strength

Part 4: "Confusion is the key to survival"

Joey shifts uncomfortable in his sleep. He frowns and his once subtle smile falls from his face as he shudders. His mind is spinning and the war in his head seems to go on forever. A scream erupts from Joey's mouth and his body rolls over. His eyes fly open when he starts sliding down the tree branch. Thinking fast, Joey grabs hold of the branch above him and tries to lift himself up. To his oh so good luck, the branch snaps and Joey spins around in panic. He stretches himself forward and collides with the tree. Praising the gods for his decision to go the gym almost every week before he met Shane, Joey holds himself up.

His breath is caught in his throat as he slides down the tree. Shock washes over him as he realises what he did. He had screamed.

Joey wants to kick something but quickly starts walking. The memory of the last time he had screamed haunts his mind as he starts walking faster. Joey mentally scolds at himself for being so incredibly stupid. This has been the second time he had screamed. Why did he keep doing that? Joey tries to remember his dream. His mind is still hazy and the lack of sleep is taking its toll on him. Joey lets out a frustrated growl -'Can't even remember a stupid dream'- But makes sure he keeps his voice down.

It has been probably only three weeks since he dived –literally- into the glowing world. Despite the fact that he was in a glowing forest, the one thing that kept bothering him since the moment he stepped foot in the forest was the fact that he hadn't seen any other living creatures. Not even fish or birds. His mind played around with the possibilities of what could be the reason why.

The air was thick and there wasn't much light. Also, the only edible things Joey had found over the past week were berries that despite looking rotten, tasted surprisingly good.

Joey walks slowly through the forest, chewing on a couple berries. Joey wonders where the path is taking him as he swallows the berries. The path he has been following seemed to go on forever. His feet hurt and his mind is foggy from the lack of sleep. He grumpily groans but doesn't stop walking.

Joey's perception of reality has been played with over the past weeks. Day and night flowed into each other and it makes him anxious just thinking about it. Joey doesn't know how much time he has left but he is sure that he is slowly running out of it.

'Making my way downtown, walking fast, nothing passes and I am nowhere bound.' Joey thinks and he giggles mentally. With his eyes fixed on the black, empty void of nothingness in front of him, Joey keeps walking forward. Hoping the world would have more in store for him than just silence.

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'WHAT WERE YOU THINKIN'?! '

'I wasn't-'

'WHAT DO YA MEAN YOU WASN'T?'

'I didn't mean to-'

'WHAT DO YA MEAN YOU DIDN'T BLOODY MEAN TO?'

Joey's eyes widen as he watches the scene play out in front of him. Hiding safely in between the trees on a small hill, he looks down at a group of men. One of the men was screaming his lungs out and making inappropriate hand gestures. In any other situation he would've laughed at the stressed-out look on the face of the man. The other man –who was visibly shaking with tears in his eyes- looked like he was about to pass out. The rest had stepped to the side and watched the two men with bored expressions on their faces.

Joey feels himself back up slightly when the man begins screaming again. Joey leans to his right to catch the look on the face of the smaller man. Joey only catches a glimpse form the smaller man before he feels his hand slide away from underneath him. With a blood curling scream Joey slips down the small hill.