Once Upon A Madness

Prologue: A Dream? No, Abyss

I can't quite be so sure of myself if I am dreaming or not, but it feels like it. It feels nice... until it starts to feel like I've been in this dream for almost an hour now-- that I feel I am becoming more conscious for this to be only just a dream.

I tried stomping my feet, but can't seem to feel any solid ground. Then I tried clapping my hands... Huh...? Weird, there is no sound... There should be sound when there's air, but the fact that I can breathe just fine-- I tried clapping again but with increasing force in each clap, until I started to feel that stinging sensation in both of my palms, and it was of no use.

Tension is starting to build up in me. I began shouting for anyone's help... but no one answered... In the first place, I can't utter even a single word out of my throat. None.

Nothing but complete silence in this darkness.

Ever so slowly, this darkness... This silence is becoming unsettling.

Until...

A long time passes, at least that is what it feels like.

Sensory deprivation is now slowly eating away my sanity. In this isolation with nothing to perceive, I can only involuntarily sense how my body functions, imagining how my breath passes through my throat... The supposed sound of the vibration of my anxious heart... My ears are beginning to imagine a ringing noise that is fortunately bearable.

It feels like I've been here for so long, yet I have not felt any hunger.

I can't help but think about even the most nonsensical ideas that will just pop inside my head-- Perhaps I am in some sort of abyss? Or maybe a black hole? Am I dead? Is this what the afterlife looks like? No, no, no... What about my mother and father? I don't want them to be sad, I can't just leave them behind...!

As it turns out, that comfort I first felt in this darkness, now utterly scares me.

Insanity has finally got me as I began shouting until my throat became sore, but still, not a sound could be heard. I did all of the thinkable struggles I could come up with in a desperate attempt to get out of this... place. Have I been buried? Possibly not, I can't feel any corners that would confirm that I am in a coffin. Is getting out of here even possible? Perhaps I am just looking for someone to get rid of this loneliness...?

Wait... I... am lonely?

Just what is this place?

IT IS MADENNING.

Come to think of it, I can't be dead. I have no recollection of dying at all... All I know is, I was living quite an ordinary, carefree life as an average teenager. I can't seem to be certain about my past memories. What happened to me?

Before I could even ponder any further about my missing memories, a child's voice startled me, "You're still such a coward"

...What?

As eerie as that voice may sound, I couldn't entirely catch what it said to me. I have a lot to ask about that mysterious voice, but I am still unable to let out a word.

"Oh, you can't talk... great!"

Now that somehow pissed me off... But I can't really do anything about it.

"That'll save me the long talk", the voice giggled.

Am I in some sort of a tunnel? But the voice sounds like it's echoing inside my head. Have I finally lost it? Just as I was about to question my sanity until--