The cold linoleum pressed against my back, my arm outstretched on each side as I lay on the floor.
'...And for a limited time offer, if you call now at 0992-2335-100, you can get not one, not two but…'
My gaze lingered on the shadows on the ceiling, their forms shifting with the flickering TV somewhere to my right..
*Buzz*
The stench of decay filled my nose.
Stacked cups of noodles sat in small piles on the floor—each stack two, maybe three cups high, while a plate lay beside me, its surfaces caked with dried sauce.
My left elbow bent slowly, lifting a loose stack of paper to my face. The light of TV barely illuminated the words as I read through each one.
One by one, they fell like leaves beside me as I loosened my grip.
*Rustle*
"...your scholarship benefits will be officially terminated effective 1-29-26 …"
*Slap*
"...This is a final reminder that your rent payment for the period of 2 Months remains unpaid…"
*Flump*
"...This notice is to provide a summary of the services arranged for the upcoming funeral of—"
*Crumple* *Crunch*
*Thud*
My hand clenched as I slammed my arm back down, my gaze snapping back to the dancing shadows above— as if ignoring their existence would make everything disappear.
"Fuhhh, haaaa~"
'Deep breaths, Caleb. Deep breaths'
I tried to keep it together. Yet try as I may, the memories just kept on repeating. Ceaseless and unending.
"Aha, ahahaha…" a laugh scraped out of my throat, dry and hollow.
"I'm so… damn tired."
Darkness crept into the edges of my vision as exhaustion finally began to take me.
///
I found myself floating in an endless abyss, weightless as I drifted through the nothingness.
I felt… cold and naked, it was disorientating. I could feel my body moving, but where? Was I falling? Ascending? Accelerating? Yet what bothered me most was the silence.
A gentle hum echoed within my ears, as if… I was being dragged underwater. The hum continued as moments passed.
Time stretched endlessly, but for how long? Minutes? Hours? Days?
The silence pressed in, heavy and uncomfortable
I hated this— this silence. This nothingness that stripped me naked… vulnerable to the voices that hide deep within.
'...Failure'
'...Your fault'
'...Different'
Heaviness settled within my chest as everything came crashing down.
First came the crushing weight of guilt, followed by sharp pangs of remorse, before the hollow ache of regret lingered within.
My body curled, knees to my chest as I hugged them tight, a failed effort to hide myself— the weakness, to get a semblance of control as I spiralled further into despair.
*Sniff*
"I'm sorry"
My arm uncurled as they blocked my ears, hoping. Praying for the voices to leave me be. Haven't I suffered enough?
"Dad… Maria… Anyone…Please… help me"
As if answering please something echoed within the abyss.
*Tap*
*Tap*
*Tap*
Footsteps— I wasn't alone.
A stifled breath left my mouth agape before I closed with a gulp… There was light up ahead.
Not only was it getting closer, it felt wrong. It was indescribable. I simply knew that whatever that light was… it could kill me.
*Tap*
My body froze for a heartbeat before trembling uncontrollably, my breathing hitched while my heart thumped louder and louder.
Pressure began to build at the back of my head as I tried to think of a way to escape, then— Nothing.
Everything went silent, but it wasn't the oppressive silence from a moment ago.
*Tap*
No. It was different— It was peaceful, comforting.
My body responded almost immediately as I began to relax, my breathing stabilized, my mind cleared from the hysteria as I slowly processed what was going on..
'...Oh, I could see'
*Tap*
My skin looked… translucent, and I was very much so naked.
'Huh?'
'...What is this?'
*Tap*
Looking closer I could see…black veins? My hands twisted and turned as I checked them.
The tapping ceased but my mind was entirely focused on what's happening within me.
I should be scared, but I was… mesmerized
The black veins seemed to suddenly ebb and flow. I watched in silence as they slowly slithered to the surface, and came out as these black wisps. They coalesced not far from me, their forms twisting into this thick rope.
My gaze followed it… and what greeted me was someone— no. Something.
The first thing that registered in my mind was where the black mist was going.
Towards the light— A Black Hole.
Sure, it lacked the iconic accretion disc but. I just Knew it was a black hole, as if its exact definition was being shoved directly in my brain. Also it seemed as if it was… angry?
'...Damn, I'm actually going insane'
With a wince my gaze shifted its focus on to the black hand that held it…It was entirely black the only confirmation of its existence was its blue contour as the glossy…flesh? reflected the light.
Then the arms.
Torso.
Legs.
Head.
The creature for all intents and purposes was definitely not human… I mean unless someone with glossy black skin, four arms, a featureless face, and a floating halo was considered normal. Then sure, call me racist… or Zenophobic?
I appreciated the outfit though, it wore a white toga. Like one of those Greek philosophers.
[Oh~ Why thank you]
A mixture of voices rang in my mind. Like a crowd of people speaking in unison.
'Fuck' It could read my mind?!
[Hmm, So it seems]
My eyes snapped to its featureless face as it tilted to the side. A slit opened where its mouth should be before it bloomed into a smile.
'Yea. I'm dead'
[Well, isn't this a dream Caleb? what makes you believe you will die?]
'Yea, Hell no. Dreams aren't this… coherent, and even if you told me I'm lucid, I should have some form of control over this space. Like right now I'm picturing you leaving…peacefully, and yet it seems you haven't… Can you please leave?'
[Hahaha. I haven't even done my part yet.]
The creature simply… walked as if the nothingness below its feet were solid ground.
The abnormal calmness stuck to me as I felt nothing while it approached.
[Tell me, Caleb Dela Cruz Solomon.]
It stopped just at arms length in front of me… and was about a head taller.
Its hands that held the black hole swung forward—It offered it to me.
[Do you want to make a deal?]