Shadow of Death (SOD)

Chapter 72

Asher’s back slowly slid down the bathroom door as he collapsed onto his backside.

His mouth hung slightly open as he stared at the notebook lying barely a metre away from him.

"No, no, no, no.... This can’t be real. It can’t be real. Se-seven hundred days? Bu-But how? Why? Why don’t I remember?

Why is my memory mushed and missing?" He uttered with a frantic shake of his head.

His fingers curled tightly around his hair in fright.

Slowly, he drew his legs closer to his body, his grip tightening around his hair while his lips quivered repeatedly.

His teeth silently clattered at the horrifying realization that he had been losing his mind over the days without even knowing.

It seemed like his memories and mind were being preyed upon.

Erased.

Piece by piece.

But by who?

By what?

What was happening to him?

Was the same thing happening to his family, or was it only him?

But then—

He recalled the log from Day Four Hundred.

’They aren’t real?’

His breathing hitched.

’What isn’t? My family? Escape? What does it mean? How am I supposed to escape or wake up? Or am I sleeping?’

Asher slowly glanced down at his hands.

His teeth stopped clattering.

His lips stopped quivering.

His gaze remained fixed on his arms.

’If I’m sleeping, then....’

Slowly, Asher raised one of his arms toward his mouth.

He swallowed hard as he watched his arm getting closer and closer.

His heart pounded heavily inside his chest.

And soon, he opened his mouth and brought it toward his arm when—

"Ack...."

A sharp pain suddenly tore through his skull.

Asher groaned loudly and immediately grabbed his head with both hands.

It felt like something had violently stabbed into his mind.

He gritted his teeth and endured the pain.

It took several agonizing seconds before the headache finally began to subside.

Slowly, he lifted his gaze toward the notebook.

Then he blinked.

"Wh-What was I doing again?"

Asher rubbed his chin.

His eyes moved toward his arm.

Then toward the notebook.

’Right. The notebook was trying to tell me to wake up and escape. But escape from what? And how do I even wake up? But this doesn’t seem to be a dream though.’

He slowly looked around himself.

The shower.

The toilet seat.

The cold tiles beneath him.

And even his own hands.

Everything looked normal.

Everything felt normal.

Without hesitation, Asher quickly pinched himself as hard as possible.

"Owww.... Yup. Definitely not a dream," he muttered while slowly rubbing his sore, reddened arm.

’So what is....’

The moment his thoughts began moving toward that question, Asher felt something rushing from the corner of his mind.

Something attempting to attack his skull.

He immediately stopped himself.

’Simple thoughts. Nothing complex, huh?’

His eyes narrowed.

’Don’t trust anybody. And don’t think of escaping. Yeah, don’t think of escaping. Wait.... Why shouldn’t I think of escaping?’

His brows furrowed.

’Of course, I want to escape whatever this shit is that’s making.... Argh....’

Another wave of pain assaulted his mind.

Asher immediately grabbed his head.

The headache was stronger this time.

It almost felt as if something was trying to distract him.

Or perhaps—

Erase his thoughts again.

"...."

But then—

Asher’s lips slowly curled into a faint smirk.

He held his head while staring at the notebook lying on the ground.

’Figured.’

His eyes narrowed slightly.

’So.... don’t think of escaping. Got it.’

After calming himself down and carefully fighting against whatever force was being exerted on his mind, Asher slowly stood upright.

He took a deep breath.

Then walked out of the bathroom.

A few moments later, he returned with a pen in his hand.

Walking toward the notebook, Asher picked it up and slowly penned down a new message.

{Day; I have no idea.... Just incase, don’t think of escaping. Never think of escaping. Go with the flow, fam.}

He stared at the words he had just written.

Then smiled.

Asher walked toward the vault and carefully slid the notebook back inside.

After making sure the comics and manga completely covered the book, he closed the vault.

Making absolutely sure it was properly locked.

Only he knew the PIN and combination to the vault.

He closed the mirror, hiding the vault from sight, and took half a step back.

He observed himself in the mirror and smiled.

’Simple thoughts.... Don’t think of escaping... don’t trust anybody.... Go with the flow....’

Asher squeezed his hands as tightly as he could.

His knuckles turned white almost immediately, while his nails dug into his palms, causing the skin to redden.

And even still, he was smiling at himself in the mirror.

The pain worked.

Whatever headache had been creeping toward his mind receded almost immediately.

He exhaled a deep breath of relief before walking toward the sink.

He washed his hands and splashed cold water over his face, breathing another sigh of relief as he slowly raised his head and looked at his reflection once more.

’Simple thoughts....’

He repeated the words inwardly, almost like they were some sort of mantra.

’.... It would seem like this was how my previous version was able to get me to remember the word ’Written.’ Holding onto heavy thoughts is hard, and I would be forced to forget.’

Asher wiped his lips and then walked out of the bathroom.

The moment he did, Asher could be seen descending the stairs, where his family could be seen discussing happily.

"You good now?" Jayden called out with a friendly smile.

Asher stared at them one by one.

His chest tightened.

’Could it really be true that they aren’t real? Is it... no! They should be real. They are my family. I will save them just in case...’

He flashed them a smile and also gave them a thumbs-up.

"Of course. After resting for a while, the headache reduced."

Jayden nodded and silently exhaled in relief.

"So, where you headed?" Clara inquired as she watched the boy heading toward the door.

Jesse smirked.

"Maybe he wants to go meet his girlfriend."

Asher frowned.

"Like you gave me one, fool."

He then looked at his mother.

"I’m going out to get some fresh air. My head is heavy. I will be back in a few minutes."

Clara exchanged a glance with Jack for a few seconds before his father looked at him with a wide smile.

"Sure, son. Just don’t go too far because it would soon be nighttime."

Asher held the door handle and nodded at them.

His mind flashed back to the brief exchange of looks between his parents.

’Hmph.’

He twisted the handle and pulled the door open.

"I will be back."

Then he walked out, closing the door behind him while leaving his family staring at the closed door for a few seconds with blank looks on their faces.

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