Read Online Wordscapist: The Myth (The Way of the Word Book 1) by Arpan Panicker - Free Book Online
Authors: Arpan Panicker
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disappeared into a dark black spot, suspended in the air. I leaned forward, trying to get a closer look at the dark spot. There was a moment of rapid, silent motion, followed by the quietest explosion ever. The last thing I remember was being thrown backwards, but only inside my head…
***
I eventually came to. I opened my eyes, half afraid of what I would see. My head was spinning and felt really heavy. I picked myself up, feeling disoriented. I looked around, half-expecting the room to be completely destroyed. But it was exactly in the shape I remembered it to have been, which was pretty wrecked to start with. At least it was no worse. I closed my eyes and tried to recall what had happened. I vaguely remembered an explosion. Apart from the fact that I had been lying on the floor, there was no other clue to this mysterious event.
I remembered the word, and I tried saying it again. Wordscapist. Something stirred in my head at the sound of it, but no strange warp in the air appeared. I repeated the word again. No effect. I clearly remembered saying the word aloud, seeing the warp become a black hole and then a supernova. And then I had passed out. Sigh. My memory was on an acid trip of some sort. I guess I had just passed out from exhaustion and shock and my mind had cooked up an incredible explanation while I was unconscious. I warily picked up the notepad that I had dropped in the midst of all this drama. I quickly flipped through it, almost reluctant to see anything more I could understand or enunciate! I reached the last page. There was a small note there, in English.
If found, please deliver to:
Aktomentes Loon
The Gypsy Shack
Baga Beach
Goa
Finder shall be rewarded.
It was one of those moments. The coin dropped. I knew my destination. I was going to Goa. This Aktomentes character (not Act two, Akto…that’s who the dead man had been asking me to reach…another revelation) had some explaining to do if he wanted his precious notebook. I had to find out what this was all about, to preserve my sanity if nothing else. I needed to understand. I stole another glance at the clock. Almost 90 minutes since I had reached home. I needed to get a move on!
I picked up my backpack, looking around me. I guess I owed myself a vacation. I had enough in liquid savings to cover my back for a couple of months at least. And the promised reward might just pay for my trip. And more than anything else, it would keep me away from the cops and buy me time to come up with a plan. My apartment would be alright without me.
I walked around the flat, picking up a couple of odds and ends and stuffing them into my already overflowing backpack. Finally, I gave up and accepted that I was leaving a lot behind and there was no alternative. I hefted my backpack and walked out. “I will come back,” I told myself again, as I locked the door. Somehow, I knew they were just empty words. I had a strong feeling that this was the last I would see of my beloved apartment and everything I was leaving behind.
***
The memory faded out as I came back to the present. I went back to staring out of the window. I could make out random shapes jumping at me from the darkness beyond. The night was half past, and barely a few hours remained before I would reach Goa. I had never been to Goa. I had always wanted to go to Goa. It is strange how wishes tend to be granted.
I closed my eyes and tried to get some sleep. I knew I needed it, but I could not relax. I was petrified that the demon’s face would come to me in a nightmare and the sheer horror of it would stop my heart. “Pleasant thoughts,” I told myself, “pleasant thoughts.”
CHAPTER 5
A Warm Welcome
The first sight lies prettily
The second sight warns of dire things
To go beyond the first and heed the second
Is all about wondering
Is it worth it after all
Slick
The moment I
***
I eventually came to. I opened my eyes, half afraid of what I would see. My head was spinning and felt really heavy. I picked myself up, feeling disoriented. I looked around, half-expecting the room to be completely destroyed. But it was exactly in the shape I remembered it to have been, which was pretty wrecked to start with. At least it was no worse. I closed my eyes and tried to recall what had happened. I vaguely remembered an explosion. Apart from the fact that I had been lying on the floor, there was no other clue to this mysterious event.
I remembered the word, and I tried saying it again. Wordscapist. Something stirred in my head at the sound of it, but no strange warp in the air appeared. I repeated the word again. No effect. I clearly remembered saying the word aloud, seeing the warp become a black hole and then a supernova. And then I had passed out. Sigh. My memory was on an acid trip of some sort. I guess I had just passed out from exhaustion and shock and my mind had cooked up an incredible explanation while I was unconscious. I warily picked up the notepad that I had dropped in the midst of all this drama. I quickly flipped through it, almost reluctant to see anything more I could understand or enunciate! I reached the last page. There was a small note there, in English.
If found, please deliver to:
Aktomentes Loon
The Gypsy Shack
Baga Beach
Goa
Finder shall be rewarded.
It was one of those moments. The coin dropped. I knew my destination. I was going to Goa. This Aktomentes character (not Act two, Akto…that’s who the dead man had been asking me to reach…another revelation) had some explaining to do if he wanted his precious notebook. I had to find out what this was all about, to preserve my sanity if nothing else. I needed to understand. I stole another glance at the clock. Almost 90 minutes since I had reached home. I needed to get a move on!
I picked up my backpack, looking around me. I guess I owed myself a vacation. I had enough in liquid savings to cover my back for a couple of months at least. And the promised reward might just pay for my trip. And more than anything else, it would keep me away from the cops and buy me time to come up with a plan. My apartment would be alright without me.
I walked around the flat, picking up a couple of odds and ends and stuffing them into my already overflowing backpack. Finally, I gave up and accepted that I was leaving a lot behind and there was no alternative. I hefted my backpack and walked out. “I will come back,” I told myself again, as I locked the door. Somehow, I knew they were just empty words. I had a strong feeling that this was the last I would see of my beloved apartment and everything I was leaving behind.
***
The memory faded out as I came back to the present. I went back to staring out of the window. I could make out random shapes jumping at me from the darkness beyond. The night was half past, and barely a few hours remained before I would reach Goa. I had never been to Goa. I had always wanted to go to Goa. It is strange how wishes tend to be granted.
I closed my eyes and tried to get some sleep. I knew I needed it, but I could not relax. I was petrified that the demon’s face would come to me in a nightmare and the sheer horror of it would stop my heart. “Pleasant thoughts,” I told myself, “pleasant thoughts.”
CHAPTER 5
A Warm Welcome
The first sight lies prettily
The second sight warns of dire things
To go beyond the first and heed the second
Is all about wondering
Is it worth it after all
Slick
The moment I
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