#emsworld

It had hurt. He had hurt so much. He wondered to himself Where did the pain go?

“You can open your eyes now.” He twitched at the strange, distorted yet somewhat familiar, sound. He opened a single eye just enough to see… the man? He didn’t look like a human in any way past approximate physical shape. appearing to be constantly in motion the pitch black “man” stood over him. “Welcome to the Null.” The creature didn’t move nor was the unusual voice coming from any particular direction but he knew the being was the one who spoke.

“What happened?” His voice echoed around the chaotic chamber they were in. He could tell by the creature’s profile that it turned away. Staring off at one of the many technicolor clouds of vapor spread around the “room.”

“You died.” He took a moment to process that. He died… he was dead… he didn’t know what to think.

“What happened?” He tried so desperately to remember. He didn’t notice the creature approach, or maybe it hadn’t approached, maybe it was just there suddenly. He didn’t know how it moved so silently or quietly but it frightened him. “What’s going to happen?”

“I will take you somewhere… nice.” It held its “hand” out to him and waited.

“Why should I trust you? I don’t know you!” He jumped to his feet and attempted to run away but found himself running on air and immobile, incapable of even turning away from the “man”s hand.

“It is pointless.” He kept trying. “That is not how the Null works.” Still he continued to try. The creature waited patiently. He finally stopped trying to escape and glared at the “man” daring him to come any closer. “You may call me Zero if you wish.”

“I still don’t know you.” He replied stubbornly. “I don’t know what you want. I don’t know what you are. I don’t even know where your face is!”

“...” The shadow man seemed to ponder this for a moment. “You are different from how they usually are… very well.”

“Very well what?!” He was tired of this, and scared and just wanted to go home.

“I want… to help you. I don’t know… what I am. And my face is exactly where you think it is. Do you have any more questions?” It spoke slowly as if to make him understand. He thought for a moment, trying to trip this thing up.

“What’s your favorite color?” He said with a grin, really just messing with it, not expecting an answer. It was silent for so long he began to laugh awkwardly

“... Red.” The reply startled him. He made a confused face at it.

“You’re weird. You know that?” The creature looked as though it was nodding.

“I am aware.” It’s voice changed a little as the creature began to chuckle then slowly transition to an all out guffaw. He began to join in with it’s laughter as it seemed to shake in delight. The creatures hand was still held out to him throughout the entire conversation and he felt safe with it so he reached forward and grasped it just as the creature got to the height of its joy. The “room” fell silent in an instant. It seemed to look deep into his soul though it had no eyes. “Do you trust me?”

“Nah, but so what? I’m already dead. What have I got to lose?” He smiled up at it closing his eyes for just a second only to open them and wake up alone in a field. He jumped to his feed and spun around in circles looking for any signs of anyone else. “Zero?” He called out and he got a response just not the response he was expecting.

“Oh god! Look! Look! There he is!” He felt his “mom” pull him into a tight hug.

“Oh thank heavens! We thought we lost you sweetheart!” He saw his “dad” beaming as he ran towards them. He didn’t miss the particularly dark shadow in the trees behind his “father” He smiled back at it and even though he couldn’t see it he knew it smiled back.

“Thank you, Zero.” he breathed at it. And felt its response deep in his chest.