Where Am I

C

Splash.

It started to feel like a long fall, that is until when I... plunged myself on a body of water. Oh, how cold it was, though much less than when I was still on the top. Weird as it seems, the fall didn't hurt. At least, it should feel like I was being slapped, but the pain wasn't there. For me who was not good at swimming or just even opening my eyes underwater, I could clearly and easily see the surface of the water rippling with a hint of gray. How the heck did I manage to open my eyes? Without even itching for a second, as well?

I didn't feel the need to regain my breathing. It wasn't because I had a change of mind and wanted to die, but for some reason, I can normally breathe underwater like it was nothing. Despite all that, bubbles escape from my slightly opened mouth, but I wasn't running out of oxygen. I kept my eyes open in a daze, my mind can't process all of these odd informations. To be honest, it was kinda comfortable being underwater, little liquid molecules felt like it was embracing my oblivious heart.

Without me knowing, there was a unknown force that's pushing me slowly to the top. I was currently entranced by this soothing feeling that I didn't even notice my face popping from the surface of the water. By the time the water was no longer in my sensation, I returned and got a grip of my consciousness.

Clouds. Gray. Again.

It bore similarity to the clouds in the highway. Not entirely, however. As if sprinkled with a glimmer of optimism, the sky seemed to be slightly bright compared to the previous one. It eased my thoughts, and I inattentively sighed in relief. This place, or rather, this world appears to treat me like a dog chasing a bone. Just by seeing the sky getting mild puts my composure at rest. And indeed I was far from the realization that I'm now lying on the ocean, showing no indication of my body sinking back underwater. It sounded like the water was solid.

A light then shows itself stretching out from the corner of my left eye. Dragged by curiosity, my head turned to its direction. What I saw after that was something... immaculate.

Few tall erections of run-down buildings stand eye-catchingly on the water, some were toppled over, some were broken down into pieces. All of them had nature growing out from the nooks of each of its silent structure. Solemn yet inconceivable, those were the things I had in mind when I skimmed the distant area of buildings. A true picture of the aftermath of a catastrophe, that was how it looked like.

But of course, it is not these who are immaculate. In the middle of this destruction exhibits a shining crystal, encircled by fragments of crystal shards acting like an orbit. It was floating high, way more lofty than the buildings could reach. Its brilliance were trying hard to lighten even the corners of the gray ocean. Sparkling and reflecting in my eyes, surely nothing could've been more wonderful to look at. And this luminance subconsciously made an objective for me.

"I should go there."

Walking towards the distant crystal, it still didn't occur to me that I was stepping on water. Each of my steps created little ripples on the still ocean. I contemplated on the way about what that shadow was talking about minutes ago. Unpleasant? Me? I don't recall doing such unpleasant things whatsoever. In fact, politeness took over my mouth and avoided saying something rude. He just made me fall on a hole and landed me on this place. This world really is a mystery.

As usual, I am all alone without someone to reach out. What's worse, there's still no concrete explanation that gives me knowledge on what's going on. Probably that was my reason why I started approaching the floating crystal. For all I know, I need to get answers soon.

Still drowned in oblivion, my feet kept walking like a robot on command. Be that as it may, however, I was glad I finally had something I could reach within my sight. The clouds still gazed down on me as if treating me like an anomaly of this world. I can feel the temperature of the light and it coated me with its faint warmth. If I knew I was to venture out this strange place, I could've just at least worn something of occasion. No, I wouldn't even go in here ever in my life. I've felt enough confusion and anxiety already and it's starting to hurt both my brain and my heart.

Bang.

Out of nowhere, my head bumped onto something and forced me to take few steps back. I placed my hand on my forehead while looking at what caused my impact.

To my stupefaction, there was nothing.

Even when I squinted my eyes, looking for an obstacle I could possibly not see with a normal glance, there was still nothing. I forwardly stretched out my arm with my fingertips taking the lead. My hand landed flatly on something solid, peculiar to my belief. It wasn't glass. I know it wasn't glass. If it was ever that case, the light could've revealed its body. I know I'm feeling something invisible, but I don't know what it was.

I checked the other parts centimeters away from where I first held my hand, obviously it was still there. An invisible force that takes form of a huge barrier, that much is certain. That crystal probably made this barrier to keep intruders from ever approaching. But if it were indeed like that, then my effort from walking would be meaningless. Without hesitation, I slammed the invisible barrier so hard, attempting to at least create an opening for me to enter. I was desperate.

If I stop here, then I'll be stuck in this place for god-knows-how long.

Throwing continuous banging at the wall, I had a feeble resolve to break it. That crystal could be the key to get me out of here. I don't want this to experience any longer, I want to escape. I knew that with my strength, I wouldn't leave even a single scratch on it. Within the depths of my mind, I felt so little and insignificant to break this impenetrable wall. But I continued. My heart echoed out that I can do it. Break, break, break, and break. It fueled my force and slammed and screamed with all my might.

"Break!"

I stopped, all of my energy exerted on that last slam. I took a little breather, only to witness the invisible barrier cracking at the speed of thought until where the naked eye can manage to see. The landscape of the ruined buildings and the floating crystal all turned into a jagged spectacle. Everything was uneven, and I didn't know that this barrier could be so fragile than I expected.

Suddenly, the huge cracked wall broke and shards were falling everywhere. Just when I thought it was a barrier protecting the crystal, I was greeted with nothingness behind that invisible wall. The part of the ocean before me also broke along with the picture, and my body wobbled as I try to keep myself out from falling on the edge of the ocean. I wasn't even surprised that I was struck with bad luck that my body chose to fall to the void, again.

Although this time, I didn't fall on a long hole. I felt something solid again on the ground. When I looked up, it wasn't the view of the ocean anymore. Instead, it was...