[NO LONGER UPDATED] AVEM → A Different World

Chapter 3: Heading Home

Time: 10/10/2113

POV: Averyn_NEUTRAL

Pale half-light filtered by the debris crept in as I blinked my eyes open. My vision was blurry and I couldn't make out anything in front of me. A sharp pain ran through my left eye, from the eyelids to the back of my head. I winced and closed it, only leaving my right eye open to see whatever that was happening around me.

I was lying in a mess of debris inside of a building. Or just a structure, you name it -- half of the roof had collapsed and fell onto some pile of mess on the other side, and all the walls were broken into the mess under my feet. I tried to recall what happened last night and why I ended up being here, but my head was too painful to think about anything. I tried to lift myself up to my feet instead. It wasn't successful at first, but after attempts of balancing with my right arm supporting half the weight, I could slowly rise up to get a clearer view of the environment I was in.

Flashing red lights.

Red lasers.

I shuddered as memories from last night crept back into my hazy mind. Shaking the thoughts away, I tried to take a step forward. And another step. All success. Nothing happened. The whole place was eerily quiet, as if nothing ever happened just a few hours ago.

They were gone.

But I couldn't just let my guard down; I already learned that lesson last night. Never let my guard down. What if they were just hiding somewhere near me? What if it was just another trap?

I finally made my way out of the mess of the building as I looked around for dangers, my whole body alert. Nothing but a quiet alleyway bathed in the pale light of dawn. I took several steps forward. Still no signs of danger.

I decided to continue to walk on. It didn't seem that any danger was around. And I didn't want to stay in this place of hell for another second. I wanted to... I wanted to go home.

Home?

What kind of word was that? And why did it just random jump into my mind just now? A place where I could sleep in? Nothing else. I didn't know anything more than that.

The only place I could actually relate with this word would be the poorly structured apartment which I had lived in for all my life, but of course I could not go back to that place since the "Red Nexus" people would still be there. That thought made me shudder. Don't think about it, I quickly reminded myself.

But now, where should I head towards? I would starve to death eventually if I stay stranded in the middle of nowhere. I needed food and shelter. I looked in front of me and saw only a narrow alleyway extending indefinitely, the dark buildings eerie shadows against the pale dawn sky. There was no one but me in this place, and I heard no sounds. Nothing but this quiet yet unbearably loud silence. The buildings were deserted and gray, their dark steel doors locked tightly, clearly not letting anyone in.

Then a feeling gripped me.

The dream.

As I gazed through the empty alleyway, I was suddenly reminded of the dream I'd had, right before the Red Nexus squad broke into my apartment. It looked exactly like the scene in the dream, except for that no one was singing.

Maybe I should try going in the direction which I headed towards in my dream? I didn't know what would happen afterwards, but it seemed like a worthy try. With careful steps, I set off in the alleyway.

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I didn't know how far I went. I just walked on and on, dragging my feet on the stone road underneath. The sky didn't get any brighter, the whole place was still as doomed as it was hours ago. There was still not anyone I could see or hear, the buildings like gray, rectangular corpses lining both sides of the alleyway. Some of them looked as if they used to be fancy places – fine diners, jewelry shops, fashion stores – but they all seemed dead. Not alive. All their lives faded away. I wondered if people actually used to live here, when this place would be full of energy, people doing all kinds of things, together. But now, all the lives... gone.

A chilly gust of wind rushed through the path, washing me with its cold feel. I suddenly felt lonely. I knew I spent my whole life on my own, rarely talking or forming relationships with others, but now... I just felt so alone. I felt it more sharply than at any other points of my life.

All out of a sudden, my ears caught something faint and far away. It was a sound, but I wasn't quite about it. I stopped in order to make sure it wasn't my foot hitting against a rock or it was just my huffing breaths. I listened for it carefully. It was still there, making a deep rumbling sound, even if I made myself as quiet as I could. I thought I heard someone screaming and shouting, but it could just be my mind doing tricks on me. After all, I was too desperate looking out for people.

I decided to move on. The alleyway still seemed endless... wait, no. I thought I saw something. Not very clearly, but still something. A piercing blue light glinted at the end of the path. I blinked for a few times, my left eye still stung like crazy – but after all this, the light was still there. Not a trick of my eyes. Not a trick of the sunlight. Then... what would it be, though? No one should be here. It was just me, myself, alone. Driven by the thought, my curiosity took over and I started to pace forward.

Suddenly, I was put to a pause.

The light, the beam...

It seemed way too similar to the piercing light I saw last night, and the only thing that differed was the color: instead of a fierce red, it shone a cool blue.

To trust it, or not?

I was questioning myself to the point that the world suddenly started to spin and fuse together, twisting and twirling into a gray and blue mess. I felt a power take over my legs and lifted them. I soon found myself running at my full speed, towards the mysterious light. I tried to tell myself to stop, but insanity finally won over sanity.

I felt everything close in at me, as if the buildings were spears and arrows directed at me.

Close your eyes... you won't feel anything, for now.

I felt the weight on me lift away, little by little.

"So I'm heading home now, I'm heading home..."

I heard someone whisper into my ear. I tried to make out who the person was but I could not see anything. Just as if I was blindfolded by air.

I remember hearing one last thing before it gave away to pure darkness.

"Heading home."