of the shards, leaving only the sharper and taller edges visible. There was no sky. Or maybe if there was one it’ll probably be the emptiness that surrounded us candidates. Yes, I now knew. The 2nd test will commence soon. No figure was seen. I grit my teeth, clench my already white knuckles making them paler. Sitting on eternally dead building had its advantages, everyone else held same reactions at the realization. No one would judge me, or each other as we looked the same. Facial-expression wise. On top of the buildings, we were a choir of tired scowls.

Let the Era of Glass be in full glory.