Ariya: "Humans are born, grow old, and die. Humans can"t resist the law of nature."

Vakin: "Still, isn"t resistance… human"s obligation?"

Chapter 1: A Corpse"s Memories

1

"Why…Why can"t I remember a thing…?"

Fear made my voice shake uncontrollably. Cold sweat drenched my shirt. I tapped my skull, knowing that it didn"t serve to do anything but make the throbbing pain worse, especially when I tried to piece the situation together.

Who am I…?

What am I doing here…?

Where is this place?

My empty memory tank was frustrating. I can"t breathe with the surrounding mountain of bodies, the terror of my dream, and the panic that seized my throbbing heart.

"Help…anyone…H…Help…"

My soft whispers echoed off the walls and were swallowed by the darkness along with my hope.

No one…is here…

Except for me and these sprawling corpses…

What is this? What is going on?

I looked around once more, trying to avoid gazing at the dried bodies that littered the ground. Even though I could see a silhouette of a window, there was no light. Something must be covering it.

…Like a prison.

…As if trying to…imprison…

Trying to what…? Imprison what…?

I meaninglessly searched for an answer in my brain. The more I think, the more confusing the situation got.

Only one thing was clear.

I need to get out, and fast!

I dragged my shaking legs to a rectangular frame that looked like a door, but every time I pa.s.sed the sprawling bodies, I heard bone cracking and clicking, followed by a freezing touch…

…As if a block of ice seized hold of my ankle!!!

I shook my leg and turned around, pulse drumming in my ears.

But all the corpse were still… I sighed at my pathetic self.

…That was stupid.

Why the heck did I think these dead people would spring up and grab me…?

Even though there was no way these things could "move".

I looked back at the door. My hand wrapped around the k.n.o.b and turned. The k.n.o.b made cackling noises while the door refused to budge.

You"re kidding! It"s locked?!?

My heart sank as I stood there, dumbly shaking the k.n.o.b over and over. My eyes searched for something that might be blocking the door.

Then I saw a switch embed beside the door. When I followed the path of its wires, I saw a web of interconnecting wires covering the ceiling.

I pressed the switch. The light bulbs blinked for what seemed like an eternity, then white, blinding light illuminated the room.

A small square room. The windows were sealed by wooden boards. All four walls were painted black.

But…

The abnormality of the room was nothing compared to what I was witnessing.

The dream of falling was nothing.

And awakening in a dark room with corpses was nothing…

Compared to this world illuminated by white light…

A world with light was more fearful than a world with darkness.

A world painted red…

The dark red staining my entire body.

The pale red of the corpses scattering around.

"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

I screamed and seized the k.n.o.b, pulling on it like a madman.

The cracking of the door was more than I can bear, but when the last of the rust fell, the door flew open without further resistance.

I sprinted out from that h.e.l.lish room. The door swung back and closed behind my back with a bang…

And I was back in the dark.

"What… the f.u.c.k is going on here…?"

I whined when I reached a zinc corridor, and observed my blood-stained body with anxiety.

…There was not a scratch.

Then… who the h.e.l.l… whose blood is this?

"Ugh…Blegh!!!"

The image of sprawling corpses returned along with the rusty stench of my shirt. I barfed out what I had to barf.

"H…Help…I don"t wanna stay here…help…I wanna go home…"

My prayer was hopeless to begin with.

I can"t even remember where this thing called home is, but I want to go there. I want to get away from here…the place where even when you close your eyes, you could still smell blood and rotting flesh in every breath. You could even hear those maggots wiggle as they eat away decaying meat.

"G.o.dd.a.m.nit, why can"t I remember a thing…?"

I teared up and cursed.

At least, in worst case scenario, I wanted to be able to defend myself. At the very least I wanted to know what happened to those corpses.

Will the next one be…me?

I imagined myself dead.

When humans die, their body temperature drop, and two hours later their limbs became rigid. A day after, dark blotches will appear on the stomach and spread to the rest of the body. Lymph will cause skin to bloat, that skin will rot, hair will fall out, and lymph will trickle out from the nose and mouth.

It would take a month until my body appears like those corpses. No different from dried weed.

Decomposing quietly in this place…fading in oblivion…no one will remember me…

Even myself.

"No! That kind of ending is not for me!!!"

That imagination caused me to sprang up. I was still afraid, but something told me "that thing" was disgusting.

Accepting death without resistance is disgusting.

No matter how dire the situation, as long as one is still alive, one must struggle… struggle to live…

That"s right… Even if I can"t remember a thing, my gut and basic knowledge are still there. I could find a way to survive.

I looked into the darkness. A worn out metal pipe leant on to the wall. I picked it up and held it for self-defense.

Defend myself from what? I don"t know.

But my gut told me that there was something wrong with this place.

There must be others who are here too.

Evidence: usable electricity.

Who is that person…? What did they want from me…?

Maybe the only way to answer those questions was to confront the culprit himself…

I swallowed and readjusted my hold on the pipe.

When finally I calmed down, I searched for an exit.

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