Bottomless Chapter 2

"Bottomless, Eternal, Deeply Sublime.
Ageless, Fathomless, Forever Entwined.
Destiny calls, Your Fate you must Keep.

The Well of Remorse is Endlessly Deep.

Ageless, Fathomless, Forever Entwined.
Bottomless, Eternal, Deeply Sublime."

With those words my vision began to blur, spinning me into a vortex of confusion and chaos.

My world slipped away, and I was flung headlong into a maelstrom of uncertainty. Then everything went black.

I don't know how long I was out, only that I was stiff, cold, sore, and nauseated. I groaned, as I tried to open my eyes. I immediately closed them again.

This just couldn't be happening. When I couldn't stand not knowing where I was anymore I slitted my eyes open again. Yep, still the same. I was flat on my back staring up into what I guessed was the moons.

There were two of them, one in all it's full blown cosmic awesomeness, the other a sliver that seemed to be mocking my situation. Great! I thought to myself, now what? Looking around, I had the distinct impression that I was in for a rough ride.

Brushing myself off, I realized quickly that 'this wasn't Kansas anymore'. And I didn't even have the comfort of Toto. The landscape was muted and blurred as if underwater, and strange plants surrounded me. Definitely not Kansas.

In the near distance, I could make out a shape. At first I thought that maybe it was the local welcome wagon, but when it didn't approach me, I had to take another look. Did I really want to expose my presence here?

I could feel hunger clawing at my belly, and knew that soon I would have to take some action. Hesitantly I looked around. No food in sight, at least to my knowledge. How was I supposed to know what was safe, and what wasn't. I certainly didn't want to poison myself out of pure ignorance. Well, there was no hope for it, I had to get moving. If anything, sitting still was not in my nature.

As I walked, I began to take in more of my surroundings. It all seemed so foreign to me. Being the BMOC, this was a feeling I didn't like. Nothing seemed real. Or at least what I perceived as real.

Absently I put my hands into my pockets. Encountered a smooth round object, and flat. It only took a moment for me to register what it was. That damned coin.

Fortuitous my ass! That coin had brought me nothing but trouble from the moment I laid eyes on it.

That thought brought to mind the words the girl at the Library had spoken. What the hell was that all about anyways. Without hesitation I pulled the coin out, and was about to fling it from me in frustration, when I noticed it had begun to glow.

It was warmer than before, and pulsing slightly. Almost as if this coin was an entity in and of itself. "What now?", I questioned aloud. I should have been repulsed by this thing, but it kept drawing my interest as nothing else ever had.

Finding myself contemplating this oddity yet again distracted me from how far I had travelled, and soon I found myself at my intended destination. What I had thought was a welcome wagon ended up being a small hut. Complete with a well.

And man was I thirsty! Water was water right? I peeked inside the well and found a bucket, lowered it and pulled it back up. I drank deeply and quenched my thirst. It was the most delicious water I had ever tasted. Fresh, cool and clear, perfect!

Next to take care of my hunger. So I knocked on the door to the hut. It swung open under the pressure of my fist, so I cautiously entered. At first glance I could tell that this place was rarely used. It contained a wood burning stove, a bed, and a table.

The term slim pickings crossed my mind, but I persevered and hoped to come across something marked as edible. Let me tell you right now, I had always been a picky eater, but right now I could eat a horse!

As a sudden wave of nausea clenched my innards, light flashed outside. I fell to my knees fighting to keep what little was left of my lunch. When the feeling passed, I shakily stood, and then went to investigate the flash of light.

Stepping out of the shack, I looked around, only to find my gaze riveted upon the form of a horse. "What now?" I yelled. I didn't understand what was going on, and I couldn't believe what I was seeing.

Hungry, tired, dirty and disgusted, I found myself a roomate to this animal. I hadn't meant that literally. But here it was, calmly looking at me as if I were something that had crawled out from under a rock. Hope it didn't want to eat me.

I went back inside on the off chance that it might and looked around again. No cupboards, no fridge, nothing. Sighing, I gave up on food and decided to just go to sleep. It was warm enough that I didn't need a fire, thankfully, So I shucked off my clothes and crawled in. It wasn't long before I crashed.

I awoke to the most wonderful scent in the air. I had been dreaming of a nice, big, tall stack of blueberry pancakes, and I swear that's what it smelled like. I figured it was just me lingering on the edge of sleep combined with my ever growing hunger, but when I opened my eyes there they were.

Steaming and real. I reached for my clothes, but didn't feel them. I didn't think anything about that, I was so hungry, So I stumbled my way across the room and fell on the food, devouring it all very quickly. I wasn't about to question this good fortune, nor was I about to let it get away!

As I pushed the now empty plate away from me, I noticed a draft, aft, and remembered my state of undress. This place sure did leave a lot to be desired. I looked at the spot where my clothes should have been, not seeing even my skivvies. I got up and made a quick search of the entire premises, even going so far as to peek outside to make sure that beast wasn't munching on them, but no go.

My clothes were gone! Thinking to myself this was such a great way to start my day, I grabbed the only covering I could find, draped it around my person, and made my way outside. To my utter embarrassment, I realized I wasn't alone. And neither was the horse.

Now where did she come from? She wasn't there a moment ago! Hearing the door squeak had alerted her to my presence, and she turned to face me. So, of course, the first thing I did was make a complete ass out of myself.

I started rushing forward, only to trip over the trailing edge of the blanket, which naturally came unwrapped, falling off, and exposing me in my altogether. She merely appraised me, and raised an eyebrow in my direction. So much for first impressions. Then she spoke.

"So you're the new Champion of Time. Well, there's no help for it now, come with me." With that, she started heading off down the path that I had yet to explore.

" Woah! Hold up there a minute, lady, I ain't going anywhere without my clothes! Much less without some sort of explanation as to what the hell is going on!"

I was starting to get a wee bit ticked off. Being nude wasn't helping me any. I needed a moment to think of how to handle this, but I wasn't being given even a chance to think, or a choice.

Wishing desperately that I had some sort of clothing, I opened my mouth to give her a piece of my mind, when that mysterious light flashed, and I was assailed with that extremely debilitating nausea.

I grabbed at my stomach, feeling it begin to heave, but this time I wasn't so lucky. I spewed my breakfast on the ground in front of me. Feeling very disgusted with myself, I wondered what was wrong with me. As the last of the gut clenching nausea subsided, I wiped my face,and made my way over to the well.

I pulled up some more water and rinsed out my mouth thoroughly, then drank deeply again. I didn't care if she was still walking away or not at this point, But when I turned around again, she was calmly watching me. She didn't say anything, but this time, when she gave me the once over, I got the distinct impression she was amused.

Looking anywhere but at her, I finally saw the bundle of material that was laying on the ground where I had been standing. Ok, how did that happen?

But being the opportunist I am, I stalked over to the bundle and picked it up.

Great! Tights! Just what I had in mind. Complete with a pair of shoes. Hoping they were my size, I put them on figuring it was better than nothing.

"I see you have discovered the very first lesson of of the Well" she stated. I just tossed her a disgusted look." There is much to be learned, and very little time to learn it in. You must come with me. Now." And she turned away, making her way up the path again. The way I see it, she was really a rude person, but 'when in Rome'.

So I followed her. Hearing a soft nicker behind me, I looked and saw that the horse was following. What the heck, the more the merrier.

"So what exactly IS this place, and why did you call me The Champion of Time? What is that supposed to mean?

Where are you taking me? And what is the Well, much less it's first lesson?" My mouth just kept going a million miles an hour, but all she said was that I would know soon enough, it wasn't for her to tell me. That shut me up. Kinda glad it did. But it pissed me off even more. Sulking I almost turned back, but I wanted answers.

It wasn't long before we reached our destination. It was a little village, very poor from the looks, and not very welcoming. The local natives all came out and stared at me, but I stared right back, wasn't about to let them intimidate me.

I was led to a central hut, and ushered inside. I glanced behind me, and yep, the horse was still there, but now the villagers were staring at it. Well, at least it had made itself useful, might actually have to figure out what to feed it now.

"Father," I heard the girl say,"I have returned with the Champion, just as you bade of me." Okay, that was definitely humor in her voice, no mistaking it this time. I was feeling a bit insulted now.

"Do you have the coin?" Simple enough of a question, I couldn't seem to get rid of the damned thing. But as I searched myself, it dawned on me that I had left it in my pocket. The jeans I had been wearing. The ones that had disappeared.

"Quickly, give it to me, we have need of it now. There's no time to waste!" Holding out his hand impatiently for it, I could only pat myself down in confusion.

All this time that thing had hounded me with every breath I took, and now when it was needed most, it was nowhere to be found. Apparently it had a will of it's own. "I don't seem to have it, sir." I nervously stated.

To be continued...