In the same alley, Theo woke up.
He slowly opened his eyes as excruciating pain assaulted his brain. It was as though molten knife was continuously being stabbed into his head.
As soon as he felt pain Theo let out gasp of air. Then he started rolling on the ground, while holding his head with his hands.
"AGGHHHH." He shouted, his voice filled with agony as he continued rolling around, bumping into trash and wall.
Only after half an hour throbbing pain started to subside down and he asked himself, "Why my head hurts so much? Where even am I?"
He felt like he knew the answer to the question but he just couldn't remember anything.
Suddenly, his face froze as chilling realization that he had died, and somehow appeared here arose in his head as misty cloud above his memories cleared and became clear again. Even after that, some of the misty clouds didn't disappear. They were shrouded lef out meories in mist, and those memories were almost impossible to remember. Hence, Theo just pushed those things to back of his mind.
Right now, he had one objective. It was to find out where he was.
So, he got up with difficulty, while pain from his brain still assaulted him for some time.
Enduring all of the pain, Theo felt pleasant feeling of relaxation as pain disappeared completely, when he was searching for people to ask where it is.
Minutes passed like hours as Theo wandered around outskirts. Most of the things here were in ruins while thing which were left intact were full of trash. It made Theo disgusted. He wanted to get out of here faster and get back to his home.
Finally, after 20 minutes, he found man in his 30s who was searching for something in trash. Looking at him Theo felt pity in his heart. A feeling of empathy rose in him as he got closer and tapped shoulder of man lightly with his fingertip.
Man, who was searching in trash, jolted, almost falling into same trash, while turning behind. He hadn't anticipated anyone to look for him here, and he didn't even recognize the guy. Therefore, he asked Theo in hostile manner "Aye kid! What are you doing here? Don't you see I'm busy? What you need?"
In response, Theo looked apologetic asking back "Sorry sir. You see. I'm lost here. Where are we currently in?"
Hearing it man laughed a little. He now looked at Theo as though he was looking at fool, "Kid. You are really funny. I thought that you would try begging or something or that you might even want to fight with me. Anyways, for your manner I will answer to your question. You are in outskirts of NSQC. Now, kid go away! I'm busy!"
'Stop what? NSQC? Outskirts? Isn't it from Shadow Slave? No. No. No. I must be hallucinating or maybe it is just some kind of prank.' Theo could not believe that he was in world of Shadow Slave. It had to be impossible for him to be here in the first place. After all it was just a fictional world.
So, to confirm his assumptions Theo said to man, while smirking "No way. You gotta be joking. Right?" Then he paused and made false laugh "Ha. Ha. Ha. Now, it is enough fucking with me. I might be a little dumb but not to the extent that I will believe that I'm in world of Shadow Slave. Drop the act. Where is camera btw?"
Man who first looked at him like looking at fool become more serious as he said in irritated voice "Brat don't try telling me one of your delusions. I have had enough of people like you and your delulus. Fuck off. Do you understand what I'm saying? Or do you want me to make you understand?"
Theo didn't expect this attitude. In his head, there should have been people with camera coming up from some hidden places, and he would have been told that it was some kind of prank or social experiment.
He was discontented with the attitude of the man, his feeling of pity and empathy disappeared in an instant, and he got moving as to not start any problem.
Even though, he was still thinking that he was in earth in real world, doubt still loomed over him constantly pressuring his assumptions. Especially, his transportation here only after his death made him most suspicious of it.
Shrugging it off, Theo continued his adventures, and soon he was finally able to reach place where people wearing normal cloth and buildings which were normal, clean and beautiful. He was finally in city.
It made Theo excited as he thought that he finally reached civilization. But when he started moving around, he froze as he saw big banner in which warrior stayed in heroic stance and near him were words written.
-Become the warrior of Valor. Become best out of best. Become hero!-
At this moment all of his assumptions that this was just some kind of prank vanished, leaving no trace.
He realized that he was actually transmigrated into world of Shadow Slave.
While he was frozen in place people around him became agitated by his motionless and one man put his hand in Theo's shoulder, making Theo get out of daze as he looked at man who touched his shoulder. This man was just average worker.But because of their difference in status man had arrogant look on his face.
"Could you continue moving. You are holding people of their work."
Despite being arrogant this man was surprisingly polite.
Theo getting out of his daze apologized to man and moved on.
***
6 days later.
In those 6 days Theo found himself unable to sleep. Not only that but he also was in constant hunger, going from one trash to another in search of food.
In those 6 days Theo constantly regretted all of the times he thought of transmigrating into fantasy world like Shadow Slave.
Life wasn't sweet, it was sour for him here. He had to search for food every day, while trying to not get robbed beaten or anything in outskirts.
However, out of everything discovering that he was infected by nightmare spell was worst and best thing at the same time. If he were able to beat it, he would become sleeper and gain possibility to get back to his home. But, if he died, then it would end here with his misery. This was what made Theo hesitant towards his nightmare.
First, nightmares were generally dangerous and a lot of people had died while trying to beat it. Secondly, he didn't know how to fight with any weapon. He was indeed good with hand-to-hand combat but when it came to weapons, he lacked experience and talent. And lastly, he didn't know much on how to survive on nightmare. All of those stacked onto each other created great mental pressure for Theo.
However, he could not complain. It would be simply useless. So, today he finally decided to undergo his nightmare because his desire for sleep started to become apparent. Before succumbing into nightmare Theo of course had to get general information in police station and get ready as much as he could.
Getting up from cardboard which he was laying on Theo began to walk till police station.
When he got up, he tried covering up holes in his cloth and cleaning himself a bit so he could at least look a bit decent.
As he left, cardboard in which he was sleeping in rose because of wind and in it sentence was written.
-Tornado Duo were here-
It was cardboard Theo found instead of his 'home'.
Well, in those 6 days Theo not only thought about food but also about his shelter. Hence, he had made himself a little comfy home made out of cardboard, tattered cloth and metal rods. Unfortunately, it was ransacked by Tornado Duo, who decided to leave this cardboard as their signature.
Leaving without his little home didn't break Theo's spirit because it was already broken by nightmare spell who decided to throw him into nightmare right after a week after his transmigration. It was simply unfair. It was harshness of reality. But also, beauty of fate.
(Shit wrong novel)
Anyways, other than his shelter Theo tried to gather information on how to survive in here. Even though, information he gathered was rather shallow. It was still something.
While Theo was lost in his thoughts, he didn't notice that he was already near police station.
It was eerie place, looking at building gave Theo strange chilling feeling.
But, taking deep breath Theo opened doors and entered building.
Inside officer, who was obese, looked at him with questioning looks and asked without much care.
"What do you need kid?"
Taking another deep breath Theo looked up to officer and responded.
"As demanded by the third special directive, I am here to surrender myself as carrier of nightmare spell."
Finaly after hearing those words officer's expression became stiff.
"Are you sure you have been infected? How many days has it been?"
Theo said wondering in process.
"One. Two. Three… Overall it has been 6 days."
After finally understanding that this kid might become monster in next moment Officer began to move in panicked manner.
He quickly reached for button in terminal and shouted.
"ATTENTION CODE BLACK IN THE LOBBY! I REPEAT CODE BLACK! CODE BLACK!"
***
Inside one of the rooms of police station, Theo was being put in restrains as he looked up into ceiling.
It was white. It was dull. It was boring. It was tiring.
He felt tired. He wanted to sleep. Even though, his desire to sleep wasn't that hard to resist against, it was increasing as fatigue in his mind began to pressure him.
Officers around him were panicking, while putting restrains.
Finally, after putting last restrain, door of the room opened and officers rushed out of it letting one unassuming man in his late 20s dressed with modern cloth mostly in black or variant of black color stepped in. Black circles under his eyes indicated that he had been overworking constantly. In his hands cigarette was releasing smoke. Taking another look at Theo, a man inhaled handful of smoke, and slowly exhaled enjoying every bit of it.
Theo wasn't surprised by it. He already knew and was informed that nearby awakened will come to teach him basic stuff and looking at cigarette Theo understood that working for government might have taken a lot of mental energy from a man. Since, there was shortage of awakened. So, he didn't pay attention to smoke. In fact, he had smoked in school himself. From middle school till early years of high school when he thought better of it.
Taking seat right beside Theo, man introduced himself.
"My name is awakened Andrew and from the looks of it you are from outskirt."
At last sentence Andrew left out sigh as he said to Theo with honesty.
"I will be honest with you brat. I have seen a lot of kids like you. Almost all of them died in nightmare. If I were you, I would have already lost any hope of survival and killed myself outright. So, I respect your courage. Since, you will be transported soon I will tell you everything as detailed and short as possible. Try to keep everything in mind."
"First of all, Nightmare is created by Nightmare Spell, and it is always within your capability. You can beat it if you complete certain tasks, you can say. Most of the time, it is either killing an abomination or resolving conflict."
"Secondly, everything in the nightmare spell is not real. The only real thing is you. So, do not make stupid decision of sacrificing yourself to save some random NPC in nightmare or sparing something because it spoke to you like human. You will definitely regret it."
"Thirdly …"
Theo listened attentively as he noted everything in his mind. He was thought on flora of nightmare, ways to survive in various climate, how to navigate one's way in nightmare with help of environment, how to basically hold weapon and make attacks with it, and so much more.
Theo was so much grateful for Andrew on what he thought him. He simply couldn't imagine that difference between his knowledge on how to survive nightmare spell, and what knowledge he needed was enormous.
Soon, overwhelming dizziness finally overtook his mind and made Theo fall asleep.
Before falling asleep Andrew looked a bit tense, while saying his last words.
"Good luck kid. I hope you can do it. Don't disappoint me."
Theo who was so much grateful for Andrew's teachings said, maybe his last words.
"Thank you. I won't dis…"
Everything turned dark as faint feminine voice of spell resounded inside Theo's mind.
[Aspirant! Welcome to Nightmare Spell. Prepare for your First Trial…]
[Author Notes: Hello guys again. Thanks for those who waited and read fanfic. I was greatly motivated by looking at views. See you guys. Next chapter in next decade :]