The Rift in Mind

What Happened to the Black Ninja?

     In his blindness he ran. He has no idea where he was, where he was going, or even why he was there. All he knew was that he needed run and get out of there as soon as possible.

Something lurked in the darkness with him. It had tried to strike him down but missed. He had managed to land a blow to what he thought was its head putting all he had into it. He heard it fall. But he was way too focused on escaping this black abyss to listen for when or if it got up.

About an hour had passed and his constant motion hasn't been broken. Every breath felt like he was filling his lungs with fire. His throat felt dry and coated with ash. His sprint dropped to a jog, and even to a power walk at one point, but he never stopped. Soon enough the tiniest hint of light was visible.

It was sunlight slipping into the mouth of a cave and gradually gave into the black abyss as it went deeper. He picked up his pace, legs carrying him faster than he knew was possible.

Exiting the cave with that one huge leap to freedom was the only relief he had let himself feel since he randomly dropped into complete blindness. It took a few more steps to stop him then he turned back to check for any things chasing after him.

What now? He thought to himself. What was he doing in there? Where is he, and why? The only thing he could remember at the moment is his name. Cole Brookstone.

Cole's void mind strained itself trying to pieces memories of his life together. Nothing. Like a blank paper doll he was a clean slate just... existing.

Cole took a glance back at the cave. He should probably get away from it just in case. Heading straight into the forest Cole made up his mind that he would focus on only survival for now. If he knows what he needs to do, which he's unsure of at the moment, he'll get it done. But right now the words "totally lost" frame his situation perfectly. No point in exerting extra energy on finding ways to waste it without having yet to find a food source. Cole made water his main priority, he knew what dehydration could do to a person and it kills faster. Villages also settle near a water source so finding a river or stream would be his best bet to finding civilization and possibly home. Although Cole wasn't quite sure what home was.

As he wondered, the emptiness of his mind and the silence of the forest was starting to get to him. It felt... just, wrong. Cole tried to think of something before what happened to him in the cave but that was the only memory his mind held. What is wrong with me? Do I have amnesia? Cole questioned himself. Amnesia was the only Cole could think of that might explain his situation.

It's getting dark. Better settle down soon- The thought was interrupted by a sudden realization. I've been here before! A memory had broken free from whatever was holding it back and let itself become known.

Cole was about 13 thinking that he was practically invisible and the massive woods near Jaranikai Village held nothing that could possibly harm the impossibly strong young teen. Similar to his situation now, he had gotten himself lost. Luckily a hunter had found him the next morning sleeping on the ground in a small pile of leaves scared, cold, and worst of all hungry.

Good enough. Cole thought and began looking around for dry twigs and dead leafs that might as well be burning in a fire providing him with warmth for the night.

After he dug a small fire pit, dumping his pile of twigs in, and making a barrier of mud around it he managed to set it ablaze with the fury of frustration after trying for so long.

Cole sat near the fire, staring straight into it attempting deep thought. The intense heat and flicker of the flame reminded him of something... or someone. 'The red ninja- IT WAS KAI. HE HAD A SISTER TOO, HER NAME WAS... dammit' How could Cole not remember past that? Weren't they supposed to be his friends?

Cole found this frustrating and a little unnerving. But the small pieces of information that seem to be coming back to him gave him hope. All he could do was cling to that.

Yawn. "That's a sign I guess." Cole said as he took a glance up at the stars that sprinkled the night sky. He drowned the fire with some water he found in a nearby stream, which he planned on following in the morning. After that Cole rested his head against the tree trunk and drifted off to sleep.