2 CHAPTER I Part 1 - A NEW WORLD
My body feels somewhat stiff, as if I had slept on the floor.
«Maybe I fell out of bed again... ». I thought.
I feel grass behind my head... «Grass?... »
I open my eyes, but they hurt, they are squinted and my vision is blurry. I see something blue, my vision clears, and I make out the sky. I lift my head and look around.
"I'm in a forest... ". I whispered.
«What am I doing in a forest ?! Rather, how did I get here ?!»
My mind was bewildered, I felt disoriented, lost. I got up and tried to take out my cell phone, but it wasn't there, in fact, I didn't have anything in my pockets.
«What's going on here?! Did I get lost? I don't remember going out for a walk in the woods, in fact, there are no woods near where I live... Have they kidnapped me?... No, otherwise I wouldn't be in a forest... So?»
«First I must calm down, analyze the situation and then act. First: I woke up in a forest, I don't have my cell phone or any way to contact someone, I don't know where I am, and I don't know how I got here... that doesn't make sense!»
"The best thing is to find someone... Maybe there is a town or a road nearby."
«Now it only remains to choose which route to take. Well... I'm in a forest, so it doesn't matter which way I go... »
As I decide which way to go, I could hear the sound of a branch breaking.
At that moment I was paralyzed with fear, instinctively I looked ahead and a chill ran down my spine.
Without moving my head I looked both ways and slowly moved my head looking for the author of that sound. Then I saw it, something was moving in the bushes, about fifty feet from me.
I wanted to run, but my legs were not responding. No matter how much I told them to move, they were still planted in the ground; My teeth started to shake: I was panicking.
I saw the bushes move again and fear continued to mount. I clenched my fists while still in the same position and hardened my body, preparing myself for what was to come.
A head was sticking out of those bushes. She was a girl. I relaxed my body and a smile began to form on my face... I had been scared by a girl.
"Hi, little girl. You scared me. I thought... "
My smile disappeared and I held my breath. I couldn't understand what I was seeing. This girl had two antennae on her head and they didn't look fake since she moved them at will.
I was alert for the second time, because as soon as I greeted her, she put a big smile on her face and started running towards me...
«This is strange, something big is moving under her». I thought.
"Little girl, wait... Don't get any closer!"
She didn't answer me, she just kept running while she extended her hands towards me as if wanting to catch me. Then I could see that thing that was under her... It was hers, her body.
I couldn't believe it, this girl had the lower part of her body like that of an insect. I could see those 6 legs moving quickly: she... Was not human.
I immediately ran, I turned around, and this time my legs did listen to me.
"What are you?!". I yelled turning my head.
"I have to serve the queen."
"Queen? What Queen?"
"I have to serve the queen."
«It seems that she doesn't know how to say anything else, or maybe that's all she thinks about, I'm not sure; I'm terrified of how creepy it is that he's chasing me.»
«Think, she said she has to serve her queen. She looks like an insect, more like... umm... an ant. Yes, she looks like an ant. If that's the case, then her queen must be the queen of her hive... Hive? Cologne, stupid!»
«I feel a bit silly for having to correct myself, but it is thanks to this that I have learned many things in my life.»
I look around as I keep running, but I can only see trees and bushes. I couldn't hide without her noticing it.
I try to lose her as much as I can, but she is very persistent.
«Well, I had heard that ants are hard workers, but this is ridiculous.»
«What does she want from me? Food? Well, in that case I won't stay to be eaten.»
"Listen. I'm not very tasty! If you eat me, you get sick, and you won't be able to serve your queen! You don't want that, do you?". I yelled worried.
"I have to serve my queen."
"That's why I-am-not-good-food, understand?!"
"You won't be food."
"Oh, no?". I answered confused.
"No, you will be mine". Said that girl with a big smile.
"What? What happened to serving your queen?"
"With you I will work harder, and I will also be queen."
"What? How are you going to be queen?"
"If I can reproduce, I will become queen."
"What?! What if you manage to reprodu—?"
I stumbled: one of my legs had hit a root and rolled it forward. Her comment had distracted me quite a bit.
I rolled a little and stopped abruptly when I hit a tree. I hit my head really hard and felt my body rumble from the blow.
"Khh... Ouch... That hurts". I exclaimed, grabbing my head.
I reacted immediately, as that girl was still chasing me. I tried to get up and keep running, but something was stopping me.
"But what... "
I looked down and there were roots running up my legs
«Where do they come from?»
I felt a hand touch my shoulder and it scared me: I thought that girl had caught me, but no, she was still a few feet from me.
I looked up and saw a beautiful green haired woman face down in the tree.
«What was she doing there?»
Before I could say anything, the ant grabbed my arm and lifted me up with a single jerk: it was very strong.
The ant tried to take me with her, but those roots stopped me. I was suspended in the air, the ant was pulling my arms while my legs were supported by those roots.
I lowered my gaze to get a better look at those roots, but that green haired girl had her hands embedded in the tree. «Wait... Her hands! His hands are inside the tree!»
I looked closely at her, her legs looked human, but coming down from her knee they had the same texture as the tree.
«What's going on?! Are all the girls in this world a part of something else?»
"Why don't you go out?!". Said the ant girl, reproachfully. "I have to serve the queen."
The ant, seeing that the roots stopped me, released me, went to my legs and began to pull the roots from the ground; The green haired girl didn't take it very well, she picked up one of her branches and hit it hard.
The ant girl did not fly away, her grip was so strong that the blow could not throw her away; instead of her, her head snapped back. The sound of the root hitting her face was overwhelming, and the speed with which her head jerked was so fast that even I felt the pain.
The ant girl looked annoyed, clenched her teeth as she shot an angry look at the other girl; the ground began to vibrate, I saw how the little stones made little jumps. I turned my head and saw them.
A large number of other ant girls were approaching: they were dozens. They came the same route that her partner had come; the roots of my legs loosened, and that green haired girl looked at the other ants as she lifted several roots.
I wasn't going to stay to see how this would end. The ant girls and that tree girl would fight, and I could get caught up in their fight.
I freed myself from the roots and fled from there. As I ran, I turned my head to see what was going on. The ants attacked that tree girl, she defended herself with her roots, but the ants were too many: it was clear who was going to win.
I picked up my pace: I had to get as far away as I could. After the ants knock down the tree, they will come for me, so I have to escape.
I ran through several bushes. I diverted my direction in each tree, and after a while of doing this, I lay down on the ground; I was still and silent.
I looked around, paying close attention to the sounds. I didn't see anything, just trees; I could hear the sound of the wind on the leaves and everything was quiet.
I relaxed my body while letting out a sigh.
"Haa... Where are they?... ". I wondered nervously.
I turned around and lay on the ground, spreading my arms. I didn't know what was going on, but I was relieved that no one was chasing me anymore.
"What's going on here?! What were those girls ?!... Where the hell am I ?!". I wondered uneasily.
I closed my eyes and tried to remember that it was the last thing I had done before appearing here, but only images of what I did every day came to mind; when I was walking through the streets of my neighborhood, I would go to the store, a van... The last memory that came to mind before arriving here was of a van.
«Do not tell me that... »
«No, it is still too early to draw conclusions. I'd better find a place to stay before another "girl" attacks me.»
I walked for a long time through this forest, all the time I was alert in case I saw or heard something around me; luckily they didn't attack me again, although I managed to see more girls. These were different. Some had animal parts, such as horses and bees, others looked like plants..
It was very difficult to continue without being detected by them, but I managed to sneak out of this forest. Now I was on a grassy plain.
In the distance there was a city, and near me, a few meters away, was a road.
"Luck!". I said excited. "Finally civilization!"
I went to the highway and headed to that city, even though it was very far away.
«I'm sure I'll be there in half an hour on foot.»
I was a bit happy. I was still confused by everything that had happened, but now I was heading to a city so that's okay. «Maybe there they can tell me where I am or what those girls were.»
«Now that I see it, that city looks a bit strange: it seems... old.»
Instinctively I stopped my step at the thought of this.
«That city had a wall around it, this road is made of dirt, not asphalt, and those girls are not something that existed in my world... my world... »
"That's... ". I said, falling into a terrifying reality.
"I'm not in my world ... "
«Well, I know it sounds unreal, but after seeing those girls I start to have my doubts. Also, that memory of the truck... I don't want to accept it, but I think that would have a lot to do with how I left my world.»
"No... no, this can't be... me, did I die?... "
«I died and now I'm in another world, that's the only explanation I can find, but... No, that's not possible... Or is it?... I have to check, I have to make sure.»
I had to talk to someone and check it out myself, so I ran. I began to desperately run towards that city, I couldn't believe that I was no longer in my world, I didn't want to believe it.
After several minutes of running, getting tired, resting and running again, I arrived in the city. The floor was made of stone. Several neat and perfect rectangles which formed the floor.
I was crossing the entrance. There were no guards, just a wrecked tumbril and blood staining the walls.
«Blood?! Why is there blood?!»
I started to get scared; it was as if something inside me warned me, a desire to run and get away from this city invaded me.
«This is bad, if there are no guards at the entrance, that means they were killed or they are somewhere else. And from the blood I see, I don't think they're okay.»
«Although the strange thing is that there are no corpses, I only see a path of blood on the ground that leads to the city... It is as if someone, or something, had dragged the bodies.»
«This scares me more and more, but I can't turn around; I have to find shelter and food, and someone if possible.»
I walk through the city and some buildings are destroyed; there are remains of fires everywhere; wagon remains, debris and a lot of dried blood.
There is no bodys, just puddles of dried blood on the ground, and those roads of blood; some enter the buildings that are still standing, others go to the sewers.
The city is quiet, very quiet and I don't hear anything. I want to scream, and at the same time keep quiet: it's like being in a ghost town.
I was still walking when I heard something, it was as if a large rock had fallen, possibly some piece of a destroyed building that could not hold anymore.
I instinctively stopped my hike as I could hear more rocks falling.
«Those rocks aren't falling by themselves, something's making them fall, and it may be what killed those people... I have to get out of here.»
I turned around looking for where that sound was coming from: I was nervous. I could hear how those rocks kept falling. I don't know if it's because of the structure of the streets, but that sound echoed everywhere. It was impossible for me to determine the origin: it was terrifying.
Every blow from every rock, the echo everywhere, the uncertainty of whether he was in front or behind me. It was like being surrounded. Surrounded by an invisible and terrifying enemy.
I looked around in despair. I started to feel cold, a bead of cold sweat was running down my forehead and my breathing was shaky and shaky.
«Perhaps he has not detected me yet. If I escape or hide he may not find me... »
I was at an intersection of four streets, I could choose any direction, but if I did not choose that thing well it would find me. «I must decide well, but, how do I know which one is better? This is more a matter of luck.»
I took a big sigh to try to calm myself, preparing my body and clenching my fists. If I was wrong, this would be my end. I got the most serious look I could and ran.
I ran and ran with all my might. I didn't know where to go, or if that thing was listening to my footsteps; I kept running without stopping. In my mind I felt that that thing would be behind me, but I didn't know it, I kept running hoping to get as far away from there as possible.
I came to what was once a kind of weapons and armor shop; I know from the poster, with a shield and two swords in X, which is outside.
The store was almost empty and very dilapidated: it no longer had a door. Inside were only battered armor and a pair of dented swords. «Looks like this place was robbed.»
I leaned against a wall to catch my breath and think.
«What the hell did I get myself into?! What the hell is happening here?!... No, I should calm down. Think... »
"I was summoned to this world, or so it seems. Apparently something or someone attacked this city, and most likely that thing, or person, is still here. Maybe they called me to help them... No: if they needed me, i would not have appeared in the middle of the forest... I... am here by mistake."
«I don't know how to fight, I don't know anything about this world, I don't have powers or anything. I just showed up here and period... »
"Dammit!"
I kicked one of the armor off the ground hard; I made a lot of noise, but right now I don't care.
«I had a quiet life in my world! This is not my problem! But now I have to survive here, for no reason, no reason!... Dammit!»
"They will pay me... they will pay... No... they are in trouble: they must be desperate. Also, I don't know if it was really them who brought me here... "
Can't blame anyone for this. I don't know all the details, so for now I'll wait until I know what happened.
"I have to think of a plan... "
«I can't walk like nothing, first I have to get a sword; the swords are badly dented and too heavy for me, I have to find something else.»
I got up and started looking everywhere, but all I could find was a dagger hidden under an old box; It is almost in mint condition, just a little rusty.
"At least I already have something to defend myself with. Now I have to find a safe place."
I put the dagger in the front pocket of my T-shirt, looked out the window and verified that I was safe; I left that place carefully and continued on my way.
«In this city there must be inns, or even jail can be useful; But I must find a safe place.»
«I still don't know if I'm the only human in this city, and if that's not the case, I don't know if they will be hostile. I must be careful.»
Walking through the city I managed to make out a huge building, above it had a sign with strange symbols; Through the windows I could see tables with white tablecloths and the interior looked elegant.
«I guess it was some kind of restaurant for noble people or something. It is in very good condition, and it must have food inside. This place will do, at least, for now.»
I walked towards the door. «There doesn't seem to be anyone inside; As I said before, everything is completely silent; but I must not trust myself.»
I took the saga out of my pocket and held it with my right hand as I stretched my sleeve to cover it; I used my free hand to push the door, which luckily wasn't closed.
I opened the door slowly, poked my head out, and looked inside; there were no people, just a bunch of empty tables and chairs. Some were lying on the ground and there was no blood in this place. There were only plates of unfinished food, and on the floor remains of food, broken plates and cutlery.
«There were people here. Surely when it all started, they fled. There was no fight here, they just left and left this place. Yes, that is the most logical thing to do.»
«I shouldn't trust myself, maybe no one stayed here at first, but other people may be hiding here; I will investigate this place and look for people and food.»
It's been a while, I would say about an hour, and I searched the entire building; This one has 5 floors and a kind of basement.
In the 5 floors everything looks the same: empty tables, food scraps and no blood; I also checked the bathrooms and nothing; But when I went downstairs to see that basement, I couldn't go on: the door was locked from the inside.
I could hear that someone, or something, was there; I did not hesitate and put various things to block that door. If horror video games have taught me anything, it is that in basements there are always monsters or very terrifying creatures, which only serve to harm you and waste resources.
«Surely this place was some kind of warehouse, but whatever was there is already locked up.»
Well, I couldn't find food, so I'll have to look elsewhere; but it was already starting to get dark. «I think I'd better spend the night here. Tomorrow I will go out to look for food.»
«I am hungry and there is food on those tables; but I don't feel comfortable eating from there; Besides, it's not that I'm very hungry. I can hold out until tomorrow.»
It was already dark and this place was still lit from within. His source of light was neither a torch nor a lamp. «I wonder what that light is.»
I used one of the white tablecloths as a blanket and went to the third floor to sleep.
I was asleep for a long time and I don't remember dreaming something: I only remember a black background.
A sound woke me up, I looked out the window and it was still dark outside: it was still night. I got up, drew my dagger, and decided to investigate.
I went out into the hall and there was no one; I kept walking slowly, down the stairs and I could hear footsteps: someone was below me.
I did not hesitate one second. I picked up my pace: I had to see another human. I quickly descended the stairs; this made noise, and it seems like I scared whoever was there, because I could hear him start running.
I kept running following the sound of his footsteps. That person kept going down the stairs. I chased her to the basement of this building; and before I could see his face I saw that door, the one in the basement, closed.
"who's there?! I will not hurt you! I just want help!"
Nobody answered.
«They may not speak my own language.»
"I-don't-harm... I-am... I..."
«Stupid, maybe they speak another language, but they're not retarded. There must be a way to communicate... »
Before I said anything else, a paper sheet slid under the door. It had something written on it. I picked it up to read it, but couldn't: it had symbols I didn't know.
«At least I know whoever was there was human, I think; at least he can write, I think.»
My head started to hurt, it was like having a headache, but it stopped after a few seconds.
I did not understand what had happened, I looked everywhere looking for what could have caused me that pain, but there was nothing and no one.
I looked at that paper again, to see if it had something else, but I was very surprised. The strange symbols that were on the paper had disappeared, in their place were the letters and in my language.
"But... "
«I'm sure they were strange symbols before... Could it have been that headache?... This place is very strange.»
I picked up the paper and began to read it.
"[We don't want trouble. Get out of this place. We don't care who you are or what you're looking for. We have no food or weapons to give away. Get out of here.]"
«Personally, I don't think that's true. If there were several people, they would come out and finish me off; also, the note sounds like someone scared.»
«It's probably just one person or a couple of scared people. But I can't take chances. Even a scared person can do crazy things out of fear.»
«I better get out of here.»
"Okay, I'm going". I exclaimed, while backing away. "I'll leave you alone, so goodbye... "
The truth is that I'll just go hide in another floor, and wait for them to come out; «Maybe, if I can talk to them, we can get along.»
Just when I was going up to the second floor I heard a scream, it seemed like a man; then I heard how something hit that door with force, and I heard the cry of someone coming towards me.
«This is bad, I think something just killed the people who were there. I don't know what happened, but I didn't want to stay and find out.»
I climbed the stairs quickly: I couldn't get out through the front door, because to get to the entrance to the room on the first floor, you had to get very close to the area where you went down to the basement; besides, I could already hear the grunts of something coming from the warehouse.
Continue up the stairs to the fifth floor; that thing was climbing too, because I heard its big steps; When I arrived I looked around the room for a place to hide, but nothing: I only saw chairs, some tables thrown away and food scraps.
I went out to the balcony. I was too high to jump, and that thing was closer: I had to think of something.
I saw the adjacent buildings, none were tall enough; the building opposite was too far away; and if I did jump a quick death awaited me.
I had no options. I couldn't escape, and that thing was getting closer and closer.
«I honestly don't want to die for food for something else: I don't want to leave in such a pitiful way.»
I left the balcony and went back to the living room; I could hear that thing approaching very quickly, and waiting in terror was all I could do.
I cursed my luck, I despised everything I had done to get here; and for a moment I wanted to pray, looking for some divine help. But I stood my ground, respecting my principles.
I was upset, but my fear was more; The same question was running through my mind... «Why am I here?»
In the end I accepted my fate. The only option left was to face the problem head-on; But that didn't take away my fear of being hurt, of feeling pain... of dying.
That thing had already reached this floor, and my eyes were fixed on the entrance to this room. Her walking was slow, and I could hear his big steps.
I could see through the wall, from where I thought that thing was. I looked at the wall and then went back to the entrance, my breathing hitting and every second was torture.
I looked straight ahead without blinking, prepared for what was to come; then I saw a huge lead-colored claw appear. It looked like metal and they looked very sharp, not to mention it was huge; then the rest of his leg, his head and finally his body.
What was in front of me was nothing like anything I had seen before; It was on all fours like a dog, but it was bigger, I would say about two meters.
There was blood on his claws, as well as dripping from his snout. This one had large, pointed teeth; his skin was the color of flesh, but it seemed damp; and there were black and red spots on the joints.
His head was what terrified me the most: he had bright yellow eyes; You could see the muscles in his mouth, as well as his huge teeth; and his head looked like a skeletal skull.
I didn't know what that thing was, maybe an animal from this place, I don't know; but I was scared, very scared.
I had my dagger in his hand, but I was still terrified. Having such a small gun and not knowing how to fight was all I could think of.
With every step that thing took, I backed away; his steps were large and mine small and slower.
From one moment to the next, and without understanding why, we both agreed to run towards each other. I don't know if it was out of desperation or fear, but I just know that my legs started running and my hands felt light.
He took a great leap, instinctively I covered myself with my left arm, and he fell on top of me.
His bite was strong; at first i felt no pain but then i felt it reached my bone; There I felt a sharp, stabbing pain like no other, and I couldn't help screaming like crazy.
I responded on instinct, stabbing him in the neck as many times as I could. For every second that thing bites me, I stab it with all my fury.
I don't know if it was because of adrenaline or if my arm was in very bad shape, but I remember that at a certain point that thing loosened its bite. She was only biting to hold my arm, but didn't feel like she was going to break it like before.
At that moment I didn't pay much attention to it, I just kept stabbing desperately, while I felt my body get cold; my left arm was untouchable, and a terrible burning came out of it.
In one of those my dagger was embedded in his neck, but I could no longer remove it, or perhaps I had run out of strength to do so.
That monster raised its head, looked me in the eye and I don't know how to say it, but I felt like it was smiling at me.
Terrified to have him in front of me, and afraid that he would bite my face, I lowered the dagger as low as I could.
Blood gushed from the crack I had made; her body fell on me, and I was scared to have her face next to mine.
My mind was beginning to fall asleep, my eyes felt heavy, blurry; The weight of that thing made it difficult for me to breathe, but that no longer mattered...
I just wanted to sleep for a while, I felt tired; the pain was beginning to disappear and I was no longer afraid or hungry, I just wanted to close my eyes.
...
...
...
My eyes snapped open and I was no longer on the restaurant floor. I don't know how to describe this place: it was dark. Black darkness for miles around me. I don't understand it, but I can see my body clearly, and only that.
From one moment to another, the black around me became the constant attempt of two substances, red and black, to combine.
It was as if this place was made of those liquids, and both were trying to combine; but they only managed to collide and spread everywhere, in a show of brilliant colors.
I try to move, but I'm floating; I feel the water and instinctively hold my breath.
I try to get as high as I can, but my body insists on sinking; No matter what I do, I feel like I get deeper and deeper into this place.
The feeling is suffocating, the deeper I sink in, the darker everything gets. The feeling of sinking in and being trapped terrifies me.
Suddenly I stopped and I was no longer sinking. I looked everywhere for what had stopped me, but I was still alone.
A black stain emerged from the depths; I didn't know what it was, but it looked big and was coming up fast.
I tried to get up again, but this time I was not sinking, I was not getting up, I was just floating in the same place. It was like something was holding me in my position.
I looked down and recognized it, it was that monstrous dog from before. He was approaching with his muzzle open, ready to bite my head.
I look for anything to defend myself and I feel something in my hand; I turn around and see my dagger.
«This is weird, I'm sure that wasn't there before... Never mind, I already have something.»
As soon as that thing was within easy reach, I stabbed the dagger into its chest. He stops abruptly, turns to see his chest, and the dagger turns black. A kind of black shadow emerges from the dagger, to then invade the entire body of that monster.
In less than two seconds his entire body had turned completely black, and like a blazing leaf, his entire body began to disintegrate. The black pieces dissolved in this liquid, until they disappeared completely.
My dagger had disappeared with him; I felt safe, but I couldn't take it anymore, I had to breathe.
I opened my mouth in despair and was surprised to learn that I could breathe. I was still floating in this substance, but I could breathe easily.
From one moment to another, the sensation of suffocation came and all the liquid around me began to into my mouth. The force with which she entered was such that I could not close it and felt my jaw break.
Tears were coming out of my eyes and the feeling of suffocation and the urge to vomit was all I felt. I tried to cover myself with my hands, but they almost got into my mouth from the force of the suction.
