Advent of the end

Laying there in a yet known place the winds whiplash the dust of the ground into his nose against his lungs. This same dirt has coated his lower body which has been in the same position for what looked like days, not unlike an unfinished cocoon in the slow process of consuming it's vessel. However this process remains unfinished as consciousness struck into his body like a bolt of lightning, reverberating internally to the tips of his fingers, regaining control of his body he lays there. Ocean is awake.

"Hkkk!!" Ocean now awake wishes he could revert time as hunger, thirst, pain and all the limits of the living stab his now aware body into an uncontrollable fit of suffering as both body and mind desperately try to adapt. "..." Still laying there gazing at the dark endless void of the ceiling roughly four meters above him in wherever he has ended up, he now adapted to his surroundings but not circumstances Ocean reviews his memories.

…It's dark… A cave? So it actually did happen, but rather I have no idea how or how I got here… The floor is damp and there is sand everywhere, or at least I think it's sand. It really is too dark to distinguish. I would say I knew this would happen all along but I had my suspicions, all the others in the orphanage including mum disappeared one by one, day by day. You know when I think about it, it's rather odd it happened in specific intervals with an intake of people, this would mean rather obviously someone or something did this with mal intent…

Unmoving Ocean's thoughts echo throughout his mind in attempt to piece together a subtable answer, satisfied for now he lifts his aching upper body maneuvering his stiff spine into a sitting position to scout his immediate surroundings. At all angles was the similar sight

of cold overpowering darkness, the lack of light lit a sense of insecurity under Ocean as he stared into the abyss now fully comprehending the uncertainty of the situation, as if his brain had only now just fully turned on. Like the battery of a phone but only he had only just hit a percent that allowed it to turn on, working but one hundred percent seemingly an eternity away.

"Hhurrgkk" trying to voice his impressions immediately backfires as his unused vocal chords strains, and the taste of luke-warm metallic blood fills his mouth invading his senses, as the crunchy texture of sand grinds against his teeth.

Ah. I might be in danger.

Apprehension now prominent, Ocean shakily failed to stand as he hunched against the freezing interior of the pitch colour-less space he is in, colour-less as black would be too bright of a word to describe what he could not see. Maybe due to his tired eyes could he not see correctly as he trotted along with the previous strain in his body now non-existent. With the process of walking feeling foreign each step in irregular intervals reassured him it was no dream, as the sensation of foot to ground acted as evidence if the now gone pain wasn't enough.

But seriously… I normally would be in pain still from something like this but I feel good… actually better then normal. Anyway… this seems to be underground ancient ruins, at least I think from the indents I feel on the tips of my fingers, they follow a recurring pattern and have the consistency of some sort of language.

Normally people would be freaking out right about now, completely secluded from life and possibly in danger in a foreign land. Speaking of land, how big is thi-!!

A light. Evil and hard. Blood red.

It was a glow, nothing so foreboding should occupy space with the concept of light. Light suggested hope and positivity. This fired a disgustingly creepy level of hollow animosity paired with a feeling of observation.

Watching. Gazing.

A floating eye in the far distance of the now blood tinged structure did two things to the mind of Ocean. It first allowed him to see a still unclear but more refined view of his surroundings, with him noting the mossy stone-like material that enveloped the interior. It would be a mental tug of war for the average person if they preferred darkness, of light with the presence of the eye.

The second thing was the reason that all things now visible in the environment was rendered completely irrelevant. It was watching and Ocean immediately deduced this.

For the first time since he woke up Ocean's mind tasted an extract of the feeling of pure danger in the form of the unknown.

What… is that? Was it here from the beginning?... Did it send me here?

Okay. I am extremely used to the feeling of being watched, as in my upbringing the distinguishing between predator and prey was essential for prosperity. To outline the weak and strong, danger and safety, human and animals. However, the orb ahead I can confirm with all my soul felt like neither… but this presence did not feel completely foreign. One thing was certain, it did not feel like it belonged in this world.

"Cough… Did you send me here?, if you did were you the reason behind the orphanages disappearanc-!!"

It was still as if scrutinizing me.

Until it wasn't. Moving out of view as Ocean stood in a trance. The world felt like it was moving again.

It's leaving… no it wants me to follow, is it trying to show me something. Normally I would choose the smart option and ignore, but something about that… Anyway, just what was that, some sort of preternatural being, are these ruins haunted or something?

As if hypnotised by curiosity, Ocean traversed along the monochrome rough ground in the direction of the glow was previously in. with each crunch of the rocks under foot he could feel in his soul he was getting closer to something.

The further he went on the intricate ruin, the groundwork was replaced with vegetation, as he approached an unnatural grass cave, as if not supposed to be here. Levitating in front about ten meters ahead and two meters ahead the cave was the orb.

Radiating a now obvious evil Ocean was stunned in place. His mind, body, soul and mental processes halted in petrification, like a mental aftertaste confusion took its grasp as he looked on. The light expanded, consuming the innards of the cave in an intensely thick crazed feeling, blinding his sight he could now see nothing, his eyes were violated by light as each ray felt like prickling needles that pierced through the pupil. Closing his eyes he remained a statue on guard.

"Arrghh!!!" What is it doing? Attacking? An ambush maybe? Was I foolish enough to fall into a trap. Was this disappearing situation all one big way to attack the orphanage one by one? But why like this? Surely attacking a simple orphanage if you are capable of this would be easy, although we are not dealing with people, so the way of attacking would be non-standar-!!

Noticing the light gone closed eyelids and lack of activity through he opened to see…

Himself? His light greyish falling hair that had a tinge of blue disheveled, standing directly opposite him in a natural stance in his grey robe and dark grey pants. what a vibrant individual. Ocean on second examination realised that the him that wasn't him was floating, no he was indeed standing but on what looked like a reflection, a naturally occurring version of himself. But nothing about this was natural, looking around he felt no breeze as he stood on what could only be interpreted as a salt flat, mimicking all that stood above it creating an appealing view, like a sickening case of imposter syndrome.

I am no longer in the cave where the hell I am? It teleported me again? It's night… no breeze. The real question is why am I in front of me? After he thought these words in his head a serious feeling of caution flowed through his body like the blood pumping through his veins as he checked his own body. Looking into his reflection and touching his body he found he was himself.

"Hey… what did you do? You are the light, right?"

"..."

Slowly it's eyes opened to display the void, blackness much darker than any cave, a world without light was shown. Ocean once again was still, however this only lasted an instant quickly adapting to this recurring sense of shock, he looked on unwavering.

"Yes, I am the light that lead you here"

"!!" It can speak and understand me, so it is now able to speak with my body. So It couldn't communicate before.

"Yes, before I couldn't interact. You must possess a strong character and will to live, normally I cannot appear in front of the living."

It read my thoughts.. "... so you… took my appearance to converse, If you wanted to attack you would've already. You are obviously not human, are you the reason for me being here, and the orphanage?"

"Yes, I am not a human like you, I do not know what I am nor does anyone actually, including you. I have no involvement with your situation, to me you simply appeared here. Is it fate?"

Simply? Fate? So it wasn't involved?... "Wait, where are we right now? How do I get out"

"You are trapped, the moment you approached me, me and you synchronised. The only way out is through mutual agreement"

Well, this is not good… I am trapped apparently, is it lying… no why would it.

"What if I kill myself, could I escape?"

"... That would not work, your being would be forever trapped in this realm"

So it's inevitable then… fate, the word annoys me for some illogical reason, or no reason at all.

"Fine… what do I do then?"

"That's it, acceptance is all that was needed"

In that instant in it's reflection held a figure or beast its lack of colour made it impossible to distinguish. Devilish, dangerous and heart-stoppingly terrifying; The morphing beast loomed over him with malition.

Reality warped whilst it also struck into Ocean like a blade through the head.

I am now in danger.

"Wait, what did we just even agree to!!"

The reflection in the salt flat reverberated as the fabric of space and time bent and twisted, fusing with the ambiguous being ahead, consuming all. Sound was distorted into a ripping screech that clawed one's psyche. Ocean was overwhelmed immediately as the world sped toward him like a tsunami, and then all was gone.

In a world of nothing, no brain to think existed a conscious, maybe? Or at least I think so, where am I now. No body or sight… actually I can't feel anything, can I call myself "I" if I cant feel myself? What did that thing do to me… I know I am still alive… I am not dead.

I am not dead.

Move.

Like his body manifested, or he manifested reality he could tell he was standing in the same position as before. Luke-warm dry winds smothered his body.

Power.

He had always been a powerful individual but this feeling was so powerful it made all other feelings of physical satisfaction of power seem fake. He thought this as he opened his eyes.

To view of what could be described as an endless dead world.

What the hell… has happened?