The glass lid of a stasis pod opens with the sound of the pressured air escaping it. A moment later the short man inside winces and slowly opens his eyes. What he sees at first is a blur of contrasting hues of black and white. His eyes adjust slowly and the vision gets clearer. He sits up and shivers from the chill, huddling against the cold. The pod seems to be the only thing that vaguely illuminates a speck of the dark, cold room. He doesn't even know how high the ceiling is or how far the walls are. It's all just darkness all around and the low buzzing of the pod.
"Hello?" is what he wants to say, but his throat feels so dry it doesn't make a sound.
Why is it so still here, why is it so dark, the thoughts run through his mind. He doesn't exactly know what to expect, or more like he feels that the eerie silence seems wrong. Shouldn't be there something... someone waiting for him? What was it again? Why was he even in that glass coffin? He knows that something slipped his mind, and it irritates him that he can't remember what it was. But he feels that it'll be all clear as soon as he'll find someone to talk to.
He takes a deep breath and exhales, then looks in the dark. He hesitates for a second, but finally he makes up his mind to move. The jumps off and sound of his feet echoes through the chamber. He sways though and leans on the pod, as his legs feel wobbly. He takes a moment to lossen up the stiff joints and muscles, then takes a few steps forward. He's still swaying a little, but he is able to keep his posture. Something in his mind told him that there should be a big door in front of him, so he focuses on that thought and moves forward.
Something moves in the darkness. He freezes in place and squints to his right from where he felt the movement. He has no time to wonder about it as the thing suddenly leaps forward. He yelps and instinctively moves back, loses his footing and falls, at the same time two clawed paws land with a metallic thud to his left and right. He looks up and holds his breath in fear, as some bird-like masked face looms above him, with two gleaming red eyes staring right into his. What feels like long minutes lasts only a moment, when the beast's eyes flash on and off a few times and change the color to yellow. It takes a few steps back and makes a pose as if it would bow to him. Still frozen in place, he can hear the beating of his own heart. He gulps and gets up, when he notices the outline of a door to the left. He moves slowly in that direction, minding the creature, but luckily the beast just keeps bowing.
He feels so relieved when he touches the sturdy door handle, all he wants right now is to escape the darkness and this... enormous thing behind him. But as soon as he presses the handle down, the door doesn't budge. He whimpers in despair as he yanks on it three more times, but alas nothing changes. He slamms his fist against the door in frustration, then sighs loud in defeat and taps with his forehead against it. Chills go through his spine as he hears the beast behind him move, he jumps to the side, but it doesn't attack him. Instead, the beast stands in front of the massive door, supports itself on the hind legs and stretches out the front paws to grab on two different handles that are twice as high than an average man's height. The creature rotates them until a click is to hear, then it reaches to the normal door handles and opens the door wide. Finally some light enters the room, shining directly on the beast. And yet it was still all black, only that its metallic surface reflected the rays. He could now see the details such as the spikes on it's back and a sharp pointed tail.
Again, it steps back and bows, freezing in that pose. He doesn't hesitate now and runs outside, but stops at what he sees. He was now in a dim hallway with a high ceiling, and in front of im there are more beasts, identical to the one bowing, four on each side. The sunlight was coming from the windows past them. They sit silently like gargoyles and their eyes gleam red. Before he can decide if he should just walk past them or not, the one behind him exits the room and positions itself behind him. The other beasts flash their eyes in a similar way and switch the color to yellow, then bow just like it did before. He still doesn't understand what's going on, but at least he knows he can go past them, and if there's more beasts ahead, they won't attack.
Still, he feels stiff walking by those monsters, trying to shake off the feeling that they may jump at him at any time. He sighs loud as nothing happens.
He takes a moment to look at the surroundings. There's other massive door at the other end, and a stairway leading down. Something about this structure feels familiar. He approaches the railing and looks forward. The gentle light illuminates him and feels so peaceful and warm. It's really refreshing, he thinks. He looks below and sees two more floors beneath.
He takes his time descending. Each step echoes, and with each he feels like he's closer to... remembering something. He slides his hand on the railing to feel the cold, smooth surface. He has a feeling he walked those steps a thousand times before... and not alone. There was someone... white? Definitely taller. Important. Wearing white, yes... He moves his head to the left expecting to see that someone, but alas nobody is accompanying him. The feeling of sadness makes him stop and just stare at the empty space by his side.
There was something important. He knows only this much, but what was it exactly? He ponders as he descends the stairs until something makes him snap out of it. A faint sound of... music? He holds his breath to focus and leans on the railing. There was indeed some melody echoing somewhere below. If there's music... there must be someone as well! He picks up the pace trying to get down faster. Finally, there's hope that he's not alone in this weird place.
He stops at the bottom of the staircase, hunched and gasping for air. He doesn't seem to be in top condidtion as he thought he is. He sweeps the sweat off his forehead and looks around. This part of the building had dim corridors on the left and the right and a spacious foyer in the front. The music was now louder and seemed to come from the left. Still fatigued, he decides to save his energy and just walk there. He doesn't want to collapse out of breath in front of whoever he may find. One never knows if it turns out to be a friend or an enemy.
Enemy... he thinks. There was something about enemies...
***
The room is small compared to the high ceiling hallways and the other rooms. One lamp is enough to make it well lit. Cigarette smoke hangs in the air mixed with the smell of metal, and some music is seeping from a radio standing in the corner. One of the gargoyle-like beasts is lying lifelessly on the floor. The armor of its right side is opened wide, while a man sits on a stool and leans in to the beast's gaping hole. Clatter is to hear as he's busy repairing its insides. The other lamp he uses to help him see clearer is flickering from time to time, so he taps it with his free hand clearly annoyed, and he leans back only when he has to exhale the smoke or tap the ash off the cigarette. There's a small table with a tool set and an ashtray next to him, lined up at the walls stand the shelves with various metal parts of different sizes.
He puts a screwdriver away and grabs a wrench, then returns to the insides to continue what he was doing. Suddenly a spark startles the man and the beast moves, making him lean backwards so fast he almost falls from his seat. The cigarette had less luck and dropped on the floor.
"Hey hEY HEY what the fuck?!"
He spreads his arms in disbelief. The beast sits up and its eyes blink.
"Fucking number 13 I secured you! The hell you're doing?!"
The man voices his displeasure, but the beast just bows clumsily. More sparks escape the insides and a bolt falls off.
"HEY! I'm talking to you, get back to-"
He continueshis yelling, when he notices a movement with the corner of his eye. He looks to his right and freezes in shock at what he sees. The wrench he's holding slips from his hand and lands on the floor with a clang. Somebody was there, peeking in through the opened door with his eyes wide open. And it wasn't JUST somebody. It was HIM.
Meanwhile the radio continues playing a relaxing tune as if it isn't a part of the dramatic scene.
***
The tiny man holds tight to the door frame as is heart skipps a beat. One glance at this man's face unlocks a flood of memories tied with his images. They flash by like a slideshow on fast forward. Some of them have a gentle smile, some are a worried expression, some grim, but he's always in a simple, white paladin armor with a long white cape. He gives off a feeling of safety and warmth. A friend, no doubt. And when the memories stop to flow, he calls his name.
"Wilhelm!"
He runs up to the beige haired man almost tripping.
"Huh?"
The man blinks and before he can say anything else, the tiny visitor grabs him by the shoulders.
"Lords, I'm so glad to see you! What's going on? Wh-why are those... beasts in the castle? Where's everyone else?"
He bombards the man with a string of questions, shaking him by the shoulders, and trembling himself. But all the man could reply was a single statement.
"My name is not Wilhelm..."
The little man is dumbfounded. He smiles nervously, droplets of sweat forming on his forehead.
"What are you saying...?"
"You mistook me with someone else... My name's Juto."
He says as calm as he can. The shortie tightens his grip on the man's shoulder.
"What? But... I know you! You... you aren't Wilhelm Lovelace...?"
His voice trembles and his grip loosens. Juto takes his hands off of him.
"Now, Lovelace IS my last name... but it's impossible for you to know me... we never-... wait, I think you mistook me with one of my ancestors!"
"Ancestors...?"
The little one blinks and repeats slowly. He then realizes one detail.
"How-... how long did I sleep...?"
He leans forward looking the man in the eyes.
"Well... from what I know... I'm afraid it'll be around 200 years, or so..."
The words hit him like a lightning.
"Two... hundred... years...?"
It's the last thing that he's able to say, before his eyes fog and his body goes limp. Juto manages to catch him and hold tight to his chest, to prevent him from hitting the floor.
By a funny coincidence the radio happens to lose signal and the sound of static fills the room.
"Oh boy..."
Juto sighs looking at the unconscious man in his arms. He feels dread as he knows that the awakening will bring only bad news.
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