982 Dark, Empty, and Silent

Cassie opened her eyes in the darkness.

For a few moments, she was disoriented by the onslaught of colors and sensations.

She was looking at the bright blue sky and the sea of white clouds rolling beneath the Ivory Tower. Sunlight was caressing her skin, and gentle winds were singing into her ears.

She was enveloped in heat, red sparks flying from a crucible where molten steel was shining with an incandescent glow. A tired voice was chanting something in an ancient language, the alien words drowning in the clamor of the forge.

She was locked in a small office, reading a document. The paper was cold to the touch, and smelled of fresh ink. Her vision was blurry from the lack of sleep, and her heart was heavy. The contents of the document were grave…

There were other places, other people. It took her some time to find herself among the strangers.

Cassie's was the only world that had no colors, and no shapes. It was dark, empty, and silent.