…
I stare at the sky, the stars shimmering in the dark abyss, looking at them intrigues me so. The cold of the night is quite calming, putting me into a mediative state, making me feel a sensation of euphoria. I see fireflies dancing around the nearby shrubbery, their lights like sparks in the dark.
As I stood there staring at the ambiance of nature, I could hear the sounds of muffled cries for help. The sounds of someone or something experiencing endless agony, trying to find an escape, a saviour. I closed my eyes and followed the pleas, walking through the dense greenery of the forest. I stop and opened my eyes only to see the lifeless body of what used to be a person. The face was awfully distorted, the torso covered in deep cuts and open wounds which could only be caused by a manmade object, some of the organs lying next to the body or hanging on a nearby branch. The blood was still wet and the body not yet corroded, it happened recently.
I stare at the lifeless corpse, it seems to have been a young male, most likely under 30. I walk away, after all one cannot save that which has already been lost. As I walk deeper into the forest, I take out my pocket knife which I always keep in my jacket. The knife has a beautiful metallic shimmer in the moonlight, making it resemble a star in the sky. I put it against my wrist and cut it ever so gently, dark blood starts pouring out, drops falling onto the ground. Doing this calms the nerves.
Whilst bandaging my wound, I notice a feint trail in the soil leading deeper into the darkness. I put away the knife and started following this trail, my curiosity taking over all the logic of not doing so. The trail seems to be never ending, yet I continue forth, waiting for the end of this path.
The trail becomes ubiquitous in a small clearing, tired of continuing I decide to stay here. In the centre lies a small puddle which reflects the elegance of the night sky, it is insufferable. I take a step forward only to find myself paralysed, encumbered
by darkness. I hear whispering, voices mocking me in my vulnerability, telling me to do something which I am incapable of doing. They taunt me.
I am consumed by the darkness, the light all but a remnant in the abyss. I can hear my thoughts, my senses corrupt, the darkness holds no beauty. A coldness engulfs me, causing tremendous fear of death. I try to reach out, I try to call for help, but nothing happens.
I hear a feint sound behind me, bringing me out of my trance. I turn my head only to see that which I tried to forget, the thing that had brought me pain and sorrow. I see myself over the corpse of the one I cared for most, the only person that cared for me in this forsaken world, my wife.
This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
The pain, the misery, everything I tried to forget of that day came flooding back. A scream leaves my lips as I fall to the ground, light seems to pour back into this void, making me see once more. I look down at the ground only to see a black eyed person staring at me. My body fell limp as the person resembling myself started grasping for my neck, I was helpless.
I couldn’t breathe, my consciousness fading as I saw those black eyes filled with determination to strangle me. Everything went black, the air feeling ever so welcoming, a melody ushering me to follow it. I wake up.
Looking down I see the same body I saw before, the emotionless corpse lying before an old Mahogany tree. As I look closer I see something of familiarity, I see a…
I look at the body with disbelief, the body that was so brutally murdered, belonged to…
I stare at the sky, the stars shimmering in the dark abyss, looking at them intrigues me so. The cold of the night is quite calming, putting me into a mediative state, making me feel a sensation of euphoria. I see fireflies dancing around the nearby shrubbery, their lights like sparks in the dark.
Something is wrong, this is wrong. My breathing became unstable, heart beating faster than it should, sweat covering every inch of my being. This is true fear. I raise my trembling hands towards my face, clutching my head, trying to make it all stop.
The world shatters around me as I contemplate this existence, the sky collapsing, ground dissolving into nothingness, and I fall. I fall into darkness once more, trying to stabilise my emotions but failing. Why? Why? Why? Why? Why is this happening?
Light appears beneath me and I am falling once more, but this time it is from the sky. The golden rays cutting through the night sky, giving birth to a new dawn. As I fall I observe the exquisite sight of the great star, it puts me in utter awe.
Looking down I can see it, I can see the ground approaching me. It nears me by every second, any breath could be the last. The ground suddenly disappears and I am stuck looking at the corpse once more.
I have had enough, I can’t take it anymore. How do I make this endless loop of suffering end.
“That’s the thing, you can’t”
I jerk my head to where the voice came from, but there is nothing. I frantically search for the owner of said voice, but see nothing.
“You won’t be able to perceive me. Your attempts are all but for naught”
The voice echoes around me, making it impossible to locate. I give up on my search for the owner of the voice, but not because of cowardice but rather out of acceptance of my incompetence.
“Tell me, why is it that you struggle so? Trying to make sense out of these infeasible series of events. It is but a waste of time.”
“Then what shall I do?” I asked, knowing that it was most likely in vane.
“The answer lies before you, yet you do not seek it.”
Confusion covers my face. The answer lies before me? I stare at the corpse on the ground searching for this so called answer, then I realise.
“You want me to die?” I asked, questioning if I was right.
“Not only must you die, but you must break through free of your restraints, your fears and the sorrow that encapsulates you.”
The raspy voice voice was whispering in my hear, I could feel his breaths. I tried to look around to catch a glimpse of it, but I only saw nothingness.