WHO AM I?

Within the pitch-black void of absolute darkness, a voice— no, thoughts could be heard rambling incoherently.

'It hurts. My chest, it hurts. Why? What happened to me? I don't like this pain I'm feeling. I want it to go away! Go away— Wait. What was I saying again? That's right, I—I? I? Wait, who am I?'

*Silence*

'My name. My name. What is my name? I should know this. I mean, it's so simple. I've been hearing it for so long, so I should be able to come out and say it. My name is… my name is… my name— what is my name?'

*Silence*

'Search within and try to remember! It's so close I can taste it. Taste? Speaking of taste, my tongue feels dry. Water, I need water. Where can I find water— that's right, how can I forget? My name is Ave— What was that sound?!'

*Crunch*

'Hmm, I hear rustling. Rustling that's coming… closer. That sound. Is that the sound of leaves being stepped on? It is! Am I surrounded by leaves—? Stick! That was the sound of a stick being crushed, wasn't it?'

*STEP* *STEP* *STEP*

'Wait, am I in a forest?'

*STEP* *STEP* *STEP*

'Forest? That's right, I remember seeing one while falling. Falling? Where was I falling from? The sky? No, that's absurd! How would I survive a fall from so high up? Survive? Wait. I am alive, right? This pain I feel, in my arms, back, chest, and even now my legs, means that I'm still alive, right? Yes, I think it does, but then again, it could also be the pain of falling from so high up, and now it's telling me that I'm dying. Dying, alive, which is it? Fuck, I don't know— wait, I got distracted and forgot about the footsteps'

*Silence*

'Huh? The footsteps. Where did they go? They stopped. They stopped?! Why?! Why? They were getting louder and closer the last time I remember, so what happened? Did they go away, or… Don't tell me. Am I surrounded right now—'

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'Who said that?! That deep and commanding voice. Who said that? I was right, the footsteps, they didn't leave, but rather, they now surround me. Fuck, I'm defenseless in this state'

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'Another voice? Who is it this time? A softer and raspy voice, not as commanding as the first and slightly subservient. It came from my left. Two people? Their words are familiar but lack meaning, at least to me. A different language? It has to be as only that makes sense.'

*Silence*

'I want to see! I want to know who surrounds me and I want to know where I am, but why can't I move my body? Only my eyes are enough, but I can't move them either. Is it because I'm dying— What is this? Another footstep and it's coming… closer?'

*STEP* *STEP* *STOP*

'It stopped. Why did it stop? It was so close, centimeters away from me, so why—?'

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'A third voice. A whispering and airy voice, speaking with a tone of curiosity. This time, so close to my… face? Why is it so close to my—what is this? I feel someone's breath washing over my face. This breath, it… it stinks. Why are these breaths so close to my face?! Ah, my head, my temple, it hurts! What is this pain?! This surge of pain feels like my head is about to explode! I don't like it! I want it to stop!'

*DROP* *SHUFFLE*

"Speed tease amble low grief?!" The commanding voice yelled.

"Berry up prime loss! Berry up prime loss! Muzzle fabe denote bin…" the voice which was once so close to Avery that its breath washed all over his face, said in a panic.

'Ouch, my head, it hurts! It hurts so much. I want this pain to stop. I've felt different types of pain before but nothing like this. This is too much for… Oh, the pain, it's starting to subside. Good, I hate this particular pain. I wonder what— wait a minute, my limbs, I can feel them again. I can twitch my fingers and toes. That's good, my control is returning. What about my— yes, I can feel my eyelids. I can move my eyelids, which means I can open my eyes. I know for certain now. I am alive! Good. Now that I can finally move my eyelids, I think it's time to see what's around me'

***

From the ground, Avery grumbled, pain echoing from all over his body as he slowly opened his eyes and saw what was around him.

His eyes weren't fully opened yet, so what he first saw were legs, five pairs of legs, attached to the bodies of people he couldn't see well yet.

Four of those sets of legs gathered around a fifth pair, and they were all a few feet away from Avery's body.

Avery grimaced tiredly. He summoned imaginary/mental strength and gave power to his arms and legs, which he used to push himself into a sitting posture.

He still had a little headache, hence why he placed his hand on the side of his head, rubbing it as he looked at the strangers gathered in front of him.

His vision, a bit blurry but starting to get clearer.

"Color age pen kiss page…" the same panicking voice said, drawing Avery's attention.

'What is he saying? What language is that? It sounds like English but makes no grammatical sense. Also, why does it feel like I've heard it before— huh?' Avery asked, then paused when he noticed something.

"Change carry page mullet%^%… let me see the hand that you're complaining so much about!" The commanding voice said in the usual commanding manner.

"Here, look! I was curious about what that gem stuff was, so I touched it and felt so much pain afterward," the one with the panicking voice said as he stretched his hand forward to the one who asked.

The one with the commanding voice swiped the stretched hand, pulled it closer, and took a closer look at the fingers.

Once he had seen enough, he frowned and said: "I don't see anything! You've started again with your stupid antics."

The one with the commanding voice smacked his tongue as he pushed the other's hand away from him.

"No, I'm being serious. I don't know what that stuff is, but I know it caused me to feel a tremendous amount of pain. I don't know if you guys will believe me, but I think he's one of those guys—" the panicking one complained and was cut short by Avery, who tried to stand up but staggered and fell back.

All five strangers paused then turned to Avery, looking at him with different expressions. The one with a commanding voice looked at him skeptically, the one who was just panicking looked at him with worry and the other three looked at him with curiosity.

"He's awake," One of the curious three said.

Meanwhile, Avery looked at all five of them with shock.

"Wait a minute. I can understand what you're all saying. How?" Avery asked them and himself, speaking in English.