Prologue:
It was hot. That was the first thing I noticed as I began to regain a vague semblance of consciousness. I was uncomfortable, it felt like I was lying on gravel or coarse sand… Sand? Why is there sand? I should be in my room. WHY IS THERE SAND IN MY ROOM!?
Confused and panicked I opened my eyes and scrambled to my feet. I looked around, expect- No, that’s not right... praying to see the familiar pale green walls of my bedroom. There’d be several posters from various anime and manga hanging on the walls, there’d be a bokken and a shinai leaning against the far corner collecting dust, and desk with a computer set up next to the bed. When I opened my eyes what I saw was not the familiar sight of my room, but a vast sea of grey sand. The dunes rising and falling as far as the eye could see. This was not my home[http://cdncache-a.akamaihd.net/items/it/img/arrow-10x10.png]. This was a desert. A grey desert?
“What the fuck is this?!” I mutter under my breath as a look all around me.
Everywhere I looked it was just countless dunes of this strange grey sand. Where am I? How did I get here? What’s going on? A million questions ran through my brain all at once as a horrible sense of dread and panic set in. Why the fuck am I here!? I can feel bile coming up my throat and fall to my knees gaging. I don’t know how I’d have looked to others but surely, I must’ve been white as a ghost and wild-eyed.
I had somehow managed to keep the contents of my stomach down and after the nausea faded I had calmed to the point that I could somewhat take stock of my situation. It was hot, dry and my surroundings were barren, water would be an issue. Looking at the positioning of the sun I guessed that it was around mid morning, although, without a knowledge of which way was east and which way was west it could well be evening. Either way if this place is like other desserts that come to mind[http://cdncache-a.akamaihd.net/items/it/img/arrow-10x10.png] exposure would be an issue. Actually, exposure was a most dire issue as I, after calming down, realized I was completely and utterly exposed. Not a shred of clothing covered my pale, yet somewhat toned, body.
While being “aux natural” in the middle of a dessert may be a desperate situation, I took solace in the fact that at least there wasn’t anyone around to witness my shameful condition. They’d probably think I was some sort of pervert or something! While the lack of would be victi- er… witnesses was a godsend for my pride, it was quite possibly the greatest threat to my continued survival. I would need to find civilization if I wanted stay alive. If there was any that is... So, I needed a plan. A set of objectives. A goal. So far, the list was like this…
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#1: Find Water.
#2: Find People.
#3: Figure out what the hell is going on.
And finally, …
#4: Not Die.
This was not going to be fun.
After letting out a sigh, already exhausted by the thought of struggle to come, I turned my back to the sun and headed *west*. I didn’t know for sure if it was west but It didn’t really matter, it wasn’t like I knew where I was to begin with.
* • •
I don’t know how long I walked, hours no doubt. It seemed I was right about it being morning as the sun only climbed higher, bringing with it the temperature, as it rose. When I first woke up it was hot out, probably between 25-27 c°. Now though it had to be around a blistering 38-40 c°. The heat sapped my energy and seemed to boil off my bodies precious supply of fluids. My skin burned from the unrelenting sun and my feet blistered from the scorching sand and my lips dried up and cracked from the arid conditions. My head was pounding, feet bleeding, back screaming but all I could think about was how badly I wanted a cold drink and to be sitting in my nice, air-conditioned room away from this hellscape of grey sand and hot sun. All of a sudden, I felt the scorching heat and the abrasive graininess of the sand on my face. After a moments confusion I realized that I must have fallen.
“Well shit.” I thought. “I couldn’t even meet my most basic goals, huh?”
I reflected on the last note on my little list of goals, silently laughing at my own pitifulness. * #4: Don’t Die. * Something so basic and yet It seemed I would be failing on the first day. Memories of when I was fired in the first week of countless jobs came to mind[http://cdncache-a.akamaihd.net/items/it/img/arrow-10x10.png]. It seemed no matter the situation, my ineptitude would always prevail.
“If only I could make water or pay rent with a sword.” I thought “Maybe then I’d’ve accomplished something in life.”
I let out a single, self deprecating chuckle and let darkness take me.