The Strange Dream and The New World

In that moment, I decided I couldn't let someone I loved get hurt for the sake of a person I barely knew. I needed to say sorry to John and Run, but before I could do that, something incredible and terrifying happened.

The wall of the classroom exploded like a bomb, and a mutant fell right in front of us. We were all shocked and scared. We couldn't believe our eyes. It was like a scene from a crazy sci-fi movie.

What was even stranger was that the four mutants who had been bothering us suddenly abandoned us and ran towards someone in the classroom. It was like they had a new target. We were left standing there, trying to make sense of the unbelievable situation. We had no idea what was going to happen next.

Inside the classroom, there was a girl who looked about the same age as us. John yelled out, "Run, Jessica! These creatures are really dangerous. They'll tear you apart!" He was genuinely concerned for her safety, but it seemed like the tables were turning. 

Out of nowhere, Jessica reached into a bag on her back and pulled out a couple of guns. With determination in her eyes, she started shooting at the mutants one by one. It was an astonishing sight. The balance of power seemed to shift as this brave girl fought back against the seemingly invulnerable mutants. We watched in awe, not sure what to make of this unexpected turn of events.

Two of the mutants met their end at the hands of Jessica's gunfire, but she ran out of bullets just in time to spare the other two. I couldn't help but wonder how she would defend herself now, but my priority was to reach Helena and ensure her safety. 

While I hurriedly made my way to Helena, I stole a quick glance at John. To my surprise, his face was illuminated with a mix of excitement and admiration for Jessica's courageous actions. It was a pivotal moment, as we all stood on the precipice of uncertainty, eager to see how the situation would unfold.

John couldn't contain his excitement, and he exclaimed, "She's incredible and just what my team needs. With her, our team will be unstoppable!" His eyes shone with satisfaction and enthusiasm. I continued running as though I hadn't heard him, focused on rescuing Helena.

As I rushed to Helena's side, I couldn't help but wonder why Jessica had so many guns in her backpack. It did seem a bit peculiar. It made me question if she was one of those enigmatic, prepared-for-anything individuals we often referred to as the "quiet kids."

It struck me that she might have been one of the few who had an inkling of what was about to unfold. It was as if she had warned the good people to stay home, and then the apocalypse began right at the school. It was an ironic twist of fate that the very place we thought was safe had become the epicenter of the apocalypse. The world had turned upside down, and we were left to navigate this chaos with more questions than answers.

My attention snapped back to the urgency of saving Helena as her cries for help persisted. I followed the sound of her voice and reached the second floor. Just when I was about to enter the floor through the emergency exit, a sudden and powerful explosion rocked the area. It seemed that something massive, about the size of a water tank, had crashed right onto the entrance of the second floor. The impact sent me tumbling down the stairs.

I gathered my wits, stood up, and peered at what had caused the explosion. To my astonishment, it was another mutant shadow, but this one was not only enormous but also unusually fat. The sight of this colossal, grotesque creature filled me with a mix of terror and disbelief, and I knew that saving Helena had just become a much more daunting task.

It turned out to be a super mutant, an even more formidable adversary. I swiftly reloaded my deagle, took aim, but before I could fire, the mutant inexplicably vanished. I scanned the area around me, but it felt like the surroundings had plunged into darkness. It was perplexing because I had checked my watch, and it was only half past twelve. The sudden darkness left me utterly baffled.

Out of nowhere, a searing pain shot through my back, as if someone had brutally scratched me. The agony was unbearable, and I dropped to my knees in agony. Struggling, I forced myself back onto my feet. Then, a sharp attack hit my shoulder, and it dawned on me that the super mutant was lurking nearby, hidden by the darkness. It was a chilling realization that this adversary was indeed a shadow, making it almost impossible to see until it was too late.

I found myself utterly at a loss against the super mutant, which seemed to have the upper hand in this relentless battle. It appeared that the mutant had mastered the art of changing its form, shifting between a two-dimensional shadow and a three-dimensional body at will. This ability allowed it to move swiftly and unnoticed, catching me off guard with its lightning-fast strikes. It was a formidable opponent, and I struggled to keep up with its speed and tactics.

As the mutant attacked, it transitioned between dimensions, making it almost impossible for me to mount a defense. After the third painful assault on my left elbow, I made a desperate decision to retreat. I sprinted towards the entrance of the second floor and swung open the door, only to be greeted by a disconcerting sight.

Helena was at the center of a large ring of fire, with the entire corridor engulfed in flames. The blazing inferno painted a grim picture, and it seemed like there was no way out for her. Three mutant shadows were closing in on Helena, ready to unleash their terrifying attacks. However, when they noticed my presence, their attention shifted from Helena to me, and I realized I had just become their new target. The odds were stacked against us, and the flames roared ominously, casting an eerie glow over the impending showdown.

As I readied my weapon to confront the three mutant shadows closing in on me, an unexpected twist occurred. The door through which I had entered began to exude an overwhelming darkness that rapidly spread through the corridor. Even the raging fire turned black, and the menacing shadows that had been racing towards me disappeared into the obscurity.

Fearing the possibility of inadvertently harming Helena, I hesitated to open fire randomly. Just as the situation became increasingly surreal and unnerving, a terrified boy came dashing out of one of the classrooms, panic etched across his face. He appeared to collide with an unseen force, as if he had bumped into one of the elusive shadows. Before our disbelieving eyes, he was suddenly yanked back into the classroom by an invisible power.

The room was engulfed in a chilling silence, and within moments, the boy's anguished screams ceased, indicating his tragic death. It was that sudden realization, that the shadows weren't two-dimensional, as I had initially thought gave me some hope. They were invisible, while the super mutant possessed the extraordinary ability to shift between dimensions. This revelation added a new layer of complexity and danger to our already dire situation.

With a growing sense of dread, I realized that I was the next target of these elusive shadows. I knew that mindlessly shooting around would be a futile waste of precious ammunition. Instead, I needed a more practical, short-ranged weapon, something that would allow me to confront them up close.

As I scanned my immediate surroundings in search of a suitable weapon, my eyes fell upon an iron rod that was loosely attached to a broken door nearby. I seized it and, just in the nick of time, swung it with all my might. The shadows were closing in on me, and as the concrete piece at the end of the rod shattered into fragments, a cloud of dust and debris enveloped two of the shadows.

Seizing this opportune moment, I aimed my deagle and fired, hitting both of them squarely in the head. The echoes of the gunshot reverberated through the corridor as the two shadows crumbled, defeated. There was only one shadow and the formidable super mutant left, and I braced myself for the impending showdown, my makeshift weapon at the ready.

Despite the pain I was in, I couldn't afford to lower my guard, not until Helena was safe. With a sudden attack on my right shoulder, I instinctively swung the rod behind me, connecting with the last shadow. It crumpled to the ground, and I knew exactly where it lay. In a swift and decisive action, I took aim and fired a fatal shot, ending its threat.

Now, only the super mutant remained, and a tense minute passed with no sign of its presence. I began to wonder if it had vanished or fled the scene. It was only then that I grasped the true extent of the super mutant's power: the ability to manipulate darkness, rendering itself invisible.

My heart plummeted as I witnessed Helena, frozen in terror, standing just a few feet away. The chilling realization dawned upon me like a cold, gnawing fear in the pit of my stomach. It was then that the horrifying truth became clear: the super mutant had its sights set on her, and in the midst of that darkness, the true extent of the horror lurking in the shadows came into sharp focus.

My desperation to reach Helena made me lower my guard, a grave mistake in the presence of these relentless shadows. Most of the mutants were mindless, driven solely by instinct, but this one was different. It possessed a cunning patience, lurking in the darkness, waiting for the precise moment when my vigilance wavered.

I could feel its malevolent presence right behind me, like a sinister breath on the nape of my neck. It was as though death itself was about to claim me. Just as I braced for the end, a blood-curdling scream of agony pierced the air. I turned back in shock to witness a startling sight. A metal rod had impaled the mutant's chest, skewering it to the wall.

Swift thinking had saved me, and I emptied the remaining bullets into its head, bringing an end to the super mutant. In a gruesome and surreal turn of events, the creature split into two distinct entities. One was a mutant shadow, and the other was a grotesque being with no legs. Its back revealed a chilling sight: a spinal cord and a white, kite-shaped eye on its head with no mouth or nose, while its lower half resembled that of a ghostly apparition. The horror of the encounter continued to unfold before my eyes, leaving me both awestruck and deeply disturbed.

As the mutant shadow vaporized into nothingness, the other disfigured creature struggled to get back on its feet. I had depleted my ammunition and was preparing to use the rod as a last resort, but before I could act, a forceful blow from a baseball bat shattered its head, silencing the grotesque creature once and for all.

With the demise of the creature, the corridor returned to its normal state. I looked up and realized that it was John who had come to the rescue just in the nick of time. He had thrown the rod, which impaled the super mutant. His timely intervention had saved us from an even more harrowing fate.

John said,"Bro. That was close. Did I miss anything. And look at you! You are in a more bad shape from when I met you. And who is that?" I could only offer a word of thanks for his bravery. As I turned my attention to Helena, I saw her in tears, her fear and relief mingling in the wake of our terrifying ordeal.

Helena, sobbing, rushed toward me, but in a sudden and terrifying turn of events, the ground beneath her began to tremble. A massive hand, formed from ominous dark clouds, pierced through the crumbling walls of the school building. It was large enough to get a hold of seven people at once, and it grabbed hold of her.

The school building itself seemed to disintegrate, falling into pieces around us. Frustration and helplessness overwhelmed me, and I screamed, "Helena!!!" I desperately wanted to rush to her rescue, but John intervened, trying to restrain me. "What do you think you're doing? We have to leave. We'll find a way to rescue her later. It's too dangerous," he urged.

Ignoring his pleas, I pushed him aside and sprinted toward Helena. With a desperate leap, I tried to reach her, but I was a fraction of a second too late. The colossal hand seized her and whisked her away, leaving me hurtle to the ground. Debris rained down upon me, knocking me unconscious, as the world around me spiraled into darkness.

As I regained consciousness, my surroundings were cloaked in an eerie white light, and my vision was blurred. I overheard a distant voice exclaim, "Oh, he's waking up." It sounded like a girl's voice. Another voice, firm and resolute, warned, "Hey, don't go near him. He mustn't see us, remember?"

I struggled to clear my vision and discern two figures standing not too far away. I was utterly bewildered; the girl bore a striking resemblance to me, and the boy with the bold voice resembled Helena, as if our genders had inexplicably switched.

"We should first confirm whether we've retrieved him from the correct timeline, and then we can reveal the secret," the bold-voiced one declared. "Yeah, I remember. He's already undergone the transformation. Now we just need to check for the mark on his back," added the girl.

They turned toward me and realized that I was sitting and eavesdropping on their conversation. Panic gripped them, and they began shouting, "Master Henry!! What should we do?! He saw us!" The name "Master Henry" triggered a surge of memories and questions that inundated my mind, leaving me in a state of shock.

I was uncertain about how to react, so I tried to ignore their commotion. "Check the mark first!" came a command from another girl, and they all stopped suddenly and rushed toward me. This time, it was my turn to panic, and I attempted to flee. However, they swiftly apprehended me.

In the midst of my panic, I shut my eyes, and suddenly, all sound ceased. When I opened my eyes again, everything had transformed into an inky blackness. A profound sense of relief washed over me, as I realized that it had all been nothing more than a bad yet strange dream.

As I cautiously examined my unusual form to ensure I was unharmed, a profound shock coursed through me. My body was completely black, devoid of any clothing except for a white cloak that draped across my back. I attempted to pinch myself in disbelief, only to discover that I lacked both fingers and toes.

Standing up, I surveyed the peculiar surroundings, and my gaze fell upon a river of inky black goo that flowed nearby. With a mixture of curiosity and trepidation, I drew closer to the river. To my immense surprise, I beheld my reflection in the dark, viscous substance. I was devoid of a mouth and nose, and yet, I could breathe. My features consisted solely of round eyes without pupils, along with minuscule ear holes. Additionally, I emitted a subtle, ghostly white glow.

The entirety of my body was round, from my head to my belly, and even my limbs resembled tentacles, much like an octopus. It was as if I had been molded from clay by a child, leaving me in a state of profound bewilderment about my current existence and surroundings.

Determined to confirm that I wasn't trapped in a dream, I noticed a substantial boulder in the river and decided to take action. Wading into the shallow goo, I could sense it flowing, much like water, albeit entirely black. Reaching the boulder, I deliberately struck my head against it. The pain that surged through me was excruciating, but it was undeniable proof that I remained in the same surreal world. This was no dream, or if it was, it was unlike any I had ever experienced.

As fear gnawed at my thoughts, I pondered the possibility of my own death. Was this some form of reincarnation, or was the previous dream more than just a dream, perhaps orchestrated by benevolent angels in disguise? The fate of Helena weighed heavily on my mind. If I had indeed passed into the afterlife, what awaited her back in the world I left behind? If I am dead over there, then Jason might - No. Jason will look after her. I believe that Jason would protect her, but the question of why those nightmarish creatures had attacked in the first place remained unresolved.

Well, with my role in the previous world now concluded, I decided it was time to explore this enigmatic realm and uncover its mysteries.

After an extended period of wandering through this bewildering world, I began to piece together some startling facts. This place bore a striking resemblance to my world, with a few distinct differences. Firstly, everything existed in a monochromatic palette, alternating only between black and white. Secondly, despite my lack of a mouth, I could still experience sensations of exhaustion and hunger, though I had no knowledge of how to eat or drink.

The most significant revelation was that I was not in the afterlife; this was, in fact, my reincarnation. In this new existence, all living organisms, whether they were trees or animals, were rendered in black and white. However, their presence was distinguishable by their unique glows. Living entities emitted a white glow, while inanimate objects and white elements displayed black glows – a phenomenon that defied explanation.

The creatures in this world were entirely different from any I had known, and to make matters worse, they were far from friendly. That is why, that giant, terrifying rabbit looking creature with an oversized mouth and no limbs is bouncing towards me and I am running for my life.

Amid the frantic sprint to escape the monstrous rabbit-like creature, I was struck by a jolt of surprise and terror. A shadow, the very same shadow from my previous world, materialized in this strange, monochromatic realm. Questions flooded my mind. What was this creature, doing here as well? It seemed that I couldn't escape its presence, and I was left grappling with the unsettling mystery of its existence across different worlds.

What is that creature doing in this world?!