7 Rings

Reborn

I was awoken with a sudden jolt as a droplet of water landed on my face. I tried to move my head but a sharp pain made me scream, except no sound escaped my mouth. For minutes, I lied there in agonizing pain. Finally, it stopped and after laying still for another minute I tried moving my head again. It was hard, and it hurt a lot but I was able to move my head. I was in a small cavern. Next to me was a small puddle of water, presumably formed from stalactites hanging from the cavern ceiling. It was pitch black except for a small blue glow emanating from something atop a large mound of stone a short distance from me. I couldn't see anything else, so I decided I should head towards the glow. I tried to move my arms but I was unable to. I then tried moving my legs and found that I was unable to do that too. I kept on trying to move my limbs, I wouldn't let myself stop here! Not after everything that's happened! Slowly I felt them start to move. First it was my fingers, then it was toes. After many minutes, I was able to move my hands and feet. After many more minutes I could move my arms and legs. Pain raced through my body, but I kept on trying to move my body. After what felt like hours, I was finally able to move all my limbs. I wanted to stand, but I knew it would not be possible; instead I crawled towards the glow. I moved agonizingly slow, and pain raced through my body, but I pressed on. By the time I was at the foot of the small hill, I had grown slight numb to the pain. I was able to get onto my knees. The hill wasn't steep at all, but I was so weak it took me 10 painful minutes to climb. Finally, at the top, I saw a pearly white pedestal jutting out from a stone wall. It had snake-like carvings running down its sides. It couldn't have been naturally made, but the way it jutted from the stone made it look like it had always been there. Getting closer I saw that on top of the pedestal was a stone basin. The stone bowl looked like it had formed naturally. It was misshapen and off center. Sitting inside of it was the source of the blue glow, a rock. Glowing blue tendrils of light were coming from the rock, but other than that it looked like an ordinary stone. It was about half the size of my hand and rather round. I wasn't sure if I should touch it, but my eyes wouldn't leave the rock. Without even realizing it, my hands wrapped around the rock. Instantly I felt energy surge into me. Without struggling at all I was able to stand up. It seems the rock was giving me energy. To test it, I sat down and set the rock down in front of me. The moment it left my hands I screamed in pain. I instantly crumpled onto the ground, but as my vision got blurry I reached for the rock and just before everything went dark I touched it. The pain vanished and I felt revitalized.
Now clutching onto the rock harder than ever before. The ground started to shake. The pedestal that was holding the rock started to sink into the ground, and revealed a tunnel behind it. I could see a light coming from the end of the tunnel so once the pedestal had fully sunken into the ground I stepped over the hole, and with the rock tightly wrapped in my hand, I started down it. As I progressed closer to the light, it started to brighten. It got so bright that I wasn't able to see in front of me. Pressing forwards, I closed my eyes and put one hand on the wall and another reaching out in front of me. After walking for another minute, my hand hit something. I tried opening my eyes but it was way too bright. Cautiously, I tried stepping forwards, but my feet hit the same thing. Reaching around I felt something blocking my way. It was really strange as it didn't feel like stone or anything at all really. Wondering if this was some barrier, I tapped the rock against the wall. The blinding light disappeared, but I also felt my body get weaker. Stumbling, I opened my eyes.

In front of me was a pond. It had an ethereal beauty. The water was a translucent blue. Giant lily pads were floating on the water, and atop the lily pads were flowers that bloomed a beautiful crimson red.  A tree was hanging over the pond. Its branches stretched out in a way that resembled a bird spreading its wings. The leaves shined a brilliant reddish orange. Finally! I had arrived!.....but.  Hanging from one of the branches right above the pond was a swing, and on it was a woman. She swayed across the pond, feet barely skimming the surface of the water. Dark red hair flowing behind her. Unsteadily, I took a step forward. Turning her head, the woman on the swing looked at me. "My, so someone has finally found me," she said. I tried to speak but no words escaped my lips. I took another step forward. "It's been so long," She said with a small smile on her face. Again, I tried to speak but no words would come. I took another step forward. The woman on the swing arose and walked towards me. Her feet never touched the water. When she reached the edge of the pond she stopped and frowned. "Alas, It appears we won't have much time will we?" she said. Stumbling, I took my final steps to the edge of the pond. "I'm sorry my dear, I truly am." she told me somberly. In front of me was a withered husk. Sunken eyes, skull nearly visible, hair all decayed. I was looking at my reflection. I tried to look away, I tried to scream, but I couldn't move. My reflection was broken by tears splashing the water. The woman moved next to me. She leaned close and whispered into my ear, "Poor, poor, usheel you can rest now. Close your eyes and fall, fall into the eternal slumber. I'm sorry this is how we met." I felt my life fading. It was over. I couldn't do it, I was too weak.....I closed my eyes and fell. Right into that translucent water.

    I sank deeper into the water. I felt my memories fading away. Everything I risked to get here, all the pain I went through, my goal yet reached. It was all whisked away by the waters. My journey, my life. It was all over. As I sunk deeper, I wished for just a fleeting moment, that I could be reborn and try again.

"...how?......never...thi-....before" I felt like I could hear something. "....wa-...you're....I-I can't believe it" Opening my eyes, I saw a tree, branches shaped like a bird, shining a beautiful crimson, and a woman, with dark red hair looking down at me. I looked at her and she smiled. She reached down and laid a hand on my chest. That was the last thing I saw before everything went black.