Deon took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down. The weight of the ring on his finger felt heavy, almost like a physical manifestation of his newfound responsibility. He needed a plan. The vision had been clear: an apocalypse was coming. He had no idea when, but he couldn't afford to waste any time. He needed to prepare.
First things first, he thought, heading to his living room. He pulled out his laptop and opened it, the familiar glow of the screen a small comfort amidst the chaos in his mind. His fingers hovered over the keyboard for a moment before he began to type: "how to prepare for an apocalypse."
The search results flooded the screen. Deon clicked on the first link and began to read, but it wasn't enough. He needed more information, more guidance. He started jumping from one website to another, watching videos, reading articles, and diving into forums. Survivalists, preppers, doomsday enthusiasts—all had advice and strategies, each more complex and daunting than the last.
He watched a video of a man demonstrating how to purify water using household items. Another video showed how to create a sustainable food supply in your backyard. Deon tried to absorb everything, scribbling notes on a pad, but his thoughts were racing too fast to keep up.
"Store non-perishable food," the video host said, showing an impressive stash of canned goods and dried foods. Deon nodded, trying to think of where he could start his own stockpile.
Another video host discussed the importance of having a bug-out bag ready to go at a moment's notice. Deon found himself eyeing his old gym bag, wondering if it could be repurposed.
He watched hours of content, the anxiety and fear gnawing at him. His mind spiraled as he considered all the possibilities. What if he didn't have enough food? What if the water ran out? What if he couldn't protect himself? The sheer number of variables was overwhelming.
"Self-defense is key," another video host insisted, showcasing an array of weapons and tools. Deon felt a chill run down his spine. He didn't have any weapons, and the thought of needing one made his stomach turn.
He glanced around his living room, his eyes landing on his bookshelf. He had a few hiking guides, some basic first-aid books, but nothing that could truly prepare him for what he had seen. He felt woefully unprepared, and the panic began to rise again.
Calm down, calm down, he told himself, pinching the bridge of his nose. But his thoughts wouldn't slow. He felt like he was being sucked into a vortex of fear and uncertainty.
Deon checked the time. Hours had passed, and he hadn't eaten or drunk anything. His stomach growled, but he ignored it, diving back into the information overload. He needed to know more. He needed to be ready.
Another video caught his eye: "Surviving the Apocalypse: A Comprehensive Guide." The video host, a rugged-looking man with years of experience, spoke about the mental and emotional toll of preparing for and surviving a disaster. Deon found himself nodding along, feeling a grim camaraderie with the man.
But as the day wore on, the endless barrage of information took its toll. Deon's eyes burned from staring at the screen, his head pounded, and a growing sense of dread clawed at him. He felt trapped, desperate to find a solution but only sinking deeper into the mire of what-ifs and worst-case scenarios.
He tried to calm himself, tried to step back and think rationally, but his mind wouldn't cooperate. The vision of the apocalypse, the weight of the ring, the responsibility of his ancestor's legacy—it was all too much. He felt himself slipping, teetering on the edge of sanity.
At some point, Deon's exhaustion overtook him. His vision blurred, and he felt his body give way. He slumped back on the couch, his laptop sliding from his lap to the floor. His eyes closed involuntarily, and he drifted into unconsciousness, his mind still racing with images of disaster and survival. The last thing he remembered was the flickering light of the laptop screen, a testament to his frantic search for answers.
When he finally passed out, it was as if a switch had been flipped. The panic, the fear, the spiraling thoughts—they all went dark, leaving only silence and the soft hum of the electronics around him. Deon lay there, unconscious, the weight of his new reality pressing down even in his dreams.
….
When Deon woke up, he felt like an idiot. He rubbed his eyes, groaning as he recalled the manic spiral from the previous night. He had spent hours obsessively consuming survivalist content and had accomplished nothing useful.
What was I thinking? he berated himself, running a hand through his disheveled brown hair. He knew he had gone overboard, lost in the panic and urgency of preparing for the apocalypse. But now, in the harsh light of morning, he realized that blindly following every piece of advice he found online wasn't the answer.
I have this ring, he thought, looking down at the dark stone on his finger. I need to figure out how to maximize its potential, not just mimic what those videos said.
He sighed, feeling a pang of guilt and frustration. I should have started by understanding this thing, he thought. Google searches could only get him so far. The ring was his unique advantage, and he needed to understand it fully.
Determined to approach things differently, Deon decided to try something new. He remembered the ring had somehow communicated with him, showing him visions and imparting knowledge. He wondered if he could tap into that again. He sat down cross-legged on the floor, closing his eyes and trying to focus on the ring, to feel its presence and understand its capabilities.
"Alright, ring," he muttered under his breath. "How big are you? How much can you store?" He felt a little foolish talking to an inanimate object, but the ring remained silent. He sighed, realizing the communication was likely a one-time message from his ancestor, not an ongoing conversation. The ring was a tool, not a sentient being.
Okay, think, he told himself. How do I figure out its limits?
He remembered a book he had read about meditation, how it could help calm the mind and focus energy. Maybe that could work. Deon closed his eyes again, taking deep breaths, trying to clear his mind and connect with the ring. For nearly an hour, he sat there, attempting to meditate, but his mind refused to calm. His thoughts kept racing back to the apocalyptic vision, the overwhelming need to prepare, and the fear of the unknown.
Frustrated, Deon opened his eyes. This isn't working. I can't calm down enough to meditate properly. He felt a surge of anger at his inability to control his thoughts and emotions. He clenched his fists, feeling the cold metal of the ring bite into his skin.
"Fuck it," he muttered, standing up abruptly. His frustration boiled over, and he punched the wall with the hand wearing the ring. Pain shot through his knuckles, and he felt the skin break. Blood welled up and dripped onto the ring's dark stone.
Suddenly, the world shifted. Deon felt a strange sensation, like he was being pulled into the ring itself. The room around him blurred and disappeared, replaced by an eerie, dark void. He looked around, bewildered, trying to make sense of what was happening.
Where am I? he thought, his heart racing. The void felt infinite and suffocating, yet strangely calming at the same time. He realized he was inside the ring, or at least some dimension it controlled.
Deon took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. He looked around, attempting to gauge the space. It was vast, seemingly limitless. He focused on feeling the dimensions, trying to understand how much the ring could store.
The space felt expansive, much larger than he had anticipated. He realized the ring could hold a tremendous amount of items, far more than he could ever imagine. The sense of its size and potential filled him with a mix of awe and relief. This was his advantage, his unique tool for survival.
Alright, I get it now, he thought. This is how I prepare. This is my edge.
With newfound determination, Deon began to plan. He knew he had to approach things methodically, using the ring's capabilities to their fullest. He would gather supplies, test the limits, and prepare for the apocalypse in a way no one else could. The ring was his key, and he was ready to use it.