An Alternate Universe - Chapter 1

     In an alternate universe, there existed a world similar to Earth – a near replica – with a noteworthy anomaly: all vehicles in this other world possessed square-ish, cube-like wheels. The primary cause of this phenomenon was due to a unique flaw in the minds of all people concerning logic and motivation to invent a better structure. Due to this fatal flaw in thinking, all vehicles continued to exist as if this problem was never addressed. But the problem was all too real, and rendered vehicles useless for travel. Because of this, the people of this world began what was known as the Path of Uncertainty. This path was a journey that could only be travelled by foot, or mounted animal, out into the world, gradually revealing the individual’s true purpose and eventual fate.

     A young man of great potential made his way to his doorstep for the last time, facing the mystic skies bravely as the light descended, empowering him for his trip. Bernard Availier was his name, his eyes solid amber stone and his hair coal black. Having lost his two elder brothers to The Path, he faced the light with no fear of consequence, as consequence was more sensible than returning to dormancy. And although his intent was to never turn back, shoes were not to Bernard’s liking.

     He took his first step out the door’s way and onto The Path, and he could feel it. More so, he thought, than any other human who has gone the way. And with this feeling he embraced a future he did not know of.

     Not far from Bernard’s trek, a banquet was being held. Among the banquet, people of happy nature and obligation. Dressed as outlanders, they had poured wine into golden cups and carved freshly roasted slabs for feasting. Libations were sentenced downwards as the gods were being praised, and Bernard stepped among them.

     The party leader came forth, and deemed Bernard a sign of hope. More libations were sentenced, more meat carved. Bernard heard the old leader, “Traveler, please join us in our sacrifice to Zeus and Poseidon alike!” and he pleaded more, “We insist you rest your feet and enjoy our offerings! We all know of The Path and its strain.” So Bernard agreed and feasted with them. And there was music, wine, and happiness all around him. And the mystic skies slightly dimmed. In want to escape the dangers of night beasts, Bernard did not intend to stay long. And so he left again.

     As he trekked onward, Bernard’s path had forced loneliness upon him. Hours had passed, and the skies had dimmed and lowered further. The cold stung his skin as he remembered his brothers, who were gone from the world forever. He lowered to the ground, guarding his knees, wanting to cry over his loss. His crying, however, was interrupted by the distant crying of others. Rising up, he witnessed a batch of scattered bodies past a steep hill. Fearing for others, he bolted downward to tend to the wounded. Upon arrival, however, the bodies he had spotted from afar appeared to be lifeless. Feeling a fool, he began to step away…

          “Wait.”

     Bernard turned around, searching for the source. Looking downward, a body was reaching for him. This body seemed lifeless, yet it spoke to me, he thought. Of this batch of dead bodies were indeed living humans – every one of them. They breathed, yet they lay stretched out onto the dirt with no intent to move forward. What a waste, Bernard thought. The one who spoke, who stretched his arm towards Bernard, began a conversation with him. He made claims that Bernard was the one to revive his team and set them back onto The Path. Bernard, however, brutally turned him down:

     “I am not your hope,” he began, “You cannot possibly expect me to enable an army of leeches. I have my own purpose. You must help yourself or be forgotten forever. That is the law of The Path.”

     The man heard him clearly, but continued to beg. He had no intention of learning anymore. His expectations were too high, and all possible opportunity for wisdom had left him. Sighing with disappointment, Bernard turned his back once more, only to yet again be halted by one that accompanied The Path. The soft voice of a female had surprised him this time, and he decided to listen. He faced a girl who stood on two feet, in the thick of the hopeless bodies. Her hair was outlandishly natural lavender. And her eyes… they were as blue as the ocean itself. The shade of blue that the oracles said belonged only to 'destructive beings.' The girl spoke:

     “I reject these people. And I reject to leech off another. But you are seemingly headed in the same direction as me, and my Path is urgent. Please, take me with you." She paused, "Or... or at least let me follow.”

     Bernard suddenly wanted company again. His thoughts were quick, “Aye. I can agree to that. My name is Bernard Availier. And you?”

     “I am Ana Dwimor.” She said. And with the agreement in place, Bernard was no longer lonely.

     As the two young wanderers travelled together, the mystic skies at last collapsed. The cold turned into frost, and the empowering light became too scattered to feel, only twinkling at distances. It was Ana’s idea to set up a camp, and Bernard agreed. And so they began their plans to save themselves from the disasters of night; They set up a tent and gathered supplies to keep the frost away.

          Ru ru ru ruuu…

     Bernard began to sweat. Are my ears really hearing that? he thought. No, for earlier he thought the same with the hopeless batch. Either his predictions of what was about to happen is a reasonable obstacle, or his Path, and Ana’s, were about to end for good.

     Out from the forest west of the path, crept the beast. Starving more than a nation in famine, it seemed. Possessing twelve heads, each with teeth like razor blades and drooling acid onto the burning ground. Its skin obsidian, its eyes of shining white light. It stood twelve feet tall and twelve feet away. The hydra hissed and roared at the two unarmed travelers. It was their death sentence.

     All has ended too soon, Bernard thought. He fell to his knees, burdened with fear. He had become drained of hope, and the mystic skies had turned on him. All was lost in that moment. Ana did not fall, but was frozen. The hydra stepped forward, encroaching their ground.

     But the hydra would not make many steps, as a shadow had left oblivion and entered the cold night to provoke the beast. With a swift kick from the figure, the hydra was down! Angered, having toppled onto its side, the hydra struggled to stand, but would not be given a chance at its prey once again, as a swirling vortex of light appeared behind the defending figure, reptilian in appearance, shining onto the two stunned travelers as the mystic skies once did. As the wormhole behind the figure expanded and doubled in size, the hero requested that the two travelers exit to safety through the portal. Bernard saw no other choice, grabbed the stunned Ana and ran towards life. All three became engulfed and followed the new Path through space and time. And as they fell down the tunnel of light, Bernard questioned if he was being rescued by a god. To this, the figure replied,

     “I am no god, for I am as mortal as you. I am searching for my home, which I have lost direction to years ago. My name is Lagheart.”

To Be Continued