#[Volume 3= Song of the forgotten stories.]
All I could see was red.
My body felt heavy as I continued to drown in this endless abyss of crimson.
Why was I even here? This question would come and go as quickly as it had appeared. Leaving me with no answers.
Then a familiar sensation filled me making my eyes widen in surprise, I opened my mouth several times to speak but no words came out. The crimson water entered inside me as I went out of breath.
I knew what this sensation was. After all, for the last few months, all I had felt was this— It had become my companion, a silent partner that let me know I was still alive, that life was still in me.
It was none other than pain.
But this pain was different, unnerving and hard to understand. I didn't know where it was coming from. Everything seemed to be burning and hurting, as if I was being punished for a crime I didn't even knew about.
Is this hell? Another question came but it soon disappeared, leaving my mind empty.
Bubbles of air left my mouth, as I gasped for air, my lungs seemed to have been filled with the crimson liquid. My vision blurred as I looked at the top, the sole light that seemed to be falling upon me in this endless darkness.
I moved my hands trying to reach it, but it felt too far. I struggled trying to kick my legs, move my hands and even shout. But all of this was useless, as the only thing that continued was me going down, I continued to sink in this endless expanse.
Soon I gave up, if this was going to be my end I accepted it. For reasons unknown to me this choice was the most peaceful and soothing. As if the guilt left in my heart was melting away.
As comfort took over me, the pain also seemed to go away. My companion was leaving me, telling me that life in me was about to be over.
I had no regrets left.
Dying so young was also a comfort, as all the bad things in the world moved away from me.
Then I remembered something, memories I had almost forgotten. It was of a peaceful village— Of my home that was no more.
Turning everyone into its puppet, the beast had taken everything away from me. My home, my people, my family, my friends. All these things were mine, they were my present. Even though I had lost my past, a small hope in me had remained that maybe I could build a new future over the foundation of my present.
Yet, it all burned down.
Someone had taken them away from me. That was unforgivable.
I want everything back that belongs to me. Once again a new thought came to my mind but this time I didn't let it vanish. Repeating it again and again I looked above me and opened my eyes.
The light falling upon me seemed to have brightened up as my determination settled in.
I once again tried to reach it, my hands seemed to be finally moving.
But I failed, a hand appeared below me, grabbing my arms. Then another appeared holding my legs, soon I was wrapped in them.
My thoughts again seemed to dim, as I stared to hear whispers from below. The hands moved covering my mouth, they grabbed my neck and clenched it tightly as if to never let it go again.
The whispers grew louder and louder as they pulled me below into the dark abyss. They promised the sweet pleasure of death, a small price for the crimes I unknowingly have committed.
They whispered louder that this was the fate that I truly deserved.
These whispers soon turned into horrendous screams of pain and agony that started to ravage my mind.
Slowly.....
Slowly.....
I was pulled into oblivion.
Then all the light disappeared as the crimson sea was no more only darkness was left.
I felt my skin tingle as the ripples of water hit me.
I opened my eyes to see the disturbance through the gap left by the hands wrapped around me.
There I saw it— The light outside entered the water as it dipped in, and a new shape was being born. Like clay it molded itself, lighting up the crimson sea in its own color.
The light flickered brightly trying to get my attention,solidified into the ethereal form of a woman.Her figure as white as snow radiated against the deep crimson of the surrounding.
Her face was hidden behind a translucent white veil and a white dress made from stars themselves, she reached her hands toward me.
She was breathtaking, a vision so striking it left me utterly speechless.
She came down faster and faster but she soon stopped, as if she couldn't move any further than this.
Her hand was still outstretched, but the distance remained unchanged.
Without even knowing it myself my hand seemed to move in her direction, as I tried to reach out towards her.The limbs grabbing me tightened their grip, pulling me further away from her.
No, not again.
I struggled, the pain that seemed to have vanished before came back with each move to break free from the grasp of these hands.
This time I outstretched my arm toward her, breaking free from one of the shackles holding me down.
Our fingers brushed against each other,as if conforming each other's existence. To tell that only we existed here.
Slowly our fingers interlocked as our palms held each other tightly, she then pulled me toward her.
The shackles broke instantly as they swept down deeper into the abyss.
Her hand holding me, pulled us closer and closer.
I still couldn't speak nor could I see her. But I knew I was safe here.
Light seemed to shine brightly as we kept ourselves connected, and pain started to reappear— Welcoming me for my survival.
The crimson sea now felt less oppressive as I finally let out a sigh of relief. Her presence burned everything that seemed to come toward us, but all I felt was warmth as we held hands.
Her lips parted behind the veil but I couldn't hear what she was supposed to say— I focused deeply on reading them, on what she wished to tell me.
Seeing my focus she smiled softly, a faint blush appeared on her face, she was happy I could feel this as our grip on each other's hands tightened, I finally read her words.
'...Be Safe.'
***
I woke up abruptly pushing the blanket away. My breathing was heavy as I held my neck tightly, trying to gasp for air. My heart raced as the dream finally ended.
"What was that dream?!"
My eyes darted around the hospital's room but found no one present.
I rubbed my face letting the drowsiness slowly fade away. This was my second time dreaming of her. No, maybe third if I count the first time I saw her in the white world.
All of this felt unreal, the crimson sea was… suffocating. The guilt, the sorrow, the pain,the loneliness and all the other emotions seem to be raging inside me as I clenched my chest.
It was obvious that she meant no harm, in events impossible to move she always appears and somehow saves me everytime.
Was that dream also a part of my past? But somehow I felt it wasn't. That kind of dream felt more like a trauma than a forgotten memory. Afterall I still couldn't see her nor hear her. But she always seems to know what I wish to convey.
The fear that I first felt towards her was primal… an instinct to survive, to fear the strong. But now I don't feel any fear when I look at her, all I felt was… longing that I couldn't understand. Was it due to a connection we shared in the past?
Or due to a totally different reason, thinking deeply I smiled. I will not get my answers right now. But I was closer, I could feel it right now. That one day we will meet again.
Warm light entered through the windows hitting my face, I squinted my eyes to see outside. Birds were chirping, indicating that the dawn was approaching.
It has already been two days since that night...
....Following that night many gangs fell, many fled but some remained. There were still many things to be dealt with.
Click—!
The door opened as two figures entered and looked at me in puzzlement.
"You woke up early today, that's a surprise," Elda muttered as she entered the room, her face filled with concern as she looked deeply at my tired face.
"Boss is finally growing up and not being a rascal." Albert's teasing voice followed soon.
Looking at them I could only give a helpless smile.