Simple and Clean

"Hold me, Whatever lies beyond this morning is a little later on~

Regardless of warnings, The future doesn't scare me at all, Nothing's like before~"

– Utada Hikaru ("Simple and Clean")

"I've been feeling... some strange things lately... like... is any of it... true? Or all lies?"

I recline on a slanted palm tree, isolated from the world.

Shining sea stretches as far as the eyes can see. Hot sunlight burns my naked arms and tropical winds ruffle my shoulder-length silver hair.

Days continue to pass, as does the nights without change. This constancy agonizes me, and now my dreams are beginning to merge with reality – to the point I'm convinced I live in a world of both.

I take a deep breath. I jump. Everything around me dissolves into sand.

Wet sand materializes beneath my feet from flat ground. Seawater flows back and forth, soaking my baggy blue pants. My eyes never waver from this incredible and tedious sight of the ocean, until I feel someone call out to me. I turn around to see a spiky-haired boy standing at the edge of the seashore.

Sora. My best friend.

Panic in his sky-blue eyes makes me wonder why–

Tidal waves pick up from the shoreline, retreating with ominous speed. I can sense the tsunami for its shadow looming behind me, which threatens to crash down. Why do I feel so calm? Maybe because a dream has no reason to scare me. I hold my hand out to Sora and he dashes into the water without hesitation. Slow motion commences as though I were watching a movie.

The scene reverts, the colors relapse – as if someone pressed on rewind.

Sora charges at me again, key-like sword gripped in hand. I don't recognize the weapon he wields. I don't even recognize myself. I feel different – stronger, but dangerous. Dark energy courses in my veins while malicious intent controls my facial muscles to smile.

The entire scene replays, restoring our original conflict.

Sora reaches me at long last, right before simultaneous collision engulfs us within overwhelming water. I hold my breath, witnessing the both of us drifting apart. This doesn't daunt me. How can a dream ever triumph over friendship? I extend my gloved hand again. Sora snaps out of his daze and lunges forward, swinging skinny arms to swim. Our fingers stretch, inching to touch – reaching for each other until onrushing currents carry Sora away. I gasp from unpleasant surprise and seawater floods my lungs.

Fear nestles in my heart at the thought of drowning, before the emotion whirlpools unto implosion.

Liquid crystals fly forth from all directions and solidify into indigo boulders, wedging together to form the walls surrounding me. I inhale precious oxygen and exhale relief. Now I stand inside a small cave where chalk drawings Sora, Kairi, and I drew as kids mark every inch of stone. Each picture tells a different story about the future, of imaginary animals and childhood monsters.

There located at the end lies an oval door – no doorknob, all wood, keyhole present. It's been sealed for as long as I can remember. Never a day goes by I don't desire to see the other side.

I blink and now I see a girl standing in front of me. Koi.

She's a dark-skinned brunette whose black eyes stare unflinching into my own. Koi reaches out and ink blackness bleeds from her fingertips, body degenerating into sludge. I watch what remains of her weave through solid matter, pooling beneath my feet and swallowing the cave whole. I think about running away, but then I lose the energy. No, not the energy. I lost the will to want to move. Darkness constricts my legs, wrapping around my body like a straightjacket and erasing any avenue of escape.

What's happening? How come everything I know has been disappearing before my very eyes? The cave, the drawings, the door, my home, Sora and Kairi... and Koi... They're all gone. I'm all alone...

The ground abandons me, too, for nothing supports me in standing anymore. I free-fall into the shelter of darkness's embrace. It soothes me with invisible fingers, coaxing my eyelids wide shut, using aesthetic coldness to cajole me in some sort of comatose protection.

Fending off my inner demons, numbing all sense of emotion in my heart, and lulling me into everlasting peaceful slumber –

What's happening to me?

Word Count: 700.

Rewritten as of May. 1st, 2012 at 3:41 PM