Chapter 1 : The fated meeting

Immediately after her visions came, the moment she's been hurting to see has finally come. This time marked the moment the pain of her nightmares ended. Her hearing has returned. There's not much sound to hear, but for a person who's heard nothing for who knows how long, any background noise is enough to heal certain emotional wounds. I've never felt so alive, she thought. Although the change was as dramatic as she expresses it to be, she's yet to be out of the woods. For one, she wasn't aware that her sense of touch, along with her sight and hearing, was also gone. It was quickly proven when she felt an insect crawling on her arms and by the fact that she was currently laying on hard ground at the moment. Also, her vision is still out of commission. But for now, she's content with the generous result she got.

Looking back, she, herself, couldn't believe she could brave something like that. It feels like something of the long past and there might not be actual evidence of it happening, but just thinking about it sends shivers down her spine. A true nightmare. One she's happy to forget. But now that she's rid of the horror, she can finally think straight. Assessing her situation, she tried to utilize all the senses she once lost. First, she tried to move, which was completely impossible. None of her motor functions worked. In short, she was paralyzed. As sad as it was to think, she was kind of glad that this was the case because even though she still couldn't see, she can make out some faint colours. And if tied with the fact that she can't move, it means her eyes are just closed. Her eyelids are the only things separating her and things of the outside world. The thing that most disturbed her was the fact that her body is very exhausted and hurting. Wounds? she rhetorically asked. She surmised that her entire body are covered in wounds, scratches and bruises. Worries washed over her. Too many things have happened and none of it made any sense. Of course, that doesn't make it any less real, but still, the more answer she seek, the more questions she got.

Time passed as she pondered over her hopeless situation, the faint colour she's started to see has been reduced to complete darkness. This time, she's sure, isn't like the previous one she's had, nonetheless, she felt a foreboding uneasiness. Now what? she rhetorically asked.While waiting for something to happen, a violent sound quickly approached, like it was coming coming from a distance. Here it comes. The noise eventually came close enough and assaulted her ears. There was a ghastly roar of wind followed by the sound of an overflowing river during a typhoon. Like a waterfall falling from up high, crashing on a rock so hard it can reduce it to rubble. She can also smell the strong scent of the earth. Contrary to her nightmare, the pain she felt was more physical than mental. The torment had been so absurdly loud it hurts. Like her head's being ripped open from the inside to the point that she thought was going to blackout, but she didn't, she stayed conscious for the duration of that bombardment. This was the only time she wished she couldn't handle the stress and passed out, but instead, it had her wishing for a quick death.

This went on for what seemed like a life-time. Considering the state her mind is currently in, she thought it would have left her physically in pain, but there was nothing wrong with her body. Aside from the unexpected wounds she already had, it was fine. Cold sweats that she was sure she has, were nowhere to be found. Her body should have gotten a reaction or two from that, considering the pain she went through, but it didn't. Neither a twitch nor any indication it's ever been threatened. It just kept breathing normally. Like it wasn't her body at all.

Occupied by questions and thoughts of what had just happen, she didn't notice the sense of calmness creeping from the back of her neck. It came from the same direction as the turbulent noise. Describing it as relaxing would be to agree with the fact that the feeling she's having was nothing short of magical. She could hear the gust of the wind, the sound of the raindrops falling on the muddied ground. The leaves of the trees rustling and making popping noises as it was hit by the raindrops. It was loud, but in comparison to earlier, it was soft and mellow. Everything was so visual she might as well be seeing it. Her senses went into complete overdrive.

Hours quickly went by. The rain had already completely stopped and so did her overdrive state. Although it felt nice and relaxing, she also feels like being in that state made her vulnerable. She couldn't think about anything when it was happening, like it was some kind of an addicting drug. Trying to cut herself some slack, she just tried to forget about it, considering the suffering she had.

To think of something else, she focused on the weather. By the warmth she was feeling, she concluded that it's daytime. The sun should be at its peak in a few hours. This is the only way she can tell the time if it's at all accurate. At the very least, she can occupy her mind with something.

With absolutely nothing to do, her mind eventually wandered off. Why is this happening to me? She didn't recall doing something tiring in particular. As far as she was able to remember, it was just a normal and boring day at work and the light reading she usually does during the night. She didn't remember anything about getting the cuts on her body. This is hopeless. Anyways, she felt like a simple explanation would understate the events that have transpired, she'd rather not get any at all if that's the case.

After hours of doing nothing, her senses shot up again. This again? But it wasn't like last time, she didn't get the mind-withering noise that came before the first one. Despite her decision to not get attached to this feeling, she wasn't able to do anything about it when it came. Sounds slowly became loud, but quiet at the same time. Everything was so calming. Like an orchestra played by nature itself. All the information that her brain absorbed is completely distinct. She's confident she can identify anything inside the radius of her auditory and nasal perception as long as it makes a some kind of sound or it produces some kind of scent. Insects, animals, the wind, or the ground. She's never felt so connected.

Days passed. Four, she assumed. Based on the temperature and the duration of the cyclical events, she concurred that her senses only shoot up during the night. The only thing that contradicts her ideas is the fact the cycle adds up to about 30 hours. It's either she's way off, or this too is just as inexplicable as everything this past day. Her wounds have started to heal. If not, her exhaustion, at the very least, was completely gone. Although she's been doing nothing, she feels sluggish and tired. She assumed her is health starting to deteriorate. She hasn't eaten for days after all. Her stomach has growled a couple of times now, too.

After about two days, the cycle broke. Her body suddenly moved. It's about time, she thought. Her eyes slowly opened. It's bright, so she squinted a little. Her head, followed by her eyes quickly looked at the source of the light, a cave's entrance. So it is a cave. The fact that she was in such a place barely surprised her. Between the hard ground, her brief super senses and other subtle indicators, she hypothesized that she's in some sort of cavern. But now that she has definite proof, she's not too sure if she should be happy about it or not.

Soon enough, the fact that her body can move didn't make her happy at all. She still can't control it and it's moving on its own. It put its hand to its head, then to its stomach, as if checking on itself, evaluating its current condition. It let out a quiet groan as she felt a sudden ache on her head. No way! she exclaimed, it's not my own body. She feels what this person feels; the touch, the pain and the hunger that's been bugging her for days. This person's hand, even through all the dirt and mud, looked very small, slender and pale, not at all like hers. With that information, she assumed it was a kid. A boy or a girl though, she doesn't know. The sleeves of the clothes it's wearing look tattered and full of holes, too. What the hell happened to him? Right about now, she's more or less forgotten the fact that the body isn't hers, and her mind is just full of questions.

Asking herself more questions she can't possibly answer, she heard a familiar loud growl. Right. Whatever happened, he's sure to be hungry when he hasn't eaten in days. No matter how much she wanted to worry, she doesn't know how to help. The kid went on all fours and slowly tried to get up. Its legs and arms are trembling heavily and quickly fell. [Watch out!] she exclaimed, trying to warn it before its inevitable fall. Slightly slamming on the ground, it produced a dull thud.

"Who's there?," the owner of the body asked. It suddenly turned around to look its back, its voice trembling and weak. It got up, surveying the entirety of the cave. Seeing as nobody was behind, it heaved a sigh and relaxed its shoulders.

Its condition didn't surprise her at all, she does feel her throat to be dry. What surprised her though was the fact that she was heard. She was caught off guard when she warned it. She wasn't thinking at all, let alone trying to talk. Judging by the voice, she guessed it's a girl, a young one, too.

Trying to do it again, she tried to talk to her. [I didn't mean to startle you,] she apologized, [My name's Riva. Are you okay?] Although she's aware the girl isn't fine at all, she still felt like it's common courtesy to ask, even in a situation like this.

"W...where are you?" the girl nervously asked. The kid, once again, surveyed the area and whispered, "Are you one of them?"

Them? Riva thought. Obviously, she has no way to know. After all, she was basically in the same situation as the girl. She can only speculate who "they" are and "they", she assumed, are the cause of the little girl's injuries.

[No, ...don't worry, I'm not one of them,] not meaning to do it, she also whispered. Riva was a little hesitant. Not being able to remember how she got in this situation herself, she wasn't sure if she isn't one of "them". But trusting herself, she decided to say she was not.

"R...really? U...understood."Seeming to have relaxed a little, the girl sighed and flopped on her back.

It appears even the girl is also doubtful. Riva isn't that good a judge of character, but she could still tell the girl is the shy type; easily submitting to others. On the other hand, Riva knew the girl fought hard to get away from whoever was chasing her, resulting in wounds and bruises. She wondered what happened that made her fight this much.

[As I said, I'm Riva,] she repeated. [May I know you're name?] She asked in the most gentle way and tone she know, as to not further scare the kid.

Quickly standing, the kid confidently introduces herself, "My name's Lilith. Lilith Eule Faust," her speech is assertive and articulate.