That night, the same dream returned to me, like an echo of a distant melody. Again, I was traveling through the vast expanses of space at dizzying speed. I was surrounded by countless lights - each one beautiful in its uniqueness, but at the same time unattainable and distant. My body remained undisturbed in the void, independent of earthly needs, such as oxygen, water, or food. Only the journey mattered, this endless odyssey through the stars. I was looking for something, although I couldn't define exactly what. I heard voices - unspoken sounds that seemed to sing my name in the absolute silence of cosmic space. They prophesied my arrival, as if they were waiting for my presence. It was like madness, I was perfectly aware of that, but it was just a dream, similar to those I've had since I can remember.

My name is Caroline and this is my story.

My life has always been spent in solitude, constantly surrounded by the shadow of isolation. As far as I can remember, everyone excluded me - acquaintances, family, teachers. I was like a ghost, invisible to those I surrounded. I always felt like an observer, as if destined to look at the world through a glass wall, unable to participate in it. I never minded, I came to terms with it, I didn't blame others. Deep down, I believed that it was my own decision, that it was my destiny to be a loner.

My family always thought there was something wrong with me. But now their faces blur in my memory, they become misty outlines that slowly fade away. My parents, with whom I spent eighteen years of my life, have become strangers to me. I slowly began to forget about them, their names became irrelevant, erased by time and distance.

So, immersed in solitude, I began my journey. I was making my way through an unknown part of space, through starry expanses that had never been discovered before. I reached the very end, where the universe ends and only infinite emptiness begins. But I didn't slow down. I couldn't. There was something that was pulling me further, into this unknown.

All I saw was emptiness, an overwhelming void that stretched out infinitely in every direction. It was a never-ending expanse of nothingness, an abyss devoid of any form, color, or life. As I gazed into this vast emptiness, I felt like I was standing at the edge of existence, staring into the uncharted territory of the unknown.

Behind me, the familiar universe was receding, shrinking to a small point of light that was rapidly dimming. It was the only tangible proof of my relentless movement, the only indicator that I was moving further away from everything I had ever known. It was a beacon of reality that was slowly fading, swallowed by the immeasurable nothingness that lay ahead.

I felt like a lone ship, adrift in an infinite ocean of emptiness. I was without a destination, without a compass to guide me, but always in constant motion. I was propelled forward by an unseen force, pushing me deeper and deeper into the abyss. I was a solitary explorer, traversing the vast, uncharted waters of the void, with nothing but my thoughts to keep me company.

As I journeyed deeper into the emptiness, my senses started to fade. The feeling of movement, the sight of the receding universe, the sounds of existence, all slowly ebbed away, leaving me in a state of sensory deprivation. I was a conscious entity, immersed in a sea of nothingness, slowly losing touch with reality.

And then, in the final moments, my consciousness began to fade. My thoughts became fragmented, my memories started to blur, and I felt my identity slipping away. It was like I was slowly being erased, my existence fading into the endless expanse of nothingness. And then, in the blink of an eye, all was silent and I was no more.

In the midst of the crumbling stone and timeworn wood of an ancient village, there lay an unconscious young girl. She couldn't have been more than sixteen, a delicate and youthful figure contrasted against the harsh backdrop of the ruins. Her appearance bore the unmistakable hallmarks of European origin: her hair, a cascade of golden blonde, lay spread out around her, catching the faint light and reflecting it back with a soft radiance. Her skin, while fair and pale, held a certain luminosity that gave her an almost ethereal glow amidst the surrounding decay.

Her eyes, though currently closed, were of a clear, vibrant green color that hinted at a deep inner world full of dreams and thoughts. Her attire consisted of a thick, dark green sweater, its hood lying unused around her slender neck. The sweater, with its apparent heaviness, suggested a need for protection, perhaps from the elements, perhaps from the world itself.

She was clad in blue jeans, worn but sturdy, that seemed to have faithfully served their purpose of sheltering her on what must have been a long journey. At her side, a large backpack sat, its contents unknown but likely filled with essentials for travel. A single name, "Caroline", was written on it in an elegant, flowing font. It was the only clue to her identity, a single word that posed more questions than it answered. A name that seemed to whisper tales of her journey, her struggles, her life.

In the world surrounding her, a myriad of creatures, bearing a strong resemblance to butterflies, fluttered about. These intricate beings were enveloped in a wide spectrum of colors, from vibrant hues of red to calming shades of blue, painting a breathtaking canvas in the air. What set these seemingly ordinary creatures apart from typical butterflies was their unique and mesmerizing ability to emit a luminescence much stronger than that of a typical firefly. This display of light was not only enchanting but also illuminated the surroundings, creating an environment that felt akin to a magical realm. As the girl lay there, one of these extraordinary creatures, with its glowing wings, delicately descended and landed on the tip of her nose. The tickling sensation stirred her from her slumber, waking her gently from her peaceful sleep.

Caroline slowly opened her eyes, feeling an unexpected tickle on her nose. As her vision adjusted, she could make out the delicate wings of a butterfly fluttering in front of her face. She squinted her eyes tight, the harsh glare of the sunlight causing her brow to furrow. "Wait, two suns?" She thought, confusion lacing her words. Caroline again forced her eyes wide open, and the intensity of the dual suns quickly made her regret it. "Ahh, fuck," she muttered under her breath. It took her several long moments to adjust to the unbearable brightness of the existence of two suns.

"How is this even possible?" she wondered aloud, the enormity of the situation gradually sinking in. Her train of thought came to a halt, a full minute of stunned silence passing before her mind was able to start processing again. Caroline began to survey her surroundings, her eyes catching sight of stone structures, or rather the crumbled ruins of what used to be grand structures. The sight was surreal, almost like a scene out of a post-apocalyptic movie.

Without taking her eyes off the ruins, Caroline started to back away, dragging herself along the rough ground. She moved mechanically, her mind still grappling with the reality of her situation. Suddenly, her back hit a stone well, the impact causing a few loose stones to dislodge from the well and tumble into the depths below. The sudden noise startled Caroline, sending a fresh wave of fear coursing through her veins.

Slowly, Caroline pushed herself up from the ground, her hands brushing off the dust and dirt that clung to her clothes. As she got to her feet, she began to carefully examine her body, her eyes scanning for any signs of injury or any clue that could explain her current situation. She checked her arms, her legs, her torso, even her head, but there was nothing. No cuts, no bruises, no signs of struggle. To her surprise, she couldn't even find her phone or wallet, the usual essentials she carried on her person.

Her first thought was that she had been kidnapped. But as her eyes took in the sight of two suns hanging in the sky, that theory quickly fell apart. The existence of two suns was not something that could be explained by a simple crime. Could she have been transported to another world? Or perhaps this was some sort of elaborate prank?

In an attempt to test reality, Caroline pinched her cheek, hoping the sharp sting would wake her up from this strange dream. But the pinch did nothing, other than confirm that she was indeed awake and not dreaming.

"Okay, this is not a dream," she muttered to herself, trying to make sense of the situation. "Either I've been drugged, or I'm not alive. But if I'm not alive, why would I feel pain?" She paused, considering her thoughts. "There's another possibility... perhaps I'm not on Earth anymore."

With this new theory in mind, Caroline decided she should look around. Maybe there was someone else here, someone who could help her make sense of all this. After all, she couldn't be the only one in this strange place, could she?

"Hello, is anyone there? Anyone...?" Caroline called out loudly, her voice echoing off the crumbling stone walls and dilapidated structures that surrounded her. However, the only response she received was the eerie silence that filled the air, a silence so profound that it was almost deafening.

With a sense of foreboding creeping in, Caroline began to slowly explore the area of ruins around her. Step by step, she ventured further into the abandoned village, her eyes scanning the remnants of what once must have been homes, markets, and meeting places. There was a ghostly quality to the place that sent chills down her spine, a chilling testament to the passage of time and the transience of life.

As she moved through the village, she quickly came to a disheartening realization. Whoever lived in this village had long since departed. The state of the buildings, the overgrown paths, the eerie silence - all pointed towards a place that had been deserted for a significant amount of time.

This was further confirmed by what she observed next. Cultivated plants had not just survived, but thrived, spreading throughout the village in the absence of human intervention. She noticed a surprising variety of plants that had taken root in the most unexpected places. Watermelons sprouted amidst the ruins, potatoes dotted the landscape, and carrots pushed through the cracked ground. She could spot wheat swaying gently in the breeze, tomatoes ripening under the dual suns, and grapes hanging heavily from vines that had claimed the walls as their support.

Beyond these, there were other plants too, ones she couldn't recognize, ones she had never seen before. The diversity of flora that had taken over the village was astonishing, a cacophony of life flourishing amidst the ruins. It was a scene that was both intriguing and disconcerting, and Caroline couldn't help but wonder if the abundance of sunlight, due to the existence of two suns, was responsible for this unexpected proliferation of plant life.

Feeling a wave of exhaustion wash over her, she let out a sigh, a mix of resignation and apprehension. "I hope at least the night will be normal," she mumbled to herself, her voice barely above a whisper. The thought of facing an alien night sky, possibly lit up by more than one moon, was unsettling, but she knew she had to face whatever lay ahead. After all, understanding this strange new world was her only hope of survival, and possibly, finding a way back home.

While exploring the desolate village, Caroline stumbled upon a collection of old farming tools and chains. They were surprisingly well-preserved, showing little signs of rust or damage. Intriguingly, they were crafted from a mysterious black metal, the likes of which she had never encountered in her life. The metal had an almost otherworldly quality, its dark surface gleaming ominously under the light of the twin suns.

Among the assortment of tools, one particularly caught Caroline's attention - a black scythe. Its long curved blade was menacing yet oddly captivating. Despite its age, the blade was incredibly sharp, hinting at a level of craftsmanship that seemed out of place in the ruined village. The handle was long and sturdy, providing a comfortable grip and excellent balance.

In this strange and potentially dangerous new world, Caroline realized the value of having a weapon at hand. The scythe, with its impressive reach and lethal edge, made a perfect choice. She decided to claim it as her own, using it to defend herself against any threats she might face.

As she held the scythe in her hands, a strange thought crossed her mind. "I feel a bit like the protagonist of some bad novel," she mused aloud. The thought brought a wry smile to her face, offering a brief moment of levity amidst the uncertainty that surrounded her.

During her exploration of the desolate village, Caroline discovered a hidden gem - a beautiful river that flowed gently on the outskirts of the village. This river, although overgrown with a dense array of aquatic plants, had an enchanting charm that was hard to ignore. The water flowed smoothly, carrying with it an array of fish that swam with an almost synchronized rhythm. However, the fish in this river were unlike any she had ever seen before. Their appearance was peculiar, to say the least, and they bore an uncanny, almost suspicious look.

These fish had scales that shimmered with an unnatural glow, a spectacle that was both mesmerizing and eerie. The glow, although inexplicable, was impossible to ignore and drew Caroline's attention immediately. The fish swam leisurely, their bodies moving with the current, their glowing scales casting an array of lights on the river bed below.

Caroline watched this spectacle with a mixture of fascination and curiosity. She wished she had a fishing rod to catch some of these mysterious fish and examine them up close. She found herself imagining the thrill of the catch, the fight against the pull of the fish, and the satisfaction of reeling in such a peculiar creature. "It's a pity I don't have a fishing rod," she commented to herself, her gaze still fixated on the glowing fish.

However, she was not one to be easily discouraged. Seeing the fish in the river gave her an idea. Fishing rods may not be available, but she was resourceful and determined. She thought to herself, "I'm sure I can catch them somehow." And with that, she started to form a plan, determined to unravel the mystery of the glowing fish in this strange, new world.

For an entire hour, Caroline tried in vain to catch fish from the river using her scythe as a tool. She thrust the blade into the water, hoping to spear one of the glowing fish, but her attempts proved fruitless. Despite her continuous failures, she didn't let frustration get the better of her. Instead, she viewed each unsuccessful attempt as a lesson, a stepping stone towards eventual success.

Her determination led her to another idea. She looked at her scythe in a new light, not just as a weapon, but as a survival tool. With a renewed sense of purpose, she used the sharp edge of her scythe to whittle a nearby wooden stick into a sharp point, transforming it into a makeshift spear.

The long, sturdy stick coupled with the sharp point offered better reach and precision, making it a more suitable tool for fishing. Armed with her improvised spear, Caroline returned to the river's edge, her eyes focused on the glowing fish below the surface.

With one swift and precise movement, she thrust the spear into the water. This time, her attempt was met with a surprising result. Not only did she manage to catch a fish, but she did so with an efficiency that was absent in her earlier attempts. Her persistence had paid off, turning a challenging situation into a moment of triumph.

"Finally, I won't die of hunger, I can't imagine sustaining myself on plants alone." Caroline thought to herself, pulling the makeshift spear out of the water. At her end of the spear, a fish was wriggling, its life slowly fading away. She had a feeling of triumph, a small victory in this unknown world.

But this feeling of triumph was short-lived. At that very moment, she was struck by a blue sphere of light that emanated from the fish. It happened so fast that she didn't have time to react or understand what was happening. The sphere penetrated her body, causing a surge of intense pain that radiated throughout her entire body. The pain was sharp, almost unbearable, yet it wasn't strong enough to make her let go of the spear which was still clutched tightly in her hands.

She found herself gasping for air, her breaths coming in quick, shallow gasps as she tried to cope with the pain. Her heart pounded in her chest like a drum, each beat echoing the pain that was coursing through her veins. Despite the pain, Caroline managed to keep her gaze fixed on the fish at the end of her spear, her eyes wide with fear and confusion.

"What the hell was that?" She muttered under her breath, her voice barely a whisper. The question hung in the air, unanswered, adding to the growing list of mysteries in this strange world. "Was it some kind of experience, or is this some kind of game?" She questioned, her mind racing to make sense of the situation.

The experience was far from fun, it was terrifying. For a moment, she had thought she was going to die, the fear of death gripping her heart in a vice-like grip. The fear was still evident in her eyes, her pupils dilated and her gaze unfocused as she continued to stare at the fish.

"I didn't sign up for this," she said out loud, her words echoing around her. She was still slightly dazed, her mind struggling to come to terms with what had just happened. The sudden onslaught of pain, the blue sphere of light, the glowing fish - it all felt like a bad dream. But she knew that this wasn't a dream, this was her reality, as surreal and terrifying as it may be.

With her newfound loot in tow, Caroline made her way back to the desolate ruins that had become her temporary shelter. Upon reaching the remnants of what once was a bustling settlement, she began to rummage through her backpack. Her fingers brushed against various items - a water bottle, a lighter, a hairbrush, and some notebooks. She also found a pencil case filled with writing utensils and a container that she typically used to carry sandwiches.

"This is everything I have," she thought to herself, weighing each item in her hands. "It has to suffice until I am able to find someone else, or something that can help me understand this place better."

With a sigh, she put the items back into her backpack and began to gather sticks and twigs scattered around the ruins. She needed to start a fire, not just for warmth, but also to cook the loot she had managed to gather. Over time, she amassed a sizeable pile of firewood.

Once satisfied with her collection, Caroline set the sticks up in a tepee-like structure. She then reached into her backpack, her fingers closing around the familiar shape of the lighter. With a flick of her thumb, a small flame sprang to life. Carefully, she introduced the flame to the kindling, watching as it hungrily devoured the wood, growing bigger and stronger.

As the flames danced and crackled, casting long, flickering shadows against the ruins, Caroline began to prepare her loot. Using the tools she had fortuitously found earlier in the ruins, she cleaned and readied her catch, anticipation building at the prospect of a cooked meal.

Finally, as the fire roared and the sky darkened, she placed her loot on the fire to cook. The aroma of cooking food filled the air, a small comfort in the vast emptiness of the ruins. As she sat there, watching her meal cook under the light of the twin suns, she couldn't help but feel a glimmer of hope. Despite the seemingly insurmountable odds, she was surviving, learning to adapt to this strange new world she found herself in.

As she chewed on the flesh of the strange fish she had managed to catch, Caroline found herself reflecting on her situation. "It could always be worse," she thought, a small smile playing on her lips despite the dire circumstances. The fish was oddly flavored and certainly unlike anything she had tasted before, yet it was food, and at the moment, that was all that mattered.

Once she finished her meal, she picked up her new-found weapon, an ominous black scythe. It was a relic of a bygone era, discarded among the ruins of the seemingly deserted village. The scythe was heavy and cold to the touch, its surface radiating an eerie chill that seemed almost unnatural. But Caroline shrugged off the discomfort, knowing the blade may well be her only means of protection in this strange, new world.

Her next priority was to find shelter. The ruins around her were a stark reminder of a once thriving civilization, now reduced to rubble and decay. The village was a labyrinth of crumbling structures and overgrown paths, a ghost town abandoned by its inhabitants long ago. As Caroline navigated through the wreckage, she kept an eye out for any place that could offer her some refuge from the elements.

After an extensive search, she finally found what she was looking for. Among the sea of ruins, there was a single structure that stood out. It was the only ruin that could be called a building, its structure more intact than the rest. The building, despite its dilapidated state, had a fully intact roof and a functional door, features that were severely lacking in the other structures. It wasn't much, but it was the best option she had.

Upon entering the building, she was instantly met with a new problem. The roofs of the "buildings" were exceptionally low, forcing her to stoop slightly to avoid bumping her head. It was uncomfortable, but it was a minor inconvenience compared to the challenges she had faced so far.

In an attempt to make her makeshift shelter more comfortable, Caroline gathered some of the scattered wooden boards she found around the ruins. She arranged them on the ground, creating a makeshift bed that would separate her from the cold, hard floor. It was a crude solution, but it was better than sleeping directly on the ground.

Feeling thirsty after her efforts, she took a sip from her canteen, the cool water providing some relief from the heat of the twin suns. Once she had quenched her thirst, she turned her attention to securing the building. Using her scythe, she managed to close the old, creaky door, providing her with some semblance of security.

With her makeshift shelter secured, Caroline allowed herself to relax. She laid down on her improvised bed, the exhaustion of the day finally catching up to her. As she closed her eyes, she found herself hoping against hope that she would wake up in her own bed, that all of this was nothing but a dream. But deep down, she knew that she was in this for the long haul. This strange, new world was her reality now, and she had to do whatever it took to survive.

Caroline abruptly woke up, the sudden rustling noise from outside startling her from her slumber. Her attention was drawn to a nearby window, where she found herself captivated by the sight of a strange and ethereal light that stretched across the vast expanse of the sky. The spectacle was reminiscent of the mesmerizing aurora borealis, a captivating sight she had only seen in pictures and documentaries. The light stretched out, casting an eerie glow across the entire sky, slightly obscuring the twinkling stars embedded in the velvet darkness and the incredibly large moon which hung in the air like a silver disc, its surface flawless with no visible imperfections or craters.

Caroline continued to gaze out the window, her attention now drawn to the closer surroundings. The moving shadows weaved between the towering trees and the nearby ruins of what once were mighty structures. The sight made her heart pound in her chest, freezing her in place with a sudden spike of fear. She was on the verge of grabbing her scythe, her weapon of choice for self-defense, but remembered that she had used it to secure the door before she went to sleep.

Caroline found herself hoping, praying even, that this was all just a dream and that she would soon wake up to find everything back to normal. She could feel an overwhelming fatigue wash over her, a clear sign of the stress her body and mind had been under. Instead of remaining vigilant, she finally gave in to the crushing tiredness, seeing no point in continuously observing the shifting shadows. She dismissed them as mere hallucinations, figments of her imagination induced by her stressed state and the extreme fatigue. Yielding to her body's need for rest, she climbed back into her bed and allowed herself to drift back into the realm of sleep.

Tossing and turning restlessly on her improvised bed, Caroline was soaked in a cold sweat that clung to her skin, making her shiver despite the fever raging within her. Her forehead was hot to the touch, a clear sign of a high fever that was taking a toll on her body. Despite her discomfort and the vivid dreams that seemed to grip her consciousness, Caroline was unable to rouse herself from her deep slumber.