Chapter 2: Floating

Time is relative. That is a phrase I had heard before in my college career and onwards. The concept itself seemed simple enough- time traveled at varying speeds depending on the gravity you were experiencing and your location in the universe. And any of those variables could be changed at any ‘time’ ironically enough.

So when a murderous space alien throws you into a bubbling black portal full of the unknown my mind should probably be coming up with solutions on how to get out of this mess, rather than thinking about different physics teachings I had learned 10 years ago. There was little I could do about it though because the moment I passed the barrier between my world and the sheet of darkness, all I knew was pain.

It felt as though every particle of my body was being pulled and torn in every direction. Like the mere atmosphere of this place wanted to wring my body dry of every ounce of life. To put it simply it was extremely unpleasant.

Throughout it all, I attempted to keep my sanity. The pain was a great distraction from the sights my eyes were trying to perceive. In the movies, a person entering a black hole of whatever science-fiction scenario always looked like a beautiful light show. Let me be the first one to say it was not. At one point I thought I saw a unicorn walking through the most beautiful forest I’d ever seen, and the next a man washing in a bathtub full of rubber ducks. In essence, it was fucking insanity.

Luckily that only lasted for a few moments or whatever that much time equated to in what I'd imagine was a wormhole. I was of course looking for any sort of relief from the pain my body was enduring. Until all of a sudden it stopped. For a fateful moment, I thought perhaps the EMTs had brought me back to the land of the living and this was all a near-death experience trip.

It only took a bit longer for me to realize that I didn't just not feel pain. I felt nothing at all. Not even the slightest tingle of a nerve ending fired off. I attempted to look down at myself while traveling through this madhouse of images. There was nothing. No arms. No legs. No torso.

Panic was quickly settling in at an even harsher degree than before. I even tried to cross my eyes to see if my nose was still attached. Nothing. I wanted to cry and shout out, but I couldn't even feel those once built-in features of life. I wanted it all to stop. I Imagined myself pulling my arms over my head and shutting my eyes. Attempting to bring some sort of comfort.

‘Please. Someone. Help.’

Then something tugged on me. Well, whatever was left of me. It pulled me off from the center of the pathway of images towards a location I could not focus on.

For a moment I fought against it not wanting another entity to grab me and launch me through more rounds of disintegration. Instead of fighting back against me though it seemed to try and placate me. Sending notes of soothing music into my mind and images of gentle fields and calm streams entered unharassed.

I was having a harder and harder time focusing on the images as I felt my thoughts starting to become disorganized and erratic.

Chicken pot pies were such a strange food. Both dinner, dessert, and soup. SHIT.

What the hell was I thinking? what was going on with my mind… I felt so… discombobulated.

Suddenly like a slap in the face, the tugging from the outside force resumed with a new note of urgency that was not there previously. I could tell something very, very wrong was happening to my head. Or where my head once was I suppose.

Focus.

The word screamed out into my mind and helped me regain some semblance of control. I needed to grab onto the tugging or soon I wouldn’t be able to comprehend the idea of grabbing at all. I willed my metaphorical body to reach out for the soothing presence. Accepting that whatever fate was in for me through this decision was better than being a lost disembodied soul among this chaotic shit-show.

Appearing in my vision then was a rope made out of strands so thin that it almost looked like one singular piece. Unlike everything else that assaulted my ocular system, this object seemed far more concrete, like I could actually touch it. So I did.

Time paused. I was no longer rushing through the cosmic highway sightseeing on old men in their baths. Instead, it found me in a space that was slightly less unbelievable. Only slightly.

I stood once again on my own two feet. Beneath them was a perfectly polished floor that reflected the twinkle of countless stars in the night sky and a moon-shaped rock that was far larger than anything I had ever seen. So large it threatened to fill my entire view. The rock itself had a large open handprint-shaped indent on the side of it facing me, leaving me feeling a sense of trepidation at whatever could leave something like that on an object so enormous.

“Now what do we have here? This is quite shocking indeed. Such a peculiar soul to be floating unguided through the maze of space and time.” The voice itself was far deeper than what could be considered human. A baritone that vibrated my very bones like a leaf in the wind.

My eyes tracked over to where I believed the voice had emanated from. Searching for the speaker but I could find no one. Just more of the vast expanse of the mirrored floor that seemed to go on forever.

“Apologies child, I cannot show you my form, or else what is left of your mind may shatter into the ether. My true form is currently at the center of the rock you see before you. An unfortunate reality but a measure I must take.”

“Is that… your handprint?” I asked with no small amount of fear, though I was still happy to be able to speak at all.

A deep rumbling laugh shook the ground I was standing on and made me fall over onto my hands and knees while trying to remain stable. My eyes noticed how the floor seemed to ripple in harmony with the laugh, like a lake following the will of an orchestra conductor.

“No little one it is not. If I were to fully reform my body, such a small Realm of space would combust quickly. I and especially you, do not want that to happen. Now while I am sure you have quite the tale to tell about how you ended up a loose specter diving through deep space we have very little time to truly discuss so you must listen well. Reach your hand out towards the rock and calm your mind. You will feel a similar pull as when I invited you into this realm. Do not fight it.”

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I was in no position to refuse the entity that had saved me. Nor was I interested in arguing with a person that said their mere presence could combust space. Reaching my hand out tentatively the next instant the tug returned and I accepted it not having to do much as teh overwhelming presence of the being invaded my thoughts.

I felt as though my entire life played back before my eyes in a moment so fast it was done in a blink. As quickly as he had entered my mind the presence was gone.

“Now this is quite the scene. I cannot imagine the shock you must be feeling at the moment, even after sifting through your soul line. An impressive feat that you are not a vegetable to be quite frank. This is not an ideal situation… but it may work.” the booming voice continued to mutter with itself as I stood like a statue. I wish I had some sort of input to give but I was far out of my league in this situation. I finally mustered the courage and spoke out.

“Can you help me? I just… I just want to go home.” I felt my voice waver near the end with thoughts of Sarah coursing through my head. Images of her waiting in our living room all night trying to contact me. Dozens of missed calls and texts would all be unanswered, without so much as a clue of my whereabouts.

I felt the look the entity gave me rather than seeing it. And it tore at my heart. Not because it was of anger, but because it was of pity.

“Unfortunately small one, the road you took was a one-way street of sorts. In my current form, I simply cannot send you back up it. Not only would I be found. But you would be demolished to the very last particle. It's a true miracle that you survived as long as you did flowing along with the current.”

His words struck me down like thunder as I once again fell to my knees. I wanted to weep. I wanted to scream out and curse those two demonic figures that sent me here. But nothing escaped my eyes or mouth. I felt so cold and hollow at that moment. Lost in every sense of the word.

"Do not give up all hope. I know that what has happened is not what you deserve. But there is nothing that can be done to undo it. I do, however, have a proposition for you, if you would perhaps entertain it.”

I lifted my head slightly still feeling numb but gave a nearly imperceptible nod. Anything would be better than being sent back out into the current he was talking about.

“Good. while I cannot send you back to the world you once knew. I can send you elsewhere. This place is nothing like where you were born. It is still fairly untamed with a density of essence thousands of times stronger that is just beginning to blossom. I would send you here to start life anew… to a degree. You would be sent into a vessel upon the realm's surface. I cannot fully decide who or what the vessel is. Though I can promise this opportunity will be far better than being lost out in the clutches of Reflectia’s domain.”

I truly couldn't comprehend everything that was happening at the moment. I worked through what he had said in my brain. Thinking through the possible repercussions as questions continued popping up.

“What do you mean by vessel and essence, and… who are you?” It was possibly the oddest combination of questions I had ever asked. But this was also the oddest situation I had ever been forced into.

Another laugh escaped what I assumed was a man deep inside the rock above my head.

“I cannot be sure of what vessel you will enter, but rest assured you will not be taking it from anyone. It will have been released from use and thus I will guide your soul there forward. As for essence, that is a far longer explanation that we do not have time for. To sum it up in a few words, it is the building blocks of power that you must strive to acquire no matter the cost. I will leave something attached to your soul line that should help you in your endeavors with essence. Finally, before I tell you my name you must agree to never mutter it in this new realm if you agree to my proposition.”

I frowned at the last part of his explanation. What would muttering his name do? And how could it affect him? I was so far out of my depth I couldn't imagine how such a thing would bring negative connotations.

What choice did I have? I thought bitterly. That didn't stop me from voicing my concerns at the very least.

“I agree, but why do you need me to go to this place? What is so special about it? And why is your name a secret that needs to be kept?” A rumbling accrued deep within the massive rock that made my palms begin to sweat.

“You have many questions youngling. That much is understandable. But you must understand our time is running thin. I will ask nothing more than to attempt to create your own haven upon the Realm that you may feel at peace in and perhaps if you develop it enough, you may yet have a chance of returning to your true home in the end.” My mind grasped onto his words after hearing about the chance to go back to Earth, and more importantly… Sarah. I focused back as he continued to speak.

“There is little special about this realm. Its name is C’moria and as I said, it is very unlike your past world, though I could equate it to being similar in some ways to your ‘Earth’ at a different time. On it, there are a few locations in which the Realms' different ruling Kingdomias have just begun to dominate. Luckily they are being held back by Systemia herself for a bit more time before they can bring any real force to rally. This will give you enough time if you have the mettle to survive. As for my name, once again it is not a simple explanation. I must hear you agree before I can forgo caution. You have few options, child. Choose wisely.” His tone was becoming more and more urgent. Causing ripples to once again appear on the once perfectly smooth floor and shaking my body side to side. I didn’t know what was creating these time restraints but judging from the way he was acting I don't want to find out any time soon.

“Okay, I agree with the proposal!” I yelled out while waving my arms around to keep balance. Just as suddenly as the ripples began they ceased. A small shudder ran down my spine as I felt energy enter the air around me and seep into my pores undeterred.

“Fantastic! I know you will do well Michael, though I am sure that will not be your name for long. Do try to relax as you did before. The experience will be far more pleasant for you if you do.” I felt the soles of my feet leave the floor and for a moment I thought I was levitating. Then as I looked down I realized my body was gone once again. The feeling was not any more comfortable than the first time. Beginning to panic I tried to reach and grab the ground to hold myself from floating away into the void.

‘calm child. Now grab on.’ I heard his voice resonate in my headspace. An unnerving sensation as I once again saw the rope from before appear, though this time it led to a shining white dot that I should not have been able to see from the distance I sensed it was away from me. I grabbed onto the rope with my metaphorical hands hoping it would keep me grounded in some way.

Suddenly I was floating aloft over an enormous slab of land that was filled with vibrant greens and blues of forests and oceans, along with shining golds of desserts and the pristine white of snow-capped mountains and northern tundra. Seeing this sight, I almost wished it would never end. It was truly beautiful, even given the fact that it was not a globe-shaped planet, but rather a floating rectangle of gargantuan proportions.

‘Now your journey begins. Do not fail me. I have high hopes for you little one.’ I started to feel the rush of descent hit me like a physical force even though I knew that should not be possible without a body. Consciousness seemed to be slipping from my grasp as I continued my meteoric fall. I was barely able to send out one thought that had been fluttering through my brain before losing all control.

‘Name?’ I whispered out.

I heard the laugh once more and the voice had a more threatening tinge than who had spoken to me not a moment earlier.

‘Demios.’