I'm.. alive?
The words barely escaped his lips, a whisper blending in with the wind. There he was, standing in the same field he had been in before. Just moments ago he had been shot right in the head. He looked down, no more hole in his chest, in fact he felt better than ever, as healthy as a horse. Well, an overweight horse anyways. To his surprise, on his left lie a refrigerator. Though, try as he might, he couldn't get it open. He tried both sides, his hands slipping against the bare smooth metal. He wailed on it, knocking it over to the ground with a resounding thud.
Damn you.. where the hell am I??
He cried out, no one to hear him for miles and miles. As he gazed up to the sky once more, his eyes half-shutting from the light, he noticed that the sun wasn't moving, only the clouds. He sat in that same spot for what could've been minutes, hours, days. Nothing. He didn't grow hungry, nor thirsty, nor did he ever once feel the need to sleep or use the restroom. All the while the sun stood defiantly still, almost taunting him. He grew restless, the almost repetitive chirping of the non-existent birds drilling a hole in his mind. He stood up, looking around. There was nothing, a green, barren wasteland, and so he marched on. Surely, he thought, surely he would find something again, even if it was that.. thing.. from before.
As he marched on, the sun beamed across his body, he felt the blazing heat, but never sweat a drop. It was then, and only then that he realised he couldn't breathe. Panic struck through him as he grasped at his throat, he collapsed to the ground. As the lights in his eyes faded, the familiar sound of the birds chirping and singing became peaceful.
But he did not die. He lay there, staring up at the clouds as he came to the conclusion that this must be a dream. "Ain't no dream, buddy." The voice came out of nowhere, had it read his mind, or had he simply been thinking out loud? He looked around, not noticing anyone. "Oy, down here." Kyle looked down towards his feet. Standing at about half his height was a small human-adjacent person, with blonde hair, cat-like ears, a long, thin tail, their eyes were large, with thin, red pupils, shaped much like a cat's eye. They wore a white shirt, a short blue skirt, and brown boots. "You done looking me over?" It spoke again, with a voice that didn't quite match its host.
Oh- sorry..
"Nah, don't worry about it. You must be new here huh?" Kyle nodded, looking around. This area was still just as barren as before, although he could vaguely make out a familiar silhouette making its way towards them.
Uh oh.. look out!!
Kyle dove to the ground, covering his head in fear. "Oh, hey Eginix. What's poppin?" The cat spoke again, addressing the figure from before. "Trying to kill this fat guy" Eginix spoke, a wicked chuckle escaping his lips. "Now now, what were we told about killing new folk right off the bat huh?" The cat retorted, clearly being on Kyle's side. He stood back up, trying to hide behind the cat, but not hiding too well, on account of the cat being half his height. "Get out from behind Akio so I can shoot you goddamn it." Kyle ducked back even more, hiding behind Akio as much as he could. "Now Eginix, what would The Manifestor have to say about this?" Eginix sighed, grumbled something to himself, and ran off.
Who's The Manifestor?
"Oh, you'll meet them soon. For now let's get you settled into the little settlement we've got going on." Kyle, reluctantly, nodded in agreement as they began to march what he assumed to be eastward, but could've just as easily been any other direction.
As they walked onwards, Kyle questioned Akio to the best of his abilities. Most of the questions were answered with a "You'll learn later" or a "You'll see." This didn't help Kyle's rising anxiety, this new world, new.. people? and now this mysterious Manifestor person. All of it was too much for him. Time passed, and they eventually reached a large barricade, stretching far off in either direction. It was constructed of wire fencing, and large concrete barriers, with a large wire gate in what Kyle presumed to be the middle. Akio simply waved his hand near the gate and it slowly grinded open, and shut once they were both inside.
What's the gate for?
Akio stopped, looking at Kyle with a confused look. "Oh. Just a safety measure. Nothing to worry about." Kyle very much doubted that last part, but went along with it for now. As they walked more, a large construct faded into view from the horizon, and a large cacophony of voices and music could be heard from inside as they drew closer. "Welp, here we are!" Akio stopped just in front of the entrance, smiling as he turned to face Kyle "Welcome, Kyle, to Teal Town."
