4 Migration (2/2)

Mike and I got up and walked towards the front of the portal. We were among the first in the group to recover from the shocking information. From our spot in the queue we could see people getting their ALIC inserted. Ugh, it's so painful. I can still remember the searing pain I felt in the back of my head when I got it in my last life. As we got closer I could see Mike getting nervous. I chuckled knowing he's not a big fan of shots.

”Getting squeamish?” I prodded him with my elbow.

”Jerk! You know I don't like needles.”

I just laughed in response as we got closer.

Finally, we were at the front and a guy in a white coat asked Mike to lean forward. Real quick he jabbed the needle in the back of his head.

”Ahhh! No warning?!?!”

”I find this works faster.” Responded the guy in the white coat with complete ambivalence.

”Next.”

I walked up prepared. Leaning over I felt the jab in the back of my head and the searing hot pain in the back of the skull. At least the pain doesn't last too long but it still stings like hell. We continued forward toward the portal. You don't really feel any different with ALIC unless you are absorbing essence or connecting to the Archaic System through an origin stone. The only difference I felt at the moment was a soreness at the back of my head

As we got closer to the portal we could see people passing through the dark liquid and disappearing beyond.

Finally, it was Mike's turn. He was in front of me, spear strapped to his back with the water and food in a duffel bag around his shoulder. The spear was almost as tall as he was. He turned to me before passing through and said, ”I'll find you when we reach the other side.”

”Not if I find you first.” I retorted.

We spoke the exact same words last time. I really hope nothing changes and I can see him soon.

Chuckling he took large steps towards the portal and was swallowed by the dark liquid substance.

I took a deep breath and said to myself, ”Here we go.”

As I neared the portal the pull got stronger until it eventually swallowed me in a tumultuous darkness.

Have you ever imagined what it would be like to be put through one of those old drying machines they had centuries ago? That's what it feels like when you wake up after having portaled to Agartha. Every part of your body feels like it was pounded on. Traveling through a rip in space and time to another dimension is not a fun trip even if you were prepared for it. However, those that are able to wake up are the lucky ones, some unlucky people die before their consciousness can return.

Before opening my eyes I prayed, hoping that I got sent to a different place than I did in the last timeline. As I opened my eyes I could see a dark cavern above me. So dark you could barely see what looked like tunnels running through the ceiling. A sense of déjà vu hitting me. Why? Why did it have to be this place?

This absolute godforsaken hellhole.