Cross Worlds (Hiatus)

Chapter 3-3 (Side- Reality)

I can't see anything. I don't know where I am or what's going on. Yet, I don't feel any pain either despite everything I just went through. Am I dreaming or am I dead? I don't believe in god, but I never imagined the afterlife to feel so...empty.

As I float there, everything around me suddenly changes. The pitch black darkness becomes a bright white that's almost blinding. I have to shield my eyes for a moment, but that's when I see my hand. I can see, hear, feel, everything. I feel alive, more alive than I ever have in my entire life in fact. The more I begin to relax into this feeling, the warmer I begin to feel as well. It feels like someone is embracing me from behind, filling me with that rejuvenating feeling while also making me feel safe and content.

Then, I hear a voice. At first, I can't make out what it's saying, but the more I listen, the more I can tell the voice is a woman's. I concentrate on the voice, hearing more and more until I can make out what she's saying. She says just one phrase as clear as day, right into my ear. "It's time to wake up, Riku Reality."

My eyes open slowly as I awaken from the bizarre dream I just had. I've never had a dream that vivid in my entire life. Yet the dream becomes a distant memory as I recall everything that happened in an instant. As my vision clears, I see I'm in a bed, in a room I don't recognize. "Deja vu much..?" I think to myself, remembering how I arrived in this world.

I hear a woman's voice beside me suddenly. "I see you're awake. Thank goodness."

My immediate thought is that I'm about to be tortured by another one of Riku's enemies. I quickly sit up and hold up my arms in a defensive manner. "Please, don't hurt me! I'll do anything you want, just p-please, no more!"

"Hey, calm down." The woman gently wraps her fingers around my fists, gently and slowly pulling them down. "I'm not going to hurt you, I promise. I'm the one who brought you here to get you healed up. Can't you see you're in a healing room?" Now that my sight is fully cleared up, I can indeed see that this room looks to be an advanced hospital room. I can't answer the woman nonetheless. I've been stunned into silence.

This woman is the most beautiful person I've ever seen in my entire life. She has long, platinum blond hair that reaches down to her back, and her skin is pale, but it looks so soft and delicate at the same time. Her body looks slender, but curvy, however I can't fully tell because of the outfit she's wearing. Her eyes though, I can't look away from her gorgeous, gem-like, purple eyes. It looks as if there's glitter or even actual stars within them. "Are you alright..? I know you were pretty hurt, but I swear, you're in good hands." The smile she gives me almost makes me faint.

"I'm speechless because a beautiful girl like you is holding my hands! I can't take this!" I swipe my hands away before I pass out. "I-I'm alright, just...surprised is all..." I look down at myself and notice I don't have any wounds left. "A healer..?" I mumble, marveled by how much better I look and feel.

"That's right. One of the best in this nation." The beautiful woman states, chuckling softly.

"I see... What exactly...happened..? Do you know?" I look up at her, though avert my eyes a bit so I'm not stunned into silence again.

"A griffon flew into the capital with you on its back, making a commotion. It must have flown quite a while to get here because the poor thing was exhausted by the time it finally landed. Even though it was so tired, the griffon still cried out to try and get some attention towards you. When I saw you on its back, I knew I had to help, so I brought you here. All the expenses are already paid for, so you don't have to worry about that either." She explains to me as she sits down in the chair beside my bed like she was before I freaked out.