Disclaimer: The characters Neon Genesis Evangelion depicted in this story are the legal property of Hideaki Anno, Gainax, Tatsunoko Productions, Production L.G., Star Child, etc. No infringement is intended; no profit is being made.
Author's Note: To those of you who just read my previous story, no these two aren't related. Well, not really. I did get the idea for this one after finished my last one. Anyway, with that in mind, please read and review.
The surf washed over his feet as he stared out across the infinite ocean of blood. Shinji was mortified at the endless scarlet sea, a crimson eternity that held no ending in sight. The blood of everyone, innocent and guilty alike, had pooled into one enormous sea. He felt sick.
The ebb and flow of the tide filled the air with the unmistakable scent of blood and offal. When he tried to breath through his mouth to avoid the smell, Shinji found that the thin mist of the breaking waves formed a coppery taste in his mouth. He decided to keep his mouth tightly shut after that.
Looking to either side of him, the former Third Child saw nothing but white sands marred by ruby stains of the ocean. Behind him, there was nothing. No buildings, no electrical towers, no signs of any form of life. He was alone.
Solitude.
Shinji's heart began beating hard in his chest. Taking panicked breaths, the child found he couldn't squelch the growing unease and terror growing inside him. This wasn't right. None of this was right.
"This wasn't what I asked for…" The boy mumbled to himself, his fear growing as each second passed. "No, I didn't want this! I never asked for this!" Looking wildly about him for some sign of human existence to verify his own, he began to take harried steps towards the approaching tide of blood. "Is someone there? Can anyone hear me? Please, someone, anyone!" The crimson liquid now washed across his ankles as he stumbled in the pull of the riptide. "Asuka, Misato, Ayanami, Kaji, anyone!"
The words echoed, an especially unsettling effect, considering there was nothing for the sound to reflect off of. The constant hiss of the moving waters filled the silence. Nobody was coming. The world was empty save for him. This was Hell. He'd died and this was his punishment, Shinji was sure of it.
Shaking, he finally gave in and fell to his knees, the surf rose to meet him and surged across his chest. Cradling himself, his hands wrapped around his shoulders the boy began to shake. This was too much. This was nothing that he deserved. Memories suddenly flashed through Shinji's mind. A shattered entry plug. Disintegrating copies of Rei. A bloody kiss from Misato. The mangled remains of Unit-02. The bloody shreds of flesh that had once Kaoru dangling from Unit-01's open hand. Each image seemed to tear through his thoughts, rip across his mind with ragged edges and sharp claws. And still, there was no sound other than the surf.
"PLEASE SOMEONE TALK TO ME, DON'T LEAVE ME ALONE!"
Shinji propelled himself from his bed with such force that he found himself sprawled across the floor, tangled in his blankets. Struggling to free himself, he crawled pathetically across the floor. Struggling to his knees, he could no longer stand the churning in his head and stomach. Wrapped in his sheets, bruised from his fall, the boy emptied his stomach in a violent heave, a pool of vomit pooling before him.
Asuka stood in a sea of people. A single girl in the swarming multitudes of humanity. The pedestrians went their own way, each having their own business and schedule to keep. They brushed each other from time to time, offering terse apologies when they did so, but continued on their way immediately after. However, Asuka couldn't see any point in their hurry, as there was nothing at all in this world. The whole of humanity existed in an infinite void. The world was a sterile, perfect white emptiness in which the crowd strode upon an invisible plane that stretched on forever in every direction, disappearing from view when they ventured too far. And in the center of the torrent of people, the red haired girl stood unnoticed and uncared for.
"Where am I?" Asuka's question fell on deaf ears as the people around her hurried off to their business, whatever it may be. Furrowing her brow in annoyance the Teutonic redhead addressed another passing pedestrian. "Hey you, slow down and tell me what's going on." Despite her orders, the passing gentleman continued on as if he hadn't heard the pretty teenager. Fighting off a twinge of fear, Asuka growled as she reached out for the well dressed passerby. "I said tell me what's going on, arschloch!" Reaching out to grab the man by the collar of his well pressed suit, Asuka was shocked to find her hand passed right through the pedestrian.
Her breath caught in her throat as Asuka realized what was going on around her. Quickly spinning and addressing anyone who came near, Asuka knew that nobody could hear or see her. The Second Child's stomach rolled as a particularly hurried pedestrian ran right through her. Her body tingled and smarted, almost as if she'd been given an electric shock.
Holding her throbbing chest, Asuka bit down the fear that began to surge from the pit of her stomach. This wasn't real, it couldn't be real. Glancing around at the people buzzing about her, the rational thought did little to assuage her fears. Her previous controlled addressing of passersby quickly degenerated into frantic cries for attention. "Hey, can't any of you see me? Why can't anyone see me? Hey, look over here! "
Beads of sweat began running down her face as panic gripped her heart in its icy, vice-like grip. Looking quickly about her, Asuka stopped dead as she set her eyes on a familiar face. Shinji calmly strolled along side the faceless people, smiling amiably to nobody in particular. A spark of hope flared in the redhead's heart as she rushed over to her acquaintance. "Nice to see you stupid, any idea on where we are or what's going on? This place gives me the creeps." Already calling out to the familiar boy, the anxiety returned quickly when Shinji didn't even cast a glance towards the Second Child. "Hey you moron, tell me what's going on." Still no response.
Clenching her hands into fists, the isolated girl stubbornly continued to address the Third Child. "I- I'm talking to you Shinji. Why aren't you listening to me? I said pay attention!" Continuing past the red haired pilot, Shinji didn't bat an eyelash at the outburst.
"Shinji? …Shinji. Shinji!" The boy continued walking, his back to the screaming girl. "WHY WON'T YOU LOOK AT ME!?"
Asuka awoke to find herself curled up, cheeks already wet with tears. She tightened the grip on her sheets as she continued to sob quietly to herself.
Author's Note: As I said before, the story I wrote before is not related to this one in terms of continuity. The whole dream idea got me thinking about exactly what Shinji and Asuka dream about, so I had to write this one out. Anyway, this was short because there will be more to follow. This was just the set up. I'm worried about what exactly I'll end up with, but hopefully it'll be something decent. Please review and offer any ideas or criticism.