Chapter 2: Ruins City and a Japanese Boy
Like that viral video of a guy on a roller coaster who keeps passing out, my consciousness faded and returned as I fell into the darkness of the sinkhole.
Except for when I visited my grandparents in Japan and had jet lag, I've never felt so nauseous.
It was only for a moment before I blacked out for real.
"There is only one objective, and it's pretty simple. You must, at all costs, survive."
I pried my eyes open after hearing an unfamiliar voice.
I don't know how long I was out, but when I woke up, my body was stiff. I couldn't see anything, nor could I speak, as if all my senses had shut off.
It took me a few minutes to gather myself. Once I did, I was finally able to move and talk.
I had a nasty headache, and my body still felt weak, like I had been working out nonstop all week.
When I finally managed to sit up, the first thing I did was press my hand against my temple. I've never had a hangover, but man… this definitely feels like one.
Crap. It felt like I had ridden a roller coaster. A very long, very nauseating roller coaster, with enough loops to make my brain do a backflip, land on its face, and come back with a headache of its own.
Ugh. This sucks.
As my vision steadied, my eyes widened in shock. My body suddenly felt energized, and I sprang to my feet as if I had been jolted awake from the utter confusion.
Everywhere I looked, there were unfamiliar, crumbling structures. No matter where I turned, the place looked abandoned. It reminded me of scenes from Planet of the Apes, where cities were left in ruins after everything went wrong.
Plants I had never seen before were everywhere, sprouting, climbing, and taking over anything they could reach.
"Where the heck am I? " I asked, bewildered.
For a while, I just stood there, trying to piece together what had happened. I knew standing still wouldn't give me answers, but I needed a moment to process everything.
Confusion, fear, and curiosity kept coming in waves. Honestly, I felt like crying from frustration, but I knew that wouldn't help. I had to stay composed and find something, anything, that could explain where I was.
So I moved.
I walked through the ruins while munching on a breakfast sandwich Mom had made. From all the survival movies I've seen, I'd say I'm pretty lucky I still had my bag with me.
"Okay… I clearly remember being pushed, or maybe pulled, into the sinkhole by that creepy girl. So how did I end up here? Am I… dead? "
I paused and quickly tested the thought by pinching my arm.
Crap. Maybe not.
I winced at the sting. So I'm probably not dead. Ghosts don't feel pain, right?
After walking for nearly an hour, I still hadn't seen any sign of life. Only strange plants creeping through the cracks of abandoned streets.
In all honesty, I felt beyond scared and confused, but I kept telling myself to stay positive. I didn't have any other choice until I found someone who could explain what was going on.
If I had to describe the place, it was completely deserted. A full-on post-apocalyptic scene.
"How did I even get here? "
I would've broken down by now, but I couldn't. If I started crying, I knew I wouldn't be able to stop. Staying strong had always been something I held onto.
The facts were simple for now. I wasn't in my city. These weren't the same tall, modern buildings I was used to. And I might be alone here.
No use standing around and overthinking it. I needed to find out for myself.
After a while, I decided to take a break. The sun was harsh, and I was completely lost.
Sitting on the pavement of what used to be a street, I took out a bottle of water from my bag and drank it, silently thanking my luck.
"Hello! If anyone can hear me, please! If this is some kind of prank, I give up! "
I probably wouldn't have shouted like that under normal circumstances, but right now, it felt worth trying. I needed to find someone. Otherwise, I might actually lose it.
After resting, I started walking again. The streets stretched long, branching into more unfamiliar paths.
Where am I…? If I'm not dead…
This is that stupid sinkhole's fault.
Frustration built up again as I kept walking without direction.
"ARGH! Crap!"
I let out a long shout, not caring if anyone heard. Honestly, I'd be glad if someone did.
Clang. Clang. Clang.
The faint sound of metal hitting metal made me stop.
Could it be… someone?
"Hello? "I called out.
No response.
Great. Now I'm hearing things. Wonderful.
I turned around, ready to walk away again.
Clang. Clang. Clang. Clang.
The sound came back, clearer this time. It wasn't in my head.
I turned again and focused on the direction of the noise. About seven or eight meters away, a metal pole stood beside a large bush.
That's where it's coming from.
I hurried toward it, though a part of me hesitated. Whatever was making that sound might not be friendly.
The closer I got, the louder the clanging became. My heart started pounding harder with each step.
Note to self: stop watching scary movies.
I was standing right in front of the bush now.
Clang. Clang.
I took a deep breath and slowly peeked through.
"AAAAA—!"
Something touched my leg, and I screamed, stumbling backward and landing on the ground.
My eyes squeezed shut in panic, but when I felt it again, it was… soft.
Confused, I slowly opened my eyes.
A thin chain leash was attached to the metal pole, and at the other end was a small white Pomeranian with a mask covering its mouth. Its tail wagged rapidly as it brushed against me.
Of course.
Way to go, Harlow. Almost losing your mind over a cute dog.
I exhaled, embarrassed at my own reaction, then instinctively reached out to pet it.
The dog tensed at first, but after a few gentle strokes and soft words, it relaxed. Soon enough, it was wagging its tail as if we had known each other forever.
"What are you doing here, little guy? " I asked.
It obviously didn't answer. Good thing too, because if it had, I might've fainted again.
I lifted it slightly and noticed a name tag on its collar.
"China… huh? So that's your name."
China responded by wagging its tail even more.
"Alright. Maybe I should've been more specific when I asked for company. I meant human company. Someone who can actually talk to me."
I glanced up at the sky as if expecting a response.
As I continued petting China, I heard movement in the bushes ahead.
I froze.
Clutching the dog, I waited.
Then I saw it.
A pair of large brown eyes staring back at me.
"AAAAAA!"
I jumped back again and landed on the ground, letting go of China in the process.
"AAAAAA!"
A voice screamed back, only more panicked than mine.
Wait… that's a human voice.
My eyes snapped open. Relief and curiosity took over, and I quickly got back on my feet, stepping toward the source.
It was a boy. A small at that.
…Great. My streak of overreacting to cute things is still going strong.
"What were you doing there!? " I asked, slightly louder than intended.
The boy stiffened, then burst into tears.
He was messy, scared, and clearly overwhelmed—but still very much a kid.
"My brother said I shouldn't move! " he cried.
"Your brother? So you're not alone? " I started asking questions, but that only made him cry harder.
Right. Not helpful.
"Okay, okay. One question at a time," I said gently, forcing a calmer tone. "Where's your brother? "
The boy looked at me, trying to steady himself.
"He's… those…"
His voice trailed off as he broke into tears again.
I stepped closer and placed a hand on his back, gently patting him.
"There, there. It's okay. You don't have to explain right now."
China stood quietly beside us, as if sensing the mood.
After a while, the boy calmed down enough to introduce himself.
His name is Sachi, an eight-year-old boy. He, his brother, and their dog had fallen into the sinkhole about two weeks ago.
Two weeks…
That means they've been stuck here longer than I have.
So... is this place really inside the sinkhole… but how?
And where exactly are we?
For a brief moment, my thoughts drifted into something ridiculous again, but I quickly snapped myself out of it.
Not the time.
"So… you speak English?" I asked, trying to keep the conversation going. I only asked because I saw his name tag written in Japanese.
Sachi nodded proudly. "My brother taught me."
I smiled.
That's good. At least he looks a bit calmer now. Seeing that he probably hasn't eaten yet, I decided to share some water and food with the kid. I mean, I asked for a person, and I got one; it's probably best to take care of him.
To avoid any crying spill, I made sure to keep the conversation from what it seemed to be touchy topics. We spent the time talking more about his favorite cartoons than our actual situation, I guess I was too engrossed with Anpanman and didn't notice the sky beginning to dim slightly. The sun was still up, but the air felt different. Night was coming.
And I didn't like the idea of staying out here after dark.
"Hey, Sachi," I said, kneeling down. "I know your brother told you to stay here, but I don't think it's safe to stay alone. Why don't you come with me? We can leave a note for him."
He hesitated, then nodded.
"Okay. Onii-chan will find us. He's smart."
We left a note on the pole, tying it securely so it wouldn't fall off.
To Sachi's brother:
Hi, I am Harlow. Your brother asked me to write this and promise to you that I'll keep them safe until we find you. I mean, I know this reads crazy, but I promise I'm not some crazy abductor. I just can't leave these 2 behind.
We'll head north. I'll leave more letter every 3 light posts, so make sure to catch them. See you!
-Harlow Okino
While walking away, I noticed something unusual on the buildings.
Marks.
Claw marks?
"What am I thinking? " I muttered to myself.
Those marks were far too big to belong to anything normal.
I didn't realize it then…
But I was very, very wrong.