Cale and the Universe

Chapter 2: A Nightmare

  Cale awakens flat on his back, located in a dimly lit abyss between two cliffs. Dark clouds begin to roll in ominously, shuttering out most of the light that was present before.

Cale: Did they just leave me here!?

Cale takes a short pause and starts to feel butterflies in his stomach, as well as what feels to be like a half-ton weight on his chest. The sensation of pins and needles slowly creeps across his arms and legs and his breathing becomes more heavy by the second.

Cale: What is this.. that I'm.. feeling..

Cale suddenly becomes paralyzed and perplexed by the occurrence. His sole ability to only dart his eyes back and forth numbs his mind. Cale tries to jerk his arms and legs with little to no avail.

Cale: I.. why can't I move? What's going on? Why am I here? Is there anybody around? I have to get out of this. I have to get out of here. I need to find help. I need to break free from this. What can I do? How can I do this? What do I do?

Every effort that Cale makes to move pulls his chest as sensation comes to life around his heart and near his lungs. Any effort he makes to scream poses a threat to his breathing as he tries to gasp for air to make worth of his vocal cords. His heart races like the speed of a dragon fly fluttering and zooming around in the air. Breathing is becoming more difficult as he feels an impending sense of doom and disarray.

With all of his might, Cale tries to lift his arms and legs but yet to no avail. He clenches his teeth and begins to chatter slightly. He closes his eyes and with all his collective strength attempts to push his head up. Like a miracle, Cale manages to break his head free from paralysis. His head falls uncomfortably to a side, with the rest of his body still remaining as it was. In a state of panic, Cale feels as if there is a piece of wood in his throat and breathing feels more disturbingly.

Cale: I..

Out of nowhere, a tall lanky figure wrapped in bandages resembling that of a mummy appears right next to Cale with red eyes that are bold and beady.

Cale tries to scream with all his might, but is only able to let out dull umms and ahhs. Cale closes his eyes as tears start to fall from each of his eyes. He lets go of himself and all the pressure he is using to try and break free. He resorts to his inner thoughts as his heart feels like it's going to burst.

Cale: I give up. Universe, I leave it in your hands.

A blunt and powerful feeling begins to overwhelm Cale — a sense of victory. Other thoughts begin to swarm his head. A sense of resolve, a sense of grit. Cale opens his eyes as adrenaline slowly coarse through his veins. The figure remains staring deeply into his soul. With all his strength, Cale manages to wiggle his fingers and slowly rises his left arm as if he was lifting the Empire State Building from the ground up. He swiftly breaks free from the spell as he jerks his whole body and the paralysis washes away almost instantaneously. The being disappears as fast as a lightning strike and Cale remains his place, slowly catching his breath.

Cale: My head feels all fuzzy.. what was that even? What did I just go through? Was that.. supposed to happen? How did that even happen.. what did I even do?

He slowly and cautiously rises his upper body from the ground after a few minutes of collecting himself, keeping his legs planted and situated right in front of him.