Edits - Ch 6.1.1.1.1.1

Chapter 6.1.1.1.1.1 - Tim wakes up inside.

Outline

When Tim became aware of his surroundings again, his foggy mind panicked for a moment as there was no air around him and he felt trapped in a warm wet sack. He struggled desperately, weakly trying to free himself, but escape from his confinement seemed impossible. Soon, he calmed down as he realized that, although he was not breathing, he was not drowning. In fact, he felt very comfortable. The temperature was perfect, leaving him feeling as though he were submerged in a warm hot tub.

Despite how foggy his mind felt, he tried to figure out where he was and how he had gotten there. Wanting to get a look around he attempted to open his eyes but only managed to pry them open enough for a brief squint. There was nothing to see, though, only a dim red light. He could hear clearly, though. There were gurgling noises nearby accompanied by a steady whooshing sound that pulsed in a regular rhythm. More faintly, there was an even deeper regular rumble as if there were great open spaces above him, expanding and contracting over and over again. Somewhere in the universe beyond, there was a muffled voice, but the words it spoke were impossible to discern. This was an alien environment, yet he felt as though he were perfectly at ease here, as if this was a place made for him.

Or, as if he were made within this place.

The word “womb” drifted into his disjointed thoughts, bringing up other conflicting associations, such as the words “home” and “prison.” His thinking broadened beyond the safe space within here to the being that contained his warm world, summoning up the word “mother,” which both comforted and horrified him.

Dimly, he could remember who this woman had been to him before, but that was a different life from this one. Although it pained him to admit it, he could recall that he was responsible for placing himself in here. Whether he had intended this fate for himself or not, this change had been his fault. He was caught in a trap of his own making. Self-pity and regret gave way to despair. Then, he gave up feeling any emotions at all and surrendered to the comfort of his surroundings. What was the point of resisting any of this, after all? With no way to escape, he was stuck here until he was set free. He might as well just relax and rest and wait until then. For now, he would sleep and try not to dream of his old life, but already he knew that those hazy memories would plague him for years to come as he began life over again.

The End