Hopping across the small stones, he made his way to the circular stone obelisk in the center of the glade. Swirling designs were carved into its side, glowing slightly with an eerie blue light that mirrored that of his own. He placed his foot in the carving and pushed upwards, propelling himself to the top of the pillar. Landing delicately on the tip, he looked out across the horizon.

Thousands upon thousands of elderly trees filled the land, flickering lights dotting the trees like Christmas ornaments. Deathly white flowers grew everywhere, the pale light of the stars reflecting upon them. Willow wisps drifted across the land, blue trails flowing behind. Rock spires grew haphazardly, as if an ancient god had tossed them aside into this god-forsaken world. The sky was a inky blue, deep and everlasting.

Many looked at these sights and despaired being locked in eternal darkness, never to see light. Poison and pessimism tainted their vision and mind. They viewed it as their own personal hell but he saw it as heaven. There were worst places he could have been placed, ones filled with tragedy, hatred and sickness. Ridden by parasites, corrupted by greed, teeming with degenerate scum. Besides, he enjoyed the calm, the open air, the silent life hidden away.

He sat down, one foot tucked into his chest, the other dangling in the cool water. Unnoticed by him, the water levels had risen while he had been enjoying the view. Fluorescent fish swam around him, drawn to his warm and lively presence. Splashes drew his attention to the left as a large shadow of a dog bounced towards him. A small smile grazed his lips as he reached a hand out. The dark hound molded into it, nuzzling into his warmth. Continuing to pet him, he fished out a packet of lotus seeds from the pocket of his worn hoodie. Fish gathered around as he threw the seeds into the air, attracted by the rare morsel. Usually he brought wisps with him but he had managed to snag a few lotuses on his way back. 

The bright red fish stayed behind after the frenzy, lazily wafting through the air. Caught up in the moment, he nearly missed the familiar tug on his spine. His hound whimpered as he shooed the fish away and pocketed the empty bag. Rising to his feet, arms spread wide as if giving a hug to the universe, he leaned backwards. Gravity took hold and he fell into the clear lake.

Ice cold water enveloped him. Currents caressed his body, welcoming him into their depths with open arms. His spine and anchor glowed pure white, cutting through the dark like a knife. The anchor dragged him downwards, light shining brightly through the murky grey water. He watched as the surface disappeared, only a faint glimmer remaining. After a few minutes, he felt his anchor disappearing before breaking through the water. Instinctively, he flipped around midair and landed in a crouch on the rocky terrain. A few droplets fell into his eyes but he ignored them. Regardless of how many times he came, this area still managed to terrify him.

Uneven mountains covered the land, made of ash grey stone. A dense, red tinted fog covered the distance, boxing him in. No greenery or wild life could be seen, the harsh environment making it impossible for life to be sustained. The air was heavy, with an acidic tang that burned his throat with each breath. Above him, a perfectly flat expanse of water cut off the view, ripples forming from his rough entrance. In the center of it all lay an enormous gate.

Obsidian black, it had a wicked gleam to its points. It's form was impossible to carve, twisting and joining together before ending abruptly in a needle sharp edge. Two charcoal black candle holders were placed on either side of the gate, white flame flickering and reflecting off the polished stone. It towered over him and everything around, demanding undivided attention. It stretched out infinitely, continuing on until it was no longer visible. A jet black lock with red carvings hung from its bars. His footsteps echoed throughout the empty world as he approached the gate. Reaching out a hand and carefully avoiding touching anything else, he brushed his fingers against the lock. The carvings light shifted from red to blue tinted white and with a click, it opened. Silently, the gates swung open.

Inside, countless red figures filled he area. They wandered around as if trying to find something or someone long lost. Some were dull and dim, shuffling about aimlessly. Others pulsated with energy, moving restlessly from one spot to the next. Bracing himself, the boy took one step forward. Instantly, millions of featureless faces snapped towards him. They stilled, shocked by his appearance. His warmth, his aura, his soul. His entire being burned with life. Warily, they began shambling forward. Gradually, they went faster and faster, till they were tripping over themselves, desperate to get to him first.

He watched as the horde descended upon him. Hands and mouths tore at him, hungry for a shred of his humanity. They clawed and gripped everything they could, tearing him apart piece by piece. Chunks of his flesh were ripped right off him. Blood soaked into the ground, running in rivulets down the rocks. He didn't try to resist, ignoring the scorching pain. Those who managed to get a morsel quickly devoured it, savoring the warm, honey-like sweetness of him. Something within them began to change. Their soul condensed, wants, memories and emotions compressing, swirling within them until nothing remained but a brilliant red fish. Finally free, they swam upwards, breaking through the water dome and escaping to their salvation. Dying eyes watched them go, delighting in their freedom before giving in to the darkness.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Guess who's finally crawled out of writers block after 3 weeks?
I'm sorry! ( T o T )

I've been working on this for the past couple weeks. Since I've been a horrible author, I wanted to make sure it was the best I could give you!

This is the longest chapter I've ever written at 977 words and I'm really proud of how it came out so please forgive me!! Also since this chapter is so long, I'm just gonna count it as one IOU ok?

School is ok so far since we haven't really started anything yet but I get a feeling it's going to get harder.

QOTD: Have you guys started school yet?

Thanks for reading!
- FAH

Written: August 16, 2017 - August 27, 2017
Published: August 27, 2017
Last Updated: ---
IOU: 6
Picture: NanoMortis on DeviantArt
Song: Mount Horu from the game Ori and the Blind Forest