"The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing"
A slight rumbling (similar to the sound of an earthquake) is distinguishable.
Soon after, the rumbling ends and a soft, calming song begins to play (Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong: Dream A Little Dream Of Me). 15 seconds into the song the scene begins in a quiet restaurant filled with a surprisingly large amount of people all sitting at their own tables with one other person.
"The human mind bears no constraints, no obstructions, no barriers, except for the ones it conceives itself" says Abraham in a relaxed tone. Abraham is sitting opposite John on a table. There are no menus, cutlery and napkins on the table. There is only a white cloth covering the table. This is the same for every table in the restaurant.
"If so, then why can't people move objects with their minds or communicate with each other using their minds, hell even levitate?" John asks humorously. It appears John is not taking Abraham seriously
"Anyone can, but many restrict themselves by accepting something they haven't yet witnessed as impossible" Abraham Replies
"Do you know what you sound like?" John asks
"Tell me" Abraham replies
"A drunk" John responds with a wide grin "In fact are you drunk?"
"Why would I be drunk if I haven't had anything to drink in this place?" Abraham replies. Now Abraham begins to stare deeply into Johns eyes.
"Relax I was only pulling on your chain plus the waiter just isn't here yet" John replies. Abraham isn't smiling anymore, instead he leans forward towards John with a firm look whilst still staring deeply into his eyes.
"Yet? Take a look at the table, do you see any sort of menu, cutlery or napkin?" Abraham asks strongly. Johns looks at the table; beginning to show a mild level of curiosity. "Does it look like someone's coming to serve us?" Abraham adds. "But when we got here there wa..." John replies but is cut off... "When did we get here John? When exactly did we get here? (John tries to think but can't remember and is now curious) Why are we here? Where were we before we got here? If we're in a restaurant why is there no food? Where is the waiter that hasn't served anyone here at all? Who are these people around us? Why are they here too?" Abrahams tone grows firmer with each question.
John looks around him to find nobody has been served anything and nobody has any sort of menu, cutlery or napkin on their table. John suddenly notices himself talking to Victoria on another table. He sees himself again talking with Sydney on another table. He's also talking to Ethan on another table until he realises that every table contains him and someone he'd known in the past. The moment he realises this is the moment every version of himself begins to frantically scan their surroundings only to come to the same realisation as him.
"What the fuck is happening?" John asks Abraham with a terrified gaze upon his face.
"I believe the right question is why the fuck is this happening?" Abraham replies a little more relaxed.
"No, no you're not going to fuck with me at this moment no you're not, you're going to explain everything right now" John demands furiously.
"I already have,besides, the answers to your questions are all in your head (Abraham places his hands on Johns hands which are on the table) you just have to ask" Abraham responds in the most calming tone.
Immediately a tremor begins to occur. The restaurant begins rumble slightly (still noticeably).
"John I want you relax, look into my eyes and focus on my voice only" Abraham says trying to calm a quivering John.
John and the other Johns around him begin to frantically look around and quiver violently with a terribly fearful look across their faces. The rumble seems to grow even more violent. John spots one version of himself sitting alone on a table looking directly at his own table acting as if he doesn't notice the rumbling. This version of John is filled with bruises, scars and blood all over his clothing.
"Him, the one alone on that table, why isn't he afraid?" John asks Abraham worriedly. Abraham turns to look at the version of John. He looks back at John and smiles. "Till we meet again, and remember, ask" Abraham slowly disintegrates into particles of dust.
John, again, wears an expression of confusion until he notices his skin beginning to peel as well as the shortness of his breath.
John is dying. The skin on his face and arm begins to decay and John falls to the floor. The same thing is happening with every other version of himself and the earthquake is now at its worst; destroying everything in the restaurant. The restaurant is filled with nothing but violent screams and the destruction of just about any object inside. Amidst the chaos is the version of John still sitting alone at his table unaffected by the event taking place inside the restaurant, including the table. A slew of objects are flying rapidly past him from one side of the restaurant to another yet he sits still thinking to himself with his fists upon the table.
After a while the earthquake ends and nobody except for the John alone at the table is left alive. John stands up from his seat, pushes it out and protrudes towards the main entrance to the restaurant calmly dodging and weaving through the objects in his way and stepping over dead bodies of himself until he makes it to the front door.
This is the real John.
He takes one last look behind him, turns back to the door, opens it, and slowly makes his way out. As the door opens a terribly bright light shines from outside through the door.
John's eyes immediately open.
"Please, no more, I'm tired" He begs - glimmers of tears fill his eyes.
"Subject 52 has once again failed to continue further than the restaurant. Another trial shall be run again"
"No, no, no, please, I swear, I'll do better another time, my head hurts, please..."
"- Experiment 1 Trial 27 commences in 3..."
"Please!my head..."
"2..."
"it can't take it anymore..."
"1..."
"No, no, no, no, please, I'm begging you, Please! Please!" John has broken down into complete emotional trauma, a flood of tears and cold, dark red blood race down his
-
A slight rumbling (similar to the sound of an earthquake) is distinguishable.
YOU ARE READING
The Next World: The Will To Live
FantasyWhat happens when a group of friends have their lives turned to ashes by the immediate event of an apocalypse? How do they survive? What happens to the rest of the world?
