Celestial Discord

Chapter 39- Awaken

"Wake up."

The sleepy voice echoed in my head. I came to immediately, only to realize I couldn't move any part of my body aside from my head. Upon surveying my surroundings I quickly came to the conclusion I was in an unfamiliar area. The sky above me was dark mixed with just enough dim light where I could see around me.

I probably took too long to notice that what I was lying on wasn't a solid surface. It should've been an impossibility, but it looked like I was laying on top of the ocean. Strangely enough, I didn't freak out about it, not that I could've done much even if I had.

Where am I?

A pretty typical question, but necessary information nonetheless. My memory felt all jumbled up; an experience I'd hardly call new but annoying regardless. I remember fighting a guy that could defy the laws of nature but struggled to come up with how I wound up here.

Where is here anyway? Is this a dream?...Did I die?

Despite my vision being perfectly fine, it was like my other senses were shut off. All I could hear was static similar to listening to a blank t.v. channel. I couldn't taste anything, including my own saliva. And despite the odd scenery around me I couldn't smell or feel anything. Even the water I knew was below me was unidentifiable by contact.

At the very least, I did feel my heart beating faster than normal. And although I didn't sense any danger, I could feel butterflies in my stomach. But for what? I don't see anything around me that would put me on edge.

...Let's see—

I could just barely hear a sleepy voice that was vaguely familiar. After she spoke, I heard chains clanging. It sounded just like my previous dream. Except this time it wasn't from a distance. The noise seemed to have originated from inside my head. Weirdly enough the sound kept getting louder, like she was somehow getting closer. It continued to increase in volume to the point where the shuffling of the chains overshadowed all other thoughts. Then it disappeared entirely.

What just happened?

Suddenly, two soft hands lightly grasped my face. Their appearance scared me and I attempted to jump but was reminded that I wasn't in control of my body, an occurrence that was becoming more common by the day.

Let's see what your future holds. The soft voice said. Show me what lies beneath.

At first, nothing happened. And then, my vision began to blur only for me to realize too late that I'd been plunged under the mysterious waters. Motionless, I was left with no choice but to sink. The most alarming part about this situation was my body was fine. I wasn't drowning; at least, I didn't feel as though I was.

My eyes shut closed without my permission as I sank deeper into the watery abyss. My heart was pounding out of my chest and I instinctively tried to reach for someone to pull me out only for my body to remind me that it's paralyzed.

Wake up.

I could hear her voice even now.

Wake up, Arthur.

As commanded, my eyes shot open. But the scenery had changed. I returned to the alleyway where I left off before. I hastily sat up but searing pain enveloped my head. My thoughts were murky and my understanding of my current predicament was as clear as the sky where I'd just escaped from.

"Ugh." I groaned.

A wave of emotions I wasn't accustomed to consumed my current feelings and replaced them. Fear, loneliness, sadness, and apathy barraged into me like a gatling gun aimed at my soul while miraculously flowing harmoniously. Anger was also present but not overly dominant enough to be called the primary emotion.