A distant memory bloomed from the darkness. The closest thing Naren could cling onto.
Though the city had been rebuilt only in the last decade, it was already functioning just as it had before. Or at least as best it could get to that point. It seemed that tragedies really do bring about camaraderie. The survivors had all band together to recreate what they could from the scraps lost. The broken island was now ready to begin acting as a nation of it's own.
Deep in the forest by the city, a vibrant tree was in full bloom. The fruits from it were the prize of the island in fact. They were so good that the island's whole economy was based off products of its kin. Whether it be juice, jam, pies, or just the fruit raw, it was a boon in the international trading market. At least it was.
Now this tree was the last of it's kind, in full bloom, full of fruits ready to harvest. Well it should have been. Sitting on the tallest branch of the tree was a little boy with reddish black hair and golden eyes. He was no older than seven, wearing a crimson scarf too big and too long for his small frame. He was stuffing his face with the last of the fruits, seeds and everything.
"Who the hell are you?!"
Smoke rose up from below, swirling through the whole tree reaching the boy. The sudden voice in such proximity cause the boy to slip off.
THUMP. The little boy sprawled on the floor, fruit still in hand.
A tall lanky man with short scruff hair and a cigarette hanging from his mouth hovered over the little boy. A look of slight horror splashing over his face.
"Don't tell me he died."
"Na..ren."
Maren took a startled step back, his cigarette falling out of his mouth.
"You're alive?!"
"You."
He walked closer to the little boy, now squatting to inspect him properly. The little boy's big golden eyes reflecting his own figure. Blood was gathering under the boy's head.
"What the fuck! You're bleeding kid!"
Naren blinked slowly.
"You gave me this name...stupid"
As Naren looked up at the panicking Maren, his eyes began to flutter close. Slowly the overwhelming grip of sleep sleep pulled him, dragging him into a nice long slumber.
His eyes fluttered open once more, but this time there was nothing to see. No Maren, no tree, no fruit, just endless darkness. It was hard to tell that his eyes were even open. The only tell he had was the strain on his eyelids to snap down and lull him back to sleep.
'Where the hell?'
Naren tried moving his body, but to no avail. Not because his body wouldn't listen, but because there was no room to move. As if he was encased in a tough shell that molded to his figure perfectly.
With a little more struggle, he finally gave up with a slight sigh, or at least he tried to sigh.
't's too uncomfortable to even take a nap here.'
His thoughts were just as lax as he was in real life. The thought of worrying felt alien to him.
'Hey, Cendrine. You still here at least?'
There was no response at first. Then a second past, then another. Nothing. Until, he blinked. There was finally sight again, though still dark and still restricted. A dark horizon surrounded him, the ground a deep dark ocean. A lone candle flickering.
Naren sat in the water, which was pretty shallow this time, only reaching halfway to his hips. It was never constant, sometimes coming up to his neck, sometimes barely reaching his ankles.
His vision was fixed on the only other being that lived in his soul. The shackles made a slight rattle as the hands trembled. The body completely engulfed in shadows, two beading golden eyes staring directly at Naren.
'There you are.'
Naren brought his legs up, slightly closer to his chest. He brought his legs in for a tight embrace, then let it go, springing back and falling onto the waters below with a splash. He stared at the starless void that made up the sky. A gloom expression making his way onto his face, despite the slight smile that stayed.
'I was just starting to feel a little lonely.'
The scene broke apart and shattered. The ceiling was now a night sky with plenty of stars. Seven of them clearly shining the brightest. A slight fog lingered in the atmosphere.
Still sprawled out, Naren tapped the floor below him. Wood. A ship deck. He was alive.
He looked back at the night sky, lingering on those seven stars. Closing his eyes, he felt a strange sense of reassurance.
"I'm glad you're here at least."
Naren's ears perked up as he heard hushed voices in the distance.
"How long till we reach land?"
"Ehhh, Can't be moorree than couple daays."
That second voice was odd. It was noticeably a dude, but his words were stretched out like it was in slow motion. 'Sounds weird.'
"Yeah and we're gonna havta go through that damn chasm."
"Yeaahh, thaat's a buummeerr."
'Damn that voice is really weird.'
Naren slowly sat up and looked around. Listening into their conversation which strayed to what foods they wanted to eat when they got to the mainland. Wherever that was.
Listening in closer, he could hear the subtle breathing of several dozen noses. There had to be around a hundred. Though, that was unsurprising based on the size of the ship.
The ship was big. Noticeably larger than the slave ship. It was also sturdy. The wood was higher quality, the ship was better taken care of, even the sails seem to be different from regular fabric. However, the biggest difference of all was how smooth the ship was sailing.
As Naren looked around, it could be mistaken for dry land, if not for the constant motion and the ground being wood instead of soil. Scattered around the ship were several trees growing fruits. Each having several small lights decorating the branches, illuminating the deck.
The trees were arranged in a walkway to a giant building at the back with a tall watchtower erupting out from it. The building had several ballista lining the roof. In fact, there were ballista stationed all across the deck facing the sea.
Behind him, at the other end of the ship, was a small cabin. Probably where the captain stayed. It was of modest size, one again no windows.
He couldn't see it, but based on the breathing, Naren could tell there were living quarters below deck. probably even a floor below that, if he had to guess.
Opposed to his previous experiences on a boat in the black sea, this one was moving as it should. No monsters, no weird pillars of water, no abnormalities. For a second, Naren even thought they were on a regular ocean—Not that he knew what that felt like.
Walking over to the edge, he peered down and saw the deep depths of the murky black waters. It glistened slightly in the moonlight, looking almost beautiful, but the feeling of dread continued to emanate from the devilish waters.
Step. Step. Step. Naren turned back, to a lanky hunched figure. He had his hair in a wolf cut, grey skin, and wore sunglasses. The figure was taller than Naren by half a foot, he wore a black robe of sorts with no shirt under, it had a hood which was down at the moment. His pants were a grey pigmented parachute pants. Same guy that killed the bird.
'Looks comfy.'
Naren's expression tensed for a slight second.
'Why couldn't I hear him get this close?'
The man studied Naren's face. Staring at his lazy golden eyes without any remorse. He was seeing how big a liability Naren could be.
"Yooooou a shaaaaman?"
"Yeah. Well preliminary I guess."
His eyebrows rose slightly, peering just over his sunglasses.
"Wheereee's youuurr triaaal."
"Tomb of Atlas."
Naren stared at him, golden pupils fixed on where the man's eyes should be. Naren had already realized how cornered he was. The water was already murky and dark, barely able to hold a reflection steady, but the ship was also matte. And the darkness of the night wasn't helping either.
The man started laughing. Falling back onto the floor, holding his stomach. Even his laugh was stretched out.
Naren hovered above him, a note of resolve on his face. Though he knew he was cornered, he didn't care. He would fight this man tooth and nail if he had to. He was ready to stomp him down until he was barely alive if it came down to it.
"You wanna share the laughs?"
He was staring down at the man gleefully, when the body on the floor disappeared. A second later, a voice came from behind. A long stretched voice.
The ship began to rock slightly, the ocean in chaos.
"Reeaallly? Yoouurr Serioouss?"
Naren stumbled back in surprise. Again, he'd heard no steps.
"Yeah? What's it to you?"
The man stopped laughing, straightening himself out. Well as straight as he would get with the hunch he had. He coughed, even that was in slow motion. The shades fixated their gaze onto Naren. A wide smile on the man's face.
"Yoouuu reaaallly doon'tt knowww?"
For a beat he waited for a response, but Naren was silent, just obsessively staring at him.
"Atlaaaasss waaass strrruccckk frrooom theee worlddd."
"It was what?"
"Iiit waass coompleetelyyy riiippedd ouuut ooof theee seaaa."
———————————————————————
Small beads of tears swelled in Vera's eyes. Of all the things she remembered why did it have to be that? Why did it have to be the day her world was taken away from her?
Her eyes fluttered open to a wide room. Pale pink walls lined with shelves. Porcelain dolls sat in perfect rows beside stuffed animals arranged by size. Lace curtains filtered the moonlight into something soft and hazy. A hammock centered the room, pillows arranged just so. Fresh flowers in a vase on the vanity. Everything deliberate. Everything pink or white or pastel. The kind of room that felt frozen at age twelve.
On the hammock, along with several stuffed animals was a woman under the covers in the sweet embrace of sleep.
Vera quietly got to her feet. Tip toeing to the door she noticed earlier. Keeping an eye on the sleeping woman, Vera took a step. Then another. She found a rhythm looking at the door. Then ano—CREAAAK. As her head slowly turned towards the hammock, the woman was still sleeping perfectly soundly.
She sighed a quick sigh of relief.
"Where you going?"
Vera snapped back. The woman was still on the hammock, eyes closed. But the voice she heard definitely came from there. No mistake. Then the woman moved her lips, her eyelids in the same position.
"I asked you something, didn't I?"
Vera hesitated to speak. But nonetheless did so.
"I'm, uh, I don't mean any trouble."
"Keep making me repeat myself."
"I, uh, I wanted to go see where I was."
"I wouldn't do that. Actually, Soren's out there, go ahead."
Vera blinked. Was this woman just letting her go? She wasn't planning anything?
She slowly turned the doorknob, making sure her eyes were still fixed on the hammock. As it creaked open she turned her head to peer outside.
Out there in the starry night sky, was Naren and a tall lanky man. And right above them was a giant wave, tens of meters tall.
Crashing down on the deck, the ship rocked furiously. decorations in the room rolling around. The vase even fell with a loud crash, breaking into several pieces.
Vera fell, holding onto the door for support as it swung open.
Still, on that deck, Naren and the tall lanky stood, completely soaked and unmoving. They both gazed at each other with unfaltering resolution.
Vera's eyes narrowed as their conversation flowed into the cabin room. A wave of anxiety and pressure washing over her, even more impactful than the one in reality.
"Atlas...doesn't exist anymore?"