At first glance, he could have passed for an ordinary man. A completely average human being. But upon closer inspection, there was something unique about him. Something hard to define, like an imperceptible dissonance, yet impossible to ignore.
I had found him there, beneath the crushing tower, at a depth where even the rays of daylight seemed never to have reached. It wasn't just dark: it was oblivion. A frozen place where time had given up flowing. It was a place where shadows seemed eternal, where everything bore the stillness of a stagnant world. There, in a austere chamber, he existed. "Living" would have been too generous a term. The space was reduced to the bare minimum: rough stone walls and sagging beams that still bore the scars of ages past.
But amidst this disconcerting simplicity, there was an anomaly: an old shelf. It seemed almost alive, swollen with age, laden with thick dust, and creaking under the weight of ancient books. These volumes were not mere objects; they carried within them a heavy memory, that of a time or a world no one understood anymore.
He spent his days in this rocky labyrinth, alone with his thoughts. His footsteps echoed through the empty tunnels, a sound among the shadows, as if the place itself sought to remind him of his isolation. Sometimes, he would crouch down to examine glittering stones he found at random. These scattered fragments seemed to contain all the light of this world. He would pick them up with a kind of childlike fascination, gathering them in his hands before placing them in a corner of his dwelling.
His clothes, rudimentary, betrayed his ingenuity. He had found and repaired them with clumsy care, guided by an old illustrated manual he had discovered on the shelf. That book, almost comical in its simplicity, had been his first victory against ignorance.
Each time, he ventured a little further into the cave. The corridors stretched in unpredictable directions, often ending abruptly in a wall or a precipice. But he continued, driven by a quest he didn't understand.
"Nothing. Still nothing. This place really has no rhyme or reason," he muttered, short of breath, clutching the cold walls.
And yet, he persisted. Not out of hope, but out of necessity. Sometimes, a fleeting thought haunted him: "Why am I here?" But the answer eluded him, as elusive as a mirage.
The books were his only windows. Some were filled with mysterious sketches, others with words he laboriously deciphered. Their weight, both physical and symbolic, sometimes seemed to crush him. "I really should read more often," he sighed with a half-smile, "but these things are really heavy."
Then, much later, something broke the monotony. As he moved through a previously unexplored gallery, he saw movement. Tiny, almost imperceptible.
An insect.
Small, barely larger than a grain of rice, it fluttered in the stagnant air. The boy felt a smile spread across his lips, wide and uncontrollable. It was the first living creature he had seen since... forever.
"Hello! My name is Domgis. Nice to meet you," he said with disarming sincerity.
The insect, of course, did not respond.
"Hello, my name is Domgis," he repeated, louder, unaware that the art of speech was not shared by all.
The only sound that followed was the fluttering of the creature's wings.
"Are you shy? Don't worry, I am too," he continued, as if speaking to a friend.
The insect approached, its wings beating softly, almost curiously.
"If I was rude, I apologize. I didn't mean to disturb you in... whatever you're doing, but I'm really glad to have met you."
But suddenly, in an unpredictable movement, the little thing rushed toward him.
Domgis let out a cry, a grotesque mix of surprise and terror. He stumbled backward, almost tripping over his own feet, as the small creature pursued him with inexplicable insistence. He rushed back, trying to escape the insect's relentless chase. In the silence, this frantic race between two incongruous creatures seemed utterly absurd.
"No, no, NO!" he screamed, fleeing through the tunnels.
Seconds ticked by. In this absurd race between man and insect, he eventually found himself cornered, his back against a cold, rough wall. Fear crept into his mind.
But something changed in his gaze. A new light in his eyes. A pure determination, as sudden as it was fierce. For the first time, his survival instinct awakened. He raised his arms, fists clenched, ready to fight.
The first blow came, quick and powerful. But the insect, with disconcerting agility, dodged it.
Rage engulfed the young man. He struck again and again, a deluge of blows. A merciless battle.
But the creature was elusive. Domgis soon lost sight of his target. The chill of fear slid through his veins as he felt the creature around him, just inches away, ready to strike.
He shook his head, trying to shake off the anguish, but sweat beaded on his face. "It's there, on my cheek... I... I..."
In a final burst of panic, he shook his face, freeing himself from the insect's pressure.
"That's enough. No way I'm losing to this bug. It's beneath me."
Then, in a mix of panic and rage, he unleashed a powerful punch. He felt the thing hit his fist. But when he looked up, it was gone.
Domgis stood up, breathless, fists clenched. The creature, relentless, seemed to blend into the shadows, moving so fast he could only catch fleeting glimpses. It was there, elusive, a menacing specter, but this time, Domgis wasn't going to back down. He clenched his teeth.
He took a step back, then another, calculating each movement, each breath. His eyes scanned the darkness, searching for signs, shadows that might betray the creature.
A faint sound, a ripple in the air. He turned abruptly, raising his arm to strike blindly, but the insect was already gone.
The silence grew oppressive. Domgis felt his heart pounding in his throat. At every moment, he expected the attack, his body tense like a bow ready to snap. Yet, all he heard was the rhythm of his own breathing.
Then, suddenly, the air grew heavy. The buzzing, muffled, grew closer. There was no doubt now, the insect was preparing to pounce. A cry of rage rose in Domgis's throat. He was ready this time. He knew there was no escape. He bent down, striking with disproportionate force in the direction of the noise.
The impact vibrated through the air around him. The creature froze for an instant, then twisted under the blow. Taking advantage of a moment of inattention, he grabbed the insect by surprise and slammed it against the wall with his fist. The tiny body shattered against the cold stone.
Domgis didn't stop hitting, his arm fueled by adrenaline, until all he heard was a dull thud. Then, in the calm that followed, a throbbing pain rose from his fingers.
"It's there... It's dead," he murmured, panting.
Domgis stood there, trembling, arms shaking. "That was a tough fight."
A bitter smile stretched his lips. The boy got up slowly, every muscle screaming in protest. He cast one last glance at the insignificant corpse of his adversary, then turned on his heel.
It was just an insect. But he had survived.
***
After the tumult of his strange encounter, Domgis took a long time to collect himself. The adrenaline and confusion had finally faded, and a strange serenity had settled over him. He knew he couldn't stay there, facing his thoughts. He needed more rest, to relax, even if this place remained as dark as the blackest night.
And so, he returned to a sector he had already visited. An area he knew well. A place he had always perceived as a strange miracle hidden in the heart of the cave.
The fluorescent vegetation bathed the area in a beautiful glow. The plants, a vivid green, seemed to have been dipped in a strange light, a radiance that contrasted with the darkness all around. This place, though luminous, remained like a forgotten oasis, almost timeless.
Domgis sat on the ground, observing the delicate leaves and stems that grew everywhere. It was here that he had found the materials needed to repair his clothes. Sturdy fibers, easy to weave, pulled from these strange plants. They offered him both resources and an astonishing comfort.
The fruits, round and juicy, were a true blessing. He picked them with an automatic gesture, satisfied with their consistency and sweetness. When he bit into them, fresh, sweet juice spread through his mouth, an incredible delight. The most astonishing thing was the effect these fruits had on his body. They satisfied him, gave him energy, and, above all, seemed to fulfill all his needs. He had never had to look for anything else to eat or drink. Each fruit, each bite, seemed to suffice for what his body lacked.
The vegetation was dense, omnipresent. The plants covered the ground like a calm sea, their stems stretching toward the cave's ceiling, creating an impressive vegetative network. But apart from him, there was no sign of life here. No animals, no insects, nothing but this vegetation and the immense silence that surrounded it.
Silence reigned supreme here, a heavy silence where even the echo seemed to respect the tranquility of this place. Domgis almost felt like he was part of this world. He felt neither fear nor loneliness in this place, just a strange tranquility, as if the natural laws had changed to welcome him.
He stood up, but the peace of the place still held him. He moved forward, walking slowly among the luminous plants, his fingers brushing against the shiny leaves. The atmosphere seemed enchanting. This place, despite its timeless nature, had become a haven of calm, a sanctuary for him.
But deep in his mind, a question lingered. Where did these plants come from? Why did they seem to thrive here, in total darkness, without any external intervention? Domgis had no answers, and he knew that this question, like so many others, would remain unanswered.
***
Domgis had recovered from his trauma for some time now. Time had done its work, and the young man found himself ready to discover what else awaited him in this cave. He headed to the place where he had first encountered the insect, perhaps expecting to meet another form of life. But upon arriving, there was nothing. No creature, no sound. Just the lifeless body of his last encounter.
I could read on his face a strange mix of relief and disappointment. He walked with long strides, as if focusing on the path helped him forget what had happened. He walked for hours, losing himself in the illogical maze of tunnels, facing a labyrinth of passages that seemed endless.
I could see it clearly. He was afraid. Afraid of being lost forever. In a way, I understood. He was a human being, alone, lost in the darkness, facing a world he didn't even understand. But deep down, I found him courageous. He had that spark in his eyes, that little flicker of hope that refused to die.
The cave, however, was terrifying. The cold, menacing walls seemed to scream that he was not welcome. And yet, he moved forward. The sound of his footsteps echoed solemnly, but I also sensed determination in it. As long as that hope burned within him, he would keep walking.
At the end of this long journey, the cave walls began to widen. Domgis finally arrived in a vast area. A huge hall, a crossroads where several tunnels converged, large and small. A sense of immensity overwhelmed him.
Then, his steps stopped before a door. A gigantic, imposing door, as old as the world itself. It seemed... different. Intricate patterns adorned its surface, and a strange aura surrounded it, almost mystical. Domgis knew. There was no doubt: a door like this hadn't been left here by accident. Someone, or something, had built it.
He approached, his eyes shining with excitement. He placed a hand on the door, trying to push it, to open it, but nothing. Not a movement. He tried again, with more force, but still nothing. The door remained as solid as a wall.
Frustrated, he paused, observing the door more closely. The metal and stone it was made of were unfamiliar, but it was its size that impressed him the most. It seemed imposing, insurmountable. Perhaps he simply had to... give up for now. He needed to find another way.
The young man seemed to follow my train of thought. He stepped back from the door, and after a few seconds, he turned his attention to the tunnels lining the vast hall. A freshly picked fruit in the pocket he had improvised, he muttered to himself, lost in thought.
"Which one should I take first?"
Domgis stood still, scrutinizing the gaping openings before him. The young man squinted, trying to discern clues. But there was nothing. No traces, no sounds, no light. Just tunnels, black and infinite.
He took a deep breath and brought the fruit to his mouth, biting into it again with almost mechanical attention.
"No logic, huh?" he murmured, his gaze jumping from one passage to another. "Might as well choose at random."
***
There was nothing but the sound of his footsteps echoing against the icy walls of the cave. They mingled with his faint breathing. Time no longer made sense here, between these dark walls that seemed to close in on him with every step.
The caverns stretched on endlessly, like a giant spider's web in which he was trapped.
His hands trembled, not just from the cold, but also from the feeling that gnawed at him quietly, without a sound: the feeling of being forgotten, of being lost in the very oblivion of the universe. He had once believed that one day, he might escape. Perhaps at a time when hope was still a living word in his heart. But that heart... he wasn't even sure he still had it.
A shiver ran through him as he thought of the last time he had found a smooth wall, a surface he had touched, hoping for a clue, a crack, a sign that he was nearing the exit. But the stone was cold and unyielding, just like this increasingly bleak existence that stretched before him, endless.
So he walked on. Fatigue weighed on his legs, but he walked. Like an automaton, without purpose, without hope.
***
He shook his head, as if to dispel a stubborn nightmare, but he couldn't shake the oppressive feeling that enveloped him from all sides.
His eyes fell on the door again and again, as if it held the key to his survival, to his understanding. Every attempt, every desperate gesture to open it, had only driven the nail of his defeat deeper. The door remained closed. And he felt... weak. So weak.
The tunnels seemed to swallow him, but the door, it didn't want him. It was as if an invisible wall prevented him from going further, as if the cave itself mocked his efforts. No matter how much he thought, there was no logic to any of it. And yet, somewhere deep inside, he knew he had to move forward.
He collapsed to the ground, exhausted by frustration and fear. Sweat beaded on his forehead, and his hands trembled as he brought them to his face. His thoughts raced, swirling, collapsing in a whirlwind of despair. He had once believed that this quest was the key to his salvation. But now, he felt like a child bashing against an invisible wall, not understanding why.
Why keep moving forward? Why not just let himself be swallowed by the darkness surrounding him? Hope dwindled with every step, every moment spent in this cursed cave. Fear turned into an unbearable weight, a dull anguish that seeped into his heart. The tunnels seemed to close in on him.
He got up slowly, legs shaking. His hand rested on one of the walls, seeking some stability. But there was nothing. Just emptiness. An emptiness that grew heavier with every breath he took.
His eyes closed, and yet, he couldn't escape what was eating him from within. A silent scream rose in his soul, a scream he couldn't voice aloud. There was no one to hear it. No voice, no answer.
He was alone.