Hello, is anyone there?

Kssshhh… Kssshhh…

This is Kazu, do you copy?

Kssshhh…, out.

◇

I squint my eyes, trying to pierce through the thick darkness that envelops me. A knot of dread tightens in my stomach, as I realize I have no idea where I am or what awaits me.

Wrapping my arms around myself, I try to keep myself warm. But when the wind stops, the silence is deafening.

How did I get here? What is this place?

I rack my brain for any clues or memories that could explain this nightmare.

The last thing I remember is…

But before I can finish my thoughts, a blunt force slams into my skull from behind.

"Ughhh!"

A sharp pain shoots through my head, and everything goes black before I can understand what's happening.

◇

"Hah!"

My lungs burn as I inhale sharply, my eyes widening in disbelief. A wave of relief washes over me, hoping it is all a bad dream.

But when I look up, I see no ceiling. Only the blue sky with some clouds here and there.

The hard ground presses against my back, the sun blinding my vision. Where is my bed? Where is my room?

I try to stand up, but I can't feel my legs. Where are they? What happened to them?

I prop myself up with my hands and look down. I stare at the empty space where my legs used to be, feeling a cold numbness in my lower body. Gone in an instant.

Gone… Just like that…

"I shriek!"

Cough! Damn, I choke on something.

"I wail!"

…

"I howl!"

I let out the longest and loudest scream of my life, one that could break the Guinness World Record. Well, that is, if you ignored the choking part.

But it is weird. An instinctive scream escapes my lips, not from terror, but from shock. And also, I don't feel any pain in the lower part of my body.

How is this possible? How is this real?

While I am wondering about this, a thunderous explosion rattles the earth, sending a dragon's breath of black smoke and bright orange fire into the sky, engulfing me within seconds.

Suddenly, breathing is like sucking air through a straw. A knife stabs my chest; fire courses through my veins.

My consciousness gradually fades. I can't feel anything in my body anymore…

◇

I open my eyes to a different reality. Paralyzed and numb, I can only observe the spectacle before me. It is a dreamlike and sparkling landscape that defies anything I've ever seen. A piercing and incessant sound fills my ears. It sounds both distant and close, both silent and loud. How can this be? How can something be both silent and loud?

Floating bubbles fill the air. Big and small, transparent and opaque, round and irregular. They drift in the air like balloons or planets. Some of them pop when they touch each other or something else. Some of them merge and form new shapes and colors. Some of them contain mysterious objects that I can't recognize. Is this real?

Suddenly, my vision becomes cloudy. It's like someone smeared oil or water on my eyes. Everything becomes warped and hazy.

What is this madness? Is this a dream?

◇

Did I fall asleep?

The "silent loud" sound is still here. It distracts me from focusing.

Time passes. I'm not sure how much. Hours turn into days. Days turn into weeks. Weeks turn into months. Maybe even years. My situation doesn't change. I'm still trapped in this strange vision.

I wonder if anyone is looking for me or if I'm already forgotten.

I have no idea how long I've been here. It's hard to comprehend.

Meanwhile, the scenes change so fast sometimes that I can't keep up; making me dizzy. Colors swirl and blur in front of my eyes, I can't describe what I'm seeing; it's like a dream full of nonsense.

Then, I see a bouncing crystal that changes color and shape every time it hits something. It sparkles and shimmers, reflecting the light from the bubbles. This can't be real…

Suddenly, I feel myself slipping again; I can sense it somehow.

◇

I already got used to the "silent loud" sound. It's still there, just there, like looking at something but not touching it. But I don't know how long it took me, and each time I wake up, the scene is different.

My vision improves as well. But it's almost too clear, sharper than my normal vision. I never knew rocks have such fine details. The texture, the color, the shape… They look more real and vivid than anything I've ever seen.

The sky looks odd. It turns into rock. Yet everything is bright as day. Some rocks start to float. They are "medium"-sized, but when they float, they stick to the rock sky. I say "medium", but they are actually large because they are so far up.

This is the scenery for quite some time.

No… wait. Hahaha!

When did this happen? Hahaha!

It feels nostalgic to laugh like this. Something makes sense for the first time.

Suddenly, I realize. There is no rock sky; it's more like the ground. And I'm on the ceiling. I didn't notice it sooner because I don't feel gravity pulling me down. What a massive cave then!

Wait.

Why is it so bright? It should be dark, but it's not. Is this normal for caves? No… no… They are supposed to be dark. Aren't they? I'm so confused… Sigh. It seems hopeless to grasp what is happening; it's futile.

If this continues, I don't know if I can keep my sanity. But maybe because I don't feel any emotions I somehow make do; yes I can laugh, but the sweetness of the feeling is not there. I feel so distant.

Huh. Wait a minute! How can I still be alive? And why am I only noticing it now? What the hell!

Suddenly, my vision starts to fade without warning. Am I going to fall asleep again?

◇

Dad, are you cosplaying again?

My dad is weird, period.

He loves to dress up in a silk robe and a straw hat, carrying a wooden sword on his back. He pretends to be a wandering samurai who lives by his own code of honor.

He even has a piece of grass in his mouth. He chews on it like a cow, or maybe he thinks it's a pipe. I sigh.

He owns this forest, or rather, a large piece of land that resembles a manor. His house is nearby, within walking distance. There's even a river flowing right beside this forest.

He installs many cameras all around, pointing in different directions. He even hires a photographer for this madness.

He is sitting cross-legged on a huge rock, trying to show off his sword in some way. He waves at me, and I just smile.

My dad is kind, but I don't really understand this side of him.

There was a time when he made Mom join him. All I could say was, "Wow…", Mom looked so stunning in that photo, I still remember. She wore a beautiful kimono and had her hair done in a traditional style. She smiled gracefully and held a fan in her hand. She looked like a noble lady from ancient Japan. That's why I let my dad pursue his odd hobby. He seems happy, and I respect him for that.

I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn't notice him until he was right in front of me. He suddenly snaps me out of my reverie. He comes down from the rock and asks me, "How long are you going to keep sleeping?"

Huh? Sleeping?