(Location:????)
Wind.
It was all that I could feel, all that I could hear; the world around me was nothing but a blur.
Until something wet hit my face.
Without meaning to, my eyes opened. What filled my gaze were dark gray storm clouds… and a building that was grand in structure. On the very top of it was a huge cross.
My hand rose towards the dark sky… it was strangely smaller than what I remembered, and for some reason, it was covered in bright red paint.
'Hold on… why did my hand just move?'
Rain fell softly against my hand as it slowly washed away the red paint covering it.
Then a metallic scent hit my nose… one I knew too well.
'Blood?'
On instinct, my eyes attempted to widen at the realization, but my face refused to respond.
But before I could panic, my eyes unwillingly fixed on two humongous, crimson orbs staring down at me.
I felt the grip of a hand tighten on my shoulder…
'Am I being held?'
Ka-boom!
As lightning fell, I saw a face.
His face.
My extended hand fell to my side.
He had fair skin, blonde hair, and red eyes.
Honestly, if I didn't know any better, I would say this man was my future self… but looking at his clothes, yeah, there was no way in hell this was me.
I would never wear something so tacky.
The man was gritting his teeth at me.
His canines were larger than those of any human.
But slowly, with much effort, he closed his eyes with a distraught look on his face.
He lifted a hand and slowly moved it towards my head.
As it approached me, his nails got longer as each vein in his hand became visible.
As my impending doom approached, I tried to move one more time—only for my attempt to be in vain, my body clearly not responding to me.
His hand stopped right in between my eyes.
It was trembling.
I don't know how long it was, but it felt like hours, and yet his hand stayed there, not moving a single muscle.
My hands slowly went up.
.
.
.
.
Pain, white-hot pain, was all that I felt from my own hands.
The man gasped as he realized what had just happened.
My hands were both wrapped around one of his clawed fingers.
Blood, my own blood, fell onto my face as it trailed down his finger.
But even with the pain, for some reason all that escaped my lips was a giggle…
One that could only belong to an infant.
My hands slowly unwrapped from his finger.
And the man only looked at me with an expression of complete bewilderment.
But soon enough, his hand went back to normal.
He reached out and grabbed one of my hands in his own.
"I'm sorry…" he said in a whisper.
He fell to his knees, making the mud beneath him splash onto my face.
Water streamed down his face.
And his eyes… I see, water also got into them.
Yes… It was just the rain flowing out of the man's eyes.
He brought his face down, placing my bleeding hand on his cheek.
"I'm sorry…"
A droplet of water rolled down from his eye, landing in my own.
My vision became blurry.
And before I knew it, all that I could see was darkness…
.
.
..
…
Light… a horrible and irritating light was all that I could see; it was as if it were trying to burn right through my eyelids!
I opened my eyes, and what met me on the other side was a familiar ceiling.
Grabbing the edges of my open coffin, I sat up and placed a hand on my face, rubbing the drowsiness away.
'Three…
That would make three.
Three dreams of complete and utter weirdness.'
I placed a hand on my shirt.
'Nasty.'
It was covered in sweat.
I took it off and got out of my coffin.
I rolled the shirt up, and as I made my way to my closet, I shot the rolled-up shirt into a hamper.
It landed inside perfectly.
"Nice."
I opened the closet, taking out black pants and a plain white button-up.
I put them both on but took my time with the shirt, trying not to mess up any of the buttons.
I can't be giving Akeno more ammo now, can I?
As I got to the final button… I left it alone.
What can I say? I don't like the feeling of being choked out; it's just not comfortable, trust me.
I opened my system and headed into the inventory section.
In an instant, a holster appeared on my waist…
But it was weirdly shaped, clearly not meant for a gun.
'But I guess now I know for sure; it's once a month, or at least I think so.'
It started about three months ago, no matter how hard I try to forget, even if it turned out to be just a dream.
There was no way I could forget her face as she held me like I was the only thing that mattered.
Beautiful, that would be the only word I could use to describe her.
To this day, I'm still wondering who she is and how she got her blonde hair to look so perfect.
But after the dream with her in it came another one with two blonde kids calling me their "little brother."
It was in that one where I saw my reflection, it was like a much younger version of me, way before I got muscular.
It was then that I understood what was happening.
But honestly, I never thought I would be gaining the body's memories, after all, they usually come after transmigrating with pain, don't they?
Not to mention the dreams are completely disjointed and out of order. Like, seriously, why go from infant to kid age, then back to infant?
It just made no damn sense.
'...But either way, dream or not…
That man… to ever entertain that idea…'
I took out some small, dark leather cowboy boots. I put them on and let my pants fall over them, my pants stopping right on the spur of the boot.
'Yeah, there isn't a shadow of doubt—that man.'
I closed my closet door and turned to the front door.
'He's nothing more than scum.'
As I reached the front door of the room, I reached out to the coat rack next to it and grabbed my blue jacket.
I put on the jacket.
And walked out.
.
.
..
…
—
Gray clouds covered the sky as rain fell.
And the winds that were being produced might as well have been from a tornado by how harsh they were.
No one in their right mind would be out here.
Well, except for me, of course.
Because apparently, standing in the middle of a storm was a perfectly reasonable way to spend my morning.
My soaked hair was whipping in the wind; hell, I practically had to dodge it so it didn't get right in my eyes.
Honestly, the weather lady has been off her game lately. It was supposed to be a sunny day with no chance of any meatballs, yet here I am practically facing the wrath of Zeus.
At this point, I'm starting to think she just spins a wheel every morning and hopes for the best.
I sighed and looked at the tree a few feet away from me.
I moved my right hand right above my holster and held it there.
Taking in a deep, steady breath, I closed my eyes.
My heart was pounding as if it were a drum, but I tuned it out as I emptied my mind.
Soon enough, all that remained was a white, endless void.
It was almost as if it were nothing more than a sheet of paper.
But there was something in the void.
A rectangle.
One so small it might as well have been a square.
Then, as if giving birth to another from itself, another rectangle appeared right next to it.
Its size was exactly the same, almost like it was a perfect copy.
And beside those microscopic rectangles, another formed as big as both combined.
As if starting a chain reaction, more and more rectangles emerged, each one bigger than both of the parents' sum!
The shape all of these rectangles were making… was that of a spiral.
Within the origin of the phenomenon, right in the center of the first rectangle, something came to be.
A string, one so thin it might have seemingly not existed.
The string moved into and out of every rectangle every time, perfectly passing through the center of each, starting its path…
Towards the endless.
My eyes snapped open, and within the rain I saw it…
A leaf.
An ordinary plain leaf, green as one might assume, but the thing was that leaf…
Was boxed in by a rectangle.
One colored that of pure gold.
I swiftly slapped my right hand forward, the steel ball in the holster spun to life and followed my hand as if it had a mind of its own!
I tossed it forward, right at the tree in front!
The steel ball hit the tree's bark yet…
The bark did not splinter.
As if bending the way wood works, the tree's bark slowly twisted as my steel ball spun deeper and deeper into it!
I retracted my gaze from the leaf and stared at the bark with awe.
'THIS IS IT!'
The spiral began getting bigg—
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!
A large piece of wood came my way—
BONK!
"..."
It, um… exploded.
I raised my hand to my forehead and rubbed it.
'Oh great goddess Hestia… what have I done to deserve such a fate?'
Have the heavens truly abandoned me?
I shook my head, my hand covering my face.
"To be abandoned by the heavens—truly a fate most cruel to befall one such as I."
I sighed.
I put my hand down and looked at the tree.
A frown made its way onto my face.
For a solid minute, I stared at the tree as if searching for answers within the very wood that just hit me.
I walked up to the tree and grabbed my steel ball.
'Did I mess up in the initial application?' I shook my head, 'No, that can't be it.'
The wind blew harder at me, but I didn't acknowledge it.
'Could it be that… I messed up when forging this ball?'
I tossed it up and caught it.
It felt right.
But just in case, I tossed it up once more.
As I stared at the ball slowly coming back down, something gliding past caught my eye.
It was a leaf.
But as soon as it came, it left, falling right into the mud as I lost sight of it.
The ball fell neatly into my palm.
I clenched it.
I looked at the fallen tree beside me and reached out a hand, digging my fingers into the bark.
With a smooth movement, I placed it on my shoulder and made my way out of the forest.
Walking out of the treeline, I saw the back of the occult research club building.
But the thing was…
An awkward smile made its way onto my face as I stared at a whole pile of broken trees right across from a stable.
I placed the broken tree on the pile.
After making sure it was nice and secure on the pile, I made my way inside of the stable.
It was seemingly empty, one side only containing haybales and crates full of vegetables and fruits.
And the other was just one long gate.
I shook my head ferociously, sending the water from my hair landing on the floor.
I looked around and sighed.
I walked up to the gate and knocked on it five times.
But as expected, I got no response.
I placed my hand at the top of the gate and jumped over, my boots landing on straw.
I looked to my right, and resting on the straw-covered ground right in front of the gate was a horse with a beautiful, light brown coat, silver mane, and a red star on its forehead.
I walked up to it and sat down right next to its back side.
I put my head back, resting it on the gate, and closed my eyes.
"One Horse Race across America and you become a lazy piece of toast, huh? Seriously, you can't even say h—"
Silver Bullet swished his tail, slapping it lightly against my face.
…the audacity of this guy…
I glared daggers at him, but let him get away with it, just this once.
I looked at the steel ball in my hand; it had a couple of scuffs on it.
I tried to wipe them off with my finger.
It didn't work.
I lowered my hand.
'What am I… even doing?
I said I would take a day off, and yet…
Here I am destroying trees.'
I stared down at the straw on the floor.
'Training.
It alone was the shortest path to my goal.
But now that goal… It's nothing more than a memory now.
Everything I've done, six full months of work, I'm stronger… yet I haven't even crossed the starting line.'
The ball in my hand fell onto the floor and started to roll away.
'Has... has It all been a giant waste of time?…
all just One Huge Detour.'
From beside me, Silver Bullet got up and started walking, the sound of his hooves slightly muffled by the straw beneath him.
I closed my eyes.
"It's fine not to have a goal…"
Crowley's words echoed in my head.
'But without one, then…
What else is there?'
Tap.
Suddenly, something tapped on my boot.
I looked up and saw Silver Bullet nudging my steel ball right on my boot with his nose.
I stared at him.
So he pushed it onto my boot once again.
Without standing up, I reached out with the tips of my fingers, gripping the steel ball.
I put the ball back in its holster.
"Thanks."
I leaned my head back on the gate.
My eyes, they felt heavy.
Slowly, I closed them
But for some reason, I felt something dig into my abdomen.
I opened my eyes to see a wall of silver hair.
'What th—'
Before I knew it, a powerful force had dragged me up from the ground, sending me flipping into the air.
My hand, on reflex, shot out and grabbed something, something made of leather.
My ass landed on something that didn't feel like the floor.
My other hand reached out, gripping the leather tightly as I almost fell backward.
Pulling myself into a normal sitting position, I finally understood what was going on.
I was on Silver Bullet, and in my hands were his reins.
I let out a sigh of relief.
It seemed like I was worried over nothing.
I leaned forward, rubbing my hand on his shoulder blade, "What's with the funny business, man? You really startled me, you know."
Silver Bullet turned around and took five slow steps forward.
I looked at him, confuse—
Silver let out a heavy breath, and without any warning, swiftly turned around and ran right toward the gate, quickly picking up speed!
My eyes and jaw opened wide.
We–WE'RE GONNA CRASH!!!!!
I brought my hand back onto the reins and pulled back violently!
But instead of stopping…
Silver Bullet JUMPED!
"NEIGH!"
My boots slammed on the stirrups in hopes of not getting thrown off.
Landing on the other side, Silver slid to a stop… AND THEN TOOK RIGHT OFF.
Right in the direction of the front door.
BAM!
With a thrust of his head, he blew it right off its hinges!
…Rias just got the place made for you; goddamn it, show some damn respect!
I put my weight on the balls of my feet and pulled back on the reins.
"SILVER CALM DOWN!"
He only sped up.
For a second, he looked back at me…
With a look of pure annoyance.
'He… he isn't going to stop, is he?'
Thump-clack, thump-clack, thump-clack.
With each stride, Silver Bullet only got faster, as if the mud he was running on were only a minor inconvenience.
Shadows covered my eyes, my hair whipping in the air.
'If I want to stop him…'
My grip tightened on the reins, and I leaned forward as I put pressure on the stirrups with the balls of my feet.
'I'll have to play his game.'
We rapidly approached the treeline.
I gritted my teeth.
'No—
The only game we'll be playing!'
I raised my hands up, still clinging to the reins.
Then I brought it down.
"HA!"
With my shout, Silver Bullet stopped holding back and shot right into the treeline!
"WILL BE THE ONE I, GASPER FUCKING JOESTAR, SAY WE'LL PLAY!!"
As we approached a tree, I leaned to the left, and we blew right past it.
With each step, mud got thrown into the air.
The forest turned into nothing but a blur as we waved past trees; it was as if we were nothing but phantoms brought forth by the storm!
'I could feel it…
My Heart beating like a drum.
The Wind blowing through my hair.'
Soon enough, the trees lessened, and we broke through. What met us on the other side was a raging river.
Silver Bullet let out a heavy breath, one that came out thick as smoke.
To stop here would only be natural to one who values their life…
My right hand let go of the reins and slapped directly onto my holster.
And my steel ball came to life.
I slapped it on Silver Bullet's backside; his skin and muscles contorted into that of a spiral!
He jumped…
AND COMPLETELY CLEARED THE RIVER!!
The steel ball flew right back into my open hand, and I slapped it back into the holster as it continued to spin.
'The rhythmic, steady breathing of Silver Bullet.
The power of the beast beneath me and the vibrations he made each time his hooves slam onto the earth!
It…
It was like a song.
One that was most beautiful.'
A raindrop hit my face and slid right off my cheek, unable to keep up with us in speed.
'One… that was most free…
.
.
.
.
Can I too…
.
.
.
.
Be so free?'
←–TO BE CONTINUED—
*****
AN: Honestly, Knicks in FIVE!!!!! I never thought I would see the day the Knicks would make it to the finals; You know I gave everything to this game, man!
PLEASE GOD!!! IT'S THE ONLY TIME I'LL EVER GET THE CHANCE TO SEE THEM WIN IN MY LIFETIME!!!
Anyway, that's about it. See ya.