Chapter 9: Awakening in a New Worldand A Tense Reunion
The searing pain of the fire, the blinding light, the suffocating heat—it all dissolved into an endless void, a darkness that felt both eternal and fleeting. Fallie Greville's consciousness flickered like a dying ember in the abyss, until a cool breeze brushed against his skin, stirring him from the depths of oblivion. Beneath him, there was a strange warmth, soft and yielding, contrasting with the chill in the air. His eyelids felt heavy, as if sealed shut for centuries, but with effort, he forced them open, the world before him unfolding in a way that defied everything he knew.
A dense, misty forest stretched out in all directions, an endless expanse of towering trees with gnarled branches that twisted toward a crimson sky, their leaves a deep, unnatural green that shimmered with a faint, otherworldly glow. The air was thick with fog, the mist curling around the trunks like ghostly tendrils, muffling the sounds of the forest—a distant rustle of leaves, the faint, eerie cry of an unknown creature echoing through the trees. The ground beneath him was soft, a bed of moss and fallen leaves, its earthy scent mingling with the crisp, metallic tang of the air. Fallie's amethyst purple eyes, now free of the hazel contact lenses he'd worn on Earth, widened as he took in his surroundings, his mind struggling to process where he was. The last thing he remembered was the explosion, the fire consuming him, the agony of his skin burning away… and yet, here he was, alive.
He pushed himself up, his arms trembling under the effort, his body sluggish and unresponsive, as if it were no longer his own. His once lean and muscular frame felt different—slimmer, lighter, as if the strength he'd built over years of discipline had been stripped away. He glanced down at himself, his breath catching in his throat as he realized he was completely bare, his clothes gone, his body exposed to the cool air. His skin was pale, almost luminous under the dim light filtering through the canopy, and his physique, while still toned, carried the softer edges of youth, a stark contrast to the hardened form of his 26-year-old self. He stood, his movements unsteady, his height noticeably reduced—he estimated he was now around 5'10", a significant drop from his former stature. His stark white hair fell messily over his forehead, shimmering faintly in the misty light, and his amethyst eyes glowed with an intensity that felt foreign, a trait of Alexandria's Genesis he had hidden on Earth but now stood revealed.
As he steadied himself, his gaze shifted to the warmth he had felt beneath him, and his heart skipped a beat at the sight. Three young women lay on the mossy ground, their bare bodies positioned atop one another in a tangled heap, their skin damp with a faint sheen of mist. They appeared youthful, their features soft and unblemished, yet their figures carried a maturity that suggested they were in their mid-20s. The sight was striking, their vulnerability in this strange environment stirring a protective instinct in Fallie, his mind racing to make sense of the scene.
He stepped closer, his bare feet sinking into the moss, his amethyst eyes carefully observing the trio. At the bottom was Elena Kafka, her long purple hair splayed out like a silken halo around her head, her purple eyes closed in deep slumber. Her figure was curvaceous, her body pressed against the ground, her fair skin glowing faintly under the crimson sky. Her slender arms rested at her sides, her posture relaxed despite the unusual circumstances.
Above Elena lay Clara Tormen, her body facing upward, her white hair fanning out beneath her, its faint shimmer catching the dim light. Her crimson eyes were closed, her breathing slow and steady as she slept motionlessly. Her frame was well-proportioned, her pale skin almost ethereal against the earthy tones of the moss, her slender limbs stretched out in a state of rest.
At the top of the pile was Sarah Vael, her vibrant red hair spilling over Clara's shoulder, her yellow eyes closed as she lay in a position that suggested she had been clinging to Clara in her sleep. Her body was pressed closely against Clara's, their forms intertwined in a way that spoke of unconscious comfort, her fair skin flushed slightly from the cool air. Her arms were wrapped loosely around Clara, her posture intimate yet innocent in the context of their shared unconsciousness.
Fallie's breath hitched as he recognized them—his core team members, Clara, Elena, and Sarah, somehow transformed into younger versions of themselves, just as he had been. He recalled waking up atop them, his body pressed against Sarah's, their warmth the only comfort in the void of unconsciousness. Now, as he stood over them, a surge of protectiveness washed over him, his bond with his team grounding him in this unfamiliar world.
He knelt beside them, his movements still sluggish but growing steadier as he adjusted to his new form. He reached out, gently lifting Sarah from Clara, her skin warm against his hands as he set her down on the moss beside Elena, her red hair fanning out around her like a fiery halo. Next, he lifted Elena from Clara, her purple hair trailing over his arm as he placed her beside Sarah, her body settling softly on the moss. Finally, he turned to Clara, her white hair glowing faintly as he ensured she was comfortable on the ground, her crimson eyes still closed, her pale figure a stark contrast to the earthy surroundings.
Fallie's amethyst eyes softened as he looked at his team, concern etching his features as he took in their vulnerable state. He leaned over Clara first, his hands gently shaking her shoulders, his voice low and urgent. "Clara, wake up," he said, his tone firm but gentle. He moved to Elena, then Sarah, repeating the process, his hands careful as he tried to rouse them, his focus entirely on ensuring their safety in this unknown world.
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Fallie knelt beside his three teammates, his amethyst purple eyes flickering with concern as he gently shook their shoulders, his hands careful against their bare skin. Clara, Elena, and Sarah remained motionless, their bodies still locked in the deep slumber that had gripped him moments ago, their youthful forms a stark contrast to the misty forest around them. The air was thick with fog, the mist curling around the towering trees, their gnarled branches stretching toward the crimson sky, casting eerie shadows on the mossy ground. The faint glow of the leaves, a deep, unnatural green, illuminated the scene with an otherworldly light, while the distant cry of an unknown creature echoed through the forest, heightening Fallie's sense of urgency.
He turned his attention to Sarah, her vibrant red hair splayed out on the moss like a fiery halo, her yellow eyes closed as she lay beside Elena and Clara. Her fair skin was damp with mist, her body bare and vulnerable in the cool air, her curvaceous figure softened by the youthful transformation they had all undergone. Fallie leaned over her, his hands gently shaking her shoulders, his voice low and urgent. "Sarah, come on, wake up," he said, his tone firm but laced with concern, his stark white hair catching the dim light as he moved.
After a few moments, Sarah stirred, her yellow eyes fluttering open, her vision blurry as she tried to focus. Her head spun, a dizzying sensation that made the world tilt and sway, the dense misty forest coming into view like a surreal painting she couldn't quite grasp. Towering trees stretched endlessly before her, their bark dark and rough, etched with grooves that pulsed with a faint, bioluminescent glow. The crimson sky above cast an eerie, blood-red hue over the scene, the mist swirling around the trunks like ghostly tendrils, muffling the sounds of the forest—the rustle of leaves, the faint drip of moisture from the canopy. The air was cool, a faint breeze brushing against her skin, and she shivered as she realized she was completely bare, her clothes gone, her body exposed to the elements. Her fair skin prickled with goosebumps, her red hair falling messily over her shoulders as she sat up, the moss soft and damp beneath her.
Her gaze darted to her right, and her heart skipped a beat as she saw an unfamiliar young man kneeling beside her, his stark white hair and amethyst purple eyes glowing with an otherworldly intensity. He was just as bare as she was, his lean, toned body a stark contrast to the earthy surroundings, his pale skin almost luminous under the crimson sky. He was holding her shoulders, his hands warm against her chilled skin, and panic surged through her. With a gasp, Sarah pushed him away, scrambling to her feet as she stumbled back, her movements clumsy in her disoriented state. She quickly covered herself, one arm crossing over her chest, her other hand shielding her lower body, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment as she glared at him, her yellow eyes wide with suspicion.
"Who are you?!" Sarah demanded, her voice trembling with a mix of fear and anger, her hyperactive nature amplifying her reaction. "Did you bring me here? What's going on? Why am I… like this?!" Her gaze darted around, taking in the misty forest, the endless trees, the crimson sky—none of it made sense, and the sight of the stranger only fueled her panic, her red hair whipping around as she gestured wildly, her body tense with unease.
Fallie raised his hands in a placating gesture, his amethyst eyes soft with concern as he tried to explain, his voice calm despite the tension. "I don't know how we got here," he said, his tone steady, his stark white hair shimmering faintly in the dim light. "I woke up just like you—bare, in this forest. I don't know what's going on, but I didn't bring you here. I'm just as confused as you are." He kept his distance, his posture non-threatening, his amethyst eyes reflecting the crimson glow of the sky as he spoke.
But Sarah's fear drowned out his words, her hyperactive nature driving her to take another step back, her arms still covering her body, her yellow eyes narrowing with distrust. Her gaze shifted behind Fallie, and her breath caught in her throat as she saw two more young women lying on the moss, their bare bodies just as exposed as hers. Elena lay on her side, her long purple hair fanning out around her, her fair skin glowing in the dim light, her curvaceous figure softened by the same youthful transformation. Beside her was Clara, her white hair shimmering faintly, her pale skin almost ethereal against the moss, her body relaxed in slumber. The sight of their vulnerability, combined with Fallie's presence, made Sarah's stomach churn with disgust and fear.
"What is this?!" Sarah shouted, her voice rising as she pointed at the girls, her yellow eyes blazing with anger, her hyperactive energy fueling her outrage. "You're some kind of creep, aren't you? Kidnapping girls, leaving them like this—what's wrong with you?!" She cursed him, her words sharp and venomous, her red hair bouncing as she gestured wildly, her body trembling with a mix of fear and indignation. "Let us go right now, or I swear I'll—"
Her tirade faltered as she took a closer look at the two girls, her yellow eyes narrowing as she studied their features. The girl with purple hair… her delicate face, her soft jawline, the way her hair framed her even in sleep—it reminded her so much of Elena Kafka, her friend and coworker, though this version appeared younger, her unblemished beauty almost ethereal. And the girl with white hair beside her… the high cheekbones, the doll-like quality of her face—it was unmistakably Clara Tormen, but younger, her features softer, her pale skin glowing with a youthful allure. Sarah's heart pounded as she called out to them, her voice trembling with a mix of hope and fear. "Elena! Clara! Wake up—it's me, Sarah!"
But the two girls didn't stir, their bodies still locked in slumber, their bare forms motionless on the moss, their breathing slow and steady. Fallie's amethyst eyes widened as he heard Sarah call out their names, a spark of recognition igniting in his mind. He looked at the girl in front of him, her vibrant red hair, her yellow eyes, her fiery demeanor—it was Sarah Vael, his lead writer, but younger, just as he had been reverted to a younger version of himself. Her hyperactive energy, her pickiness in the way she glared at him—it was unmistakably her.
"Sarah, it's me," Fallie said, his voice firm but gentle as he took a cautious step closer, his hands still raised to show he meant no harm. "I'm Fallie—Fallie Greville. I don't know what's happened to us, but I think we've been… changed. Look at me—I'm younger too, just like you. And those girls—they're Clara and Elena, our team. We're all in this together." His amethyst eyes softened, his tone steady as he tried to anchor her in the midst of her panic.
Sarah froze, her yellow eyes searching his face, her mind racing as she took in his words. The stark white hair, the amethyst purple eyes—they were different, but his features, his sharp jawline, his familiar presence… it was Fallie, her mentor, her role model, the man she admired above all others. The realization hit her like a wave, her anger melting into confusion as she lowered her arms slightly, though she still kept her body partially covered, her cheeks flushing deeper with embarrassment.
"Fallie…?" she whispered, her voice trembling as she took a tentative step closer, her yellow eyes wide with uncertainty. "But… how? Why are we here? Why are we… like this? And why do you look younger?" Her hyperactive nature kicked in again, her words tumbling out in a rush as she tried to make sense of the situation, her red hair bouncing as she gestured with one hand, the other still covering her chest.
Fallie shook his head, his amethyst eyes warm with understanding as he glanced at Clara and Elena, then back at Sarah. "I don't know," he admitted, his voice steady, his stark white hair catching the crimson glow of the sky. "But we'll figure it out together. Let's wake Clara and Elena—they need to know what's going on too." He gestured toward the two girls, his movements careful, his focus on ensuring the safety of his team.
Sarah nodded slowly, her yellow eyes still wary but her trust in Fallie beginning to take root, her admiration for him anchoring her in this strange new world. She glanced down at her bare body, then at Fallie's, her cheeks flushing deeper as she crossed her arms more securely over her chest, her posture tense with discomfort. "Okay," she said, her voice softer now, though her pickiness showed in her tone as she added, "But we need to find something to cover ourselves with—this is ridiculous."