The pulsing, dim light is the only comfort I can find.
Nothing makes sense still.
It feels like I've been here for minutes, but at the same time it feels like I've been here for years.
My body is held high off the surreal surface below me by dozens of different blades.
Everything from daggers to spears and inbetween are pierced through my body. The red mist that came along with the blades coats my body.
The voice inside my head, which I once heard clearly above all else, is no longer audible.
Thinking is hard, doing anything in this moment is hard.
Not a single thing makes sense to me anymore.
The faint light is the only thing I can seem to focus clearly on. It surrounds my vision at all times, seemingly confined to the small area around me.
Staring into the light, regardless of if I had any other choice besides closing my eyes, I try to force something, anything.
I still can't think clearly.
A sliver of darkness trails down my colorless body.
Leaking onto the surface below, the darkness quickly swarms around the many weapons impaling me.
Within a second, the weapons crumble and dissolve as I drop down, hitting the surface with a slight thud.
The wet sound that had accompanied my footsteps was different, and now the floor sounded like…
Dirt?
Finally, my movement seemed restored.
Through what feels like pure instinct, I stand.
A long sword forms in my right hand as the darkness fades away.
What am I doing…?
The area around me is still dim. The exact perimeter is uncertain, but my body tells me I have little room.
Quickly, three blades, coated in that exact same red mist, form in my peripheral vision.
Instinctively, I try parrying the swords.
One of them gets knocked aside as the other two pierce me.
Still feeling no pain, I look on as another two blades come swinging my way.
Something about them is different.
Rather than projectiles like every weapon before them, the blades move in precise and calculated patterns, as if they weren't being shot or thrown.
I move to parry one of the blades however the other stabs through me, into my heart.
The blade I tried to stop slips under my sword's reach and pierces my stomach.
Still reacting with instinct, I lurch my hand forward and grab at where a possible arm could be.
Nothing.
Despite there being nothing seeming to hold the blades, both of them track back and quickly pierce me once more.
It's far too fast for me to react in time.
I can do nothing but take the constant stabbing while desperately trying to predict their next moves.
Though it doesn't hurt, shame fills me from top to bottom from the constant failure to defend myself.
The constant blows landing near-perfectly makes my teeth clench with anger.
Over and over again, I attempt to parry, but each time I come close, the blade I'm focusing on ducks down and pieres me along with its counterpart which leaves more and more of that red mist covering my colorless form like a canvas being splattered with paint.
Every fiber of my being begins to swell with frustration, not anger.
Another sword forms in my hand.
Now evenly matched, I try to parry with both swords.
A change refuses to occur..
Still, the blades knock mine to the side with little effort before thrusting into my torso.
"Wait…"
Finally, my voice returns.
"Are they…?"
Again and again, I attempt to defend against the duel blade's relentless attack.
They continuously attack then retreat.
Each time I try countering, they're already prepared to parry.
After a few more attempts, something snaps and my mind lights up.
The moment they retreat, I step forward.
"I knew it!"
Attempting to swing first, I muster all strength within me to bring my blade down.
Quickly, the two blades disappear.
"…"
My head twitches in annoyance.
I fall onto my back, without choice.
Any control I had was now gone.
The light is once again the only thing bringing clarity.
Seething with rage, I attempt to mobilize myself.
Feeling like a child, my body refused to act on my rage.
"Get up…"
My neck turns back and forth on the floor.
"GET UP!"
That display of helplessness, real or not, was more than just a humiliation.
Part of me wants nothing more than to leave this place.
Another part of me wants nothing more than to stay.
Eclipsing over me, a large blade m slams down towards my heart.
It pierce.
An immense pain surges through me.
For the first time since being here, I felt pain.
My eyes close and reopen to nothing.
Again, a blade slams down.
Again, it pierces me.
I can do nothing but watch as the sword repeatedly pierces my heart over and over.
The pain never stops.
The frustration never leaves.
The anger doesn't stop boiling.
Dozens and dozens of times, the sword stabs me.
Each time the pain comes, it vanishes before the sword strikes again.
I begin gasping in shock.
It hurts…
Fuck… It hurts…
A tear, colorless, runs down my cheek.
The blade falls.
The blade pierces me.
The blade causes pain to flood my senses.
Tens…
No.
Hundreds of times, I get stabbed through my heart.
Each time I attempt to move, it seems to be too late.
It's unbearable.
Why?
What was doing this to me?
I hate it… This pain, this helplessness, and this feeling of…
Insanity.
One last time the blade falls towards my heart.
Blood covers my right hand, my chest heaves heavy for air, and the light around me dissipates.
My eyes blink before a colorful scene appears.
Around me, multiple shelves stand with a variety of items stacked along them from books to pieces of clothing.
Both my left eye and left cheek feel wet.
"W-what the fuck…?"
A voice.
It isn't mine, and it isn't booming from my head.
I look up, unable to identify.
My own voice is hoarse.
"You…"
The blade that had caused me so much pain, so much anger, was gripped between the palm of my hand and my fingers
"Dear lord…"
His voice was filled with a blend of fear, happiness, and pure confusion.
"Are you okay!?"
The blade had crumbled into dozens of pieces in my hand as I shot up from my stationary position on the floor.
"YOU…!"
Standing quickly, I gripped the shirt of the man, my vision still hazy.
"W-wait, kid, it's me!"