A/N

Ello all! Thanks for continuing to read my work! I look forward to sharing my writings with you as they come out!

Here's to hoping you enjoy CH2.


Prologue Arc:

Ch. 2: Nihil

-Who's? –


Unknown POV-

Alright. I wake again and resist falling back asleep for the third time. I suddenly shiver, wow its cold. I open my eyes and look around. Where am I? It's completely white? I reach out and try to grasp at… whatever this is, but my hands passes through it, generating swirls and only getting wet?

I notice that I'm wet from sitting on the ground. Great I'm in a white void and it's cold. I pinch myself. Ok so this isn't a strange version of sleep. I get up and see something darker in the distance. I take a step forward and stop.

Ok where am I? The ledge is somewhere to my right soo let's go left. I slowly begin my trek into what is once again the unknown.

This is somewhat nerve wracking. I mean I know, I mean I think the edge is behind me, but I can't say I'm sure of that. I try and keep my direction by positioning the darkness to my right. I vigilantly look both ways and push onward into the abyss.

Crack.

I jump backward only to find I stepped on a fallen piece of the tall greens. I make an exasperated sigh. It's been like this for who knows how long. I keep fearing falling off the edge so I walk slowly.

My vision has gotten worse to the point I can't see my hands in front of my face. My memory goes back to when I was climbing out of the cave. I grin slightly and think about how similar this situation is to that one. I never seem to know my then I had one direction and could see, but now… Oh well no use, wait could I find something similar to a wall?

I smack my head. There's no use searching for it, because I can't SEE. I silently wish I get wherever I'm going just a tad faster. Then the sky starts changing colors.

Wait what?! The white void is retreating from the black void! Throwing caution to the wind I start running away from the dark void. The black is approaching me and it only gets colder!

KAAABOOOOOM

. Something bright and loud goes off behind me. I accelerate myself and dash into the white. Suddenly I'm out of the void and OHHHHHH

SMACK…..

Uuuuuugh….what? OW. Why do I hurt all over? Wait where, when?

I slowly shake off the cobwebs in my mind and realize I feel like I got hit by something big. I'm splayed out on the ground.

Groaning I take a look around and after looking down I groan again. Slumping my head back down I start laughing quietly. Whoever granted my wish is a jerk. I stare down at my likeness on the wall.

Yes, splendid. No more wishes. I begin to roll over to my right so I can stand Tch!I fall back down in pain.

Ok let's rest a little bit, I move myself along the ground and lean my back against the wall. Well since I'm chilling here, lets see what I can. I begin to take a look and note a few objects of interest.

There's another area to climb to. What is with this place and climbing? I mean really?!

Sighing I continue my search and see a valley off to the right, it seems to go down and to the right? Then there is a …. Ah what's the word…..? Um…Con- no building!

There's a Stone building in front of me? Wait HOW?! I ran through that spot!

"…"

huuugh I give. This place doesn't make sense anymore. I'm up in the sky, being chased by the abyss, buildings appear out of thin air, no wait I probably just missed it, but Still!

Alright where to first?

Well the building is closest to me so I should start there. I make my way over to it and stop at the archway just a little before the entrance. I look up and see some more of those luminous things embedded in the walls, they look like they are staying there, but I'll keep an eye on them.

Venturing into the building I discover that the interior is a simple dome. I frown as this is underwhelming for me, but it appears that there is something on the wall. There are drawings on the wall, instead of the unfamiliar ones back where I started.

I recognize a few of them… No…

My knees go weak and I collapse against the ground softly.HOW could I forget! The one thing this place is lacking! People! I've been here for who knows how long and I have yet to see a soul!

I begin to feel an excruciating loneliness. Have I been avoiding this thought the whole time? It would make sense given how I feel now. With a stricken face I abandon my exploration of the building and make my way out and pass the arch. I race back to what I now remember is a stairway and climb, slowly making a spiral to the left.

I hate having to remember these things, makes the world feel like a worse place once you know more.

The way up lasts awhile, but I can see that I'm slowly getting a better view as I climb. I finally realize where I am. I'm on the tall green, brown and white thing…. The word evades me still. I continue the climb and eventually start having to step on the crunchy white stuff, but it won't stop me. I fear falling, however I fear not knowing if I'm alone out here far more.

The shattered ball has moved from one end of the sky to the middle by the time I get to the top. I take the final step and reach the top of the world. Why does it take forever to climb in this place?

I take in the view of the small place in front of me. There is a small arch that leads into a clearing with pillars surrounding it. It would also seem there is a small circle of blue in the middle which leads away from the center and down the side. Oh?! That's where the blue comes from!

Slapping my face I remember why I came here and head to the side of the platform and see if I can spot any signs of people. Nothing. Not a single sign of another individual. It was mortifying to say the least, this entire place as far as I could see, was devoid of life. I am… alone, perhaps the world is like this too? I feel a pain in my chest and fall to the ground, curling into a ball. The last thing I see is a blinding light.


I awaken groggily for the second time to realize that the ground is glowing. I can see lines spreading out from the blue origin to the rest of the platform I'm on. My vision adjusts to this lighting and I stand up with some feeling of weakness in me.

Something feels wrong, but I can't place my finger on it.I make my way to a pillar near the edge and look out to see that these lines extend throughout the entire piece of the world I'm on…. Ok that's new, where did the sky go? I scan the skies to confirm that neither of the balls are present.

For that matter the sky is completely black. Is it moving? It….is?

Something bright goes off in the distance and I see a jagged line of light hit the ground. A loud rumble echoes throughout the land. I start to see a dance of light as multiple lines begin to hit the ground. Then something white starts falling onto the area below, seems like little rocks that break when they hit the ground?

Wait a minute. Rocks falling from the sky? I look up to confirm that I'm safe. Nothing yet, but I'm not safe here. I decide to leave this place and begin to follow the path back down. I seem to be either making better time or this path is somehow shorter. I frequently hear those lines in the sky as they continue their dance near what I believe is the edge.

Hold up. I stop for a moment to confirm something. Is there something else out there? Just darkness so why? Why am I feeling this sense of dread? I scan the void one more time and begin reaffirming that there is nothing out there when I notice something. The darkness is swallowing the land. It's just disappearing! The lines in the sky are the only thing holding it back, and they are competing for territory.

I see the lines on the ground still in the darkness fade away from sight, possibly to never be seen again…. No Nononononono! I will not disappear! I frantically begin to run down the path with nothing but my instincts guiding me. I finally arrive at the ground level and look out to see what has become of this place and see that the blue has largely vanished along with several of the luminous towers.

The cave….. is gone. My gaze rests on the fading land for a while, my feelings shifting from fear to determination. The stairway leading into the ground is where I must go. Time to find out what is below.

I have run for a fair distance now. I should arrive wherever this is taking me soon, or at least I hope so. The sound of the skylines is getting closer, so the darkness must not be far behind. Thankfully the lines on the ground are serving as my guide.

This has allowed me to ponder my situation a little bit. I have questions, but somehow I just know I don't want to be anywhere near the darkness. I wonder why, but given how fast it was moving across the land I wouldn't have time to test it before becoming part of my experiment.

Finally the land levels out a little and I see more of those luminous rocks in a large cavern. I lose myself in their wondrous beauty for a moment, were they always so bright? I walk around and see that this room is strangely familiar. Wait is this? OH YOU ARE KIDDING ME!

This is that cavern I didn't want to explore! I mean it's overrun in with these things! I humph in frustration for a moment before cooling down. Well then let's see if there is anything I missed when looking from the other side of this place.

Hmm, apparently there is a podium covered by some various rocks near the middle. Inspecting it I find a multicolored ball inside a small indent on top of it. Curiosity getting the better of me I pick it up to insect it, when suddenly the room begins shaking. I fall to the floor, almost bashing my face on the podium, but I grab it and stabilize myself.

I look around and realize that the area surrounding the podium (with me included) are now rapidly descending though a tunnel. I'm almost floating so I tighten my grip on the podium and wait for the ride to end. It finally does, but it was too sudden for me to react so I introduce my face to the podium and almost black out.

With the sudden inclusion of a killer headache I try and get my bearings. The place I came from is now just a dot of light above me, and I'm now in front of a large bridge that seems to be built on top of arches. The room the bridge seems to be in is a giant cavern, taking a second look I discover that the cavern has some rectangular blue rocks placed evenly around the cavern.

It's kind of peaceful, providing a sense of safety. I slowly walk toward the bridge and begin to cross it. I reach out and rest my hand against the stone rail that is to my left. The bridge is too wide for me to touch both sides so I just tap my hand against the side of the railing, it has small gaps between itself forming plenty of rectangles with little square crowns.

Trying to take in this place is too much, I look up and then peer over the ledge. Huh, seems I can't make out the top or bottom of this place. Glancing back up and in front of myself I notice something that wasn't there before, or perhaps I was too preoccupied with the cavern to notice it. The bridge several lines running across from one side of the bridge to the other, and they converge occasionally, only to break up again. I begin to lightly skip my way towards the other side, slightly accelerating myself.

This isn't a place I want to run as I'm actually enjoying the vibe this place gives off. A change occurs when I hear the sky lines approaching. It sounds like they are somewhere above me, perhaps at the entrance to this place? I feel safe here, but my mind says I shouldn't feel that way. I'm being chased by a shadow in an underground cavern. I chase away the ramblings of my mind with my feelings about this place.

I'm safe here, can't explain why, but I am. Oh! There's the other side! I look behind me at the bridge that extends into the darkness from where I came with a small smile. I would sleep here, if time permitted. Taking my vision back towards my destination I arrive at the other side. I see a giant pillar going up into the sky, and realize that the area in front of me isn't there. Wait what?

Breaking my pace, I stop and inspect the area and find that the lines from the bridge do connect to something. I increase my grip on the rail and take a tentative step forward to have my feet meet something? The lines from the bridge get brighter for a moment before I see a series of circles in front, with one inside the other.

Hmmm, this is something I can stand on? I extend my leading foot a little more, and after confirming its solid I finally begin to walk. The pillar is now right there, I reach up to touch it and see my hand…..go into it? Wait is this blue? It is! How is blue doing that?

One last mystery, why not? I notice that this place is strangely similar to the platform at the top of this land. Could it be connected somehow? I mean I can't make out the ceiling. It's possible I think to myself. Hmm I turn around only to get tugged back towards the pillar. I raise an eyebrow at the pillar and realize my hand won't leave the pillar. Great. What else can throw my game off?

KA-KABOOOOOM.

"…"

I had to ask. I look behind to see that the skylines are somewhere across the bridge and approaching my position. Accepting my predicament and after considering my options I take a deep breath and venture into the blue.

Odd, that's how I would describe this experience. It's similar to the void I first knew, but I can see beyond it. But my primary concern is that the darkness and by extension the skylines are almost upon me. It's halfway across the bridge. Has crossed the bridge, now I can only see the blue and the skylines right outside it. Ok not sure which is the more immediate problem now. That, or the fact that I'm running out of air. Losing air it is. No longer able to restrain myself I breathe, then gag, and lose conscious as the world fades to light, are those hands?


Elsewhere

Jacques was drawing up a plan for the New Year with his staff and directors concerning many things, business arrangements, both internal and external, and plans for his family.

He had just finished moving the topic from management of the labor for his companies' sites and was finally getting to the schedule for the staff of his manor. Lessons needed to be planned, along with the finalization of removing his eldest from the position of Heiress. It had been a matter years in the works then plans had to be changed, re-prioritized, and sometimes outright cancelled.

It was frustrating to say the least. He, thankfully, had another to shift the responsibility onto. "Sir, might I suggest we take a brief recess and resume the meeting in 20 minutes?"

Lowering the hand he was rubbing his brow with Jacques nodded. "Perhaps a brief break will help us prepare for the next portion of planning." Everyone pushed back their chairs from the conference table and exited the room.

Jacques was reviewing the work of the staff to see if anything was amiss when he indeed found something. There was a hooded individual with a cloak sitting in a rocking chair on the patio.

Sighing at the lack of attention security was paying to allow someone inside he decided to approach the individual as he prepared to notify security of their latest mistake after pulling his scroll from his breast pocket, however upon getting in front of the individual to confront them he was for once confused.

Nobody was wearing the white cloak that was now just hanging against the chair with a child around his youngest age. The child was wrapped in a blanket and there were clear signs that it was being held by someone moments ago, the handprints were still there, and the chair was still rocking.

Jacques stopped dialing security as calling them for a child was unsuitable, instead he began to call his butler. Just before dialing the number he spotted a letter next to the child that was partially under one of the folds of the cloak. Raising an eyebrow he reached for it without disturbing the child and read it. Somehow the eyebrow receded further into his hairline.

The letter suddenly disintegrated into light. All was silent for a moment and Jacques made a decision. He called his head butler "Sir?" "Al I need you come pick something up for me on the front patio, I want you to put the contents in room R-Four". "Right away sir" ", also have the staff prepare some coffee for the conference I suspect the meeting will go on longer than usual." "Already done sir" "good that is all". Ending the call Jacques left the child for Al and returned to the meeting. Things were going to change this year.

A/N

Ello all! This concluded the prologue of my story. I'll admit it felt bumpy getting here. In fact I was struggling with the writing. It was hard having a one man show pov, but the prologue is finished and I'm looking forward to seeing where this goes!

Cheers until next time!

-Merra