Bubbles rise gently to the surface, as memories are lifted away with each one. That voice, that field of blood, the corpses laying ever so still. Each thought races through the mind, all burning it, all to be washed away and lost. A gentle voice rings through the mind like an eerie reminder of the past. “Huh? Where am I?” His eyes slowly ajar. The rays of the sun shimmer and distort behind the thin surface of clear water. With each ripple, vision and consciousness return. “I am… underwater? Breathing as well? That’s… unique.” The water felt like a blanket. It was warm and comforting. “I don’t want to leave… but I should.”  

Pressing his hands against the rugged ground of pebbles, they sink into them like they were foam, spacing and separating the once tightly compacted rocks. He pushed himself to his feet with a glance at his massive hands. “My hands are like bear paws!” he thought, amused. Much like his hands, his feet sink right into the ground. It was soothing and gentle. He examines his hands once again, and his eyes trail along his arms to his body. Power coursed through his fantastic physique. He clenched his fist repeatedly, feeling his veins rub against the inside of his hand and the power that stirs within them. More bubbles climb their way to the surface above, curious eyes peering at the sun behind it. It was time to go.  

Setting aside the confusion and drowsiness, curiosity began to command his soul. Power flows through his legs, his feet dragging backward, and his feet push him up towards the surface. Cutting through the water like a jet in the serene skies, his head emerged from the depths. A delicate breeze immediately caressed his face with beads of water dripping off his hair. The droplets echo throughout the small area wrapped with foliage. Vibrant and lush trees sway through the wind, the sun cutting through their branches, and its rays shine brightly on the water. His eyes dart around the pond he was in. His curious gaze travels towards the nearby shore. It was circled with flushed florals, all seemingly endless. The rays of the sun were ever so blinding. A fleeting thought occurs suddenly. “Wait, since when did I know how to swim…? Who even am I?”  

The breeze stagnates. A deep pain fills his body, empty and cold. That emptiness burned in the worst way. As he begins to ponder, the wind blows again and pulls him from thought. Curiosity called again. He used his powerful legs to swim forward, pushing them outward with a rhythm. As he gets closer to shore, he can reach the ground and walk the rest of the way. The dirt swirls beneath him, and the crisp air caresses the rest of his body. He smiles with pleasure at the glorious feeling. On the shore, he stumbles forward as he is pulled down by the world. He collapsed to his knees with heavy breathing. His whole body was shaking with exhaustion. His body falls to its side before he turns to lie on his back. He stares blankly at the blue sky that reflects in his eyes. He sat up and faced the pond again. He examines the area once again and all its serenity before glancing down at the rippling surface. His reflection was clear as the sky with every feature. His eyes were like emeralds and greener than the foliage around him. His hair was disheveled and brown, with his face being strong but young. His reaction was immediate, and his thoughts boom in his head, “I’m handsome!” He smiled with childish glee until his head was attacked by a terrible pain. Voices play throughout his mind, and familiar echoes ring in his ears. His own visage becomes painfully familiar, and a name comes to him, to which is played over and over.  

“Victor…” he thought. The repetitive name ceased at last, and silence fills the area. “I am Victor.” Another smile creeps on his face. “That’s a great name!” He stood up with his newfound energy, feeling slight relief from the emptiness that plagued him. “I am Victor! It’s a wonderful name!” Victor’s lips curl into a bright, plastered looking smile, like the thought of simply remembering his name was the greatest news of his existence. Victor’s eyes scan the area curiously. He takes in the scenery and his natural surroundings, feeling a wave of peace wash over him. The still waters of the pond were shimmering in the reflection of his eyes, and his expression shifted as if the very water spoke to him. He felt strongly compelled to venture. A pulsating pain at the back of his head sent shivers throughout his body. An urge… for what? Victor begins to contemplate, “Where in the world am I? How did I get here? Should I be worried?” He makes one last survey of the area. “I wonder if anyone is around?” Victor thought. He finally speaks, but his voice comes out like a siren that reverberates throughout the area, “HELLOOO?! HELLOOOO?!”  

Victor quickly covers his mouth. His heart races at the sudden booming of his thunderous roar, reverberating in the thick silence. His fear quickly became fascination at just how strange he truly was. His eyes were full of childish wonder, and he passionately begins to experiment with his own voice. “HEYYY!!! HELLOOOOO!!! HI!!!!” His eyes sparkle with curiosity. “This is amazing!” he thought. But as his adrenaline simmers down, his eyes travel upward along a dirt path. The path felt oddly enticing to something deep inside him, a flame in need of fuel. His body moves subconsciously from the mud bed that had begun to trap his sinking feet. His mind wanders as his body does, his eyes glued ahead to the lush forest that shrouds the sun and crystal-clear sky. He wanders deeper without hesitancy, without any particular goal in mind.