"What we call history is an illusion created by the victor of that historical event. When winners come to the spotlight and tell the tale of their glory, the losers vanish. That's how we always forget that there is another side to the story. With time, the losers become evil and foolish in the eyes of common people, even if they were righteous. The victor manipulated everything because they were the storyteller! Go, see for yourself, and find out the truth. But if you speak of the truth in front of the victor, then you will become evil."
The words echoed inside Alex's head like a distant but powerful thunderstorm. They were loud, clear, and completely foreign. A boy of just six years old, Alex had no idea where these words came from. His small, skinny body trembled as he stood in the middle of a dark alley, his bare feet brushing against the cold, damp ground. He was alone, but the voice felt so real—so vivid—that it seemed like someone was speaking directly into his ear.
The alley smelled of rotting food and decay, and a chilling wind blew through, cutting through Alex's thin, tattered shirt. He shivered, hugging his small arms around his body as he looked around. The voice had startled him, and now his head throbbed with a sharp, unbearable pain, as though something were clawing its way out of his skull.
"Who… who said that?" Alex muttered weakly, his voice barely above a whisper. He turned his head from side to side, scanning the shadows for any sign of life. There was no one. No footsteps. No rustling. Only silence.
But the voice returned.
"Find the truth, because that's where you will find your true self."
This time, the words sent a shiver down Alex's spine. His small hands reached up to clutch his head as the pain grew worse, spreading like wildfire. He felt like something inside him was breaking, shattering into tiny pieces.
"Stop! Make it stop!" he cried out, stumbling backward. His legs felt like jelly, barely able to hold him up. He tried to take a step forward, but his vision blurred, and the pain became too much. His knees buckled, and he began to fall.
Instinctively, Alex reached out with his right hand, grasping for the edge of a rusty dumpster nearby. His fingers brushed against the cold metal, but his grip was weak. The pain in his head overwhelmed him, and he lost his balance completely.
The next thing Alex knew, his head slammed against the hard, unforgiving ground. A dull, ringing sound filled his ears, drowning out everything else. He felt something warm and wet trickling down the side of his head. He didn't need to see it to know what it was—blood.
Pain shot through his body as he lay there, unable to move. The smell of rotting garbage filled his nose, making him gag. A few trash bags tumbled down from the dumpster, landing on top of him. He groaned, using what little strength he had left to push them away. The effort was almost too much for his small, injured body.
As Alex lay there, staring up at the narrow strip of night sky visible between the tall buildings, he wondered if anyone would find him. The alley was empty, save for the faint scurrying sound of a rat darting across the ground. He felt the tiny creature scamper over his body before disappearing into the darkness.
For a moment, Alex's world seemed to grow still. The pain in his head dulled, replaced by a strange sensation. It felt like he was sinking, his body growing weightless. He closed his eyes, letting the darkness take him.
It was as though he were floating underwater, sinking deeper and deeper into an endless, blue abyss. The water around him was calm and beautiful, shimmering with a light that didn't seem to come from the surface.
"Am I… dying?" Alex thought to himself. The question lingered in his mind, and he felt an odd sense of peace. "Is this what death feels like? If it is… then death is beautiful. I never thought it would look like this."
The boy's thoughts drifted, scattered like leaves in the wind. Images and questions swirled in his mind—his parents, who he barely remembered; the harsh streets where he had spent most of his life; the strangers who ignored him when he begged for food.
And then, a new thought emerged: What do ocean-blue eyes look like?
Alex had never seen eyes like that before. His own eyes were dark—black, like the shadows of the alley. But the thought of blue eyes fascinated him. He imagined them as bright and endless as the ocean in his dreams.
"Is there a next life?" he wondered. "If there is… will I get to see those eyes?"
As Alex sank deeper into the blue void, the voice returned, softer this time.
"Wake up, Alex. Your journey is just beginning."
The words stirred something inside him—a flicker of life. Slowly, Alex opened his eyes.
---
The Awakening
Alex blinked several times, his vision hazy and unfocused. He was no longer in the alley. Instead, he found himself lying on a soft, grassy surface. The sky above him was a vibrant shade of blue, dotted with fluffy white clouds. A gentle breeze brushed against his face, carrying the scent of wildflowers.
"Where… am I?" Alex murmured, sitting up slowly. His head still ached, but the pain was nowhere near as intense as before. He touched the side of his head, expecting to feel blood, but there was none.
As Alex looked around, he realized he was in a vast meadow, surrounded by tall, swaying grass and colorful flowers. In the distance, he could see a forest with towering trees whose leaves shimmered like emeralds.
It was nothing like the dark, dirty alley he had been in just moments ago. This place felt alive—almost magical.
"Am I dreaming?" Alex wondered aloud. He got to his feet, feeling the soft grass beneath his bare toes.
Before he could take another step, a figure appeared before him. It was a man, tall and cloaked in flowing robes of white and gold. His face was kind, but his piercing blue eyes seemed to see straight into Alex's soul.
"Welcome, Alex," the man said, his voice deep and soothing.
"Who… who are you?" Alex asked, taking a step back.
The man smiled gently. "I am a guide—a keeper of truths. You've been chosen, Alex."
"Chosen? For what?"
"To uncover the truth that has been hidden for centuries," the man replied. "The voice you heard in the alley—that was the call of destiny. You have a role to play in restoring balance to a world that has long been controlled by lies."
Alex frowned, confusion clouding his young face. "I don't understand. I'm just a kid. I can't do anything."
"You are more than you realize," the man said, his blue eyes shining. "You have the strength to see beyond the illusions created by others. The world needs someone like you, Alex—someone who can find the truth and bring it to light."
As the man spoke, Alex felt a strange warmth spreading through his chest. It was a comforting sensation, like a tiny flame flickering to life inside him.
"But… how do I do that?" Alex asked hesitantly.
The man extended his hand, and in his palm appeared a small, glowing orb of light. It hovered in the air, pulsing gently.
"This will guide you," the man said. "Follow it, and it will lead you to the answers you seek. But be warned—the path will not be easy. There will be those who try to stop you, those who fear the truth you carry."
Alex stared at the orb, a mix of fear and determination in his eyes. He didn't fully understand what was happening, but something inside him told him he couldn't turn back now.
"I'll do it," he said finally, his voice steady. "I'll find the truth."
The man nodded, a proud smile on his face. "Then your journey begins now."
With a wave of his hand, the man vanished, leaving Alex alone in the meadow.
---
The Journey
The glowing orb floated in front of Alex, casting a warm, golden light. It moved slowly, as if waiting for him to follow. Taking a deep breath, Alex began to walk.
The meadow stretched on for miles, but Alex didn't feel tired. The orb seemed to energize him, filling him with a sense of purpose. As he walked, he thought about the man's words.
"Why me?" he wondered aloud. "I'm just a nobody. I don't even have a home."
But deep down, Alex knew the answer. He had spent his whole life being invisible—ignored by the world around him. Maybe that was why he had been chosen. He wasn't bound by the lies and illusions that others believed in.
As Alex continued to follow the orb, the landscape began to change. The bright, sunny meadow gave way to darker, more ominous terrain. The grass turned brown and withered, and the trees loomed overhead like skeletal giants.
The orb flickered, its light growing dimmer.
Alex's heart raced as he heard a low growl behind him. He turned to see a pair of glowing red eyes staring at him from the shadows. A creature emerged—a monstrous wolf with jagged teeth and fur as dark as night.
The beast snarled, its eyes locked on Alex.