well, this is try number two bc I didn't like the first thing I wrote. I hope this story speaks to you. Enjoy. Sanity's Trial : -Dema ------------------------------------ The first thing he felt was.. rocking. A sort of a back and forth motion. Was he on a small boat? He though he heard the crashing of ocean waves. Part of him wondered if he had d!ed. Hesitantly, he opened his eyes. An expanse of galaxy stretched out before him. It pulled him in, as the stars lightyears away seemed to approached him. "He's mine!" "No, he was our vessel, but if you can't cooperate, I must ask you to leave." Voices, two of them. One was soft and feminine, the other was a thin, gravely whisper. He dared to switch to his side. Just as he thought, a man in a black hood and a woman in a silvery lilac gown, were discussing something. Involving him? He wasn't sure. "Well, Sanity," said the hooded man, "I propose a contest." The girl, who he assumed was Sanity, nodded, "Go on." "I'll create a trial for the kid. We'll each give him directions. If I can guide him through door twelve, I win." "And what happens if you win, Chaos?" Sanity said in a harsh tone. Chaos replied, "He'll become my vessel. And you have to leave." 'Are they.. talking about me?' He wondered. 'Ok, enough with this.' Just as he was about to rise, he heard one word spoken from Sanity, "Deal." ---- Suddenly, he was upright. The scenery had changed as well, he was now in some white box that could make the wisest man insane. It was empty. Well, maybe not completely. There were doors, 1, 2, 3, and 12. 'Why 12 and not just 4? Where even am I? And.. Who am I?' Seemingly out of thin air, a whisper sounded from behind him, 'Your name is Aspen.' The voice certainly wasn't his ; even still it felt like the voice was apart of him somehow. He spoke aloud to the voice, "Who are you? Where are you?" 'Questions for later. Look behind you.' Whipping around, what seemed to be water was pouring in through a crack in the wall. It slowly crawled toward him, getting the bottom of his sneakers wet. The doors, 1, 2, 3, and 12. He figured he should go through one before the room flooded. '12.. It seems so random. It could be 1-2. A-B? Doesn't make sense either.' Something about that 12 intrigued him, it seemed to call for him. But when he tried approaching the door, 'No. Don't go through that one. Any one but that one.' "Why?" 'Just trust me.' Aspen ( if that's truly his real name ) rolled his eyes, "You haven't given me any real reason, have you?" When he didn't get a reply, his eyes shifted toward door number one. He stepped toward it warily, hesitating to put his hand on the inconspicuous doorhandle. The last sensation he felt was a blast of cold air. ---- "Great. Where the heck am I now?" Aspen mumbled to himself. He seemed to be watching a woodland cabin on a warm summer night. An older man was sitting on the porch watching a young boy run with glee. The old man clapped his hands for the boy who looked at the sky in awe as the stars seemed to fly past him. The old man had a sorrowful look in his eyes. He sat all by himself and thought of better years. Back when he believed in love and could quickly forget his fears. He wanted to rewind, back to a simpler time when music reached his ears. The young boy moved so fast that he ran away from his dreams and stars. He wanted to run away from that dark and broken house he lived in. Mourned the days when trouble seemed so far. The boy wanted to move so fast that he missed all these horrid years. And the Old Man whispered under his breath, so quietly that Aspen should not have been able to hear, "Tonight shall be the night." Those words seemed to be the words of endgame. Aspen watched in both awe and terror as the Old Man got up from his chair and ascended into the sky. The young boy shot Aspen a knowing look as he followed close behind. The moon rose, and turned into a blinding light. As they grew closer to the stars, the sky opened up. When the sky closed up, those people were gone without a trace. He was alone. He simply sighed as he stood up, walking out of the wooded area he hid in, and to the porch. There was an empty chair on the porch now, it made him feel empty too. Now the door, that did catch his attention. It didn't have a handle, just a number painted onto it in blue paint. 3. 'Geez. Where did that annoying voice go?' Sighing, he knew he'd have to force the door open. Just get a good running start and.. ------ When did he start walking? He didn't know. Who was this other boy talking to him? He didn't know, Why was he acting like he knew Aspen? Unsure. " Aspen, you need to be at least level 55 before you take on that boss." Aspen nodded, pretending to understand. If he was the one with amnesia, it was very possible that this person knew him. 'Quick. You can think of something, right? Right? Right?!' The other kid must've noticed his panicked expression
(continued) Aspen opened his mouth, " I- I need to go the other way." "Uh, your house is this way." "No, it's not!" He yelled, as he turned around to run in the opposite direction of the sidewalk. As his feet hit the pavement, he remembered the scene at that Cabin. He ran for his life and didn't stop until he knew it'd take awhile to catch up to him. 'Go in the woods.' Startled, he whipped around, only to meet thin air and a sidewalk that went on forever. This voice was different ; while the last on was gentle but firm, this one was just... off. Now the woods were to his left, he thought he heard a bubbling stream too. The woods. What harm could happen by walking into the woods? Without hesitation, Aspen headed toward the sounds of water. 'These cursed thorns.' He thought bitterly as he trekked closer and closer to the sound. : rustle : Pausing, he listened closely. The ground was very steep here, and he feared that attempting to look behind him could make him lose his balance and tumble down. : footsteps : Maybe that other kid was following? 'No, it can't be. Not with steps that heavy.' That cold, gravely voice again, 'Find door #12.' Aspen clearly remembered being told not to find door twelve. But the steps were getting closer. Turning his head, he saw a tall, black, humanoid figure, wearing a trench coat and a fedora. Suddenly filled with terror, he ran/slid down the steep area as his pursuer carefully followed. Heart beating wildly, mind frantically searching for solutions. By some miracle, he didn't trip. But instead he found himself standing in front of a door. Looking at the wooded doorknob, it was easy to see a '12' carved into it. Not even thinking about the warning he had received, he hastily opened it. ---- "See, Sanity? I've won." "Not so fast, Chaos. I believe there is yet hope for the boy." "You're just bitter." "No, we wait." ---- He was following some kid around in the woods. He knew something had happened before this, but he couldn't remember. He couldn't remember who he was, either. The kid kept talking to himself, stopping abruptly and shaking his head. "What's wrong with him?" He mumbled. Walking as quietly as he could, he was intrigued by this lunatic kid. Pretty soon, the kid stopped again. 'Has he been.. running from me?' Yes. Yes, he had. The kid ran so fast on the uneven ground it seemed unreal. Trying to follow after him, he carefully climbed down. But that kid was gone, only a pool of calm water stood. Gazing into his reflection, he actually gasped. He.. wasn't human. He was just a shadow in a trench coat. This simple realization hit him like a dodgeball to the face. 'Who.. Who even am I?!' 'Why am I even here?!' Suddenly, it felt like his brain was being wiped. It felt like his bones were melting. His very soul was being ripped apart. A single word reverberated in his mind, "Chaos." "Chaos." "Chaos." Writhing in pain, this should've been the end of him. But it wasn't. Because she cared for his wellbeing. Sanity cares about what happens outside of you, while Chaos is inner-turmoil. She placed her hand upon his and said, " You Are Free . " ----------- "Aspen? Dude, it's time for school." Aspen opened his eyes, was that all.. A dream? He wiped his forehead, he'd been sweating. "Yeah, I.. I'm awake." He stuttered. "Why do you look like you're crying?" Aspen rubbed his eyes, it would seem he had been crying. "I don't know." His brother's face showed concern, "Are you sure you're ok?" "I don't know, I feel like I woke up from a very long dream. A dream that I can't remember." His brother nodded and left his room. Just when Aspen stood up, he heard that soft voice, "Don't worry. Even if it feels cold now, no night ever lasted forever. You'll grow up basking in the light of an amazing dawn." - The End.
