The Odd One

Dark. Black. Void. 

Blind in a pitch black abyss of a room seemingly ever expanding. You stand there confused not knowing how you got here and trembling, too scared to move. Fearing one misstep will lead you to your end or an everlasting free fall down a black hole.

“Hi.”

A feminine voice uttering a single word. That word echoing around you, shrouded in darkness.

“W-what!? W-what’s g-going on!? Where are you!? W-who are you!? You say, your head snapping around wildly in search of where the word came from.

“Careful, you’ll give yourself whiplash. The answers will come. Relax.”

Realizing your efforts to find the source of the voice are in vain, you drop, sitting down with your knees suffocatingly pressed to your vibrating chest. Hopelessly waiting for the voice to continue speaking.

“Just close your eyes and breathe.”

You listen. Closing your bobbling eyes tight. You see nothing but pitch black darkness, no difference from when your eyes were open. Breathing in you choke up, your heaving chest not allowing your lungs to operate. 

I-inhale, E-exhale. Inhale. Exhale. I-inhale.

E-exhale. Inhale. Exhale. I-inhale. E-exhale.

Rapid repeating uncontrollable breaths. Attacked by panic, sweat forming from head to toe, your clothes now heavy from dampening.

“I understand. You’re under pressure. You don’t know what’s going on. Just listen to my voice.”

The voices' words come out soft, slow, and steady. Pleasant. A complete contrast of how your body jitters rough, fast, and reckless.

“Everything will be okay, there’s no need to be afraid, I’m here to help you.”

Listening to the voice, its words begin to comfort you, easing your breath, holding you steady, tranquilizing you, allowing you to finally take a deep breath.

“There there. There we go. Nothing to worry about.” The voice says painting a wholesome picture of a loving mother’s smile into your mind.

The words wrapping you snug like a warm blanket, bringing you back to what is as close as possible to feeling normal. Relieved, you let your guard down and begin to slowly open your eyes, only to realize you’re still in darkness.

“Keep your eyes closed!” Whiplashed, the voice quick and intimidating, drastically flipping from the soothing calm voice that it once was.

You obey, closing your eyes shut in a flash. Repeating the same terrifying scenario, but this time  it’s different. You’re still horrified, but with  no quivering and quaking, no shallow breaths, no flood of sweat. Nothing. Only stoic obedience, patiently waiting for the voice to speak.

“Odd feeling isn’t it? Now. Why am I here? I have a proposition for you. Will you listen to it?”

“Yes.” You say directly while holding yourself by your knees, anxious of what would happen if you were to refuse.

“Good boy. What do you see right now?”

“Nothing.”

“Perfect. And now?”

A flicker of an image of a young woman pale as snow flashes into the view of your closed shut eyes. She’s staring right at you blankly, with her right eye so obscured that it’s like it’s not even there while the left eye is the opposite, making its presence known boldly shining elusively azure. She’s beautiful, draped in celestial white clothing, contrasted by her fringed jet black hair that’s so long that it looks like it could hold secrets.

“A woman... Is that you?

“Yes.” She says plainly.

Are you some sort of God?”

“Hahaaaheheh! Don’t be silly, Gods don’t exist! I’m just a helper for those in need, and you’re in need. Aren’t you, Gunmin? Life hasn’t been easy has it? Paycheck to paycheck, boss treating you like a disposable pawn, your car breaking down…”

Your name and the list of unfortunate circumstances hitting you like piercing bullets to your chest. Unable to argue, you dig your head into your knees.

“Your wife cheating…”

“What!? No! That’s not true! You’re lying! Why would she cheat!? W-we...” You say unburrowing your head up to yell into the void.

“Have I lied about anything so far?”

“N-no… B-but why...?” You say dejected, accepting that she is most likely telling the truth.

“Why do humans do anything? Status. To move up the ladder. A more handsome, young, and richer man has fallen onto her lap, how could she refuse?”

“What a stupid fucking question! We’re married with kids! Loyalty! What the fuck do you mean you crazy bitch!?” You angrily say bursting up from your seated position like a rocket, fists clenched, somehow maintaining to keep your eyes closed.

“Acting are we? You would’ve tricked me too, if I didn’t know the truth. Your marriage with Seulgi has been in shambles for a while now hasn’t it?” Her voice mocks.

“Shut up!” 

“Do you really want me to ment—”

“Taeyeon…” You say stopping her in her tracks, already knowing what she’s about to say.

“Learning are we? You’re such a good little cheater aren’t you? I guess I shouldn’t mention that cute little Taengoo is already taken and happily married. She has oh so much fun with him too, you should see what Taeyeon does to that Kes—”

“Stop! I-I t-thought we had something…” You say almost tearing up.

“You do. She's just a little cheater too. You humans are so strange, why marry and vow yourself to a single person, only to want to throw yourself at someone else after? Oh so strange.”

“Can we stop already? What do you want from me? What’s your proposition?” You say finally fed up with talking about your messed up life.

“Yes, of course. I’ll tell you what I want from you soon enough. My proposition? What if I told you I could grant you any wish? For a price…”

“I’d say you’re fucking psycho, but I can’t not believe you after everything you’ve told me so far.” You say surrendering to the mysterious woman.

“I am an odd one aren’t I? Hehahahehe! Anyways. What would you like to wish for? Money, women, wings, you name it! I don’t judge, I’ve heard it all!

“What’s the price?” You say, feeling that this is too good to be true.

“Make a wish first and I’ll tell you.” She says making you visualize a smirk on her face.

“Does the price have anything to do with my eyes having to be closed?”

“You have so much doubt. Do I really seem that untrustworthy Gunnie? Hehehe.”

“Yes.” You say straightforward.

“Am I any less trustworthy than you? My little cheater. Heheh—”

“I wish for Seulgi and I to fall in love again!”

“Really? You can wish for anything in this godforsaken world and you wish to repair your broken marriage?” She says, sounding dumbfounded.

“Yes. Is there a problem?” You say with full confidence that this is your one and only wish.

“No, the price is all the same, you’re an odd one is all.” She says genuinely.

“So will you grant me it?”

“Of course, but one last question. Are you used to the dark?”

“No, and I never will.” You say honestly.

“Well, isn’t that a shame. Open your eyes.”

You obey in an instant, opening your eyes, happy to finally stop clenching them shut, only to want to immediately close them again, as you are welcomed by not darkness. Instead a lit white dome, with seemingly endless amounts of wide open eyes of all different shapes, size, and colors for walls, all staring directly at you, blinking and watching your every move. Horrified, you snap your gaze downward to look at the only normal thing in the godforsken room, the white floor.

“Don’t be scared, these are your fellow wishers. You should get acclimated, you’ll be together forever.”

“W-what a-are y-you g-gonna do t-to m-me?” You say, unable to believe that this terrible place exists.

“Simple. I’m going to grant you your wish, silly... Then you will join my harvest. Hehehehe Don’t worry, look! You have so many friends! Hahahahehe!

“P-please! N-no! I-I ch-change my mind!” You say, still looking at the ground.

“No no no! No takesies backsies! Don’t blink, we don’t want your eye to get damaged hehe.”

“P-plea—” Your vision begins to blur, the connection from your right eye to your brain severing, darkening, painless, disconnected. Your left eye still fully operational, you see your eyeball fall to the ground, bouncing, and rolling away towards your fellow onlooking victims on the pale walls. The disgusting sight causing you to collapse and faint onto the cold white floor.

Dark. Black. 

“Gunmin, Gunmin! Gunnie! Wake up!”

Void.