'Wake up...'
“Mmmm?” With a groan, I pulled myself off the ground, my head
feeling as if there was a dense fog inside it as I sat up. Where was I?
Scanning the area, I soon found that whatever was inside my head had
managed to devour my vision as well. “Wha...?”
'Good morning. Tell me...'
“Who?” The voice was powerful, booming on all sides of me, clearly
male in nature. Something about it had a familiar tinge, as if I had heard it
recently, but trying to recall where just caused the fog to swirl even more.
'Are you... a man or a woman?'
“I... what?” Odd question. Feeling stronger now, I stood, a few futile
attempts to look around once again. “I'm obviously a man. Always have
been.” I flicked my tail a few times, noticing that it wasn't impeded by any
clothes for once. My paws began to survey myself, finding naught but a
collar loosely wrapped around my neck.
'No. You are a girl.'
“...What was that?” With a low growl, my paws dropped to my side as I
balled them into fists. “I know I can't see, but that won't save you if you
keep talking.” What the hell did I get myself into this time?
'Shall I teach you how to play? Or perhaps not?'
Play? Was this a game? “No thanks, no way in hell I'm playing
anything with you.” Maybe he'll let me go if I rub him the wrong way.
'...Then you will fail.'
Quicker than I could respond, the fog lifted from my eyes. Light
flooding in almost like a bright flash as the world appeared before me.
Yet everything still seemed hazy, almost bland. The sky was white and the
ground was black, shadows moving as if I was stuck in some kind of
monochromatic nightmare.
“Where...” I looked down at my paws, seeing that they too had lost all
colour. Giving a once-over, I noticed that the only thing near me was the
collar around my neck, a hearty jingle sounding as I shook myself. Still
confused, I reached for it, my paws struggling to find some kind of a latch.
'No. You control nothing here.'
“Grrr... Who are you?! What do you want from me?!” The voice was still
powerful, seeming to echo from everywhere and yet almost feeling as if it
were only in my mind. It gnawed at the back of my conscience, something
about it made it feel... different. Empowering, maybe?
'Find me. Then I shall answer.'
I looked around the world, a large cliff behind me that was far too steep to
climb. Ahead I saw gentle slopes, a few large steps in the distance.
Confused, I started to make my way beyond the slopes, hopping up the steps
with relative ease. “Easy enough. Just get this done and I can get out o-”
Skidding to a halt, a large pit showed itself in front of me. Another fog,
this one completely red, obscured my vision. I looked to the other side,
wondering if I could actually make the jump. It didn't... look too far, but I
had my doubts.
'Jump over the pit of barbs.'
Empowering, definitely. Fear washed away as I took a few steps forward
and leapt across the pit, landing almost gracefully on the other side.
I blinked, looking back. Had there been a flash midway through that jump?
Looking down, I saw the barbs, same as they had always been.
...Wait.
'Good girl. I am further ahead.'
“Dammit, I'm not a... Grrr...” Something wasn't qutie right. But the
voice was helping me, so I listened to it. Several more barbs appeared before
me as I continued along the path... What path? Where am I going? Why is
this place so calming to me? ...No, I have to figure out what's going on.
Fears later, knowledge now.
The path stretched endlessly ahead, the ground rising upwards as I
continued hopping up farther and farther. I came skidding to a halt as a
block of green fog swirled in front of me, hiding something within it... A
person? I couldn't... quite tell.
'Touch the statue. I'll forgive you.'
Forgive me? For what? Wasn't he the one that stranded me here, in the
middle of nowhere... Middle of nowhere? Are you that dense? You know
where you are, don't you? ...Shaking my head, I sighed and reached my paws
lowly for the green fog, fearing the worst.
Another flash of light as I let out a quick yelp, pulling my arm back as
the statue disintegrated, leaving behind only the outline of a feminine figure.
I felt... drawn to it?
'Good girl. It's time to move on.'
“Alright.” A fleeting glance as I moved on, wondering why the voice
had wanted me to destroy the statue. Carefully navigating through the barbs
ahead, I made my way to a small-Not going to object this time? Are you
giving up? ...What?
I stood on a small platform now, a board sitting above me within
leaping distance and a pathway in front of me. Hearing a strange whir
ahead, I wondered if it might be safer to travel above... though I couldn't see
anything there. “Still... it sounds dangerous up ahead, and I really just want
to get through here.”
'Travel the lower path.'
“What? Are you sure it's ok?” With only a small quiver of fear, I begin
to follow the path, a few barbs easily passed. The whirring grows ever
louder, and just as the path looks as if it will open up and meet with its
offshoot branch, I look upwards, spying a large object obscured in red fog
hurtling towards me.
Barely diving out of the way, shivering from how close I was, I look to
the area above the path I'd just exited. The top path looks relatively
peaceful... Is he toying with me? Why would he do that, though? He's usually
so caring... Who? Who is he? Still feeling fearful, I move a few steps along
the way when another flash blinds me.
'Good girl.'
“Ehehe, of course! If it's for you, I can do anything!” A bounce in my
step as I continued on my way, hopping over the barbs and dissolving
statues. Through the traps and obstacles, I can only think of how he's
praising me, telling me that I'm a 'good' pet. I can only think of how much I-
need to get out of here and figure out what he's doing to me. What was going
on? One moment I was myself... but after those strange flashes, I almost felt
like... he was my owner?
'No way. No!' Something had to be going on in the real world. He was
messing with me somehow. Shaking my head as I looked around and
banished the thought from my mind, I looked around the landscape again,
spying a deep pit ahead. Something was bothering me... what had I just been
thinking of? It must not have mattered much... I was almost to the pit, now.
'...Throw yourself into the barbs.'
...What? I slid to a stop, just barely avoiding the edge of the pit. Had he
really just said... “W... what? No way. I've been avoiding these things this
whole time! You must be cra-...Erm... I mean... Is it safe?” I glanced over
the edge, frightened, though curious. They were so far down... I'd be falling
so fast by the time I reached them if I really did it...
'Have I steered you wrong yet?'
“No, Master, you'd never hurt me.” My ears drooped, my shoulders
sagged, my tail slumped. Had I always doubted him so? I shivered a bit as I
stood at the edge, looking down again. Without hesitating, my ears perked
again and I returned to my cheery self. 'Well, there's only one way to make it
up to him!'
...I was plummeting. Headfirst. As I saw the barbs approaching, I squeezed
my eyes shut as tight as I could. For a brief moment, it felt as if my entire
body had shattered into pieces on impact... yet, oddly, it was painless.
'Good girl.'
As I clenched my eyes still, I felt the ground on my fur again.
Cautiously taking a peek, I found myself at the edge of the pit. I looked back,
recognizing the path I had taken and realizing that somehow... I had made it
to the other side. He must've saved me somehow, just like I thought he
would!
Rising to my feet, I stumbled forward a bit, the fall having weakened
me more than I expected it to. 'Still, it must be better than the alternative,
right?' Giggling a bit, I fell over, landing next to a large tower. “A break,
then. Is that okay with you, Master?” I leaned against the tower as my
strength slowly returned, waiting to hear from him.
'Tell me... Do I control your body... or your mind?'
“Huh? What an odd question...” I glanced around the landscape,
letting the familiarity wash over me again. He had sent me to cleanse my
mind of my past self, after all... but I had to do all the inner-running myself,
right? So why would he ask that? Still, it was best to answer him... No one
liked a pet who couldn't answer when prompted, right?
“Easy! You control my mind, obviously!” ...I blinked. What was that
odd feeling just now? ...Almost as if I split.
'Good... Beg for me, then.'
Smiling still, I looked towards the sky... knowing that he wasn't there,
but still wanting to show where he stood to me. “Anytime you want,
Master!”
