Epics of Noche 3, Limbo

EON CH 19

BELOW THE WAVES.

 1774, NOVEMBER 28th, MONDAY12:50 pm.

Noche opened her eyes to a wavering cobalt light far above her. It danced like it was hidden behind moving glass. Clarity returned to her vision and the moon stayed in its spot above the waves. She was below the surface of the water; far below from what she could tell.

She laid on a giant clam under the moonlit sky at the bottom of the ocean. Her appearance that of her monstrous crow-hybrid form. A black body covered in feathers, solid black eyes with gold irises, and an anglerfish antenna sticking out of her head.

The darkness of the night sky, combined with the blue tint of the waves, made the small moon appear like a comforting yet somber light. There was a semblance of serenity with how the shadows framed that single source of muted illumination.

The only sound was the muffled milling of ocean tides. Occasionally the swaying of seaweed in the unnoticed currents. Noche was isolated from the world here. Alone. Not a single fish, nor bird, nor any form of intelligent life.

However, despite the tranquility, there was a heaviness to the atmosphere. Noche felt fused to the floor. Far above, clouds overcast the moon and turned the waters to pitch. The void separated her from everything else. She was entombed in the black of the abyss. A shadowy lump at the bottom of the sea.

She wanted death. To be drawn into the beckoning black. To cry. Noche was lost, trapped, and confused. Worst of all she was alone. Utterly, and completely, alone. The fact she had lost everyone, everyone gnawed at her very soul.

Her struggles were pointless. Despite how much she fought, she was still clueless about where she was. This dream world made no sense and it was frustrating trying to navigate it. Was this hell? Did she bleed to death and wound up here as punishment?

A part of her felt like she deserved that.

The clouds dispersed and light returned to the ocean floor. Her eyes lingered on her monstrous appearance – this was the second time she had shape-shifted into this form. At least she wasn't a child anymore and had her left arm back.

"I feel like shit."

Noche sighed and bubbles escaped her lips. Her eyes trailed after them as they floated towards the distant surface. She brought her gaze downwards long before those little orbs of air got anywhere near the top.

The blonde stood and the motion made sand float around her feet in a cloud. At these depths there was a certain pressure putting weight on her from all angles; her movements were stifled and slow.

Dim, cobalt light scarcely pierced the dark of these night waters. Darkness was in all directions on the oceanic bed floor. There was no clear path or direction to head in.

"Come on, Noche. You got to get out of this dream world," she muttered. "Where is baby Noche? She knows the way out. She has to."

The blonde closed her eyes and focused on finding the child. She opened them to drifting seaweed and an empty loneliness. With no better options, she picked a direction and walked forward. On a whim, she attempted to summon her Omni-Oar, but it would not appear in her hand.

"Why – why can't I use my sword?"

Noche walked into the abyss. She contemplated the car crash as she trekked. The three realities she saw all seemed so real. More real than this place. Her mind was sharper for the brief instance she passed through each world.

An arrow snapped under her foot and she paused. It looked identical to the ones that flew past her a moment after she crashed through the windshield.

"Is this part of a dream world? It feels... more real."

Baby Noche appeared and the blonde froze. The little girl pointed in a direction and a patch of seaweed moved to obscure her. When Noche lunged forward and moved it out of the way she was gone. With a frown, she turned towards the direction that was directed to her.

"I will get out of this place."

Noche walked forward.