Un-See IV

Everything went smoothly downstairs; Silora didn't face any problems and also avoided any potential trouble. She didn't learn anything new tonight; everyone was talking about their own lives or drinking to forget about it for at least one night.

Silora locked the door as soon as she entered. She first checked the room for anything out of place, but everything was in order. She walked towards the window and opened the white curtains. The sky was dark with no moon tonight, and the city below was lit by the dim lights of the houses. The roar of the ocean overshadowed the view of the city below. For a moment, Silora wondered how the citizens of this town could sleep at night. But she remembered that she herself hadn't been bothered by this sound during her stay in the town, and she even slept for a short while.

She looked towards the vast dark ocean, but all she saw was absolute darkness, along with the sound of the river water colliding with the ocean somewhere in the distance. At the base of the tower, people were entering and leaving the restaurant - tavern below. Some were ending a long day, while others found solace in drink or among strangers. With a tired sigh, Silora closed the window and curtains and stepped back. She took out the silver dagger from inside her clothes and placed it on the bed. She removed all her heavy clothes and threw them carelessly on the clean wooden floor, remaining only in light and comfortable clothing.

She laid her head on the comfortable pillow, with the silver dagger in her arms, not bothering to cover herself with the thin blanket. In no time, she was fast asleep.

***

I felt water covering my entire body, except for my head. My eyes refused to open. My mouth wouldn't open. My head wouldn't move.

My breaths were shallow and steady. They never deviated from their organized rhythm.

I can hear. I hear the sound of my breathing. I hear the sound of the water around me. It moves... maybe? I... move... maybe?

I tried to move my hand. It didn't move. But the water did, I heard it. So I am moving, I just don't feel it.

I feel the water. I don't feel my movement.

I don't understand that.

I moved one hand. It didn't move. But the water did, I heard it... barely.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

I moved the other hand. It didn't move. But the water did, I heard it... barely.

I moved my hands to the left. They didn't move. But the water did, I heard it... strongly.

I moved my hands to the right. They didn't move. But the water did, I heard it... strongly.

I moved one hand to the right, one hand to the left. They didn't move. But the water did... did I really hear it?

I tried again... strongly. They didn't move. But the water did, I heard it... barely.

Are my hands stuck together?

I tried to get up. Nothing happened. The water didn't move.

I tried to move my feet. Nothing happened. The water didn't move.

I moved my body forward. Nothing happened. But the water moved. I heard it... strongly.

I moved my body further forward. Nothing happened. But the water moved... backward.

Did I move backward?

I moved my body forward. Nothing happened. The water didn't move.

I moved my hands. Nothing happened. The water didn't move.

My body stopped moving. Or my ears stopped listening.

Time passed. Silence.

Time passed. Silence.

Time passed. Silence.

The water moved strongly. In all directions.

Am I moving?... No.

A whispering voice. "Beautiful."

A whispering voice. "Strangers."

A whispering voice. "Rookie, they listen."

Everything went dark.

***

Silora weakly opened her eyes to the sound of the roaring water outside. The morning light pierced through the curtains, illuminating the room with a blinding golden light. She checked the silver dagger in her hands; it was still in place. She got up and walked towards the window. She opened both the curtains and the window. What met her gaze was an endless sea of light, barely able to see anything. She quickly closed the curtains and returned to the bed to sit.

Last night was strange for her; she had a weird dream whose details she couldn't remember. This dream didn't replace her usual dream but accompanied it. She dreamed two dreams in one night. This was definitely strange for her, but she decided not to give it any importance, only if it repeated more than once. Because today, she was going to do something more important.

Today, she was going to open the strange wooden box for the first time; she wouldn't delay it any longer. She took the box out from under the bed and placed it in front of her nervously. She reread the words carved on its surface to renew her resolve.

With a deep breath, Silora turned the small wooden piece that kept the box closed. She heard a faint clicking sound from inside the box and knew that the lock had indeed opened.

Before opening the box to see its contents, she was overwhelmed by a strange feeling of déjà vu. She didn't understand why she would feel something like this, but she ignored the feeling. "I'm probably just nervous," she thought. But she had already made up her mind; if she wasn't ready now, she didn't know when she would be.