Jonathan

Jonathan fell asleep. Or did he? He was sure that he fell asleep.

But why was he standing here, conscious of his surroundings? Not that the surroundings were much to look at. Just black nothingness, just like the void.

Just like the void? Was he back at that strange and scary place? Was there a way out?

Jonathan was panicking, but he found nothing, just the black nothingness of the void. By now he was almost certain that he was back at that place. How was this possible, he asked himself. But how could this be?

He remembered going to bed and falling asleep and then being here.

Ok, do not panic, he said to himself, consider what happened. Could this only be a dream?

But it felt so real.

First, after the revelation that this was not a new world, but instead an alternative development of his old world, possible at another point in time, even if this was not necessarily so, he went into his room and thought about what this would mean for him.

First of was, of course, the question of how much they actually knew about their planet. Did they know about the American continents? Had they discovered Australia? But even if the answers were no, he would still be forced to consider things. First off, the Europeans of this world were technologically less advanced as the Europeans who discovered these continents.

Also, the natives could be farther along in either magical or technological development. But these things were not important right now.

After he thought about these things, as well as after he had eaten and brushed his teeth, he had showered. Then he went to bed and was asleep fast.

Normally a rare happenstance for him, but it happened more often in this world. Maybe because he was more tired here? Or was it something in the air or a spell? Either way, it was not important for his situation right now, even if it might be interesting later on in his adventures in the new world.

If he managed to get back, he reminded himself sharply. Or did he want to get back?

He knew that he would not want to stay in this black nothingness, but if he had the ability to choose, would he return to his old world, or would he stay in the new world?

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

His old world was certainly more comfortable, as well as safer. At least in developed, democratic countries, some random bloke had no power over whom you could marry! And he came from such a country.

But his new world had the promise of magic! How cool was that? Ok, he did not know how cool it was, but that would change and hopefully soon. But of course, there were the health risks to consider. They had magic, but how long did the average citizen live? Also, would he be able to integrate into society? He planned to start a revolution from above, but would that be feasible?

Also, while he had a constitution on his E-Reader, he did not have the adjourning legal texts necessary to make it work. And how much of it was even applicable to his new world, which parts were missing?

But back to the topic at hand. Where was he? Ah, when he fell asleep.

After that, he knew nothing more and awoke in this strange place.

Then he heard a voice: “Hello Jonathan, it is nice to meet you.”

Jonathan answered, fear evident in his voice: “Who are you, how can I even hear you? I thought in this place, there was no air? But if that is the case how can I breathe and speak and hear?”

He fell silent after this, dealing with these revelations.

The voice laughed: “You must not think about this, this is normal in this place”

Jonathan, who forced himself to act as if he had calmed down, even if the opposite was the case, asked: “What is this place, where we are? The void or something else?”

The voice was quiet for a moment and sighed: “You do not know? Ah, of course, you do not know. A human like you could never know. But have no panic, you cannot die in this place.”

Then, in a nearly unhearable voice, it added: “But that does not mean you cannot be hurt in this place. And pain can cause death if it continues on after you are in another place. And that it can, that it certainly can.”

After this, the voice laughed, a strange, scary laugh.

Jonathan asked, now even more scared, with a broken voice: “Who are you, what is your name, what are you? Show yourself!”

The being considered the questions for a moment and answered then: “Who I am is not important, not important at all. You can call me Benedict, Yes you can call me that way, but only if you want. What I am, does not concern you, at least not right now. Yes, it does not concern you, it is not important to you. And I will not show myself to you, at least not now, not at this time. Maybe we will meet again and then I will do these things, but not now, not here!”

Jonathan considered the answers for a moment and asked then: “Can you tell me why I am here and why we speak?”

The voice laughed, but it was not as creepy this time and answered: “Better, much better. You are here because of reasons unknown, and I am here because you are interesting. But maybe this will change in the future, I do not know. But know that magic is powerful, even if it is not almighty. Never forget where you came from, and never forget dangers you know of. Do not repeat the mistakes your kind did, find a better way. More I cannot say, goodbye.”

And with these words, silence returned to this black nothingness and Jonathan was alone again.

But was that bad, he asked himself and came to the conclusion that it was bad, being alone in an unknown place, without knowing how to return home. Whatever his home might be, and in which world it might lie.