Chapter 2: The Land of Dreams
Kai Astor tore open the letter the hulking stranger had left behind. It was rectangular, crafted from a material that felt archaic, reminiscent of the Victorian era. Two elegant, fluid lines—one at the top and one at the bottom—framed the parchment. As he unfolded it, an ethereal voice, sounding like a girl of barely sixteen, resonated in the air.
"Thank you for accepting the invitation, Master Kai Astor. This is a personal summons, reserved for the chosen. Welcome to the Land of Dreams—a paradise every human yearns for. You have won the right to live here for eternity. Isn't it magnificent? This is the realm Lady Selina founded for rats like you. Here, there is no need for food or currency. Your mere existence is your trade; as long as you breathe, you are treated like royalty. How glorious our leader Selina is!"
Kai listened, his patience thinning. "Why are you babbling so much?" he growled, his voice deep and raspy. "What dream are you talking about? There is nothing here but the hell we already inhabit."
The voice fell into a sudden, icy silence. Then, it hissed, "It is the Land of Dreams. You have only to accept. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. You will agree, won't you?"
Kai Astor stood tall, contemplating this "paradise." Was this a sick joke? He snarled, "Fine. I refuse!"
The voice shifted, turning into the booming, gravelly tone of a powerful man. "There is no refusal. Once the invitation is accepted, you cannot turn back. You are already a part of us."
Kai felt a chill run down his spine. He sighed, realizing the futility of his situation. "Fine. My life is a torment anyway. What does it matter if this is a prank?"
"A wise choice," the voice purred. "Sleep now. At nine tomorrow morning, you shall wake to see wonders that will defy your sight."
Kai Astor fell into a restless sleep on his decrepit, rickety bed. He was awakened by a whisper—a sensation like a gentle breeze, yet jarring. It was the voice from the letter. "Have you forgotten our appointment? Let us go!"
"I... I truly forgot," Kai stammered.
"No need for preparation," the voice commanded. Suddenly, the world shifted. Kai Astor stood in a strange land. The air was crisp, terrifyingly pure. His filthy rags stood out like a stain against the pristine environment.
"Welcome to the Land of Dreams," the voice announced. "Here, you need nothing more than your own life."
Before Kai could process the futuristic architecture that resembled a sci-fi hallucination, a short, bearded man appeared. He was impeccably dressed, making Kai Astor feel like a beggar in comparison. "Welcome! I am your guide for these first few days. First, let us get you proper attire. It is free—as long as you draw breath."
They traveled in a vehicle of blinding speed, yet Kai could clearly see the buildings—low-rise, futuristic structures etched with strange numerical codes: L:5, 2, 3, 5, 8, 4. He kept his questions to himself. They reached a tailor shop, where the guide demanded clothes for an "L:1" individual. The shopkeeper, a handsome man with a diamond-shaped scar on his left cheek, handed over a set of clothes. As Kai Astor slipped into them, he felt a sudden surge of nobility.
"This number," the guide warned, "must never leave you. Keep it close." Kai nodded, his heart racing. I don't care, he thought, as long as this is my new life.
They arrived at his new apartment—a living space that seemed ripped from a future century. Kai Astor estimated the structure alone would cost a fortune, yet it was free. His guide departed, leaving Kai to marvel at his new surroundings. He retreated to his bedroom, a space of vast mirrors and a flawless circular bed, and drifted into a deep, dreamless sleep.
Three hours later, he woke, refreshed and hungry. He raided the gargantuan refrigerator, settling for goose liver. By 8:00 PM, a craving for fresh air drove him outside. The streets were manicured to perfection, with giant trees shaped like cats lining the pathways. He encountered five people, but they moved like hollow automatons, ignoring him completely.
He spotted a fence marked with a stark warning: RESTRICTED. ENTRY FORBIDDEN.
"Forbidden?" Kai Astor muttered. "I don't care."
As he scaled the fence, a blood-curdling scream pierced the air. He dropped into the hidden grounds and found a world that defied reality. Another man, dressed in the same uniform as Kai—bearing the number 33—was frantically shouting, "Run!"
Suddenly, a diamond-tipped arrow pierced the man's throat. Kai Astor stood frozen, sweat pouring down his brow, soaking his white collar. He couldn't even move his trembling fingers.
A towering figure stepped toward him. "Why are you here? Are you part of tonight's 'party'?"
The figure blurred, appearing before Kai in a heartbeat. Kai Astor squeezed his eyes shut, bracing for death.
"Wait, friend," another voice boomed.
The first man checked Kai's collar. "Ah, a newcomer. Welcome, friend. You have ten seconds to leave this place the way you came, or I shall consider you a 'participant'."
Kai opened his eyes to see two giants: one with shoulder-length hair and pitch-black eyes, clad in a black robe—Abraham—and another, bare-chested and scarred, exuding an aura of cold indifference.
"Let's go, Abraham," the bare-chested one spat. "Tonight's party is pathetic. The headcount is too low; we won't make any progress."
As they turned to leave, Abraham glared at Kai Astor. "Still here, you fool? You asked for it—don't blame me!"