In the embrace of an alien twilight, Lorian stirred, his senses submerged in the surreal.
The sky, awash in shades of amethyst, stretched over him, dotted with unfamiliar constellations that twinkled with an eerie luminescence. His heart pounded against his ribcage as he lay on the ground, eyes wide, scanning the strange horizon. Enveloped by a forest nestled in a shallow crater, Lorian found himself surrounded by dark trees reaching skyward, interspersed with luminescent flowers that cast an otherworldly glow in a myriad of hues. The soil beneath him had heated up, creating a sticky, moist feel along his back. He lay entirely unclothed; his body exposed to the elements.
"Sometimes, my dear, the greatest battle you will face is with yourself," his mother's voice whispered through the haze, echoing with a haunting clarity before fading into the void.
A wave of disorientation hit him. 'A dream?' he whispered, his voice trembling. 'What happened?' His mind groped for memories, but none came. He attempted to rise, but his limbs refused to obey.
'This feels like sleep paralysis,' he thought, frustration and fear intertwining. 'But...it hurts,' he murmured, straining against his own body. The scent of fresh air filled his nostrils, the earthy aroma of forest leaves and damp soil grounding him in this bizarre reality.
'Where am I?' His voice was barely a whisper. Around him lay metallic fragments of what seemed like a broken pod, his body slick with a thick, placenta-like fluid that glistened in the strange amethyst twilight.
'Oh yeah, that bastard Neal injected me with something...' Lorian struggled to move his hands to no avail. His thoughts swirled in a sleepy haze, and his eyes closed again, succumbing to the darkness.
A sharp pain jolted him awake. He opened his eyes to the now familiar purple expanse. The sun shone bright above the zenith hiding the constellations. 'The air feels heavier than usual,' he noted.
Ouch.
The pain resonated throughout his body, intensifying with each moment. 'Is this a drug trip?' he wondered. 'Did that bastard inject me with a hallucinogen?' His eyes closed again, consciousness slipping away.
Time passed in a blur. When Lorian regained consciousness, every corner of his body ached with sharp pangs of pain. "This hurts," he muttered. This time, he managed to slightly move his fingers. His thoughts were becoming clearer. 'Is the drug wearing off?' he pondered. 'But why aren't the hallucinations going away?' He gazed at the alien twilight filled with stars, confusion etched on his face.
'Is this the afterlife?' An absurd question flitted through his mind. 'Looks like I'm finally dead.' A grim smile tugged at his lips. 'Looks like I beat you to it, Mom,' he giggled, the sound eerie in the stillness.
Buzz!
Flies began to swarm his body, their tiny legs prickling his skin, while insects slithered over him, their movements sending shivers down his spine. The incessant buzzing of flies filled his ears, a maddening drone that heightened his panic.
One fly perched right next to his nose, its wings vibrating as it stared at him with compound eyes, almost mocking his helplessness. Each tickling sensation blended with the throbbing pain, creating an unbearable itch that he couldn't scratch. He desperately wanted to swat them away, but his hands barely lifted an inch.
'Itching, yet I can't itch... looks like hell is real,' he laughed again, a hollow sound in the stillness. Even the slight laughter caused his body to ache more, his eyes, barely open, squinted in pain. 'So I'm actually dead, huh?' He questioned himself once more, his gaze following the flies as they crawled over his body.
His eyes were now a lot calmer, as though he had gracefully accepted his death. 'It's all finally over...' He giggled, a soft, resigned sound. He didn't even try to move his body anymore, surrendering to his fate.
'I wonder how many would even notice me gone from the world.'
As his smile grew brighter, he closed his eyes. A memory from his high school graduation resurfaced in his mind, warm and vivid amidst the cold reality he faced.
"Can you imagine it? The world is ours for the taking. I'm going to make something of myself, mark my words," the younger Lorian had exclaimed with infectious enthusiasm, his laughter ringing out like a clarion call to destiny.
"I have no doubt about that, Lorian. You're destined for greatness," his friend Julius had replied, his words a testament to the unwavering faith he held in his friend's potential.
Lorian felt a sharp pang in his chest. 'Julius, I couldn't leave a mark on the world,' he whispered inwardly, a tear escaping his eye. 'Looks like I'll be meeting you soon... I promised myself to fulfill the dreams we saw together at your funeral. I don't even know how I'll face you here... I failed us both.' He laughed, but it was a hollow, empty sound that echoed his regret. His laughter abruptly stopped as his foggy sense of consciousness began to fade. Dreams... he murmured, the word hanging in the air like a fragile hope.
Suddenly, memories of his past flooded his mind—his child self atop the hills, filled with wonder and ambition; the relentless struggle with piling bills, the weight of responsibility pressing down on him and....,
'Mom.' The vision of his mother, her face etched with sorrow, weeping over his lifeless body tore through him. Tears streamed down his face. 'I can't die right now!' Lorian screamed internally, his desperation surging like a tidal wave. 'No, I don't accept this...no...No!' His eyes jolted open as his body convulsed, a fierce determination igniting within him. 'I have unfinished duties, responsibilities... I haven't lived a life worth living. I won't embrace death this easily.'
"Nooo!" His mouth finally released a scream.
The insects and flies around his body scattered in fear, and birds perched on the trees took flight.
Gritting his teeth, he forced his body to move, breaking free from the dreamy haze. He tried to piece together the fragmented memories of the trial and his last moments on Earth.
'I'm not dead' He reasoned with himself as his rationality was no longer fogged.
He quickly scanned the surroundings, his hands pushing against the damp ground beneath him, propelling his prone body into a seated position.
He moved his head around to take in the array of flowers and trees encircling the crater he was in. His eyes fell on the broken fragments of metal scattered around him as he began formulating a theory.
'This...' he thought, 'is this the second phase of the trial? Or did the military send me to some other planet?' He reasoned, a hint of forced logic battling the chaos in his mind. 'That would explain why I'm in a crater, I guess... a crash landing?' He giggled, a high, shaky sound that seemed foreign to him. 'Wait... why am I giggling?' He questioned as the full weight of his situation hit him like a tidal wave.
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'Where the fuck am I?' He questioned again, his eyes growing wider each passing second. The sounds of wild animals roaring in the distance finally reached his ears. The realization dawned on him—he was in the middle of a forest on an unknown world.
Huff Huff
His breathing quickened, his palms becoming slick with sweat as the gravity of his situation set in. A wave of anxiety washed over him, a knot forming in the pit of his stomach as fear gripped his very being.
His heart pounded relentlessly against his ribcage, the rapid cadence echoing in his ears as beads of sweat formed on his brow. The overwhelming sense of trepidation enveloped him, suffocating and inescapable.
His mind regressed to primal fears akin to those of a lost child desperate for the comforting sight of their guardians. The forest around him, with its alien twilight and unfamiliar sounds, became a labyrinth of terror. Each shadow and rustle amplified his sense of vulnerability, the unknown pressing in on him from all sides.
Suddenly, the sound of rustling leaves grew louder. Lorian felt the ground beneath him vibrate. As though mirroring the ground, even the sky was suddenly covered in dark clouds. The dark clouds began their symphony of terror as bursts of lightning and thunder resonated through the expanse.
"An earthquake?" Lorian whispered, a note of panic in his voice. The ground beneath him began to shake more violently, each tremor stronger than the last. The fear gnawing at his heart amplified with every wave.
Rumble!!!
Cracks splintered across the ground as black, eight sinuous tentacles emerged from below, encircling Lorian.
Concealed within the darkness of this unfamiliar domain, a colossal and horrifying figure's head slowly slithered out from the depths—a monstrous entity crafted from the very essence of shadows. Its form was an amalgamation of writhing tendrils and abyssal darkness, its mere presence casting a sinister pall over the terrain.
Arghgrrr
Lorian struggled to maintain his balance on the quaking ground, his senses overwhelmed by the seismic upheaval. The monstrous entity's head loomed closer, its eyes voids of infinite blackness that seemed to swallow the feeble light around them. The air grew colder, and a chill ran down his spine as he felt its malevolent gaze upon him.
The noises emanating from the creature were an eerie symphony of guttural growls and slithering hisses, each sound a manifestation of his deepest fears. Acting on pure instinct, Lorian swiveled his head in the direction of the sound, his heart pounding in his chest.
There it was—the embodiment of terror, a being born from the nightmares lurking in the darkest corners of his mind. Its form twisted and shifted, constantly evolving into more grotesque and horrifying shapes. Shadowy limbs reached out, clawing at the air, as if trying to grasp his very soul. The ground around him continued to crack and crumble, the tentacles trying their best to grip him, trapping him in this waking nightmare.
"What the FU--" Lorian’s scream was abruptly cut short as a colossal tentacle descended upon him with terrifying speed, poised to crush him.
Thud.
Out of instinct, Lorian rolled to the right, narrowly dodging the tentacle that slammed into the ground where he'd been a heartbeat before. He felt his ribcage tighten as he looked at the tentacle that had smashed on the ground. He was lucky to have dodged it.
'No....I need to live...to live... fuck, Fuck, FUCK!' He screamed within.
His breath quickened, icy sweat trickling down his back. Primal fear surged within him, a tidal wave of dread threatening to overwhelm his senses. He felt as though he were staring into the abyss, and the abyss was staring back, hungry and unyielding.
Whooshhh.
The gales howled as the beast propelled its massive form toward Lorian. Its wide-open jaws and glaring crimson eyes foretold imminent destruction.
"ARGHHHHHH!" Lorian screamed, his voice filled with primal terror echoing through the desolate landscape. His cry pierced the eerie silence as he bolted.
His feet pounded against the soft ground as he dashed through the alien forest, branches whipping at his face. His breath came in ragged gasps; fear lent him a speed he never knew he possessed.
The ground trembled beneath his pounding feet, a relentless drumbeat urging him forward. Thoughts evaporated in the urgency of the moment, replaced by a primal instinct to flee. Behind him, the undefined terror pursued, its presence felt more keenly with every step. Breath came in ragged gasps, a desperate plea for oxygen as his body strained against the limits of endurance.
With each heartbeat threatening to burst from his chest, he pushed on, driven by the singular imperative: escape.
Whooshhh.
Lorian felt a gentle gust of wind brush past his cheeks, as if he had narrowly avoided being struck by an arrow. His senses were heightened, every nerve on edge.
ROAR!!!
A deafening bellow reverberated through the atmosphere, shaking the very air. The shadow creature stumbled in its pounce, its momentum breaking.
Thud!
The earth vibrated with increased intensity, a seismic wave of force, then fell eerily silent. Lorian glanced back, his vision swimming with the effort. The beast that had pursued him, that had driven him to the edge of his endurance, lay collapsed on the soil. Dark mist gradually seeped from its form, rendering it seemingly lifeless.
Lorian trembled, his entire body quaking from the exertion and terror. Perspiration trickled down his face, mingling with the dirt and blood from the scratches the forest had inflicted. His heart continued to race, a drumbeat of survival, but his legs faltered. He sank to his knees, gazing at the fallen foe.
The sight was almost surreal. The behemoth that had threatened his very existence now dissipated into wisps of dark vapor. Relief washed over him, but it was tinged with disbelief and residual fear. He could scarcely comprehend that the terror was over.
Suddenly, a figure stepped into view. A man with a strong build, holding a bow that gleamed silver in the dim light. His presence was both calming and commanding.
"Slow your breath," the man instructed, his voice steady and reassuring. He lowered his weapon, his eyes meeting Lorian’s. "Deep and steady."
Lorian nodded, struggling to comply. His breaths were shallow and rapid, but he tried to follow the man's guidance. He closed his eyes for a moment, focusing on drawing air deep into his lungs. The world around him seemed to slow, the immediate threat fading.
The man approached, his movements deliberate and unhurried. He knelt beside Lorian, placing a hand on his shoulder. "You're safe now," he said softly. "The Behemoth is gone."
Lorian opened his eyes, looking back at the dissipating mist where the beast had been. His muscles ached, and every heartbeat felt like a hammer against his ribs, but the overwhelming fear began to subside. The man’s presence, his calm authority, anchored Lorian to the present moment.
"Thank you," Lorian managed to whisper, his voice shaky. He felt the weight of exhaustion settling over him, the adrenaline that had fueled his flight draining away. His body screamed in protest, every inch a testament to the ordeal he had survived.
The sky unfurled, revealing an amethyst ballet of dawn, as if curtains were drawing back on a celestial stage. He gazed up at his savior, curiosity mingling with lingering fear. The man's physique spoke of strength and power, yet his eyes held an emptiness that seemed to pierce through Lorian’s very being.
It was as if the man lacked something essential—something like 'a soul,' Lorian pondered as he studied the enigmatic figure before him. Clad in primitive hide armor reminiscent of a bygone era, the most eye-catching part of his attire was a gleaming purple locket adorning his neck like a beacon of secrets. The locket seemed somewhat magical; the moment Lorian laid eyes on it, he felt a surge of determination.
'I need to survive... I need to live... I need to fulfill my dreams...'
Voices began flooding Lorian’s mind, threatening to drive him into madness. He pressed his ears hard with his hands, as though trying to silence the cacophony resonating within his head. Closing his eyes quickly to avoid looking at the locket, he found relief as the voices disappeared, and he returned to normal.
'What was that...?' Lorian questioned himself in fright. Gathering his wits, he sized up the man once more, this time avoiding looking at the necklace entirely. 'His voice... his face... they remind me of someone I know,' he thought. The man felt awfully familiar to Lorian, yet he couldn't quite place him.
After a moment of silence, Lorian finally found the strength to voice the questions swirling in his mind.
"Where are we? What was that?... and who are you?" he asked the man seated in front of him.
The man's lips curved into a subtle smile, his eyes betraying a mixture of determination and inscrutable mystery. With a graceful movement, he rose to his feet, the bow glinting as he slung it over his shoulder, a silent guardian ready to lead the way into the unknown. Without a word, he simply began walking, leaving Lorian to follow in his wake, the air thick with unanswered questions.
As he strode ahead, the purple necklace adorning his neck began flickering in and out of existence, its ethereal glow casting fleeting shadows on the ground until it vanished completely.