A Paradox Reality

Chapter 5: Underneath and Above

Previously with Edmund:

A chorus of voices whispered, "Life is never fair... Life is never fair... Life is never fair..."

And then, one voice, very different and possibly more rebellious than the rest started rapidly, "And neither is Mother Earth."
***

AT FIRST, EDMUND THOUGHT HE WAS FALLING. The wind was pummeling his feet, his stomach was in his throat, and he could even hear a faint whistle of air striking past his ears. With sealed shut eyes, Edmund rapidly thought, I'm too young to die! Take somebody else, not me! He knew the hard impact would be coming shortly, now.

A second passed.

A minute passed.

Two minutes passed.

Edmund mustered up his courage and took one breathtaking peek at his surroundings. To say he was surprised of what he found would be an understatement.

He was looking at a void of nothingness. The void wasn't grey, wasn't white, and it wasn't black. It was made up of no color, no top or bottom, no substance whatsoever. He found that it was nearly impossible to describe what it was like later.

As for his emotions, as soon as he took a look at the void, he just felt emotionless. He felt empty. He felt just like the void was. His soul started to mirror the void's.

Unconsciously, he slammed his eyes shut. Without the empty void to look at, all of the confusion, fear, and sadness came back. But so did the joy, the optimism, and the excitement that Edmund usually obtained, too. It was better that way. It was better to have a life full of emotion, no matter how depressing, than none at all.

If he listened closely, Edmund could make out a faint sucking noise. It sounded like the air was being leeched out of the room.

With his eyes still closed, Edmund was beginning to wonder what was happening. The sucking noise was getting more distinct, the wind was getting stronger, and he could nearly smell the suspense that was growing in the air. He started to feel like Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz, trapped with noises and fears so numerous that he couldn't name them all.

Then, rapidly, the noise stopped. The wind faded, and Edmund's heart rate started to slow. With hesitation, Edmund opened his eyes a fraction of an inch.

Instead of finding the nothingness void, he opened his eyes to a small, cozy wooden cabin. But, unfortunately for him, it wasn't vacant. There was another lady in the room.

The woman had a tall, thin build, and had perfect posture. With curly dark brown hair and dark skin, some would say that she was beautiful.

"I see you have made it here safely?" The woman's emerald eyes pierced his.

"Yes ma'am," Edmund said, his tone regal.

"I presume that it was your first time traveling like so?" Her voice was rich and bellowed through her diaphragm.

"You are correct, ma'am." They stood in silence for a minute. "Ma'am," Edmund began. "Excuse me for saying this, but who exactly are you?"

"Edmund, my dear boy, I am Mother Earth. I am the bane existence of the planet you live on."

"Do you need something from me? Did I do something wrong?"