《The Maker's Debt》


 The Awakening

    A darkness surrounds me, like a warm blanket on a cold night. A soothing feeling, that is until I realize I am submerged. Out of reflex my arms and legs frantically scramble to get to the surface, but its no use, whatever I¡¯m in is too heavy too swim through. Confused and disoriented, I try over and over again to no avail when suddenly my hand brushes up against something. Immediately I reach out to grab whatever I felt, and it reaches back. A giant hand grabs me by my forearm and rips me out of the darkness with such force that I fly through the air, against a wall, and land flat on my back. ¡°That was a little much don¡¯t ya think big guy?¡±, I heard one voice utter followed by a non distinct grunt. As I sit up to collect myself, the entire room spins and dances around so much so, that I vomit. Upon second inspection¡­ blood, I just through up a lot of blood. Without a second thought I said, ¡°That¡¯s not good¡± in which I heard words that didn¡¯t quite comfort me. ¡°The blood is nothing to worry about boy, its just the last of your humanity leaving your body.¡± I turn my head to see who had saved me from drowning when I¡¯m met with a peculiar sight. A small elderly man with glasses that sat on the tip of his nose and what looked like a seven-foot-tall suit of war-torn armor with glowing red eyes. I inched backwards, still on the ground as the two approached me. The old man wasn¡¯t intimidating, but whatever was in that armor certainly was not human. ¡°Its okay, we¡¯re here to help you¡± said the old man. ¡°My name is Alfonso, but you can call me Alf. And this big guy right here is¡­ Well I like to call him Tom¡± Slightly put at ease by the introductions, I pull myself up with the wall and offer a hand to alf, ¡°Nice to meet you, I¡¯m¡­ I¡¯m ughh¡± then it hit me. I have no recollection of who I am, not even my own name. Immediately questions start pouring out of my mouth, ¡°where am I? How did I get here? Why can¡¯t I remember anything¡­¡± ¡°Whoa whoa whoa slow down there kid¡± said Alf. ¡°New comers here rarely remember the lives they had before.¡± Alf waves for Tom to exit the room, probably to make me feel more comfortable. I take a second to observe my surrounds. I¡¯m in a circular stone room with nothing in it but a well in the very center. Alf notices me looking around and feeds into my curiosity, ¡°A beautiful structure isn¡¯t it? You should see it from the outside¡± I nod my head in affirmation. Alf lets out a friendly smile ¡°Me and Tom have been waiting on you for quite some time¡±. They¡¯ve been waiting, for me? Alf grabs my hand pulls me in excitement ¡°Come! I have much to tell you!¡±Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.