"Hmmm,"
My throat hummed, the spring breeze caressing my face. A deep breath burned my lungs no longer, the depressing smell of sulfur was no more.
I glanced down at my hands—were small and thin, like a child's. I am shorter too. I pulled at my t-shirt, the fabric rough with too much bleaching. The strings strained from the simplest of pull. I moved my toes, digging against the sand. The smell of rough grass tickled my nose.
This is different than I imagined, I was more or less expecting a death match with waves of demons and nightmarish creatures while traversing a dungeon filled with traps. But this trial seem to bring me to the past.
This place, this playground bring a sense of nostalgia, its from the memory that I no longer remember. A part of me that I have forgotten.
"Zion, It's time for lunch,"
A voice, familiar, called me with sternness. I turned to the man who called me. He looked tall, his hair and eyes black. The man wore a priest robe while having a commanding aura. I could tell that he was someone I knew, or had known. But nothing came to my mind.
"Stop looking like a lost cat and come in," He sternly commanded him.
"Okay..." I answered?
My body moved without much command, wearing the discarded slipper and walking towards the man. The steps were slow, filled with force as if I? didn't want to follow him. The man waited patently for him, before he turned and walked in though the door.. I stopped caring about the body being out of control and looked at the building that we were going into.
It looked a bit old, a bit gothic, with a cross at the height of its roof. It too looked a bit worn-down. This seem to be a church. I? followed the man through the door, the wooden door creaking with the movement. As I? followed him further, I could here the noise of children shouting, their muffled laughter.
We arrive at a dinning hall, arranged with long table and many children who were sitting and shouting. They all seem excited as they sat disorderly. Acting like children they were. There were few older kids who were trying to clam them, while a priestess moved to straighten the disorderly children.
"Zion, go take seat," The man commanded before he turned to the children. "Everyone, be calm."
His voice thundered, making the children silent as they sat squirming.
I? walked around the table, the gazed of the others stabbing me. They looked as if I am something dirty, something that didn't belong with them. I? lowered my head, trying not to meet their gaze and walked to the end of the table. As I climbed on the chair, the kid next to me pulled away, making sure that he was not near me. He gave a disgusted looked as he covered his nose as if I smelled bad.
"Let us pray," The priest said, lowering his head with his eyes and bring his hands together. The children followed him, getting ready to pray.
"Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us of our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.
Amen!"
"'Amen!'"
The children's voice echoed of the peeling wallpaper and the water-stained ceiling. They then immediately dug into their food. White rice with vegetable curry. It was not the best of foods, but seeing the dilapidated place, this was more than welcomed. I? ate the food silently while other chatted with their friends and enjoyed their meal.
I could hear their whispers about me, calling me name, dirty monkey.
I? gripped the spoon tightly as I could, holding back my breath to stop the lump in my throat. This emotions were not mine, the pain and loneliness this kid was feeling were not mine. I could tell, even if this was a fragment of my memories, I was nothing but a ghost watching it. My emotions were detached even the control were striped of me like I was in a cut scene.
I was just waiting for my turn to take control.
But if this is how myself lived before, Damn! He had a shitty childhood. I would have slapped that kid to kingdom come and showed who glorious the day it was. I will be the top dog of this orphanage, if that was not clear before.
Now, what is this trial? Should I just watch this without interfering? Or something messed up is going to happen and I need to do something good in a bad situation? Like hell I will, even if this trial is going to make me bad, I am going to end it all with a BAM!
But I have zero knowledge on how to build back my weapons.
"Thank you for the meal!"
The kids finished their meals, the clattering of the utensils quieted, yet the waiting gazes of the children did not. The Pastor nodded his head, dismissing the children. The younger one jumped from their seats, scattering like sparrows, their chattering filling the air again. The older ones remained, gathering the plates and utensils for cleaning.
"Not going to play Zion?" A familiarly soft voice asked,
I? turned to meet the person with the voice, very undescriptive, I know. It was the Priestess or Sister. She looked down at me with a kind smile.
"I am," I? answered before sliding off the bench with the plate on my hand.
I? carried it to the back, and washed the plate and the spoon I used before heading towards the further-est of back, walls shadowed by the evening sun. The dense trees made the whole atmosphere creepy, added with the muddy ground, made the children doesn't seem to want to come.
I? walked through the dense trees and arrived at the back wall, where the wall had collapsed. I? jumped through, leaving the compound. I circled around the church carefully before walking towards the town. As I walked towards the town, I could feel myself regaining senses.
The soft breeze against my face, the warm sun streaking across my face. The feeling of my rough cloths scratching against my skin. I? was finally able to breathe in deeply. The spring breeze tousled my hair, the scent of the fresh grass mixing with the distant smell of the town—a blend of earth, baked bread, and the faintest whiff of oil.
This world felt more alive and the senses returned to my finger. I curled my fingers into a fist before releasing them with a long breath. I was back in control, the buttons under my thumb. I could feel myself alive, less suffocated than in that stale air in the church.
I left the church into the town, it was quiet but not eerily. It was peaceful, people enjoying their time in their homes with their family. Some were out on their porch, reading paper as they enjoyed tea. I walked making sure to keep an eye on everything. I need to find a way to end this trial and get back my memory.
I walked further through the graveled road, watching the closed stores. Here and their, I caught the glimpse of people in there. Those who met my eyes immediately turned their head, as if meeting my eye would invite trouble. Like I want to meet you idiots. I wandered around the town, leaving the grey sentinel filled with cut scene.
"Hey, Zion!" A young voice called.
My head turned to the voice, both with and without my control. I am a curious person, okay. I want to see the person who would call me, especially as if he was meeting a friend unexpectedly. Those little mutts were really annoying, hurtful but also annoying. I just wanted to shove my fist into their face and make them eat shit.
Huu, I need to calm down and deal with the situation at hand.
I looked at kid who called me, he looked at me with the stupid grin plastered on his face. He looked like an idiot. But I could feel a different emotion in my body—joy, expectation. I scanned the kid again, he seem to be the same age as me. But brighter, more colorful, living in a different world than me.
"I knew I would meet your today," He said those word smugly as he threw the ball towards me.
I moved in instinct to catch it. I looked at the ball, patched and worn but still usable. I could tell that it was only few hits away from breaking. I looked back to him, my gaze carrying my question. The kid looked a bit surprised, before grinning again. He quickly moved few steps back.
"C'mon, don't just hold on to it. Throw it back," He said as he made more distance.
I complied and threw the ball back at him. The ball arced through the air, falling just short of the kid. The ball bounced once before he caught it. I turned, ready to leave. I need to find a way out of this hell I didn't have time to play.
"Hey! where are you going?" The kid shouted, before following me. "Where are you going?"
I could hear his steps following me. I kept moving forward wandering about. I turned in different corners randomly, walking around with no expectation. I was trying to stumble on the something that will help me out of this trouble.
"You got no idea where you are going,"
Oh, he was still following me.
"You can tell me what you are looking for, I know places."
I stopped and turned to him. I scanned him again. I think I could use this kid. Since he also part of my memories, he could also hold a part key to get me out of this trial. I should try all available options.
"You know how to get out of Nightmare?"
*DING DONG*
The bell rung, my body froze at the sound of it. My head turned automatically, looking towards the towering church. The cross visible above the roofs. I pulled the head to look away, the controls slipping a bit. I could feel my body's urge to return to the church as if on command. But I an't going back yet. I need to find a way out.
"Oh, it evening sermon," The kid remarked. "Are you not going?"
"No," I answered resolutely, "Now answer my question, how do I get out of a nightmare?"
The kid tilted his head, rubbing his chin as he squinted, thinking with his pea brain of his. I waited as he tiled his head left and right, squinting harder. Before his face brightened up with an idea, I could practically see a light-bulb floating above his head.
"Its easy, you just wake up," He answered.
I wanted to facepalm, "You really don't have a thing running in that head of yours, do you?"
"Well, you have never talk to me this long," The kid remarked scratching his head.
"Ha," I could only scoff, "I better leave."
"Going back to the church?" He questioned, it a bit annoying.
"Yes," I answered, turning towards the church.
"Then play with me for a for a time before your go," he said. "Maybe you will get an idea."
I stopped, musing the suggestion. And my heart, which is beating with joy. Maybe, all I need to do was defeat loneliness.
"Okay," I answered.