Nethersky - Chapter 6

‘Where have I been taken now,’ Yuning thought as he looked around the dim room that was devoid of both light and dark.

He was confused as to why he was here until he heard it, the sound of a person weeping uncontrollably.

Sob.

‘Why?’

Walking towards the noise, Yuning was startled to see that the sound came from a dark shape in the corner.

“Why did I do it? Why couldn’t I have thought of another way? She doesn’t need to die, “bawled the dark figure.

Those words struck a loud chord in Yuning’s soul; it felt as though he knew who this shadowy specter was speaking of, but at the same time, he didn’t.

However, the one thing he did know was that the figure was upset. He could see it in the way it’s entire being was shaking with suppressed misery.

Feeling the uncontrollable need to console the amorphous form somehow, Yuning started walking towards it.

As if the figure could sense Yuning’s presence, the shape turned and swiftly looked at him.

Yuning gasped as eyes that were similar to his own peered beseechingly at him from the shadowy being.

“Please!” the dark figure desperately begged, holding out one of its shadowy arms towards him. “I beg of you!”

A sense of urgency like he never felt before filled Yuning’s entire being, and before he knew it, he was walking closer to the entity. “What do you want from me?”

As soon as the question left his lips, the figure was standing in front of him. The movement was so fast that it happened before he could even blink.

The figure just looked at him with eyes full of desolation, but there was also a spark of hope.

Suddenly the dark figure moved closer to Yuning, so close that he could feel its breath against his ear. “Please, save her.”

The plea slammed into Yuning with the force of a freight truck, causing him to awake with a sudden start.

The first thing he felt when his eyes snapped open was a strong sense of confusion. But that was fleeting, and the underlying feeling that he needed to make haste took its place.

That’s when the memories he received in the white room came flooding back in, and the murmurs of an unknown voice began urging him.

‘You need to hurry!’

‘You need to rush!’

‘You need to get to her!’

The voice was screaming loudly in his head, pressing him to get a move on it.

It was like his body was independent of his mind and without even realizing it, he was already moving.

He had gotten up from the small white mattress he was lying on, was walking out of the door, and rushing towards his newly acquired sister room ways before his brain even caught up to what was going on.

He knew that this feeling that was rushing through him wasn’t his own but the residual feelings of the previous body’s owner. Yuning could sense it as he ran, the other’s desperation, and how it moved him to hurry.

Quickly as he could, Yuning ran through the strange apartment that he somehow knew like the back of his hand until he wound up at a plain white door at the end of the hall.

Without an ounce of hesitation, Yuning pulled open the door revealing a little girl in the midst of rubbing her eyes as she reached for a glass of water situated on the dresser next to her.

Yuning couldn’t help but pause as he came face to face with the stranger that he only saw in flashes of memories that weren’t his own.

But there she was, sitting upright on her bed, a young girl with long supple black hair that was straight and silky. Her skin was still smooth and tender, belying her age revealing her cuteness.

Although her looks weren’t considered outstanding, her round eyes that were filled with innocence could make the most strict individual doting.

However, Yuning knew that this wasn’t the time to gape at his new baby sister. He came here for a reason.

As soon as that thought crossed his mind, his body once again started moving without his permission. And before he knew it, he was next to his new sister snatching the glass from her hand and pouring it into the flower pot that was conveniently placed next to her bedside.

Only when the glass was empty, and the girl was entirely out of danger did the overwhelming urgency that filled his mind disappeared along with the echo of her real brother’s soul.

And as it did, Yuning could have sworn that he felt a strong feeling of gratitude coursed through him.

Smiling softly to himself, Yuning turned to look at the girl only to see that shock and confusion had filled the girl’s eyes as she looked between him and the empty glass.

“Gege, Why did you do that? Meiyin wanted to drink that.”

Yuning’s mind blanked for a minute, but thinking quickly on his feet, he came up with an excellent white lie.

‘I read somewhere that drinking water at night is bad for your kidneys.’ Yuning rigidly signed.

As if she was used to her brother being weird, Meiyin let out a small sigh. “Gege, what have I told you about going on those parenting forums. They always make you worry.”

From those words alone, Yuning could tell that Meiyin’s brother really loved her. But they weren’t his feelings, and memories could only make a person feel so much. Instead of being a beloved sister, she was just a familiar stranger; he felt the need to take care of.

Providing the girl with an awkward grin, he signed, ‘I guess you’re right, but I still want you to forgo drinking water tonight.’

“Fine, I will not drink any tonight,” Meiyin agreed, indulging her brother’s strange whim.

Giving the girl another smile, Yuning was about to make his way out of the room, but when he got to the door, a small voice stopped him from leaving.

“Gege…, Meiyin started clutching a large cat plushie as she snuggled under her blanket. “I just want to say thank you again. Today was wonderful.”

Yuning felt a sharp pain at the girl’s words; if she only knew what really transpired today, she wouldn’t be able to say that.

Inclining his head, Yuning signed, ‘Your welcome’ before leaving.

~

Back in his new room, Yuning sat on the bed, feeling extremely tired both mentally and physically.

He still couldn’t believe that all of this was real; he was alive in the future and had gained a sibling.

Feeling a headache coming on Yuning rubbed his forehead while closing his eyes tiredly. With a sigh, he fell back on the bed deciding to deal with this craziness in the morning.

Closing his eyes, Yuning thought that even if it was just a delusion he was thankful for this chance at a new life, and he swore to whoever made it happen that he would make sure he and his new sister live long, happy lives.

With his vow in place, he drifted off to sleep, and as he did, an otherworldly voice could be heard fleetingly.

‘Thank you.’