Bloody Red

All I could see was darkness. I turned to my left, turned to my right, or at least it felt like I did. It was like I somehow stumbled into the void. The only thing I was sure of was that my feet were grounded in some sort of liquid that pooled at my feet.

Due to the darkness that surrounded me, I couldn’t make out its color, but it felt thick, thicker than water. Along with the thickness, there was a smell. A terribly pungent smell that was horrible yet familiar.

I need to get out of here. I need to get back to the trial.

Those were the first thoughts to come to mind, so I started to trek through the liquid. I couldn’t tell where I was going, but it was better than staying still. While I continued to wander, I could feel the liquid soaking into my socks. I tried to look down, but looking down only reminded me of the lack of light around me. I couldn’t even make out my shoes, my legs, or most of my body. All I could see was my two hands as I stretched them out in front of me, hoping to reach a wall or anything, and eventually I did.

At first, I really was relieved. I felt my smile grow as I reached out, and the solid felt familiar. It was soft and smooth. My second thought was to take a whiff of it. When I did, I recognized its aromatic scent; it was a fresh, woody smell like the one that surrounded my grandma’s house.

Wait. If it smells the same and feels the same, then it is the same.

I clung to the wall as I realized these were Japanese cedar trees, the same type I spent a lot of time around when I was a kid.

But why were they here?

Before I could wonder any longer, I noticed a small circular hole in the wood. I’d be a fool not to peek through it. I don’t know what I was expecting to see, but it certainly wasn’t what I saw.

When I peeked through it, I was able to make out a figure. Its striking red skin stood out in the darkness. I couldn’t think of any other color to describe it, and protruding from its red head were horns. Unlike the singular horn on my head, these horns were fully grown. However, I couldn’t make out its eyes because its back was turned to me. It was in the fetal position, facing the opposite direction from me. However, for some reason, I wanted to take a closer look at it. I wanted the creature to get a better look at me, too.

Before I knew it, a single teardrop fell from my eye. “Huh? Why am I crying?” As the teardrop rippled in the liquid, I wiped away the tears that were swelling in my eyes. After they felt like they were gone, I peered through the hole again, and all I saw was red. It was only red until I could make out a faint line. When it realized I could see it, the line broke out into a sharp-fanged smile.

I immediately stumbled back at the sight and fell into the liquid around me, my hands drenched in it. Naturally, I raised my hand from the liquid to see what it was… It was blood… My hands were stained with blood… That means the liquid I was walking in… must have been blood too.

I wanted to scream, but before I could, I felt it clinging onto me. The blood pooled around me until I couldn’t even see the hands in front of me. My hands were reaching out for something to hold onto. However, that something never came. All I got was a laugh. A bloodcurdling laugh.