𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟏: 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐀𝐦 𝐈 𝐍𝐨𝐰?
You awoke in an unfamiliar place, the weight of nothingness pressing down on you. Your body lay on something soft, far too soft compared to the jagged edges you had last felt. The air smelled different—cleaner, almost otherworldly. The warmth around you was more gentle than the oppressive heat that had surrounded you before. Slowly, you opened your eyes, but the world was hazy, blurred, as though you were still trapped in a half-dream. You tried to move but found that your limbs felt stiff, uncooperative. Something heavy pressed against your chest.
You blinked and found yourself in a room made of polished, gleaming metal. The floor was smooth, warm beneath your feet, and as you pushed yourself upright, you became aware of the rhythmic hum of machinery beneath your feet. A train. The faint sound of engines filled your senses, reminding you of the distant hum from earlier, just before you’d… arrived here.
But where was this? What was this place?
A muffled voice broke through the fog of confusion, soft but firm.
You turned your head, every movement sluggish, and saw a figure standing in the doorway, framed by the dim light streaming from outside. They were dressed in casual attire, though the expression on their face was serious, focused—like they had been waiting for you to stir.
“You should lie back down,” they said. "You’ve been through a lot. We weren’t sure if you’d make it."
The voice was warm, but there was an undercurrent of tension. You tried to speak but only a hoarse rasp escaped your lips. They stepped closer, eyes narrowing in concern. "Easy now. You’re safe."
Safe. The word echoed strangely in your mind. Were you safe? Your memories were fragmented, but one thing was clear—your world had fallen apart. The city, the chaos, the Stellaron. You had to get back. You had to know what happened.
But before you could voice that thought, a soft sound came from the far side of the room. A woman—young, with pink hair that bounced as she moved—stepped forward, her eyes wide with curiosity and energy. Her gaze landed on you and instantly brightened.
“Oh! You’re up!” she exclaimed, though her voice held a slightly nervous edge. "Are you okay? You look like you’ve been through… well, a lot." She hovered near you, her camera dangling from her neck, but her hands trembled slightly as she took a step back. “I’m March 7th,” she added, as if her name was some kind of badge. “I’m, uh, a photographer. And a warrior! I think. Mostly a photographer, though.”
She smiled brightly, her cheeks flushed with excitement, but there was a flicker of something deeper in her eyes. A curiosity. A drive that mirrored your own.
Before you could say anything, the figure from the doorway spoke again. “March,” they warned, their tone softer but firm. "Give them space."
March gave an exaggerated sigh but stepped back, leaving you some room to breathe. You could feel her eyes on you, though, full of questions. You turned your gaze to the one who had spoken, and they nodded slightly, as if reading your confusion.
“I’m Welt,” he said, his voice smooth and quiet, with a calmness that contrasted sharply with the chaotic thoughts still swirling in your head. "And this is the Astral Express. You’re safe here."
The words barely registered. Astral Express? What was this place? A train, yes—but why were you here? You opened your mouth to speak, but the words faltered. Everything felt too new, too foreign.
Welt seemed to sense your disorientation. He crouched down slightly, looking you over carefully, but with a hint of something almost paternal in his gaze. “We’re still figuring out what happened to you. And where you came from. But we’ll help you, if we can.”
“But my world—” you began, but the words caught in your throat. What had happened to your planet? The Stellaron outbreak—was it still happening? Was everyone gone?
The train suddenly shuddered, and the soft hum of the engines faltered for a moment, as if in response to your panic. The floor beneath you vibrated, and the faintest tremor ran through the walls. Welt’s eyes narrowed slightly, and March's expression turned serious.
“Stay here,” Welt ordered. "You’re not alone, but you need to rest. You’re not ready for what’s out there yet.”
March’s voice cut through the tension. “You might want to take it easy, yeah? You’ve been out of it for a while. But if you’re up for it, we can show you the rest of the train.”
Before you could respond, there was another sound—a soft chime that rang through the train, like a bell from far away.
The walls hummed again, and then a new voice interrupted, clearer now, almost an intrusion in the quiet.
"The situation's getting worse," the voice said, cutting through the uneasy silence like a knife. It was sharp, direct—almost too familiar.
You turned sharply toward the sound, and there, leaning against the wall just beyond March, stood a young man with dark eyes, his gaze unreadable. His posture was rigid, defensive—like a guard, and he exuded a quiet, unshakable presence.
"We're approaching the edge of the affected zone," he continued. "The Stellaron’s influence is still spreading, and our scans show the planet’s core destabilizing. We’re not safe yet."
The weight of the words hit you hard. The planet—your home—wasn't safe. It might already be lost. Your stomach tightened with the realization that nothing was certain, not even your survival.
But despite the growing dread clawing at you, something—someone—urged you to keep moving forward.
"We're going to need your help," the man said, his eyes flicking over to you. "Whatever brought you here, it's connected to this."
You opened your mouth to protest, but nothing came out. You didn't even know how to begin. Your mind was still reeling.
"Let's go," Welt said, his voice firm but not unkind. "We'll figure out what's happening together. You're not alone in this."
As the door to the compartment slid open, revealing a passageway lined with glowing light, the unsettling hum of the engines filled the air again. You couldn't help but follow, despite the confusion gnawing at you.
But somewhere deep in your gut, a warning echoed: You might not want to know what comes next.
2087
gracieabrams
blakekathryn
theartofmadeline
ellievsbear
germansingergirl
kianamaiart
