《A Wandering Soul》


 Welcome to the new world

    Welcome to the new world


    As I slowly close my eyes, the desperate crying of Sam and the sensation of her hand touching mine starts to fade. My eyes finally close and everything become dark. I feel as my hearing starts to fail me and even the warmth from my wound starts to weaken. I feel something wet on my face. It¡¯s even started to rain?


    I open my eyes one last time. My blurry vision is filled with my girlfriend¡¯s familiar face. It reflects grief and despair as tears are flooding from her swollen eyes. Her mouth is moving and supposedly she is talking about something. No, it looks more like she is screaming. But I can¡¯t make out the words anymore.


    My vision starts to fade. I opened my mouth and try to say something¡­ but I hesitate. I don¡¯t know what to say. Should I apologize? Or tell her how much I love her? I just want to say something! But before I can muster the strength, my vision turns black again and I can¡¯t feel the pain anymore¡­


    As I hover in the black void without feeling anything, a strange warmth starts to spread through my lips. I unintentionally smile, but the sensation fades quickly.


    Suddenly something blindingly white takes over my vision. I immediately close my eyes and try to cover them with my hands, but I can¡¯t block the whiteness. What is this? A hospital light? The brightness lasts for a few more seconds. Then as suddenly as it came it¡¯s gone now.


    As I watch the cold and familiar darkness again, I feel something hitting my legs. Now I feel an odd phenomenon. It¡¯s like¡­ I¡¯m falling.


    I open my eyes and see that as I fall I approach something. I try to put my hands in front of me to ease the impact, but I feel a gripping sensation at the side of my shoulders. Somebody couth me? Who? I look up and I see a man¡¯s face. Who is he? Is he a doctor? But before I can study the face more the grip on my shoulders become stronger and now the hands are pushing me away.


    I try to support myself with one of my legs but when I try to move it, it feels unusually heavy. I can¡¯t move it fast enough. I stumble and start to fall again. What is this? I close my eyes as I prepare myself for the impact. Where am I? I fall and this time, I hit the ground.


    I look up and for the first time, I start to notice my surroundings. We are in a small room with a single plain bed in it. Because of the lack of windows, the room is dimly lit by a torch. The man who tossed me away is standing next to the open door and it looks like he¡¯s wearing something like a plate armor.If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    Anger and disgust distorts the man¡¯s face. He starts to close the distance between us while he is shouting at me. I don¡¯t understand a single word. He stops next to me whilst I¡¯m just dumbfoundedly watching what¡¯s happening around me.


    He stands there, still shouting something, as he looks more and more angry with every moment. In the end, he snaps and start to swing his leg. It happens so suddenly I can¡¯t react in time. He kicks me in the side with his metal shoe.


    I cry out in pain as his leg and my side collide. It¡¯s weird. It sounded nothing like my voice. But I have no time thinking about that as he already starts his second kick. In panic, I grab his left leg, which he is standing on, and pull it with as much strength as I can. He loses his balance, misses the kick, and falls on his back. He hits the ground with his head.


    I get up and walk next to him with heavy steps, I see that he hit his head in something that looks like a stone doorstep and a small pool of blood started to gather around his head.


    I sit down and lay my back against the wall. I close my eyes and take some deep breaths as I try to figure out what the hell is going on. I start to recall what just happened but when I smell the blood I glance at the man.


    He doesn¡¯t move a single inch and the amount of blood on the floor just increases by the minute. I¡¯m confused and exhausted from everything that I just gone through, I have no spare strength to feel compassion about someone who just attacked me. I rise my head to look around one more time in the plain room and for the first time, I notice that somebody else is there too.


    She stands in the corner of the room and as our eyes meet she immediately crouches and try to hide herself with her hands as she is naked. I avert my eyes and call out to her but something is weird. It¡¯s not my usual voice. Maybe because of the exhaustion? I try to say something again but I hear the same unfamiliar voice.


    I tilt my head forward and try to cough a little to clear my throat, but something starts to block the corner of my vision. I turn there and I see something that reminds me of hair, but it¡¯s nothing like mine.


    I start to touch my head and instead of my short hair I feel something long with my hands. Its color also changed from deep brown to the exact same bright blond as the girl¡¯s who is still crouching in the corner. Now that I start to inspect my body I discover a lot of changes.


    From the recognition that my legs are chained together, to the fact that my chest is rather large. Boobs? I have a bad feeling. I¡¯m touching between my legs searching but I don¡¯t find what I¡¯m looking for. What is this? Just how??


    As I have no idea what¡¯s happening to me I approach the girl in the corner to ask for some explanation. She seems to be scared as I walk to her. While I close the distance, she stands up with unsteady legs and starts to back away. WHA? She walks straight into the wall and now she is halfway in it.


    I stop and rub my eyes in disbelief, but she¡¯s just slowly backing away as the wall absorbs her body. The moment her head disappears in the wall she runs out screaming and crying from where she disappeared.


    Her eyes and face indicate terror as she runs toward me. I try to catch her but she runs straight through my body and out of the room...


    Now I¡¯m just standing there, looking at the door¡­ with my eyes and mouth wide open.

 A familiar face?

    A familiar face?


    I don¡¯t know how long I was staring blankly at the door, but after I pull myself together, I just walk to the closest wall and sit down there. While I sit there, I start to take deep breaths to calm myself. Now I feel as the adrenalin leaves my body and hunger starts to take over its place. It only takes a few minutes for me to stop shaking but by the time it finally stops the hunger turns unbearable.


    I can¡¯t do anything about it, so I try to bury myself in my thoughts. For the first time since I¡¯m here I sit down and think through everything that just happened. I try my best but the only thing I achieve is a headache. I decide that it¡¯s no good to think about it anymore and I rather start to examine my current state.


    I let out a big and tired sigh, as I look down and start to inspect my body. I touch myself a few times and confirm that I¡¯m still in the same weird state, as I was a few minutes ago. Not that it would make any sense to suddenly change back. But who knows? Maybe it¡¯s like some gender bend story¡­ No! Things like that just don¡¯t happen. There must be a logical explanation to it. Right?


    As I try to fight off the thought that I¡¯m a shitty novel¡¯s protagonist something cold starts to spread on the left side of my clothes. I look over and see that the pool of blood finally reached me and my clothes started to suck in the blood.


    I stand up with an annoyed look on my face. I glance there again and see that the man is still motionless with the growing pool of blood. WAIT! Isn¡¯t this too much?! I hurry next to the man¡¯s body and drop on my knees into the blood.


    Is he dead?! I never cared for his state because I was too distracted. I put my left hand on the floor to support myself¡­ Fuck! I not even considered that his life could be in any danger ¡­and my right on his neck to check for his pulse. I just wait but I can¡¯t feel anything. It can¡¯t be! I freeze and hold back my breath. But nothing. Did I just¡­ kill somebody?


    My eyes widen and my hands start to shake¡­ I start to lose myself again, but this time I¡¯m quickly pulled back to reality as I hear a loud scream. I turn my head toward the door where the scream came from.


    I see a girl. Her hands are in front of her mouth and her eyes are fixed on me as I¡¯m sitting in the middle of the blood, gripping on the man¡¯s neck. Now I hear as something hit the ground. I look there breaking the eye contact and see a wooden tray and some food on the floor. As I avert my eyes the girl instantly runs away shouting something that I can¡¯t understand.


    Shit! I don¡¯t know what she says but I realize that it can¡¯t mean any good for me. tch¡­ I can¡¯t stay here. I quickly try to stand up but I slip and fall forward into the blood. I pull myself together and run out of the door, but as I arrive to the corridor I turn back.


    I see that the food fell off the tray. There¡¯s a wooden bowl but it¡¯s flipped and now its content is mixed with the blood. Other than that, there¡¯s a piece of bread floating in that disgusting mixture. I pick up the piece of bread and face the corridor again.


    The shadowy corridor has the same plain stone walls and floor as the room. I hear cluttering sounds from the right path wither the girl run so I choose the opposite direction.


    As I do my best to run with the chains on my legs I try to tear down the soaking part of the bread, but with little success. I take a mouthful from the still drenched bread. I feel the blood¡¯s taste in my mouth. I stop for a moment and start to choke as a strong nausea overwhelms my body. If something had been in my stomach I would probably puke right now. I take another bite, but this time I force it down, then I continue running. I¡¯m on high alert to be able to avoid any encounter, but to be honest in these narrow corridors you can only avoid someone if they take another route.


    While I¡¯m running the only sounds I hear are my heavy breathing and the clattering sounds of my chain. A few minutes passes like this until I encounter a leakage. I stop to catch my breath and drink from a dirty puddle to refresh myself. I put the last piece of bread in my mouth. The dirty water¡¯s taste mingles with the blood¡¯s in my mouth. It tastes terrible, but at least now I don¡¯t feel like collapsing from hunger.


    I look back and see that I left some blood traces behind me, so I clean my bloody feet and hands in the water. As I¡¯m about to leave I discover that my drenched clothes are also dripping blood, so I decide to get rid of them. If anyone sees me in this they would just run away screaming, if I¡¯m lucky. I probably have a better chance without it. For the first time, I notice that I¡¯m not wearing any underwear and the only clothing on me was that brown dress.


    It looks the same as the one on the foodgirl. Can it be some type of uniform? Were those clattering sounds made by her chain? If yes, then what is this fucked up place?


    I leave my bloody clothes on the floor and continue to walk in the direction which I ran before. As I¡¯m not wearing clothes anymore I feel a little¡­ uncomfortable. Was it really a good idea to get rid of that dress? It¡¯s not just as suspicious to walk around naked? I mean, the first girl ran away naked... but she also walked into a wall¡­


    As I¡¯m thinking about the other girls, I remember my body¡¯s state. I think about it for a brief moment, but after that I rather turn to denial, I shake my head and start to walk in the same direction as before.Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    I walk for a few minutes. The environment doesn¡¯t seem to change from the same old stone corridor as I just take random lefts and rights every time I encounter a crossroad. Just how big is this damned place?


    Another few minutes passes as I walk onward. Am I walking in circles? I mean, I saw many wooden doors on my way, but I just ignored them as I couldn¡¯t know what¡¯s behind them. Maybe I¡¯m too paranoid and I should try one? As I¡¯m thinking about this I reach another branching, I suddenly feel a short cold breeze on my naked body. An exit!? My eyes brighten up as I take the path where the wind came from.


    The torches start to increase in number. I better be cautious, now they can see me from far away. I slow down my steps to minimize the sounds my chain makes, as I walk in the warm red light. For the first time, I start to notice quiet sounds from behind one of the doors. I stop in front of that door, and as I inspect it, it looks a little different than the others, it has something written above it. Of course, I can¡¯t read it¡­


    I walk closer and start to listen to the sounds. It¡¯s hard to make out anything¡­ I lean closer and try to put my ear on the door, but my hair is in the way. I use my right hand to adjust my hair, but somehow it bumps into my ear. I touch my ear and feel that it¡¯s rather long and pointy. It must be a joke¡­


    I twist the ends of my ears in hope that they are fake or detachable, but as I twist them a sudden wave of pleasure runs through my body.


    ¡°eii!¡±


    I unintentionally let out a scream in my surprise. I quickly cover my mouth with my hands.


    Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck! FUCK!


    I freeze and hold back my breath as I¡¯m listening, I can¡¯t hear anything other than my own heartbeat. I take a deep breath to calm myself, but I immediately burst out in cold sweat as I start to hear footsteps from the other side of the door.


    Should I run? Have I any chance with the chain? No! If I run now they will just catch me. Or would they even come after me? There are more people with chains here, then could I blend in somehow? Or maybe they don¡¯t even know I¡¯m here and they are just randomly walking around in the room? I hope, but the intensifying sounds of the footsteps indicate it otherwise.


    ¡°creeeeak¡±


    The door opens as if time had slowed down. Shit! I wasted too much time thinking, I can¡¯t run now¡­ can I play it off somehow? I just need to make sure that I don¡¯t talk. That¡¯s easy enough¡­ right?


    When the door finally opens, a girl in the same brown dress appears in front of me. Her deep dark eyes widen as she sights me from behind her long purple hair. I quickly glance at her legs and see that she has the same chain as me. Maybe I have a chance?


    I look up and see that she has a bright smile on her face as she reaches out to me. It¡¯s so sudden, that I can¡¯t even react before she pulls me to herself and hugs me tightly. Does she know me? I quickly regain my composure and acquit the embrace.


    She says something in a cheery tone and I think I can hear some relief in it too. She holds me for a few more seconds, and after letting me go she grabs my hand and pulls me inside the room.


    Unlike the first room this one has multiple doors, a big table with chairs around it and a furniture that reminds me of a couch. On it, there are two other women with alike uniforms, but when I see them my jaw almost drops down. One of them looks normal but the other one... has some animal like features¡­


    Her face and physique is normal, if you don¡¯t count in the fur¡­ but her ears are that of a cat¡¯s. I-It¡¯s just a cosplay, right? They look at us at the same time and both give me a smile, I respond to them likewise, but I quickly turn away as I try my best to not to stare at the catgirl.


    When we reach the middle of the room the purple haired girl turns around and says something, from her tone It feels like a question. Smile and nod! That always work! So, I do just that. The girl lets go of my hand and after saying a few more words to me, closes the door we just came in and leaves through another one.


    Now I¡¯m just standing there in the middle of the room¡­ What now? I look around and the other two girls start to give me puzzled looks. Shit! I need to do something, if they start to speak to me it¡¯s over. I need to do something!


    I hurry to the table and seat myself on a chair. I sit there with my back to the girls, trying to avoid any type of contact or conversation. Is this good enough? As I sit there I hear some chatting and giggling from behind. You are doing fine, just stay calm and avoid confrontations.


    While I¡¯m sitting there, I merge into my thoughts as I¡¯m trying to think through my situation. Okay¡­ it looks like I can¡¯t understand a thing, and turned into a girl¡­ and here¡¯s a catgirl in this room with me¡­ Suddenly I remember what happened to my ears. Wait! That means I¡¯m not human either? Is this really a fantasy world? But that just makes no sense¡­ Argh! How am I got here in the fir-


    My thoughts are interrupted as something was thrown on my back. I jump up in surprise, but as I do, someone hugs me from behind and pushes me back on the chair. I try to break out from my restraint but I can¡¯t.


    ¡°EIIIiiiiiiiik!¡± I let out a loud scream as the one hugging me bites into my ear.


    This time, I can easily get up as I meet no opposing force, but as soon as I turn around the catgirl pushes her face towards mine. I try to back away in surprise, but I stumble and fall onto the table.


    A few moments pass as I¡¯m just lying there on the table, fully exposed and paralyzed from the shock, while she just looks at me with a mocking smile¡­ then the girls burst out in laughter. Their laugh pulls me back. My face turns red from the anger and embarrassment as I climb down from the table, but that just makes them laugh harder. And I can¡¯t even say or do anything about it... AHHHHH!...


    As I try to recover from my humiliation I start to examine what was thrown on my back.


    ¡°It¡¯s just a blanket.¡±


    I turn in the direction of the voice and see that the catgirl stopped laughing and watches me with a smile, but this time, I can¡¯t feel the mocking from it.


    As I watch her, a familiar feeling starts to overwhelm me. Her pose, as her hands leisurely relax on her hip, her slightly tilted head to her left and the all too familiar way she puffs up her cheeks while she¡¯s dropping a playful smile. Sam?


    My vision starts to become blurry as pictures from the past appears in front of me.


    I try to think but the gears in my head just won¡¯t turn... I just don¡¯t understand¡­ I want to ask so many questions. Where am I¡­ What is this prank¡­ But nothing comes out of my mouth.


    I try to hold back the tears but I lose to all the accumulated exhaustion and fatigue that try to take over my body, my knees give out.


    As I fall Sam catches me, it¡¯s just like when I got here, but this time, I¡¯m not pushed away.


    I close my eyes as she pulls me closer to herself and embraces me.


    For the first time since I¡¯m here in this place, I start to cry¡­ no¡­ I burst out in tears.