I fell into the shining pool of water as I was pushed from the last step of the staircase where I stood.
I immediately hold my breath.
He pushed me! Why?! And why didn't he tell me that this water is...
Fucking hot! It's boiling!
My skin feels like it's going to peel.
I can't handle this heat, I hold my breath for my dear life as I sink in the water.
This pool is bottomless, I've been sinking for a while now, and no matter how much I try to swim upwards I can't, it's like the current of the water itself is working against me, trying to stop me from going up.
I keep trying hard to swim up but it's to no avail.
I can see why they all think that I'll die, why they all conclude that I'll never be able to survive this, this is pure torture.
I'm supposed to survive this for God knows how long? How is that even possible?
The heat is rapidly destroying my skin cells and tissues, the pain is excruciating, and I can't even scream.
My skin is peeling like oranges, everywhere on my body.
A gasp of air escapes my mouth, forming bubbles and I immediately close my mouth and continue sinking slowly.
As my skin keeps peeling off my body, blood escapes from my skin, but as the blood comes out, it also disappears like it was never there.
I might get a systemic shock if this continues! The inflammation is widespread throughout my body.
***
Every tissue and cell on my skin has peeled off now, what is left of my skin is white-colored thin flesh and muscles.
I've tried my best to hold my breath, but I can't do it anymore.
It's been about thirty minutes? One hour? Days? Weeks? I don't know, I've lost my sense of time. I've done the best I could, I can't hold on anymore, the only thing I feel now is extreme surges of pain all over my body.
My body has gotten accustomed to the heat so even though my skin is peeled off, I can manage the heat now, but what's more painful is the fact that I know that I'll soon die.
It's inhumanely possible for a human to hold their breath for up to thirty minutes.
I release my breath and open my mouth, I'm done fighting now, I'll leave whatever happens to happen, it doesn't look like I'll ever get out of this dreary water that keeps sinking me anyway.
But..
Is this how I die? Just like that?! Without even beginning my journey to find a way back to my world? Without even a single hint or clue?! Is this what all my resolve and determination could offer?! No!!! I won't die!! I refuse!
Memories of the times I spent with Marcelle start flashing through my eyes. When we first met, when we started dating, when we got married, times when we were happy, the time she got pregnant, the day she gave birth to my first son.
My heart stirs with rage.
A lump forms in my throat, and I'm overcome with anger.
My fists are clenched tightly.
I swallow the boiling water that rushes in my mouth, it burns my tongue, and my throat as it enters my belly.
I hold my breath again.
Whatever made me survive for thirty minutes, would make me survive for another thirty minutes, and another, and another after that! I don't care about the reason!
I shut tightly my eyes– which have been closed for a long time, to avoid the hot boiling water from touching them. But even as my eyes were shut, the skin on my eyelids had already peeled off.
I control my body to form a sitting position while my breath is held. The water current keeps sinking me and I'm going down, but I don't care.
Forget about my surroundings and my suffering. Instead, I'll focus my mind on my past and my heart and on the reason why I want to keep living!
***
Kugugugugu!
I hear a heart-shaking noise in the water.
My heart starts pounding with anxiety.
What was that noise? I couldn't even open my eyes to see it, it sounded scary...
Suddenly... I see a red hue of light, it's so bright that I can detect it even with my eyes closed.
What's that light??
The light gradually approaches me and the red glow of the light that I see through my shut eyelids increases.
Is there supposed to be a light like that in here?
It's quiet now. The light that was approaching me disappeared before it could reach me.
[Child, open your eyes.]
I hear a soft, feminine voice that seems to come from every direction.
Who is this? I should open my eyes in this boiling water? You want me to go blind?
But wait–
The water is no longer hot and boiling, I didn't even recognize it but the water around me is of a normal temperature. And I'm no longer sinking.
[Open your eyes and breathe. Do not fear.]
The voice is soothing, like an angel, it sounds like it cannot do any harm, like it belongs to a being that exists only to shield me.
Well, since the water is no longer hot, I suppose I can open my eyes, and I want to see whose voice this is.
I open my eyes hesitantly and slowly.
My eyes widen at the sight before me, my jaw slacks and my mouth agape.
I'm inside a bubble, and in this bubble, there's no water, only air.
Does this happen to everybody that undergoes the ritual? Why are strange things happening to me?
I stand up, my feet balancing on the bubble. I stagger a little then catch myself and stand well, it must be because it's been a long time since I used my legs.
My legs are still shaky but I'm still maintaining my balance.
I raise my head, looking around, trying to see where the owner of the voice that talked to me a second ago is.
I look around, and all I can see from the bubble where I'm enclosed in is water.
Where was the bright red light I saw the other time?
"Who are you?"
I ask, hoping to get a reply, wanting to see the person or thing that talked to me.
I'm still glancing around, scanning to find the person.
[I am a messenger.]
I heard the voice again, the voice was like a mixture of different voices, coming from all directions, and I couldn't pinpoint their exact location.
How can someone talk in water?
"Why don't you show yourself, Messenger?"
I ask, waiting to get a response.
Then...
Shaaaaaaaa
The water just outside my bubble is boiling intensely, little bubbles form all over and I can feel the heat under my feet.
In the middle of the little bubbles forming in the water, I can see...?
???
What? How is that possible?
I see fire, flickering, crackling and dancing, the fire is slowly and gradually increasing, burning brightly and ferociously In the water.
And the fire wraps around an unidentifiable entity like a blanket.
Puaahh!
A wave of explosion ripples the water, my bubble shakes and shifts back a little because of the vibration and I lean down.
My eyes widen at the sight of the magnificent being in front of me.
It's a giant bird made up of flames, its entire body is in flames of fire, its eyes, legs, wings, beak, everything about it is fire itself.
The giant flame bird stretches its wings, meeting its eyes with mine.
I know it's a fantasy-like world filled with magic but...
"What are you?"
[My name is Reliana, Guardian of the flame of eternity. I am the Phoenix of eternity.]
The Voice was still scattered, and it no longer carried the grace and softness it once did, it was stern and graceful now. And the bird gave off a strong otherworldly feeling, like a deity that descended on the mortal world.
"Phoenix?"