The park was empty, the air thick with snowflakes that landed on his dark hair, melting almost instantly. He stood frozen, hands shoved deep into his pockets. His mind kept looping back to the same thoughts—frantic, urgent, and uncomfortable.
'Don't I look really stupid right now? Standing here, like I have all the time in the world... But if I dont move now, I'll look stupider. It'll look like I'm... scared.'
The words felt like a lie. He wasn't scared of the snow. He wasn't scared of the cold or the empty swings or the distant, flickering streetlight. What he was scared of, what he feared the most, was the weight of everything he was about to do—because it wasn't just about him anymore. His family was gone, and he was left with nothing but the memories of people which were no more.
'That's not it either... is it? Ah well, the river lsn't far from here. Should I just jump?'
As Sean finally started to move towards the river. He remembered his father's last words.
'Atleast he died, can't have him cling to life after putting me through so much.'
His thoughts were distant and full of sorrow. He walked towards the river with a distant gaze which settled onto nothing.
When he finally arrived at the bridge, he walked towards the edge, his thoughts were arriving at a dangerous conclusion.
"Since when did I have this much courage"
He mumbled.
'Since yesterday dammit!'
Well Sean did kill his own father a day before so no wonder he felt a little more courageous to do a cowardly action.
'Farewell to the cold world. Even though I bet the water is colder.'
With that, Sean gulped and counted to 3 inwardly, only to jump at 2.
'Dang, I didn't think I would surprise my own self'
Even though Sean felt detached to the world. He was still trying to distract himself from giving up by joking around in his head. It helped to no degree.
With a splash on the almost frozen water, Sean started to drown. He struggled to swim upward towards the surface. It was no wonder since he couldn't swim. Was it fortunate... or unfortunate?
'Maybe both'
Finally giving up after a few seconds which lasted for an eternity. Sean lost his conscious.
Sean didn't seem reluctant to end his life, as it was the only thing he could do to get rid of his restlessness. Even to his own self, it felt that he was unwanted.
Some hours later, Sean woke up. The water had almost dried as he felt a strange unfamiliar sunlight washover him.
'Weird. Is it summer in hell? Oh wait, hell is supposed to be hot.'
As he finally opened his eyes. He noticed he was in the middle of a grass field, surrounded by trees of unfamiliar colors which he had never seen. Bewildered he looked upward where he saw the sky.
'It....it's purple'
Indeed the sky was purple but what surprised him more was that the air which was about 2 meters above his head was cracked.
It took Sean couple minutes to understand what was happening. Finally coming to an understanding he looked at the ground where the grass which he had been laying on just Some minutes ago was dancing with wind.
'Atleast this regions grass is green. Even so, I never expected I would end up in Aliha by an unidentified crack at that.'
He thought.
Around 40 years ago, cracks started to appear on ground, air and water. These cracks led to different planets which existed under a single solar system.
This solar system had 8 planets and 5 of them were habitable. While the planets were peaceful and supported life to full extent. The 5 planets which were deemed to be habitable had an ecosystem similar to that of Earth. These planets had animals which were named Ambers. Ambers were peaceful on these 5 planets and just like how humans could travel through cracks, they also crossed worlds.
The other 3 planets were deemed inhabitable due to one simple reason. When species from these Worlds came to Earth, all hell broke lose. They were classified as a different species from Ambers as they were highly aggressive. They were named monsters.
When these monsters came to earth. Multiple Wars broke out as human firearms had no affect against them. Wars for resources and lands with cracks of the peaceful Worlds put earth through a hazardous trial.
Around this time, some people started to notice change in their bodies. At first there senses sharpened, but they soon gained superhuman abilities. These individuals were called Awakened and ended the The great war.
Territories were divided by countries and soon after a decade things started to calm down.
'I'd be damned'
Sean had realized that there must have been a crack in the water where he tried to end his life. This was going to be a hassle.
'Since this place has a purple sky which is only found on Aliha and Ruza as well as trees with unrecognizable colors which should only be a possible in Aliha'
What was concerning was that Aliha was one of the inhabitable planets. Albeit not as worse as the other ones.
Sean observed his surroundings and decided it was time for him to explore the place.
Sean was not an Awakened but he had been on these planets before, Not Aliha though. He finally made up his mind and started to walk towards the forest of the alluring trees.
The wind was very comfortable and the temperature was perfect. The crack which he had come out of was strangely emitting a light and gave him a sense of heat which was something unheard of, he didn't put much thought into it.
As he finally ventured into the forest he saw something that sent a shiver down his spine.
There were markings of humans here. It seemed that the lonely trip wasn't lonely at all. It could get deadly though. Sean was a paranoid person but he never showed it on his face.
His head though, was in a turmoil.
'Why the heck is there charcoal here, who was burning these suspicious trees!? Is that person fine in the head!? Scratch that, this looks like it was burned only couple of days ago.'
After inspecting the remains of what seemed to be firewood. He ventured deeper into the forest.
Sean knew that If he went back through the crack, he wouldn't survive as it would send him to the river where he will freeze to death, but he also knew that Aliha which was a trial even for the high ranked Awakened. He a normal human, would not survive. So without giving it much thought he just ventured deeper.
'If I am going to die either way, who cares'
With this thought, he continued....
On his way Sean had witnessed many signs of life. He had come to the conclusion that his neighbor in this God forsaken place was alone and seemed to be an Awakened.
After a few minutes of walking, he noticed not far from where he was standing, there was a huge piece of wood sleeping on the ground and next to it some smaller pieces of wood were burning.
Sean gulped trying to comprehend the situation. It seemed that his neighbor was capable of cleanly cutting the huge piece of maroon wood as the unrecognizable colored leafs were beautifully littered on the ground.
'Must be a powerful awakened'
Sean thought as he walked to closer.
He arrived next to the huge piece wood which seemed to be kept on the ground as if someone had to sit on it and warm themselves with the not very distant fire.
He studied the scene with an unreadable expression when suddenly an elegant and beautiful voice resounded from behind.
"Who are you?"
The voice continued, this time carrying the tone of surprise and somewhat...hope?
"Wait, a human!?"