"Why must it all end like this?"
I tried to speak, but my words barely made any sense. I could feel the cold, freezing the blood oozing from my insides.
I sensed the pain of being turned into a human popsicle, yet somehow I could still breathe, which made no sense at all.
Shiver — "Why? Is it so cold?"
My entire body trembled from the bitter chill.
I attempted to open my eyes; my vision was blurry. Tears fell from my eyes, only to freeze in the relentless cold of this emptiness.
"I'm dying?"
I tried to smile through my sadness, but my lips barely moved.
"What difference does it make? What do I even have left to live for?"
"Everyone is gone! Dead!"
My vision blurred; my consciousness faded slowly.
"Hmmm, so you're what travelers call a mortal?"
An ethereal voice mused—neither entirely male nor female, transcending the very concept of Yin and Yang.
"Interesting, child, your life force is leaking."
I floated in the void, my body twisted and turned, inside and out. I tried to scream in agony, but not even a whisper emerged. Strangely, I felt like I was being healed by this eternal nothingness.
Soon, a warm sensation enveloped me, pulling me away from the sheer cold of this space. I regained my vision.
Blink. "Where am I?"
I blinked in confusion. My mind felt foggy, as though there was a truth my consciousness was trying to dissolve into this nothingness.
"Why am I still alive? You are that!" I realized, clenching my teeth and barking at the void.
"You are that being! The one who took everything from me! You destroyed my world... You! You killed her!"
"You've misunderstood, child. I didn't bring ruin to your world."
"It was you who came here. I am nothingness, known as The Void by the travelers. I noticed your life force leaking too quickly, so I repaired you... One head, two arms. If that's how your kind are built, then why, I wonder? Why were you dying so fast? I fixed you so I could talk to you!"
A sense of hopelessness gripped me, a weight too heavy to describe.
Crack— I attempted to lower my head, and to my surprise, my joints didn't protest this time.
My lower half was gone, leaving only my upper torso behind. On any other day, or if I hadn't endured what I had with her, I would have screamed until madness consumed me, but now...
PAIN
SORROW
DESPAIR
LOSS
HOPELESSNESS
These were the only feelings that lingered.
"What do you want? Why did you fix me? Please, let me join them... end this wretched existence of mine!"
"Hmmm, you will join them when your life force fades. You will perish in my embrace. I'm simply curious about how death claims a mortal and what follows."
"What?"
My pupils widened, and I felt as minuscule as an insect speaking to a force I couldn't comprehend. There was no pressure, yet the sensation was that of being an ant trapped in an ocean, utterly incapable of escape.
I felt like a mere bug, and this entity, akin to a toddler, was tearing at my limbs and wings while I stood helpless, the fear creeping through me like ice.
I couldn't begin to comprehend this being.
Life or death no longer mattered to me.
Yet, the chilling realization that mere existence allowed this creature to toy with me sent shivers racing down my spine.
"You are the first mortal I have ever seen, and until the day you die, you shall remain in my grasp," it mused, its tone steeped in indifference.
Whenever a person speaks, there is usually warmth, coldness, or longing in their words, but from this being, I sensed neither malice nor hostility—only pure apathy.
"Until the day I die? Hahaha!"
I surveyed the sprawling purple dimension around me, feeling utterly alone—a voice echoing from every direction. An overwhelming sense of hopelessness washed over me, and I couldn't help but erupt into frantic laughter.
"Hmmm. A traveler once mentioned life and death to me. He showed me fragments of his memories... but they say travelers are immortal. One who becomes one with their own life becomes a being, a fragment of what they call existence. So, he revealed his life to me."
"What do you mean?"
I gazed into the void, still unable to pinpoint the direction from which the voice was emanating.
"Tell me, what kind of life have you lived? I'm curious!"
"Life?... Hahaha."
I laughed, overwhelmed by disbelief.
"Just sift through your memories and let me glimpse them. I'm asking because once a traveler taught me the importance of privacy."
I felt utterly mocked by those words. Here was a being trapping me, ensuring I would perish without the chance for a peaceful end, all while feigning concern for my privacy.
It struck me as a cruel joke, and I would have laughed until I cried if the situation hadn't been so deeply twisted.
I felt my vision blurring, a familiar sensation washing over me as if my entire body was soaked through.
It's raining!
I tried to move my legs, but my whole body felt weak.
A tear trickled down my cheek.
"I miss her!... Her?... Who?... Who?... Who do I miss?"
A strange hallucination swept over me, and then my senses jolted back to reality. My legs felt too unsteady, and I attempted to stand up, but—
BAM!— SPIT [Someone kicked me in the stomach and spat in my face.]
"You little thief! Get lost!... Never show your face here again!"
"W-What?" I stammered, my voice barely a whisper.
I caught a glimpse of a figure leaving the cold concrete path, and I was slammed into a puddle of muddy water.
"Cough, cough! Where am I?"
My head felt heavy, my mind hazy, and my thoughts tangled, making no sense whatsoever.
"Yes! I'm Ranol! I ran away from my uncle and aunt!"
I realized that my sickness was likely hindering my mental clarity.
Sometimes, I completely forget directions and lose my way.
At times, remembering things proved difficult... it all began since I arrived in this city just a few weeks ago.
"Hmmmm."
I grasped something tightly in my hand.
"Is this bread?"
It was a piece of mud-soaked bread I was clutching.
Steeling my resolve, I managed to rise, though my stomach churned from that man's kick.
I looked up; the sky was darkening, suggesting dusk was nearing. The rain clouds loomed overhead, thickening the darkness around me.
I limped toward a nearby shed, finding it empty, even shielded from the rain pouring down on me.
I shivered.
"Should I go back?... I really can!... I could at least sleep on that soft couch... have those warm meals my aunt makes [TSK]... It didn't matter if I was treated like a slave... I... I can't endure this anymore!"
I decided I would return to my uncle and aunt. They treated me no better than a dog, but at least they provided the basics.
"I'm going! I'll contact them and I'll go!"
FLASH [Someone illuminated my face with a flashlight, blinding me. I raised my hands to shield my eyes.]
"Hmm, this one looks young!... What do you think?"
"It will work; let's bring this kid in."
GRIP [Someone grasped my hand.]
"Let me go!" – I screamed.
"Don't resist; it'll be fine!"
His voice radiated more mockery than comfort.
Despair engulfed me; my body was already ready to give in, and I felt something pierce my thin skin.
"A syringe?... You're wasting it on this brat!"
"He's young and might be a better match for what we're searching for. I don't want him screaming!"
"Hmm, this neighborhood is rather crowded... Smart, aren't you?"
As the grip on my mouth slackened, I sensed a prick on my neck—a bite like a mosquito, but instead of blood, something colorful coursed through my veins, bringing an unexpected blissful feeling.