Neo opened his eyes to find himself in darkness. Even so, when he looked down at his own figure, it was as if he and only he was illuminated in light. The water at his feet covered up to the halfway point of his calves, sloshing around as he lifted one foot to look at it. The water was more like a black liquid, sleek and shiny with a sense of something sinister to it.
ㅤㅤThe water rippled towards him, and he looked up to find the source of the movement. Before him stood a figure at least two hundred centimetres tall, or six and a half feet - taller than him, looming over and staring into him. Despite having a feminine figure, shaped by the shadows and light of his own form, it looked like she was a completely black form with bright gold eyes and a featureless face. Her hands were long, her arms lanky, her fingers spiked as if knives protruded from her nails.
ㅤㅤNeo stood there in shock, registering it all for a moment before he decided that it had to be a demon. However, not knowing where he was, he took a step back. The water sloshed with him, the woman wavering back and forth in one spot. He tried to convince himself he was dreaming, but the fear that gripped his heart told him otherwise.
ㅤㅤ"Who are you?" He asked, but she simply stood there. "What do you want?" He went on cautiously, but still, silence.
ㅤㅤThat was when her hand, if he could even call it that, shot out. It grabbed him by the face, covering his mouth and nose completely. She pushed him back and slammed him into the water, where he struggled and kicked, grabbing at her wrist. Latin poured from the form in whispers, shadows engulfing him as he tried to scream. She held him there above the water for a moment, then pushed him into it, drowning him in darkness.
ㅤㅤThe grip had disappeared, but he was engulfed. Neo felt a pressure all around him as he felt himself pulled deeper into the liquid, his breath ripped away. He tried to scream but nothing came out - only the silence surrounded him, completely deafening and insanity inducing. Mentally draining and painful.
ㅤㅤA sharp drop came, and the liquid dissipated. He fell on his back, but no agony came from hitting the hard black concrete surface. Gasping heavily, he tried to even his breathing, glancing around for what he had assumed to be a demon. Instead he saw something in the distance - a purple flame, flickering ever so brightly.
ㅤㅤScrambling to his feet, he looked around, steadying himself. Then, he stepped towards it, traversing closer and closer until he was next to the small, thirty centimetre, or one foot, diameter of fire. He knelt down at first, then sat down with his legs crossed, staring into the flames silently with a heavy sigh. Nothing else had come for him during the dream - just the ensured safety that the fire brought him.