Nascentorium

The Beginning of It All

It was a fateful night when we first met. I am a new employee in my office, and therefore always be the last person to leave the office, since I have to clean up and turn off every electronics there, it must be nearly 10 PM when I leave.

I locked the office door, went to the street, and entered the alley nearby for a shortcut to go to the train station when something caught my eyes. Someone was sitting beside the big trash can on the dark alley, visibly hurt and breathing fast. He was wearing a long black coat, had a beautiful face, hypnotizing blue eyes, and white long hair. He was holding his stomach, which appears to be bleeding with a big s***h wound. Blood pooling below him on the asphalt. I was shocked and looked around me to get help, and was about to call somebody when he suddenly said, "You there. I need help taking me to my place." I answered "Shouldn't we go to the hospital or something? You’re hurt." He was bleeding profusely from the open s***h wound. He answered, "No need, this will heal, but it might take some time and me being here is vulnerable. I need to get somewhere safe". I don't really understand what he says but I said "Okay. Can you stand?" I don't really know why I helped him, he doesn't really ask, more like commanded and somehow I feel compelled to do what he says. I helped him stand, and supported him with my shoulder. He hid his wound with his long coat, the blood still dripping out below it.

We walked out even deeper into several dark and humid alleys, seemingly turning in every direction every second. It’s strange that I have never seen these alleys before, even though I pass here every day. I have never seen these dark, mysterious, and closed buildings before, full of signs of unknown characters. He saw my confusion and whispered, “I alternate the space to make the journey to my place shorter and faster. This is not the same place with what you’re familiar with.” I was thinking, “What...does this all mean…?” when he looked at me and said “Look, I will explain everything later. Just help me walk, for now, okay? I don’t have many energies left.”

So I continued walking, with him pointing the direction to go. Finally, we came in front of a tall concrete wall, covered with thick ivy branches. I was about to say something when he stuck out his bloodied palm and touched the branches. Suddenly the branches moved and opened a hole for us. I was dumbfounded. Is he a magic-user? What am I getting myself into? The bloodied man saw my hesitation and commanded “Enter. Don’t worry, it’s safe for you.” I looked into the hole and saw a stairway, leading to god knows what. I gulped and started walking in, the hole behind us starting to close and left us in complete darkness.

I walked down the stairs slowly, stepping carefully to find the lower step below and so as not to fall with the weight of the b****y man (that I still don’t know the name of). The stairs seem endless, but I saw a spark of light afar. After going for some time, I found out that it’s candlelight, and I can see the brick walls around us. This seems like a tower, and we’re heading to the base. I can see a door on the lowest story. I looked at the man, and he nodded. After reaching the bottom, I opened the big wooden door slowly….

…only to see the most magical place I have ever seen. The place has high red brick walls covered with ivy branches and glass ceilings, with tall plants everywhere, and one big tree inside, it looks like an arboretum. It was also packed with tall bookcases from the bottom to the top of the wall. Beautiful long log tables filled with test tubes and other science things. A big cauldron filled with mysterious liquid that actually smells good. It was bright and warm there. I feel immediately at ease. The man smiled and said, “Welcome…to Nascentorium.”