I didn't know what happened at the time. I just got sent to a new strange world. It was all darkness, I couldn't see my own hand, it was like I was blind. I still had my other senses I could feel, I could smell, I could hear. What was It that I was hearing? In the distance I thought I heard screaming. It suddenly stopped and I saw light in the distance.

Relieved I rushed towards it but a few feet in I trip over something and feel stiff viscid liquid coat parts of my hands and legs. I got up not wanting to know what it was and kept running slowly realizing that was where the screaming was coming from. I stopped in my tracks not too far from the light and thought to myself if I should really continue.

Weighing my options carefully I decided I had to have light if I wanted to survive in this new world. Catching my breath I walk into the light and see that the liquid was blood. What killed it? I wonder but I quickly remember I had to figure out where this light was coming from.

I saw the person screaming for help behind a… what is that? A grotesque mutant glowing with light stands in front of me.

"Help me please!" the person shouts, noticing me. I rush over to her and ask what's wrong? "Th-that monster is trying to kill me!" she stutters terrified of this ungodly beast. The mutant tries to explain the miscommunication but keeps getting interrupted.

"Hold on a second and let each other speak. I'm sure there is a side you are both not seeing." With me acting as the voice of reason we were able to come to an agreement.

We set limits because no one knows each other. Mine were simple: don't come too close and don't touch my stuff. Lee's seemed a little more personal to me. She didn't ever want to talk about her feelings. No mentioning her past and no touching her. The mutant didn't really have limits. I suppose that's because no one would dare mess with it to begin with.

The mutant had been in this longer than us and knew how to make fire. It turns out even fire behaved differently here. He wouldn't show us how to make it so we had to rely on him. I knew some carving and basic tool making so I made primitive tools and we set out. Lee never seemed to fully trust the mutant.

We knew we had to find a way out of here so we started searching for clues. It felt like a couple hours had passed when the wind blew harder as a storm was starting to pick up. We didn't know what a storm was like here so we searched desperately for shelter.

We saw an old building in shambles that looked to be some sort of base camp. Some rooms were still intact so thinking we could bunker in there we picked up our pace and dashed inside. While exploring inside I was attacked but we disarmed the assailant. Not wanting to risk another encounter we gathered all the supplies we could and we fled to the forest.

Before we got halfway to the forest the storm had started. Acid rained down from the sky every drop like an agonizing spear to the knee. While running for cover I noticed a note hanging out of the mutants pack. I decided I was going to question him when I got the chance. We eventually got to a more dense part of the forest. So we set up what we had to stop the acid from reaching us.

When I got the chance I questioned it about the note and it started getting defensive. I knew something was off so I kept pushing but then he got aggressive.

"I don't like what you're accusing me of. You're starting to make me feel like the villain so I'm gonna act like it."

With a malicious look the mutant pushed me down outside our cover. I remember Immediate searing pain as the acid melted my skin away. The mutant was holding me down as I was struggling to get up. It was so much more powerful than me. My bloodied hands slipped off the mutant as I tried to pull its hands off my throat. I could see the blood dripping down my face as my life was being taken powerless to stop it.

Everything was going blurry, my focus was fading and I was struggling to stay conscious. The last thing I remember is the mutant trying to grab my bag and Lee holding her spear to its head or at least what looked like it. "Stop what you're doing, show us the note and don't you dare do this again." Those were the last words I heard before I passed out.

I woke up about 12 fires later and my whole body was covered in burns. I was wrapped in makeshift bandages we had got from the base camp, all of them full of blood.

"Glad to see you are awake now!" Lee said excitedly. "More importantly the bandages didn't go to waste. You know you're lucky I used to be a doctor." Lee says less enthusiastically.

She filled me in on what happened after I passed out and how they came to an "agreement" that's what she called it at least. She called over the mutant to come read the note but it looked just as injured as me.

"What happened to the mutant?" I ask expecting a sarcastic remark.

"The agreement we made was not an easy one to come to. Now let's let the mutant read the note." Responds Lee not wanting to go into further detail.

"When only darkness shall fall before you, find the light given by the end of your sword."

We both look at the mutant with confusion.

"So the light isnt due to your freaky mutations?" Lee asks.

"Rude but that's to be expected of you. Why don't you tell us how you know for sure." The mutant responds obviously still infuriated.

"Why do you think I know? I'm asking you for a reason now answer my question." Lee responds, growing more irritated.

"As if I would answer you now, if you want answers, find them yourself."

Without any cooperation from the mutant we move on from the situation. We set out all of the tools we got from the base camp and went through it. There's two better spears and an axe. We decided that me and Lee should get the spears. Something bugged me about the mutant. It kept insisting it got the axe. We noticed the axe was a weird material. One we have never seen before, not even here. Though now was not the time to investigate, we had stuff we needed to do

We wrote down a plan as well as the area we thought the base camp was. We marked it based on stuff we saw to direct us. Our first priority is water. We desperately need water. We had gotten some from the camp but it wouldn't last long. Hunting was easy enough with all the light the mutant gives off so we have enough food. We now know there are better materials so that's our second priority. We also need to figure out how to get light. We are fine for now but that's our third priority.

We had to relight the fire three times before the acid stopped. We started measuring time with stuff that had a pattern because there wasn't really any other way. Now that the acid stopped pouring we set off this time with a plan.

I could tell Lee was having trouble with her past and the flashbacks that came with it. I just didn't know how to approach the situation. We spent some time wandering around the woods but found nothing. Finally we set up camp but I couldn't sleep. I was rattled by what happened earlier.

Though I knew something was bothering Lee so I pulled myself together and asked her if she wanted to talk about it. She looked me dead in the eye and just turned away. I thought to myself at least it wasn't a no. I asked again every once in a while and made sure she was doing okay. It never got too bad of a response.

The next morning I woke up to a raging argument between Lee and the mutant. I tried to calm it down but before I could finish a sentence the mutant leaves. "You won't last a week without me!" the mutant shouts walking off. We should've prioritized light after all. We didn't even find any water yet.

Without a light source left we try the obvious. We get a stick off a nearby tree and light it on fire for light but it wouldn't stay lit for more than 5 seconds. We decide to snuff out the fire and try to find water. As we do out of nowhere a huge beast leaps from the woods at us.

I drive my spear into its leg to try to get it to stop moving or at least what I thought was its leg. This only seemed to anger the beast. In retaliation the beast clawed me ripping through my bloodied bandages and I was sent flying. Slamming against a tree barely able to keep conscious, I had a thought. Was it waiting for us to be vulnerable or was it scared of the fire? Lee must have been thinking the same thing because she relit the fire. The beast roared as if trying to say something and then it fled.

I turned to her to see the axe in her hand.

"Did you light it using the axe? How do you even have the axe?" I ask Lee, bleeding profusely.

"Yeah the axe lights anything wood related on fire so I took it from the mutant. We should really get you some bandages and pressure wrap your chest." Lee responds upset that she has to use more bandages.

"That makes no sense. How does an axe light a fire?" I ask, visibly confused and still bleeding from my chest.

"You strike the wood object with it. I'm guessing the material causes the fire. We should look more into it when we get the chance. We are going to take a break to recover." Lee said right before I lost consciousness .

When I wake up Lee is out hunting. It's unsurprisingly more difficult without light. She gets back around the time I had to relight the fire. A lot changes when it's nothing but darkness. Especially your sense of time. When she does get back, I ask her about what started the argument.

"Maybe I will tell you later I don't feel like talking about it now." Lee said.

We learned it's not all dark. Some people have light around their body like the mutant but they seem really aggressive to anyone that goes near them. We saw the mutant and decided it was best to leave. We have recovered enough and we don't want the mutant after us and the axe. We set out but without light we relied mostly on the sense of touch. It took a while but we made the right choice. The mutant had apparently found our base camp and looted it.

We eventually arrive at a lake and immediately run into an issue we both overlooked.

"Wait, you do have something to carry the water in, right?" Lee asked. I searched through my pack frantically but there was nothing we could use.

"We could always mark it down on the map and come back when we need it." I suggested.

"We could but we still need a way to bring water with us. Wait, didn't you get water bottles from the base camp?" Lee asked optimistically.

"Yeah but the mutant took them." I replied.

We jot down the area on the map and head out to get water bottles. We thought the base camp might have some so. We headed back there but this time it was quite the struggle. We had no idea where we were going. Every once in a while we would take out the axe, a piece of wood and the map to figure out where we were.

Off in the distance we hear a loud roar and trees being trampled. We both knew what that was but we couldn't make a fire quick enough. We quickly check the map using a piece of wood and the axe.

"We might be able to make it to the camp if we run for it. That all depends on how fast this thin-" Before I could finish the sentence Lee is already running. We make it to the base and Lee stops to catch her breath. I try to pull her further back in the base but it's too late. The beast rams its entire body into the structure sending chunks of stone flying.

I get down on the floor but Lee isn't fast enough and is hit by a piece of debris. It hits her in the back and knocks her to the ground. I get up and I pick Lee up, bringing her to a place the beast can't see. I light a fire and wait for the beast to leave. Lee wakes up after 4 fires and the beast goes away in 2.

"I noticed the base was deserted when we got there. So I went in and checked and no one was left." I say to Lee, confused about what happened. We went in together but the bodies of who used to be here were scattered on the floor. Lee freaked out and it was clear she was having flashbacks. I was able to calm her down after we got her outside.

"We still need the supplies in there so i'm going in there you stay out here okay?" I asked.

"You said 'no one was left' but there were bodies everywhere!" Lee screamed. She was upset I didn't specify that no one was left alive. I looted the area and found another note as well as some clues on how to get out of here. I also found the thing we came here for, water bottles. I came out of the base camp and consoled Lee and we set up camp to sleep. I took first watch this time so she could hopefully process. I woke up and Lee already had a fire going and food cooking.

"I think it's time I told you the truth, I'm ready to open up." She explained to me her past and what she had done wrong. Like all the bad things she said and did and all the pain that it caused. Also how she felt about her past issues with family and everything that went wrong. Just like her I thought it was a punishment. I explained how I used to lash out on everyone around me and I had no control and how bad it had gotten.

Later we had a talk about what a mess is and came to the conclusion it can mean different things depending on the person you ask. She thinks a mess is something not a lot of people like or can handle. Some people though take the time to clean it up and try to help fix it. She says messes are common and that the thing that surprises her is how people deal with them.

In my opinion a mess can be many things. Like a person with too much stress and is struggling with everything. Someone who needs help with so many problems in their life but not many are willing to give it. Or someone who can't always deal with life and struggles to stay on their feet. All of these can be fixed by the same solution, someone who can be there for them and we have that in each other. We hugged it out and we made exceptions in our limits.

We decided to read the notes and clues.

"When you're stuck in a road of darkness, remember how you got there and fix your past mistakes."

"How are we supposed to fix our past mistakes? They are in the past." Lee says irritated.

"Maybe it's something that's more clear when we are closer to getting out." I responded disappointed that this had been no help.

"Special tools and weapons that you don't want to miss out on. Find them all and you will be rewarded." Read the note.

"Someone waiting at the end you better know what to do. Show him what he wants or he will come for you."

"What do you think he wants?" I ask.

"If I had to guess, I think it's the reward the note talked about. Even if not, it still sounds like it's worth having." Lee said, sounding optimistic.

"Well well thanks for that information" a familiar voice says. "I have a bone to pick with a certain someone for stealing an axe. Can you guess who it is? I will give you three tries." We mount our weapons and slowly tuck the axe in the place we made to keep it safe from bandits.

"What axe? I haven't the faintest idea what you are talking about." Lee says playing dumb.

"The axe you just put away, don't play these games with me!" The mutant yells visibly frustrated.

"You mean this axe? Why would you come all the way over here for a wooden axe? It barely works." Lee says while I start laughing.

"You know which axe I'm talking about now give it to me!" The mutant now boiling over with rage.

"Are you talking about this stone one i'm not giving it away, I made it myself, it's special." Lee says admiring the axe.

"I'm giving you one more chance to hand it over or fight me."

"Wait a second I think I know what you're talking about." Lee takes the axe out of the safe place. "Are you talking about this axe? I didn't take it, you gave it to me. What's yours is mine and what's mine is yours. Except instead what's yours is mine and what's mine is mine." Lee says tauntingly.

"That's it killing you both!" The mutant backs up revealing his broadsword.

"Wait, that broadsword looks like it's made of the same material as the axe." I say concerned since the axe has powers.

"Correct, now let me demonstrate its explosive power." The mutant responds by charging at Lee. Lee swiftly dodges the first strike, but before Lee could react the mutant turns with uncanny speed and strikes her in the leg. Lee is blasted back and falls to the ground, struggling to get back up. While it's trying to go after Lee again I run up behind the mutant and kick it to the ground. I try to take its sword but I'm getting overpowered. Lee finally gets up but her vision is blurred. After her vision gets better she sees me struggling but can barely keep focus. She limps over to the mutant as best as she can and attempts to tackle him to the ground. I regain control and secure the sword and hold it to his head.

"You shouldn't have come here. You're gonna pay for what you have done."

"No no no not so fast you don't think I would reveal all my tricks do you? As for you Lee, I hope your past catches up to you." In an instant he vanishes and we see footprints and dust kicking up but we don't see anyone.

"Lee, are you okay?" I rushed over to her. "I don't know anything about how to wrap your wounds. Stay awake and walk me through the process." I was panicking but she calmed me down and I patched her up. She took a nap and woke up a few fires later. By that time I thought I figured out the prize the note was talking about.

"Hey are you feeling better?" I asked Lee hoping she didn't let what the mutant said get to her.

"Yeah I'm fine. Do you still have the sword?" Lee asked.

"Yeah I was thinking this and the axe might be the special weapons and tools the notes were talking about. I think if we collect all of them we will get a tool with all the powers of the combined tools. We should also get a weapon with the combined powers of all the individual weapons." I theorized.

"We should look for them then." Lee suggested.

"We don't even know where to start though. How do we have any hope of finding them?" I responded frustrated at all the dead ends.

"We could follow the mutant. It had a special weapon this time that it didn't have before. So it might know where to look."

"Good idea Lee, let's go find them." I said packing my stuff to leave. With a new objective in mind and our bond closer than ever before we set out. Our goal is to escape and figure out the mysteries of the world.