Civilization

"Wake up… Wake up… Wake up…" - ???

Floating in what seems to be a black pool. My body stiffened from a cold. Eyes, glancing around from side to side. Cracks along my lips, drier than the Sahara Desert. The sound of my own heart, beating slowly… Slowly… Drifting away like a piece of seaweed. Carried, along, by the waves.

Blinking slowly, I let the current take my body wherever it wants to go, as I feel a soft grip around my bony ankles. Shackling them together, as the fine hairs along my legs slice the water, creating ripples all around. Ripples turning into waves, dragging me further, faster.

Raging and roaring, changing as abruptly as mood swings. Finally, taking notice of my surroundings, as I see my body following the current straight into a black whirlpool. However, it was too late, as I try to push my body upward and my feet down, only to realize that I was strapped to a plank of wood. Tied tightly like a present waiting for Christmas. Letting out a scream, only for silence to greet me.

Swirling around and around, like a rubber duck in a bathtub, watching my imminent demise as I edge my way closer and closer to the center. Twisting and turning, as the rope burns and scrapes against my skin. Beating like a drum against my chest, my heart goes into overdrive as I draw closer. With bated breath, I plunge into the black water, closing my eyes and mouth as the water wraps around my skin.

Muffled foreign sounds enter my ear, as I shake my head from side to side. Holding in my breath, I try to wriggle free from the rope, only to feel no resistance. Spreading my arms out, and in, I feel my body, touching it, as if it was the first time I have ever felt something. As I do, a warm heat envelops my body.

Peeking my eyes open, as the heat intensifies, I let out a squeal, as the sight before me terrifies me. Lava bursts out in front of me, leaping for the sky as molten rock pools around the tiny black pillar that I am standing on. Unbound but trapped, sweat vaporizing the moment it exits my pores. I gulp down what little saliva I had left as I watch a pillar of  black smoke rise, wrapping around me.

Like a snake, it coils around my body, as more and more smoke cloud my vision. Doing my best not to breathe it in, I hold my breath, but I could only hold it for so long, before having no choice but to breath. Covering my mouth with my hands, I try to breathe in as much 'clean' air as possible, when I notice… Where were my hands?

Burnt to a crisp, revealing pure white bones wrapped tightly with charred black skin and flesh, were my forearms. Unable to form words or even scream, as I feel no pain in my arms, my eyes shake as the smoke enters my mouth and nose. Coughing aggressively, as my legs give out, the world spinning and swirling.

With my forehead, sizzling against the black pillar, lava explodes in front of my eyes like fireworks, with a singular molten rock flying straight for me. Unable to move, I stare at the rock as it penetrates through my eyes.

"Wake up… Wake up… Wake up…" - ???

Darkness once again and a soft, quiet voice in my ear. Slowly, I look around, observing my surroundings. Checking my body first, to find that everything was there. My hands. My arms. My legs. My chest. Everything was still there. Next, around me… Darkness. But, I can see myself? As if, the only light source was me, but I'm not emitting any light.

Breathing slowly, as I try to comprehend the situation, searching my memories of the more recent events. What happened? Where am I? Am I dead? Questions pile up, but no answers were given to me as I close my eyes to remember my last memory.

I was fighting Devel, locked in combat, while Kingston was engaging with the demon, then… Striking my head like lightning, a splitting headache causes me to grip the side, as I scream out in pain. Falling to my knees, my body trembles as the memory seeps its way into my mind. The curse had activated, making me lose conscious from the pain, but what happened after?

Where am I? Did I die from the pain? If so, why aren't I back in the real world? Am I still alive but unable to see, feel or hear anything from the curse? Maybe this was meant to be the ending of the curse? To give me such inhuman strengths only to take it away at the end of the curse.

My body shakes at the thought, as I remember the Queen of Spiders' grin after she cast the curse on me. Unable to do anything, the next thought I had was to move. Taking a step forward, I feel like I was moving through something, like the air was a thick blanket. Each step taking more and more effort to pass through.

Glancing from side to side, I see nothing but the abyss, darkness greeting me back, as if it was watching me, watching it. Shivering unexpectedly, as goosebumps rise all along my skin, I press on, on what seems like an endless journey, wandering in the darkness, hoping to find the light. Anything to place my hopes on, no matter what it was.

Despite, unable to read the time, I feel like hours, days, or even months or years have passed as my legs continue to move forward. Never feeling hungry nor thirsty. Never feeling cold nor hot. Like a zombie, endlessly pressing forward. Where am I going? Should I stop here? Haven't I walked enough? Why am I even walking? Where am I even going? I swear I saw that dark patch before. Oh, wait, everywhere is black.

My thoughts speak louder than my heart, as they race and race through my mind. Swaying from side to side, as I finally give up on moving, falling to the side, while mumbling. Falling… Falling… With nothing stopping me, I keep on falling, watching the darkness pass me or at least that was what it felt like, until I realize. I never fell anywhere. Instead, I am just standing still, with a blank face.

I'm looking at myself. I am the darkness, that was looking at me looking back. I see myself, wandering endlessly, mumbling rubbish as if they were holy scriptures. I was looking as my legs wade through the thick blanket of darkness. Watching as my body is wrapped in smoke, roasting my skin and searing the edges of my hair.

Observing as I plunge into a dark liquid, spiraling from above from a black whirlpool. Looking at myself drifting along space, as if it was the ocean. I was looking the whole time. Thinking. Thinking. Yelling. Screaming. Knocking against this invisible cage. Calling out. To whom? To me?

"WAKE UP! WAKE UP! WAKE UP!"

My eyes shoot open and my body springs upward, leaping into the air and landing safely on the ground in front. Taking in the limited light around me, I gasp for air, slowly taking in the surroundings, asking myself the important questions.

Where am I? A room… My room? No, the room provided by Sam.

Am I okay? Yes… My body is intact. No pain, no blood, no broken bones. I'm fine.

What just happened? No idea. Head still a mess. Mouth still dry and body still trembling.

Is Rebecca okay? Yes, still in the game. Nothing out of the ordinary.

Calmed down? No but maybe.

Releasing all the pent-up tension from my body, I stand up straight, slowly, still cautious of my surroundings, when my neck and back suddenly burns. The smell of burnt flesh permeates into my nose as I cry out in pain, as I feel thousands and thousands of tiny vibrations all along my neck and back. Bursting through my door, I see Adam, his eyes wide with surprise as he watches me squirm on the ground, ripping my shirt off.

"IAN! WHAT THE HELL IS HAPPENING?" - Adam

Replying with only a scream, I slam my head to the ground as I feel my whole body crawl. Taking a glance of my right side, I see thousands and thousands of tiny black spiders crawling along my skin, never passing a halfway point in my body. Immediately, I try to claw and scratch at the tiny monsters with my left hand, only to tear my own skin and flesh, spraying blood all over the ground.

Approaching me quickly, Adam, sends a fist straight into the side of my chin, knocking my head to the side, as darkness clouds my vision. Adam's cry and terrified face is the last thing I see before once again… I see darkness.

" Find me…"