The sky above was an eerie shade of purple, stars twinkling in patterns no human had ever charted. Rio glanced around, bewildered, heart pounding like a drum. His clones, manifestations of his own psyche, mirrored his confusion but voiced it far more openly.
Clone 1: "Alright, Rio... explain. Where the hell are we?"
Ryo (internally): I don't know... I really don't know.
Ryo (out loud, trying to stay calm): "We... need to assess the situation. Keep calm. Focus."
Clone 2: "Focus? Dude, the trees are twisted like pretzels! And that... thing we fought? That wasn't from Earth!"
Clone 3 (mocking): "Oh yeah, let's 'focus' while we're clearly trapped in some cosmic nightmare."
They were all talking at once, overlapping, voices rising. It felt like standing in an echo chamber of his own fear.
Clone 4: "Should we look for people? Maybe someone can explain where we are."
Ryo: "And if they don't welcome us? What if they speak some... alien language?"
Clone 1 (sarcastic): "Yeah, 'Hi, we're lost, please don't vaporize us' probably won't go over well."
Clone 5: "So... what? We stay here forever? Twisted trees and purple skies—great vacation spot."
Ryo: "No. We need information. But... let's not risk it ourselves."
A silence stretched between them, the unspoken plan forming.
Clone 3: "You're thinking it, aren't you? Send a clone first."
Ryo: "Exactly. If it's safe, we'll follow. If not..."
Clone 2 (grimly): "...better the clone than us."
They all nodded, the air thick with mutual agreement and silent dread.
---
After several hours of walking...
The forest seemed endless. Twisted branches clawed at the sky, shadows playing tricks on their minds.
Clone 1 (panting): "How much further? My legs are killing me."
Ryo: "I don't know. Just... keep moving."
Clone 4 (collapsing): "Forget it. I'm done."
Ryo: "Fine. Clone—carry me."
A second Rio appeared, sighing dramatically.
Clone 6 (offering a piggyback): "Your wish is my command, oh mighty adventurer."
Ryo: "Just walk."
Ten hours passed. The humor was forced, masking exhaustion and fear. Finally, they stumbled upon a clearing. Trees here were less twisted, the ground more solid.
Clone 5: "Looks... normal. Relatively."
Ryo: "We'll rest here. There's a cave nearby."
The cave was small but felt like a fortress. The clones stood guard, eyes scanning the darkness beyond the entrance.
---
Midnight.
Clone 1: "Think we'll survive this?"
Ryo (whispering): "We have to."
Clone 3: "And tomorrow? What then?"
Ryo (voice shaking): "One step at a time. One step..."
The fear was palpable, each word a fragile thread holding them together.