Page 1 of World of the Forgotten (World of the Forgotten #1)

Awakening

D arkness.

That was all I could see. In fact, I wasn’t even sure my eyes were open. I tried opening them again, fluttering my eyelids just to make sure they were working. But there was still nothing but darkness. It wasn’t until I lifted my hands and touched them to my face that I was sure I was even awake.

But where was I? And more importantly, who was I?

Oliver .

That was the name that came to my mind first. It sounded unfamiliar, but I was somehow sure it belonged to me.

I tried to remember who had given me my name.

My parents, I assumed, but the more I tried to recall their faces, the further they slipped away.

I had parents, didn’t I? I must have. But for some reason, I just couldn’t remember who they were.

It was something to worry about later, though.

Right now, I needed to figure out where I was.

With concentrated effort, I forced myself up to a sitting position, the movement reminding me that I did in fact have a body and it was very sore.

As I ran my fingers over the stone floor, I figured that was probably the culprit.

However, it really did feel like I’d fallen into this place, wherever it was, and struck the floor with some force.

That might explain my difficulty recalling things.

Maybe I hit my head? No matter how much I checked myself over, I didn’t seem to be injured.

I didn’t even have a bruise or a lump. Things weren’t adding up, but I didn’t get a chance to dwell on it .

The moment after I sat up, lights flickered into life in the distance.

They were small and dancing, candles I figured, placed on the walls above eye level.

It didn’t lend much light to the dark, but it was almost more than my eyes could handle.

I pulled up an arm to shield them from the light. And that’s when I heard a voice.

“Ah, the last one to awaken.”

It was a masculine voice. It was deep and guttural, and it sounded like bones scraping over stone as he spoke.

The noise sent a shiver down my spine, fear filling my chest. Nevertheless, I tried to find its source.

Maybe whoever he was could explain all this to me, how I’d got here, or where the hell I was.

I squinted in the direction of the voice, my eyes still adjusting to the dim light.

As my vision cleared, I saw a figure emerge from the shadows.

It was tall and gaunt, draped in tattered robes that seemed to shift and ripple with each movement.

The face beneath the hood was obscured, but I could make out two glowing points of blue light where his eyes should’ve been.

“W-who are you?” I stammered, my tenor voice hoarse and unfamiliar to my own ears. “Where am I?”

The figure chuckled, a sound like dry leaves rustling in the wind. “So many questions, young Oliver. But then, that is to be expected. You are in Cindersea, a realm between realms. As for who I am... I am merely the Keeper of this place, a guide, here to shepherd the newly arrived to the portal.”

I struggled to my feet, my legs shaky and unsteady beneath me. “How do you know my name?” I asked. Then I paused. “Wait… a portal? What does that mean? And what is Cindersea?”

“I am the Keeper,” he replied, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. “I know the names of all things. As for your other questions, they will be answered in time. Come.”

He reached out a hand, beckoning me to follow. I let out a small gasp as it gleamed white in the dim light. His hand wasn’t a hand at all. It was only bones.

“Don’t be alarmed,” he said, sensing my fear. “Nothing can hurt you in the place of beginnings. Even I am powerless to do harm in this place. Once you’re beyond the portal, things will make more sense.”

“Portal?” I echoed, my mind struggling to keep up as I eyed him nervously. “Beginning of what?”

The skeletal figure turned, its robes swirling like shimmering mist around its feet. “Come,” it said, that eerie voice sending another chill through me. “The others are waiting. ”

Others? My heart leapt at the thought. I wasn’t alone here.

But who were they? More people like me, lost and confused?

Or were they skeletons like the Keeper? What if everyone was dead except me?

But then again, was the Keeper dead? He was walking and talking, after all.

Skeletons weren’t supposed to do that, I was sure of it.

I hesitated, torn between following this strange, unsettling guide and staying put. But the darkness behind me was oppressive, and the flickering lights ahead promised answers. With a deep breath, I took a shaky step forward. What other choice did I have?

The Keeper glided ahead, seeming to float rather than walk.

As we moved, more candles sputtered to life, illuminating a long, winding corridor.

The walls were rough-hewn stone, glistening with moisture.

I trailed behind the keeper, my footsteps echoing in the damp corridor.

The flickering candlelight cast eerie shadows on the walls, making me feel like we were being followed by ghostly figures.

I shook my head, trying to dispel that unsettling thought.

Surely it was just my imagination getting the better of me.

“How... how long have I been here?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

The Keeper didn’t turn as he replied, “Time has little meaning in the place of beginnings. You have been here for as long as you needed to be. And if you’re lucky, once you’re through the portal, you’ll be here as long as you want to be.”

His cryptic answer did nothing to ease my confusion, but it did increase my anxiety. I opened my mouth to ask another question, but the words died in my throat as we rounded a corner and entered a vast chamber that seemed almost too bright to comprehend. Shielding my eyes once more, I looked up.

The circular room seemed to stretch on for eternity, its high ceiling hidden in the shadows.

The walls were adorned with flickering candles, casting a warm and inviting glow over the space.

The smell of beeswax and burning flames filled the air, creating a comforting and nostalgic scent.

I knew I’d smelled it somewhere before, but I couldn’t remember where.

My mouth felt dry and stale, the taste of dusty air and forgotten memories lingering on my tongue.

But what caught my attention were the people, at least thirty of them, scattered around the chamber.

They were all very different in appearance and shape, although none looked to be older than twenty-five.

Some were dressed in strange, elaborate clothing, others in simple garments like my own that felt familiar, although I couldn’t recall why.

All of them looked as confused and disoriented as I felt, which I supposed was a good sign. At least I wasn’t alone.

As we entered, heads turned in our direction. I felt a wave of self-consciousness wash over me, and I instinctively tried to shrink behind the Keeper. But he stepped aside, leaving me exposed to the curious gazes of the others.

“The last has arrived,” the keeper announced, his voice echoing off the stone walls. “Now we may begin.”

A murmur rippled through the crowd. I saw fear, excitement, and uncertainty reflected in their eyes. A young woman with vibrant blue hair stepped forward, her voice trembling slightly as she spoke.

“Begin what? What’s happening to us? Where is this place? Why are we here?”

The Keeper raised his skeletal hands, silencing the growing whispers. “You have been summoned to Cindersea for a great purpose. Each of you possesses a unique gift, a power that will shape the world beyond the portal.”

My mind reeled at his words. Powers? Gifts? I looked down at my hands, half-expecting them to start glowing or shooting sparks. But they remained stubbornly ordinary.

“I don’t understand,” I said, my voice barely audible. “I don’t have any powers.”

A tall, muscular boy nearby with fiery red hair scoffed. “None of us do, genius. At least, I don’t think so.” He flexed his arm experimentally, as if testing for hidden strength. Nothing happened.

The Keeper’s glowing eyes seemed to flicker. “The world beyond the portal is in peril. It requires champions to restore balance and vanquish a great evil. You have been chosen for this task by the gods themselves.”

A nervous laugh escaped my lips before I could stop it. “Chosen? But I... I don’t even know who I am.”

“That is one of the great mysteries of Cindersea,” the Keeper continued.

“All who come here lose their memories of their previous lives. This is the will of the gods themselves to ease the transition. However, rest assured that each one of you chose this life in Cindersea. A choice was presented to you, and you were brought here of your own free will. Your old lives are behind you, and a new one lies ahead.” He stretched a hand toward the opposite end of the chamber where a door swung open of its own accord.

“All you have to do is step through the portal.”

The chamber fell silent as we all stared at the open doorway.

Beyond it, I could see a swirling, iridescent mist. It pulsed with an otherworldly energy that both attracted and terrified me.

Past that was an open sky and a… a planet…

one that looked too close to be allowed.

Even from inside the chamber, I could see the clouds swirling far below and a vast green continent spreading between an ocean on either side.

Was that where we were headed?

“What’s on the other side?” a tall, dark-haired girl with a braid asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

The keeper’s skeletal fingers twitched, almost as if in anticipation. “A world of magic and wonder, of danger and opportunity. A world that needs you to keep it safe.”

I swallowed hard, my throat suddenly dry. The idea of stepping into the unknown, with no memories and no idea what awaited me, was almost paralyzing. But as I looked around at the others, I saw a mix of emotions on their faces: fear, excitement, determination.

The blue-haired girl who had spoken earlier took a hesitant step forward. “So, we just... walk through? What will happen to us?”

Before the keeper could reply, a man with spiky blond hair and heavily muscled arms stepped forward. “Who cares?” he scoffed, his voice deep and reverberating off the cavern walls. “Staying here is getting us nowhere.”

The blond man’s words seemed to break the spell of hesitation that had fallen over the group. With a determined set to his jaw, he strode towards the portal, his footsteps echoing in the chamber. Just before he reached the swirling mist, he turned back to face us all.

“Well?” he challenged, raising an eyebrow. “Are you coming or not?”

Without waiting for a response, he stepped backward into the portal. There was a flash of greenish light, and he was gone.

A collective gasp rippled through the crowd. The blue-haired girl who had spoken earlier let out a small squeak of surprise.

“He... he just disappeared!” she exclaimed, her eyes wide with a mix of fear and wonder.

The Keeper’s skeletal form seemed to straighten, his glowing eyes burning brighter. “The journey for this man has begun,” he intoned. “Who’s next?”

Others began to step forward one by one, but I felt myself clinging to the back of the group, not wanting to leave. A mixture of fear, anxiety, and wonder filled my body. For some reason, the entire situation felt familiar, like I’d seen it all before. It felt almost like a video game.

But wait… what… what was a video game ?

The words lost their meaning the moment they came into my mind.

I stood there for a moment, trying to puzzle out their meaning.

But before I could pick it apart too much, I felt a nudge against my shoulder.

Glancing up, I saw a boy my age with warm brown eyes staring back at me. He was surprisingly handsome.

“You coming?” he asked softly.

His concern surprised me, and I took a step back.

“Uh… yeah. Sorry.”

He just smiled. “Nothing to apologize for. I just didn’t want you to get left behind.”

My chest warmed strangely. “Th-Thanks.”

The boy’s kind smile was reassuring, and I felt some of my anxiety ease. “I’m Kai,” he said, extending his hand. “At least, that’s the name I remember.”

I hesitated for a moment before taking his hand. “Oliver,” I replied, surprised at how natural it felt to say my name out loud.

Kai nodded, his brown eyes twinkling with a mix of excitement and nervousness. “Ready to face whatever’s on the other side? Hopefully, it’s better than this place.”

I glanced at the portal, where the swirling mist continued to pulse with an otherworldly energy. The planet beyond seemed to be calling to me, its vast continents and swirling clouds both terrifying and enticing. It definitely looked nicer than the dirty, damp dungeon we were in currently.

“I... I don’t know,” I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. “What if we’re not ready for whatever’s out there?”

Kai smiled again, patting me on the shoulder. He was a couple inches taller than me and exuded a wisdom beyond his years that I was instantly jealous of and drawn to at the same time.

“I’m not sure we have much choice,” he replied. “But whatever it is, we’ll figure it out, right?”

I nodded, realization sinking in. “I guess we’ll have to.”

With a deep breath, I stepped forward alongside Kai. The few remaining people parted to let us through, their eyes a mix of curiosity and apprehension. As we approached the portal, the swirling mist seemed to intensify, tendrils of iridescent energy reaching out towards us.

I glanced at Kai, who gave me an encouraging nod. “Together?” he asked, extending his hand once more.

I hesitated for a moment, then took it, grateful for the reassurance of human contact. “Together,” I agreed, my voice steadier than I felt.

We stood at the threshold, the mist swirling around our feet. The planet beyond loomed large, its details becoming clearer. I could make out vast forests, winding rivers, and what looked like the spires of distant mountains.

“On three?” Kai suggested, his grip tightening slightly.

I nodded, happy not to be alone.

“One… Two… Three!”

Together we jumped forward, the swirling mist swallowing us up. There was a rush of cold, the feeling of freefall, and then darkness once more.