Unjustification

Shallow. Hollow. Empty.

Darkness unraveled, revealing the emptiness of an open forest. His blue eyes opened to observe the green region that surrounded him. Plants, leaves, grass, bugs and a green jacket worn on and worn out. He was confused, for where he was he didn't know. He had no memories to think back on; absent recollection. The fresh scent of foliage filled the air in an overwhelming manner, provoking a sharp pain in his head.

Vines scaled the towering trees while patches of leaves concealed the dirt floor. He felt a tingling sensation on his arms and legs: itchiness. He realized he was covered in various bug bites of sorts. He'd been laying there for who knows how long, laying out as a feast for insects in the area. He found himself with his back up against the tree. Still feeling unusual, he leaned on the tree for support as he pulled himself up onto his feet.

The sun shone on the spot he laid in. Feeling the yellow heat, which brightened his golden blonde hair, he took his jacket off and tied it around his waist. Upon tying it, he felt a slight lump in his left pocket. Patting it down, curiosity led him to pull the unknown object out. It was a bronze watch; one side dislocated from the other, completely dysfunctional. He wondered about its origin.

Where was it from? Why was it broken? This helped him realize the bigger questions he should've been asking: where was he, and who was he?

He wandered forward, moving through the forest in a clueless manner. Every direction he turned revealed more and more trees. He felt like he was going in circles. Walking along a path he thought anew, he came to a dip in which he fell down. Sliding down the dirt, he eventually lost his stability resulting in an uncontrollable fall to the bottom. He grunted in pain. His white shirt was smeared in dirt, and his skin was scathed with cuts from sticks and branches. He sat there in frustration at this confusing and painful scenario he found himself in. He felt lost.

The sound of sticks snapping and leaves crunching echoed from across the forest. Though lately noticed, the sound was approaching his direction. It was not the sound of one, but two pairs of feet dashing through his passed paths. Suddenly, audible footsteps that sounded like running had been heard above him. He looked up, and on the path that led him down the dip, sped-by two individuals that seemed to be in a chase, with one right behind the other. Worried, but curious, he pulled himself up the dip in the direction the two ran. He needed answers.

Heading their way, he followed footprints made in the dirt and patches of grass. Weaving in and out of the forest, he eventually came to an opening surrounded by trees. Here, the pair of footprints seemed to split in opposite directions. He stood in the center of the area, pondering on which way to go. This distracted him from realizing that someone was slowly approaching him from behind.

A loud beep followed by a loud voice suddenly echoed throughout the forest.

"Current contender count: 146 remaining. Incoming, Specialized Phase C: in the indicated region sent to your maps is a hidden gem of unknown power available to the first contender to retrieve it."

The voice came from the sky, and he looked up in more confusion than he'd already been in. He now had more questions to ask than questions answered. Contenders? Contenders for what? Unknown power? These were now the more prominent questions at hand. If only he had someone who could answer those questions for him.

It was abrupt, but in the speed of a blink, he opened his eyes to a heavy arm strangling around his neck from behind. Looking down through the resistance, he met the gaze of a narrow blade that edged his neck.

"Are you alone or do you have others with you?" He was met with an aggressive tone.

Confusion settled in from the question asked by the one who threatened him from behind. He had no face to see, but rather a blade with a confident voice. He knew he was in danger.

"W-What? Hold on, hold on, I don't know what you're talking about! I don't have anybody with me—"

"Stop lying! Throw your weapons aside right now!"

Weapons? Why would he have a weapon? Why did this guy threatening him have a weapon?

He was scared with confusion.

"I don't have any weapons! I don't even know what's happening!"

"I said stop lying and throw your weapons ASIDE!" The guy kicked his leg out, causing the boy to fall on his back. He was now completely vulnerable to the perpetrator who swirled his blade down onto him before he quickly yelled defensively:

"I'M NOT LYING! I'M ALONE AND I DON'T HAVE ANY WEAPONS!"

The guy hesitated. He was unexpectedly stupefied. He tucked his knife away and instead began searching the boy for any hidden weapons, of which none were found. Nothing but the broken bronze watch found in his left pocket.

"What's even happening? Why am I here?" The boy with blue eyes asked.

"Why are you so clueless? What do you mean, what's happening?"

"I don't know... I don't know! I just woke up a few minutes ago, and I can't seem to remember anything..."

"What's your name?"

"My name? I... I don't even know my own name…"

The guy scoffed. "Really now...?"

"Why is this happening? Why can't I remember anything?" The boy dipped his head into his arms, sobbing.

Feeling the slightest bit of pity, the guy sighed. "Hey, sorry for being so aggressive there. I didn't realize you were just like me."

"Just like you?"

"Yeah. Similar to your situation."

"You also just woke up not having remembered anything at all?"

The guy's eyebrow tilted up. "Y-Yeah... I don't remember a single thing..."

"Really? But why'd you ask if I was alone? If I had weapons?"

The man hesitated his response. "Being in an unknown scenario like this, I just had to be careful. That's all."

The boy pondered. How could he find answers to his questions if the very person he'd encountered was in the same situation?

"It's weird... I just woke up on the ground a while ago and I can't seem to remember any of my past, or who I even am..."

"Me too... I just woke up and all of a sudden I was being chased by someone with a weapon. That's how I ended up here."

The boy looked around in worry that the chaser was still in the area.

"Where did that other guy go?"

"He ran in the direction he thought I went while I hid."

"Do you think we're being hunted by people like the one who chased you?"

"I hope not."

Worry had now made itself apparent. Once again questions were going unanswered as only more settled in. He then remembered the strange occurrence that just happened a few minutes ago.

"Was it just me or did you hear the voice from the sky too?"

"I heard it. Something about a gem with powers?"

"What does that even mean?"

"I'm not so sure, but following its directions could help us find our first clue as to what happened to us."

The guy took a glance at him. The boy was looking up at the sky from where the voice was heard, worried of what grand power could be out there that he didn't know about. Slightly hesitant, the man reached out his hand.

"Join me. We've both found ourselves in a clueless situation. I think it'll be easier than going alone."

Under the current circumstances, the boy had no one else he could trust. He reached back out and shook the man's hand.

The guy spoke up. "The name's Midas by the way."

The boy was pulled up onto his feet, but he found himself confused.

"Oh, you remember your name?"

"Oh— yeah... That's the only thing I remember..." Midas stuttered.

"Oh… I don't seem to remember mine," the boy's blue eyes gloomily dart down.

Midas gives him a good look, and he ponders.

"Let me give you a nickname for now until you can find your real name. Let me think... How about… Abel...? Abel, how does that sound?"

"Abel…" The boy sounds it out. "Sure. I'll go with it for now."

Abel and Midas. Two individuals who have found themselves in similar but inexplicable situations. Abel, still unsettled by Midas possessing a weapon, assumes he might know even the slightest bit more about everything than he does. But Abel disregards it, as he just needs answers, and so does Midas. It's here that Midas pulls a small tablet-looking device out of his pocket and turns the screen on.

"What's that?" Abel wonders. Midas looks down intently at the screen as if analyzing.

"So according to what the voice said, the gem should be located somewhere over there". Midas points in an open direction. "Let's get going."

"Okay", Abel follows behind.

The two walk off into further unknowns where they may either find answers to their questions, or more questions in need of answers.