"Would you rather lose yourself? Or end up dead?"
The moment my eyes opened I saw the endless expansion of space that surrounds me, shining bright with countless lights burning through the sky.
I felt nothing but immense pressure that held me in place, numbing my body from head to toe. I could do nothing but watch as the green planet drifts further and further from me, getting smaller with each passing light as they call to me. Each light more eager than the last.
Where … am I? Who am I?
No matter how much I ask, the words never leave my head. My body won't move an inch but at least I'm not dead.
Looking to the stars shining bright as he's carried away, they shout to him louder with each passing second.
I have no choice but to listen to them advise me from afar until I end up where I'm meant to go. But until then I'll be stuck with them talking off my head.
"You can't be here kid! Take it from me, you don't want to be a star!"
"You need to gain control of your mind if you ever want to go! Remember no dream is a dream if you can see it too!"
"That idiot's speaking of the mind and he's not even the brightest star!"
"Don't listen to him train your body to it's peak then you'll really get far!
"Listen kid if you get a timeless body, that's when you'll really get far! You'll go further than any of us have been if you take your time!"
"You're a monster in you're own right to ever swim in a sea of stars but you must beware of a bigger fish, the biggest fish that swim the stars like you."
He has no mercy and he won't spare anyone not even a kid like you."
"So don't awaken him before the time is right. If you cross paths be patient and stay true to yourself and you just might live to challenge him one day."
In an instant the stars began to fade and the pressure only grew stronger, weighting me down, crushing my body as I plummet rapidly, sinking down into the endless sea of stars.
I'm fighting hard just to remain conscious with each passing second, everything started to spin shaking me to my very core then everything fell silent fading to black.
"You we're never meant to suffer this way. I'm sorry I couldn't do more for you, I'm sorry I can't be there, I'm sorry I have to leave you on your own I wish I had another way. I might not be around for the rest of it but — I hope your life's better this way."
After who knows how long, the sounds of rumbling and ringing open his eyes again.
"Hello? Are you awake?"
"You are? Excellent! you're right on time!"
Squirming around and blinking he turns to get a good look around, trying to make sense of his unfamiliar surroundings shrouded in darkness.
"Where am I now?"
Looking down at himself then up to the rocky rubble falling from the light above, he sat up to prepare himself for whatever hell awaits while asking the only truth he'll never know.
"Was any of it real? Or was it's all a bad dream?"
Hearing it resonate in the dark once again, an unknown voice, The voice responds to him once again.
"You know that's a great question but you'll never find out couped up in your head."
Rising to his feet he looks for the source but he cannot tell if it's a friend or foe. When you don't know the difference only time can show.
"Calm down, I wouldn't hit you while you're down. Take a moment to catch yourself, you did just fall into the ground."
As he goes to open his mouth, he's forced to hold his head.
"Why … do you know- Where … am … I?"
"Your full of questions so I'm guessing you really don't know? Your a long way from Tetra so your pretty far from home."
Interesting he knows so much with so little to tell. Either way, let's see where this goes hopefully it ends well.
"You say you know where I'm from so how do I make my way back?"
After a moment of silence, The Voice claps back again.
"So many questions and so little time to tell. How about I get you out of here alive first *Crunch* then I'll tell you a thing or two."
Well played, looks like he's has no choice but to play along and hope it turns out well.
"Alright then I guess you can lead the way. Where am I now anyways?"
"See now that *Crinkles* I can answer. Your on Verna."
Looking up at the violet light shining onto the yellow rocks, he slowly finds his way through the dark to the rocks. Resting both his hands firmly onto the rocks in front his face, he feels the pain in his head flare up again.
"Ugh! What's … going on … inside of my head!"
"That *crunch* doesn't look good you should really *crinkle* get that checked out before it gets out of hand. Luckily you'll find help at the first stop you make."
Looking at the light up above, he looks up and down at the rocks scratching his head.
"I don't know if I can make it all the way up there."
The voice responds "Listen, *Licks* just because you don't remember who you are, doesn't mean your body doesn't. Once you start moving around it will all come back to you. Just take your time and trust in your instincts you got this! And if you can't trust in your instincts, *slurp* you can trust in me."
I doubt that, I really, really, doubt that but I need to get out of here and the only way is up.
"Fine! But if I fall to my death it's all on you!"
"That's the sprit! See it's already coming back to you! Now you should really get going. *Crinkles* I wouldn't waste anymore time down here if I were you."
"Yea, yea, I'm going up to the top."
He grabs hold of the rock lining the bottom and drops all his weight on them, just to see if they will hold up well. Once they past the test he does the same with the ones just above him as well.
Perfect, so far they won't budge, everything staying in place. Now all I have to do is keep getting luck with a firm hold and I won't fall on my face.
Starting slow then picking up the pace, he grabs hold of each rock one after another leaping across the walls. Getting further with each stride than the last, he's learning how to manover and he's doing it fast.
Just as he's making good progress a violent shockwave begins to shake the pit to its very core. Shaking him, the rocks and anything out of place. The loose rocks in the wall began to fall and hit him in the face.
Despite the falling debris he held firm and made his way around, he dipped down, around and all over the place. Making quick moves first and thinking last, he made his way right to the top, reaching one hand over the edge.
Just as he went to pull himself up and over the edge, his right foot slips off the rock beneath him, dragging him down as he loses his footing. Barely managing to grab hold of the ledge with his left hand. Narrowly avoiding hitting his head against the rocks as he regains his footing stabilizing himself again, right in the nick of time as he feels another strong shockwave picking up through the rocks again.
I've come to far to fall now, I'm gonna go for it. It's do or die!
Throwing his right hand up to ledge he holds onto it with both hands tight. Putting all his strength into his legs launching his body into the air as he pulls himself over the edge.
Landing hard on his back, he lays out across the ground. Catching his breath as he takes in his first look at the world above. Filled with massive planes of black sands, with hints of dark blue rocks shining beneath the sand.
"Woah … what happened here?"
Hearing nothing but the wind blowing through his hair, he decides to check on himself while he takes the time to rest. Looking at his arms covered in black cloth from his shoulders, all the way to his hands. Staring at the wrappings then back at the sand. He quickly fixed his eyes to his hands seeing not scratch on them even after all that's happened.
Wow. Not a scratch even after all of that. I must've been really strong. Especially considering I'm still in one piece after a fall like that. I wonder what I was like before whatever knocked me out, sent me this far away.
No use in me dwelling on it now though either way.
I'll make sure I get back and find the truth for myself. Until then I just have survive long enough to see it through. But in a place like this … I'm expecting anything but that to be easy to do.
Regardless, I can't sit here and do nothing I'll need to get moving soon. I don't know how long I'll be alone out here but I know something's out there and I'll be damned if I sit around waiting for it to find me first. I'll give it a little longer. If I hear nothing from The Voice, I'll keep going forward until I find something or someone to show me the way.
Yeah. That should work. Not like I got anything better. For now at least.
He's giving you a minute, you better think of something to say.
Just as he takes a stand ready to walk away, The Voice pops up just in time to show him the way.
"Where you off to?"
"You show up whenever you like huh? What happened to you anyways where did you go off to?"
"Whattt? Nooo, never mind that your finally out and you've had some time to rest. I think it's time we get going to-"
"You keep vanishing out of nowhere and now your dodging the question too! If you keep coming and going how will I even know it's you?"
"I'll be the only one who can sound like this trust me. Nobody's brave enough to copy me. So just listen up and-"
Oh great the mysterious voice has a big ego too.
"No,no,no. You said when I get out you'll answer my questions-"
"Lies! I said I'd tell you a thing or two."
"Same thing!"
"No! Its not."
"It definitely is. Come on you gotta give me something."
"Alright, alright. I'll answer only two though! Because you really need to get going."
"Works for me."
"Mhm, I bet it does. Well one you gotta make your way to the tallest mountain in distance. You'll get there easy just follow the light. And two, you'll need to grab hold of the light. Once you do that you'll find out enough to put up a fight."
"That didn't answer anyth-"
As soon as he tries to confront The Voice, the ground shook again. Another shockwave ravaged the lands, dragging down the rocks and shooting up sand. Making it hard for him to take a step forward, let alone stand.
"Wow did you hear that? I'd love to stick around for the show, but I have other things to attend to! Good Luck! Try not to die."
Great, just as when I'm about to get answers, it slips away. I swear next time I hear that voice, it better have something good to say.
"ERRRAHHHHHARHHHHHH!"
As the sand began to shake vigorously, he could feel the lands themselves start to quake. Each grain resonating with the sound that erupted out of the blue. Something beside the shockwave. Something entirely new.