The world was dark. So still and quiet, it was almost nauseating. Kai could taste iron in his mouth, he couldn't feel anything, so in turn he couldn't move or talk but he could hear. In the background of what seemed like eternal darkness he could hear two people having a conversation. He couldn't quite make out what they were saying but he was 100% certain of one thing he heard.
'Project X? Wh-what the hell…'
Then he lost consciousness again.
When Kai next woke, he could feel a warm breeze brushing past his face. His eyes were shut but he could see the light shining in from beneath them. It was warm and humid, like the very essence of what Kai thought summer should feel like. In the midst of all these sensations Kai heard what sounded like rustling grass, and the playful chirps of sparrows soaring above. The myriad of senses washed over him like a cool glass of lemonade on a hot day. Kai let himself adjust for a moment then relaxed and prepared himself to try and open his eyes, and when he did, he was in complete disbelief.
As Kai looked around he saw a world that was unfamiliar to him, something unknown. What surrounded him was a great plain that stretched as far as the eye could see. Tall yellowish grass sprouted throughout the plain, just a little under the height of Kai's waist, making it look like he was standing amidst a sea of wheat. It was odd though, because there were no plains surrounding Oki City, the place Kai lived in, within the UN(United Nation). In fact Kai had never seen a landscape such as this, in his entire life. That's why when Kai first opened his eyes a cold, dark feeling spread throughout him like a wave at a beach washing away a structure of sand.
'What is this place? Weren't we just in Oki? How could we get all the way to the plains? Wait, that guy… Where's Karma!?'
As Kai began to wrap his thoughts around the situation he was in, he heard a familiar voice calling out to him in the distance.
"HEYY! Kai, is that you?"
Kai would recognize that harsh voice anywhere. Just a little over 30 meters Karma was walking toward Kai.
"Are you hurt?"
"No, I'm fine."
Kai responded with guilt staining his voice. He couldn't help but feel like it was his fault they were in this situation. But they didn't have time for petty emotions right now, so instead he swallowed them and continued:
"Where… are we?"
Karma looked off into the distant flat lands.
"Dunno, but I think it's best if we don't stay in one place for too long. We have no idea what could be out here."
"But where do we go? There's nothing but plains out here…"
Karma then gestured behind him and added:
"I think I spotted a small stream going south. If we follow it, we'll be able to get water and figure out our next move."
For a moment silence filled the air, until Kai looked down with uncertainty and asked:
"Why? Who did this, and why today of all days? That man-Pluto said he would help us, but instead he just knocked us out and dumped us… wherever this is! I also heard him say when we told him we awakened that, at least it wasn't a complete waste. What does that even mean? Did he- Did he have something to do with Sierens death and the Titan that attacked!?"
"To be honest, I'm just as confused as you are, but we won't get any answers standing around. Plus, he said he was an Elitist, which means we'll know where to find him when we get back. But for now we need to figure out where we are."
As those words left Karma's mouth, something in Kai moved. Determination. The determination to get to the bottom of this and find out what really happened. In the next moment Kai nodded and spoke:
"Right."
He paused for a moment, looked up at Karma, then continued:
"Let's Move."
"Hehe. Okay Mr. Soldier boy. What a change in attitude"
Kai gave Karma an annoyed look then began walking North, in the direction Karma pointed towards.
"Shut it, devil face."
Karma gave a small chuckle, but in doing so showed his teeth. Proving Kai's tease. But eventually the two boys set off. The boys could not have guessed what would've happened next though, when not even 5 minutes into their journey they spotted something… A human figure. As Kai and Karma got closer they realized they should probably be more cautious, seeing as they have no idea where they are, how they were brought here and why. But as they inched closer to the figure they were able to discern more features. Out there, a couple dozen meters stood a young woman. She was slender but built, and had long dark hair as black as night. Kai was immediately curious, due to the fact that it almost seemed like this… girl lived in her own world entirely. Separated completely from reality. Kai had no words to describe her other than simply breathtaking. Karma must have seen him staring though, because he was looking at him with a devious smirk.
"Should we go talk to her, or are you just gonna keep being a creep?"
Thanks to this smart remark, Kai was dragged out of his thoughts.
"Huh-What? Uhh yeah sure. Right?"
"Sighh. Dude you haven't even talked to her and you're already psyched."
Karma placed a palm on his face then continued:
"Whatever. She looks around our age, so if she turns out to be hostile we should be able to handle her."
Kai was snapped out of his delusions for a second time.
"Dude what, why don't we just go talk to her, and see if she knows anything?"
"We will. That's just in case she's with that dude."
Kai looked towards the girl and with something floating in his eyes he spoke:
"Fine, let's go."
—-
As the two young boys approached the girl, she eventually noticed them. She seemed to be on edge and cautious of them too, because she assumed what looked like a fighting stance. Her emerald green eyes were cold and full of resolve, something that made Kai even more nervous. Kai spoke first.
"Um, excuse me ms. We have no intention of harming you. We were kidnapped and brought here by a guy in a white mask and a top hat, shortly after awakening."
Something about that sentence must have intrigued the young woman though because she seemed to relax a bit. Eventually she fell out of her fighting stance and stood with her arms by her side. She stood at just a head shorter than Kai and Karma who were of similar stature, and about 5'10.
"This happened to you too?"
Kai and Karma were a little taken aback by the question but soon Karma was able to answer.
"What do you mean 'Us too'?"
"Mm. Never mind, it doesn't matter. What's Important is that you have a description."
Kai looked at her with confusion and began to speak.
"Were you taken by force when you awakened as well? Is the man we spoke too a part of some organization? Where are we?"
"Yes-No my father he… It's complicated. But to answer your last question, the truth is I don't know where we are…"
The girl paused, hesitated then continued:
"But what I do know is that this place… Is a fake world."