Radiant World: The Underworld

Chapter 12: Flames

Sophia sat up on the couch and sipped a cup of what seemed to be coffee. Ranch had given her Decaf, which sort of offended her, but at least she had something to drink. The house seemed to be small, around the size of an apartment, but felt oddly constructed. It was just a bit too big for Sophia.

The chairs were a bit too small, the windows, which were boarded up, were just a bit too big. The curtains, the couch, even the tiling in the bathroom was too big or small. Wide or long.

Ranch wasn't home, he went out to grab something. It was hot. It was just like the house, too much or too little. When it was night, it was cold, but not like ice cold, just right in-between. In the morning it was hot, but not sweltering, just below.

There was an absent feeling, just like every place in the Underworld. Ranch hadn't told her what had happened. It was so quiet.

The couch sat on a wood floor, there were a few plants around it. It led up into a tiled kitchen. A table sat in the middle and on the right was an Island and the kitchen appliances. To the left was the door, and a hallway that led to the bathroom and Ranches bedroom.

She stood up, walking way over to the kitchen where she sat her half full, or half empty mug onto the counter. It landed with a clink, and coffee swayed slightly. She turned her back to it and opened up the fridge, looking for something to eat. It was an average fridge, with normal foods, such as eggs, and milk, and condiments. There was still something strange.

Sophia pulled out the carton of eggs and sat them on the counter beside her coffee. She then turned back to the fridge once more and pulled out the rest of the food she needed. She turned to the door with a surprise. Ranch leaned over the island sipping a cup of a green liquid.

Sophia dropped the bread. "Woah, it's just me." Ranch said calmly.

"You- never mind." Sophia knelt down and picked up the bread. She stood up and sat all of the goods she had gathered onto the counter.

"Let me tell you, getting those were a hassle." Ranch itched his forehead.

"Did you go to Earth?" Sophia asked, opening the bag of bread.

"Uhm... let's just say there not exactly the same." Ranch sat his mug on the table, most of the green liquid gone. A bit had rubbed off onto his face.

"What is that?" Sophia said, eyeing the mug.

"Grass, some other vegetables, and some milk."

Sophia switched the topic again, "Aren't you a cat or something?" Sophia said, setting two slices of bread to the side.

"That will have me explaining a lot..." Ranch seemed hesitant.

"A lot about what...?" Sophia questioned him curiously.

"Attaining... Ascension." Ranch picked up his mug again and started sipping.

"What is Ascension?" She inquired further.

Ranch almost devoured the mug, chugging the rest of the liquid down. He slowly lifted it from his lips and set it down. The clink of the mug seemed to resonate throughout the room.

"I don't want to tell you this prematurely, but you asked." Ranch looked directly at Sophia, then spoke. "When you attain... Ascension, you have reached into a higher plain, or rather a new form of life. You can see things no others can, you can learn of things no others can, but you sacrifice something. I..." Ranch couldn't continue on.

Sophia saw this and kept quiet. She turned around and looked for a pan. It screeched as she lifted off the several others placed below it. She sat it onto the stove. Cooking Oil, she scoured the cabinets and eventually found it. She uncapped the top and sprayed it against the black metal. She sat it down and lit the stove to life. Flames sprawled against the bottom of the pan. The oil began to crackle.