The first thought that crossed my mind was pure confusion.
Huh, why am I still breathing?
I was absolutely certain that just moments ago I had been hit by a massive truck.
Could it be that the impact wasn't as deadly as I thought?
The moment this realization dawned on me, a sense of calm washed over me.
My goodness, I'm alive.
I have survived a collision with that colossal beast. This must be the work of a divine intervention.
However, that belief quickly dissipated when I realized I was not in a medical facility.
In fact, I wasn't even indoors.
I found myself gazing up at the sky. A sky void of any beauty or solace. Only bleak clouds filled my view.
In the distance, a sound caught my attention.
It wasn't long before I could make out what it was.
A chorus of screams echoed through the air, accompanied by the sharp clash of metal on metal.
My muscles tensed as I recognized the ominous sounds from countless films.
Attempting to shift my position, I realized a weight pressing down on me.
Looking down, I was met with a haunting visage.
"AHHHHHHHHH!"
My own scream pierced the air as I scrambled backwards, only to find more faces staring back at me.
"AHhhhhhhhhhh!!!"
I recoiled and rose to my feet.
Then, the gruesome sight unfolded before my eyes.
Mountains of lifeless bodies littered the open field, their blood staining the ground with a chilling hue of terror. The stench of death hung heavy in the air.
I estimated there to be hundreds of lifeless bodies scattered across the landscape.
It reminded me of the time when my friend showed me and a couple of others videos of people dying. The others were absolutely horrified by what they saw. I, on the other hand, felt nothing looking at it. I used to think I was cool being so level-headed looking at those videos. I was totally like some kind of psychopath. I had heard there were girls out there who were into that kind of people.
At the moment, I felt a chilling realization that my emotional detachment while viewing those digital images was not a sign of psychopathy, nor did it confer an aura of toughness that might appeal to some. It was simply me trying to act tough to impress my friends.
The sight of these deceased individuals, with their various injuries, triggered an intense physiological reaction in me.
The smell of blood and decay filled the air, and my heart raced as I took in the extent of the carnage.
Some had gaping lacerations, others bore the marks of burning, and several were missing limbs or had been severed at the torso.
"What the fuck....."
My attention was abruptly drawn back to the sounds that had been echoing from behind.
I turned around, and saw the embodiment of chaos.
A scene of brutal combat was playing out in the distance, with men fighting ferociously, utilizing any means necessary to survive. The harsh sounds of metal slicing through flesh and the grunts of exertion filled the air.
This was no mere street brawl or isolated incident. It was a battlefield, a war.
"Huh? HUH?!"
To say that confusion overwhelmed me would be an understatement. My mind was a chaotic jumble of thoughts, threatening to burst at any moment.
Standing there, lost in bewilderment, a faint sound caught my attention, close by.
Turning towards the noise, I was met with a gaze that seemed to delve into the depths of my soul.
It was the face of a man clad in metal armor, a spear piercing his abdomen. His once pristine white armor now tainted with the deep red of his own blood. Crimson flowed from his lips, staining his teeth a haunting shade of red.
As I struggled to make sense of the surreal scene before me, he reached out a hand, pleading, "Help...me..."
Oh hell no.
I took this as a cue to get the fuck out of there as quickly as I could. So, I bolted in the opposite direction of the mayhem unfolding.
"Ahhhhhh...." I heard the agonizing screams of a blood-soaked man fading in the distance, but I couldn't bring myself to care. All that mattered was my immediate retreat.
Reflecting on the horror could wait; for now, I had to flee with everything I had.
As I sprinted away, I stumbled over the lifeless bodies, causing me to tumble, but I didn't let them slow me down. I pushed myself to keep moving, even when exhaustion was setting in.
After what felt like an eternity, the battleground was behind me, replaced by the tranquility of trees and grass. But even with the chaos behind me, I couldn't stop running.
I had never exerted myself like this since my days in grade school, but fear kept me going.
Eventually, my legs couldn't handle it anymore, and I collapsed, rolling down a hill. I hadn't noticed it before, but it led me straight into a river. I plunged into the water with a splash, the coldness briefly jolting me out of my panic.
I remained submerged in the water, hoping to conceal myself from some unseen threat. It wasn't long before the sensation of drowning overwhelmed me, so I resurfaced with a gasp.
I coughed uncontrollably, clutching my chest in agony as it felt ready to explode. With my eyes squeezed shut against the water cascading from my hair and eyebrows, I stumbled out of the river.
Once free from the water's grip, I felt the weight of my leg return and I staggered onto the gravelly shore. My entire body collapsed under its own weight, my back striking the ground with a muffled thud. I slowly twisted my body to gaze upward, discovering the sky had cleared of all clouds.
"....."
As I gazed up at the vast expanse of the sky, my thoughts were consumed by the question that had been lingering in my mind from the very beginning.
"What the fuck is even happening?"