CHAPTER 2: ISLAND

3 hours after revival

A container ship travelling to Neos at midday with a 30 member crew sails across the Eastern Expanse. While the crew wasn’t expecting to see land for another 5 days they encounter something strange.

Captain asked, “We left Asnor a few days ago, we should be in the middle of The Eastern Expanse now.”

First Mate replied, “Yes captain. We should be reaching Neos in five days.”

“An Eclipse today? We did not receive any news about this!”, the captain said.

“Turn on the navigation lights and keep an eye on the radar.”

Lookout a man shouted, “Captain, there’s land in front of us!”

Captain exclaimed, “What? No way! We have five days more to reach Neos, and The Eastern Expanse has no islands in this region.”

First Mate said, “Let me check the charts.”

First Mate added, “There isn’t supposed to be any land over here. How is there land here?”

Captain instructed, “Check the radio.”

First Mate replied, “No response on the radio either.”

Captain stated, “We do not know if that land is Neos or not, and I don’t see any lights either. GPS says we’re in the middle of The Eastern Expanse, but there isn’t supposed to be any land here. Stop the ship.”

Helmsman responded, “Aye captain.”

Captain ordered, “Drop the anchor.”

The anchor drops in the ocean and the ship comes to a halt after a few minutes

Captain declared, “I’ll go and check that land. I’ll be taking some men with me. If we do not return by morning, leave immediately.”

First Mate protested, “Why would you want to do something so dangerous?”

Captain replied, “We do not know where we are—”

First Mate interrupted, “We could wait till sunrise and then find out if it’s Neos or not.”

Captain insisted, “Do as I say; I’m your captain.”

{Boats are dropped down to the ocean}

Captain commanded, “Alright men, let’s go check that land.”

Crew Mates responded, “Aye.”

1 hour after landing

Captain noted, “We’ve been walking for quite a while. It’s so dark here; it’s like electricity doesn’t exist in this country at all.”

{Silence}

Captain said, “I feel a bit unwell. It’s like I’m exhausted just by walking…”

{Silence}

Captain asked, “Why are you guys not responding? What are you doing?”

{Captain turns around to check his crew mates}

Captain exclaimed, “What… Where did these guys go?”

{Captain proceeds to retrace his steps and sees his crew mates all feeble and unconscious}

Captain shouted, “What happened to you guys?”

Captain thought, Were we attacked? They’re all dead. I do not have any weapons…

{Captain passes out and after a few minutes dies. Later in the morning the other crew mates come in search of the Captain and the rest of the crew but all they see is black sand, black soil, black forest with what looks like burnt trees with black and shriveled leaves. The crew mates end up suffering the same fate. Before the captain closed his eyes he sees red snow.}

Creator’s Room - 10 hours after revival

Creator asked, “When did my room become fully white? Was it whitewashed while I was away?”

An Unknown Woman replied, “No it wasn’t.”

Creator demanded, “Who the hell are you? Who let you in?”

The Unknown Woman stated, “Nobody had to let me in; I live here.”

Creator retorted, “You live in my room? Get outta here before I kick you out myself! I don’t need any assistants! Where is your uniform? Did that jerk Knud send you to spy on me or…”

Unknown Woman clarified, “Nobody sent me to spy on anyone and this isn’t your room.”

Creator questioned, “Yeah maybe this isn’t my room; I don’t see any windows or doors. How did I get in here then? Am I dreaming or something?”

Unknown Woman answered calmly, “Yes you are dreaming.”

Creator replied skeptically, “Is that so? Alright then I’ll wake up now. See you later.”

{Creator closes eyes}

{After a moment}

Creator murmured, “I’m still dreaming? I didn’t wake up? Or maybe I couldn’t… whatever. You there lady in green end this dream already; I want to leave this place; it makes me feel sick.”

Unknown Woman said softly, “Are you this rude to everybody?… I’ve been living here for millions of years.”

Creator exclaimed in disbelief, “Millions of years? Why do you look so young then? How old are you really?”

Unknown Woman responded casually, “29 years I guess. Didn’t count.”

Creator pressed further, “29? And you’ve lived for more than millions of years? Is this some kind of a joke? I don’t think so I’m dreaming anymore.”

Unknown Woman explained simply, “That was my age when I died.”

Creator said incredulously, “You are dead already? Maybe I am dreaming after all.”

Unknown Woman confirmed again, “Yes you are dreaming.”

Creator pondered aloud, “Hmmm… Who are you anyway?”

Unknown Woman asked back, “Do you know where we are?”

Creator replied honestly, “I don’t know. But first answer my question. Aren’t we in your home or something?”

Unknown Woman clarified again: “We are in the demiplane.”

Creator responded confusedly: “Wha…”

Unknown Woman elaborated: “We are in a complex time-space structure created by the first Amender.”

Creator stammered: “Ame…”

Unknown Woman continued: “Time doesn’t flow the same way as on Earth in here.”

Creator asked bewildered: “Amender created what? And who the hell are you?”

Unknown Woman replied matter-of-factly: “I haven’t aged a single day since the day I died even though I have lived for over millions of years.”

Creator exclaimed: “Woah woah… slow down…”

Unknown Woman said calmly: “If I were to leave this place and enter Earth again I would be in a year that is millions of years after I died while I did not even spend more than 10 minutes here. You are the tenth person I met after I died.”

Creator questioned: “Did humans even exist millions of years ago? Why don’t you leave this place then? Did the Amender lock you up? Your dressing sense tells me you live in the current era.”

Unknown Woman replied cryptically: “That’s maybe because of him.”

Creator asked impatiently: “So which question did you answer?”

Unknown Woman stated simply: “All of them…”

Creator pressed again: “Who is him? The Amender? Who are you anyway?”

Unknown Woman confirmed: “Yes.”

Creator pondered aloud: “What did you do to him? Why am I in his demiplane? Did he lock me up too? Who are the other nine people you met?”

Unknown Woman explained: “They were all like you.”

Creator asked confusedly: “Like me? My clones?”

Unknown Woman clarified: “No your powers.”

Creator exclaimed incredulously: “My powers? Wha… You mean the other Creators? Wait but there is only one Creator before me. Is the government hiding something from me at all? They told me I was the second one.”

Unknown Woman stated calmly: “This place belongs to you now.”

Creator gasped: “Wha…”

Unknown Woman reiterated: “I meet all those who possess my power.”

{Knocks on the door}

Creator woke up gasping: “Was I really dreaming? What were those knocking noises though? I couldn’t hear what she had to say. I feel like it has happened to me once before or did it? Was it the Amender? That lady told something about that place being created by him. But my powers should prevent him from making any contact with me at all. Who was she?”

{The door opens}

Chore Boy said hesitantly: “Excuse me…”

Creator demanded again: “Who let you in?”

Chore Boy apologized: “Sorry ma’am. Sir chief wants to see you.”

Creator thought bitterly: What does that bastard want from me now?