Devoid

Shadows of Conduct

What was this strange sensation? Wind rushing past his face, he felt weightless. He saw what seemed like a small glimmer of light, as if he was staring down a dark tunnel, slowly being pulled away. It felt like a dream, something extraordinary that couldn't quite be described. The light faded.

This dream was cut off by a loud thud, as his back slammed onto a surface he could not see. Why couldn't he see? He laid, staring upwards at nothing. His mind processed what had happened, what he had witnessed. He tried to remember, remember why he was here. He was greeted with eerie silence...

He let out a sigh, and lifted his hand. His muscles ached, struggling to lift his arm. Something was wrong. His veins bulged as if someone was strangling him. Blood stained his skin, splattered. He froze, momentarily fear flooded his emotions, restricting him from being able to move. Something was wrong... what was happening?

By will, he was able to stand. He tried to wipe his hands, but the stains still remained. He frantically looked around, holding his hands before him as if someone had caught him thieving. He felt an overwhelming sense of dread shake his bones, but there was nothing. There was only nothing. Why is there nothing? Where am I? His mind must've been playing tricks on him, this had to be some sort of sick nightmare! His hands began to uncontrollably shake. He looked down, trying to stop but he couldn't! Why can't I move?! His mind couldn't reason with itself. His heart beat pounded like drums, almost deafening him. He felt a presence never felt before, creeping just behind him, but no matter where he turned, he couldn't see anything. Why can't I see?! This has to be a nightmare!

His mind only knew one solution: run. And so he did, running frantically from a threat he couldn't see. His breath was suddenly whisked away from him. He clenched his gut in pain, but he couldn't give up. Not now. He continued to run, he had to, he just had to get out of there! The pain became more immense in his gut. His legs began to wobble, and before he could get much further, he collapsed. He laid on his side, holding the his gut as he waited for death to come... but it didn't. He laid for what felt like an hour, but the threat was gone...

He coughed, and sighed in relief. The silence and relaxation was welcomed. He flipped over onto his back, and hoisted himself upwards. Before him was the black void, an empty hollow. He winced, trying take a step forwards. The ground was uneven, but there was no ground. He felt the wind brisk past, but there was no wind. Everything was empty, no world.

His mind buzzed with the possibility that he was dead, maybe he was. His footsteps echoed as if he was in a cave, but there was only his footsteps. He was what filled the silence, and it was he alone who did so. He heard the soft dripping of water, or some kind of liquid. Water. He was parched. He glanced around the empty abyss, looking for the source. It was extremely close, it sounded like. He kept up his search, but to no avail.

It was only when he looked down at himself that he found his answer. For his hand holding his gut was bloodier than before, fresh blood this time. It leaked through his fingers, ran down the back of his hand, and onto the black abyss he stood upon. His vision started to haze, and his breathing slowed. He lifted his hand, only to see an open wound in his gut, leaking slowly.

Without thought, he covered the wound again, and kneeled down. His mind began to panic again, quickly coming to the conclusion that he was going to die. His hand continued to apply pressure, but nothing stopped the bleeding. His breathing became more frantic... but then he realized. How long had he been down here? An hour? Maybe more? How had he not bled out by now? His mind wanted to reason that maybe he was immortal here, maybe he wouldn't die, but he had his doubts. The blood continued to flow, slowly, but unending. It just wasn't natural, none of this was. Why am I here? What is this place? Why am I bleeding? His mind couldn't handle the confusion, so many thoughts rushed past too quickly. Nothing made any sense.

He waited, waited for something. Anything. He waited for answers, he waited for death, he waited for everything, and nothing. And that's what came, Nothing. 1 hour... 2 hours... 3 hours... nothing. Silence and darkness would shroud him for what he thought would be eternity. And he was to remain with this mindset, until everything was interrupted with a loud SPLASH!