Chapter 2: The Frozen Pond
The feeling of falling followed by darkness, that was the last thing that Cain experienced, or at least it should have been. Slowly opening his eyes, he was surprised, Cain's vision was surrounded by the calming sights of a lush forest. He was truly perplexed on why he was seeing this, was this heaven or a cruel twist on hell where he would have to fight for survival. Whatever it was, he knew one thing instinctively, this was not the world that he was just in. This world was new, and the air was surprisingly clean and clear of any pollution. Reaching his hand up to his head to rub his thumping temples, he noticed something else. The old hands that he was so used too seemed to have disappeared. What was before him were a pair of young, albeit dirty, hands.
These hands where rough as though they have never known a clam, peaceful day. Looking to his left he saw a sparkling pond surrounded by wildflowers of all colors, that where so vibrant he almost couldn't believe they were real. Shaking himself out of his initial stupor, he approached the small pond to try and get a grasp of just what he looked like. In the water he saw the reflection of what looked like a dirty youth of mid to late 20's. He had a mostly average face, of what seemed to be Northern European decent, that seemed to have a thin layer of dirt on it as though he hadn't showered in weeks.
Staring at himself for a while trying to grasp what was happening, he had noticed his clothes. He appeared to be wearing the same suit that he had died in just moments ago, with the same gold tie clip with the initials "KC". Why would he have those on but not his old, withered body?
"What in the world is going on?"
Looking up to survey his surroundings and get a feel for his body he stood. Standing up it took a moment to feel his bearings as he seemed to be a few inches taller than what he recalled. Cain closed his eyes and calmed his breath. If he was going to find a way out of this situation then he had to think, he could be anywhere, and he had no food or weapons do defend himself with. That was when he heard it, with his eyes closed and his mind clear he heard a voice call out from the pond.
"Want, and the world will be yours."
Cain quickly turned around to see who had just spoken, but all he saw was a calm pond with nary a soul in sight. He closed his eyes again and calmed himself, once his eyes were closed, he saw it. A faint green glow in the vast darkness, coming from within the pond. He felt it penetrate his mind and it felt comfortable, but so cold. He was never one to back down and had to admit that his curiosity was getting the better of him, before he knew it his legs had already guided him into the pond.
"Try, and all will fall before you."
The voice grew louder as he neared the center of the pond, and the dim green light grew brighter. However, the closer he got, the colder he felt as though he was in the middle of a blizzard.
'Ha, you think you can stop me with a slight chill.'
His determination was burring in his heart and wouldn't let him back down, it was often the most difficult challenges had the greatest rewards.
"Command, and death itself will bow."
It was at this point that he was fully submerged in the water, the feeling of cold could no longer be described. He felt as though his skin had turned to ice, like his bones were frozen solid, and if his blood had turned cold. He felt as if this was the feeling of death, like the forest was just a sick game and he truly was in hell to suffer. Grinding his teeth and refusing to succumb to this icy feeling he pushed himself to the limits. Then a wave of calm and peace washed over him, as if he was in a warm bath. Swimming back up to the surface of the water to finally breath, he felt different, as if he was reborn.
Once the water calmed down, he looked back at his reflection, something was different this time. His eyes that had just been a light blue color had turned into a mysterious emerald green, giving off a feeling of unease. Yet when he blinked, they had returned to what they had been just moments ago, that same light blue color. Mixed with his natural sharp and cold look however, they were not any less uneasy feeling.
"No matter what is going on, I have to find some kind of civilization, or I may indeed starve to death."
As he looked around to find a path to follow, he noticed that the vibrant colors that seemed to adorn this place before had all faded. Almost as if when he gained his new vitality the surroundings lost its. Choosing to forget about this fact for now he chose to head off down the only mostly clear rout he saw. While Cain was walking through the forest, he decided to test out his new body, if he was going to be living in it from now on, he might as well make sure he wouldn't be clumsy. Testing some old martial arts that he once learned in passing to determine his strength, he found that the bits and pieces of information he once learned formed into a beautiful understanding. He had even been able to fill in any blanks he had on the subject as if he had practiced for years.
Taking his mental acuity into account, he found that his thought process was actually faster and clearer after his little bath in the lake and that it wouldn't be a bad thing. However, no matter how hard he thought, Cain could not understand why or how he was here in this strange place.
Before he knew it, Cain had finally managed to find a what looked to be an old road of dirt.
'Has this world not even developed asphalt?'
Thinking that he could follow this road to a town he approached, but something wasn't right. He didn't know why but within his vision he saw faint red lights, almost like flames, yet there was no fire. Seeing six of these flames behind trees and bushes, he casually approached the center of the road.
"Look what we have here boys, a mouse in a trap."
For some reason, other than the cheesy line like he was facing a schoolyard punk, the sneering voice made Cain somewhat irritated. The punks fanned out and covered all his escape routes, at their waists they all wore swords. They seemed like shoddily crafted Iron swords, no doubt these brigands had threatened the craftsman to forge them, or they stole them off the dead.
"And what can I help you gentlemen out with on this fine evening?"
After being in many parlous situations throughout his life, a few brigands with swords were not going to shake his conviction. This statement though seemed to only make them laugh as though his words were nothing more than the pleadings of a beggar. Certainly, the ragged and torn suit did not help his case. That was when a single man stepped forward, he seemed to be the leader given that his sword was of a slightly higher quality and he wore a long black cloak with red embroidery. whereas the others only wore simple black jackets.
"I'll tell you what buddy, you hand over that gold that's on your chest and maybe, just maybe we let you live."
Drawing his sword, he pointed it at Cain.
"How idiotic do you think I am? Let me make two points to you. First, you never assume anyone's strength based on their looks."
The brigand leader was within arm's reach of Cain at this point with a cocky smile on his face, as if he didn't take Cain's words seriously.
"Oh, is that right, and do tell me, what is the second?"
"Weapons are not made for threatening..."
With a sharp and cold glint in his eye, Cain quickly grabbed the brigand's wrist holding the sword and flipped him. Ending up with the brigand kneeling and his own sword to his throat.
"...They are made for killing."
The cold blade smoothly slid across the man's neck and blood burst forth as if from a fountain. Collapsing to the ground covered in blood still seeping out, he laid there dead.
"Now tell me, who's next?"
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