The Mysterious Black Hole

Humanity, thanks to its advancing technology, was witnessing the most fascinating space events in its history. Solar flares, meteor showers, new planet discoveries, and black holes. Unfortunately, for those struggling to comprehend beyond what they could see, such news often resembled nothing more than a trailer for a science fiction movie.

Nevertheless, an event involving a black hole that managed to make its way into the evening news for a brief period did succeed in making everyone somewhat uneasy. A space object, about which they had partial information, was approaching Earth! The announcer, who issued a few warnings causing concerns like potential impacts on electronic devices or internet disruptions, managed to spur astrologers and a few scientists into action. Then, the agenda shifted to topics closely followed by people, such as war and politics.

Seda, returning from her business trip to Australia, was unaware that this enigmatic space object was at its closest position to Earth. It couldn't be said that she was well informed about the matter; even if she were, she wouldn't have postponed her journey due to a black hole millions of light-years away. Like other passengers, she spent her time focusing on different concerns. In the middle of the world, she was just a tiny dot flying in the sky as the sun set.

As a business class courtesy, the flight attendant brought her a glass of whiskey. She was enjoying all the perks of white-collar life. While sipping her drink, she took some pills to fall asleep quickly, put on her headphones, selected a song from the "Romantic French" playlist, and began watching the clouds from the window. After a while, the pilot announced a warning about severe turbulence, prompting everyone to fasten their seatbelts. The turbulence started just as Seda had fallen asleep, and she had a 15-hour journey ahead of her.

When she opened her eyes, she found herself in the midst of a magnificent chasm. The sun, shining through the wide opening above, illuminated the crystal-clear lake at the bottom of the deep hollow, and birds were perching on the vines hanging from the top of the hole. The music in her ears was still echoing in the background.

She was alone... Longing for a swim, she undressed and slipped into the water, letting the cool embrace herIt was refreshing, crystal clear, and utterly serene. As the sun dazzled her eyes, she reclined, letting her hands glide through the water, savoring its rich, enveloping density. She knew she was in a dream, yet it felt overwhelmingly real. The sound of the water in her ears, the chirping of the birds, the warmth of the sun... When a soft, moss-like leaf brushed between her fingers, she panicked and turned around, only to realize she had reached the other shore of the lake.

It was dark and resembled a damp, mysterious cave. She slowly emerged from the water, took a few steps on the small shore covered with black sand, and saw some plants resembling lantern flowers at the base of the rock walls surrounding the chasm. They were almost glowing in the reflected light. As she bent down to take a closer look at the flowers, she noticed someone lying among the rocks, with a face identical to her own. Clearly, she was in a deep slumber. There was a red crystal embedded in the middle of her forehead. Curiously, she reached out and ran her fingers over the stone, feeling its angular shape.

This touch triggered a massive explosion in her mind, propelling her into darkness. She felt herself being sucked towards the sky, surpassing the clouds and the blueness. Like piercing through a veil, flying out from an invisible shield. Drifting into the endless void, she saw the stars and the sun. A force was pulling her further into the emptiness. She was moving rapidly, yet she couldn't sense the distances she covered. Perhaps drifting like this went on for hours. She silently observed passing planets, meteors, and even other solar systems. Eventually, she spotted the dark eye on the horizon. Around its darker center was a fiery ring and an almost endless line of light in its orbit. Everything around it was changing shape under the pressure of its power, melting and blending like swirling paints. As the black hole swallowed her, a light emanated, and she felt silent undulations in her body. She was in a tunnel, as if the giant black hole had shrunk to a size perceivable by her. The walls surrounding her were divided into honeycomb-shaped chambers. Each chamber had a scene, but they flowed so rapidly that she couldn't make out what she was seeing. Finally, she mustered the courage to reach out to one of them.

Having disembarked the plane, arrived home, and settled into her sofa to rest, she felt as if she were in a dream, yet it was incredibly real. The midday sun seeping through the blinds, the coolness emanating from the ceiling fan, the scent of her freshly washed hair... Thankfully, she had managed to make it home quickly. As she closed her eyes, she felt herself falling into void again. She remained in darkness for a while.

When she opened her eyes, she was in a large room with tall, pure white, marble-clad walls. Perhaps it wasn't marble, but a hard material resembling stone. There was a hum in the room, and as she looked around, she saw hundreds of people. They all wore the same gray-colored robes with gold embroideries. On closer inspection, she discerned these figures resembling humans, albeit taller, grayer, and seemingly devoid of gender. Yet, it was somehow possible to sense which was male or female. While she contemplated this, one of them leaned in and questioned, "What you're doing isn't right. Why are you here?" Startled, she turned to the man. Unable to get an answer, the elderly man seized her arm and drew her away from the crowd, toward the rear of the hall, between towering columns. "How did you arrive here?" he inquired. This exchange caught Seda off guard. Was it real? "I don't know," she said. Upon hearing this, the man, who seemed quite bothered by the situation and probably knew her, asked, "Do you recall who you are?" Of course, she did! Yet, she felt strangely detached from her familiar self. The man shut his eyes momentarily, as if processing the situation. Then he spoke, "I could elucidate many matters to you, but we're decidedly short on time. Time may be racing faster in your realm than in ours. You must return and never return here." For the first time, Seda felt suspended between dream and reality. Was she aboard the plane? Or was she dreaming, snug in her cool sofa back at home?

Unable to decide what to say, Seda drifted into thought as the old man seized her arm and guided her toward one of the towering doors encircling the hall. Behind it stretched a lengthy corridor, culminating in another expansive window. Through the window's void, she could see the sprawling cityscape beyond. Marble structures ascended amidst colossal flora reminiscent of trees, their hues ranging from gray to yellow. The horizon line was much closer compared to Earth. The sky was covered by a massive dome of glass, encompassing everything. It seemed like an artificial planet. Looking down, she saw the descending walls of the marble tower she was in and shivered. Near the edge of the tree line, there were scarcely clouds in sight. The man shook her by the arms, looked into her eyes, and calmly said, "You have to go." Before Seda could understand what was happening, she began to fall with a powerful blow. She screamed, but she wasn't sure if any sound came out. The moment of falling was all too real.

Suddenly, a sensation of compression overcame her, as if she were shrinking and on the verge of morphing. Then, she trembled with a thin electric current passing through her body, and came to herself. Once again, she found herself in the time tunnel, drifting amidst shifting scenes. Leaving old memories behind, she journeyed through a time frame yet to unfold.

Witnessing herself experiencing a nervous breakdown at work, resorting to sleeping pills for rest, and teetering on the brink of losing her sanity due to relentless nightmares, she found herself in a precarious state. Unable to confide in anyone, she deceived her mother and distanced herself from her friends. Battling frequent headaches, her days blurred together in a haze. Life grew increasingly challenging for her.

On social media, various religious representatives spoke about the dawn of a new era. They talked about the beginning of a new era. Then she came across a video of a young man claiming to be a physics professor. He talked about how the black hole affected people. Of those traumatized, insane, or falling into eternal sleep... However, there were also rare individuals who managed to transition to different levels of consciousness. He spoke of uniting these people. For the first time, she felt she had discovered an explanation for her experiences. She reached out to the man and promptly arranged a meeting.

He was tall, pale-skinned, and robust build. As they strolled along the seaside, he delved into the concept of multiple universes, each governed by its own set of physical laws and inhabited by diverse beings. Apart from Seda, no one else attended the meeting. After patiently listening to Seda's inquiries, the man extended an invitation to visit a scientist's residence, promising further enlightenment. The next day, after a long car journey, they arrived at a magnificent palace with servants waiting at the gates, wide marble halls, and long corridors.

Adorning the walls were oil paintings, while antique objects were showcased in ornate cabinets. Crossing the corridor, they stepped onto a veranda filled with lush and exotic plants. they were greeted by an elderly man in aristocratic attire, who extended a warm smile and a welcoming hand. When Seda met his pale blue eyes and distant expression, she felt something was amiss. Along with this feeling, time began to stretch, and before she knew it, she found herself in a grand, high-ceilinged room, decorated in old English style. Following the elderly man's lead to the back of the room, she observed as he pointed to a framed painting depicting a majestic ship navigating turbulent waves.

"Years ago," the man began, "a merchant sailed the world's shores aboard this renowned vessel, amassing invaluable treasures and knowledge. He purportedly discovered the key to immortality." Moving to the next painting—a portrait of the merchant, distinguished in his dark blue uniform adorned with medals—the man continued, "After retiring from his travels, the merchant built this very house and dedicated himself to studying a mysterious object he had acquired."

 As he moved on to the next painting, he added, "Of course, we can't compare the science and technology of that time with today's, but the merchant still managed to find a very important piece of evidence." He was pointing to a classic still life painting and a red, shiny stone depicted in the drawing. "The key to eternal life."

Seda recalled the stone vividly. Whenever she tried to recollect the past, her thoughts would blur, and she'd feel disconnected from the present moment. Startled by the old man's voice, she said, "This is no ordinary stone, and according to the merchant's claim, whoever finds this stone has also discovered the secret of eternal life. With this stone, one can traverse infinite dimensions, free from the confines of the physical body."

After this story, the old man approached the heavy wooden library that covered one side of the room and set aside one of the figurines, pressing a hidden button. The library slid aside, revealing a secret room filled with antique treasures, illuminated by special lighting. The elderly man pointed to a dark-colored stone standing alone on the first shelf. Although the stone was small, its weight almost crushed the velvet cushion underneath. "This stone belongs to the merchant. According to his writings, in its prime, it gleamed red and facilitated interdimensional communication. Now it's dysfunctional. You can only understand it's not an ordinary stone when you touch it. It's quite heavy and as sturdy as steel."

Seda could feel her instincts kicking in. There was something unreliable about this man. She realized she was navigating dangerous waters. Fear began to push her away from the moment, and she noticed the image fracturing and multiplying. The sounds began to warp. Suddenly, she was pulled backward into a tunnel, where the room dissolved into a distant square surrounded by cells, events cascading around her. A buzzing sensation filled her head as she tumbled backward, the tunnel darkening around her. The cells transformed into silver streaks of light, leaving her no time to ponder—she had to return.

In a panic, she reached out, feeling herself being pulled away. In an instant, she found herself in a dimly lit room, strapped to a steel chair. Before her stood a middle-aged, blonde woman dressed impeccably, accompanied by the physics professor she had met, both scrutinizing screens on a nearby table. Then the man picked up a headpiece made of cables and wires from the table and came to Seda's side. Almost without looking at her, he carefully placed the headpiece on her head.

Shortly after, the woman approached, settling into a chair beside Seda with deliberate steps, a silver pen in hand. As she tapped her nails, she awaited Seda's readiness. Finally, the tapping sound began to echo in her head like a giant clock, and she immediately heard the woman's distant speech. "Hypnosis session 10, if you're ready, Seda..."

She was thrown as if flung by a giant sling. The voice, along with pressure, buried itself in her mind and disappeared. As darkness vanished and she fell through the clouds, raindrops pelted her face. When the clouds dissipated, she beheld an ocean stretching endlessly, waves towering as high as mountains, crashing mercilessly. Despite the strong wind, she remained unaffected. As she neared the ground, her heartbeat quickened. Finally, the light vanished, and her ears filled with the deep hum of water instead of air. Opening her eyes, she found herself in the cool depths of the ocean.

She looked around for a while, realizing she could breathe underwater, which eased her tension. In the distance, a percussion instrument echoed, and she sensed the movements of a large, weighty creature below. Suddenly, vibrations signalled a being rapidly approaching from behind. When fear prompted her to move away, her body propelled forward with astonishing speed, a natural and sudden motion that left her in amazement. Bending down, she inspected her hands and feet. Instead of familiar limbs, there were arms resembling those of an octopus, with ethereal curtains between them. In the darkness of the water, they resembled fireflies, and a bright liquid flowed within the veins on their backs and shoulders. They glowed in the darkness, illuminated by a bright liquid flowing within their veins. As they swam toward the source of the music, their forms shimmered and shifted.

Eventually, they reached a vast coral reef, where octopus-like beings adorned the interior and apex of the structure with their arms. Illuminated by their radiant glow, the expansive underwater plant served as their palace. Continuing to follow the music, she descended deeper, believing it originated from the coral's base. Settling into a large seashell, she observed a magnificent male figure below. Under his arms were creatures with shells she had never seen before, making sounds when hit. As she approached, the male began to change color and swell. Eventually, he began to circle around Seda and handed over his place to another octopus. It was a magnificent court dance. Dizzying and effectively presenting her interest...

Meanwhile, a distant echo of a woman's voice startled her awake. She found herself being pulled into the navy darkness of the ocean while seated in the cold embrace of the chair. The blonde woman inquired of the professor, "Did you obtain the coordinates?" Without averting his gaze from the screens, the man responded triumphantly, "Yes, I have! We can send her back to the same location, or even explore different coordinates." Concerned, the woman questioned the potential danger, to which the man replied sternly, "Theoretically, yes. However, our goal is to return her to the sinkhole and retrieve the stone. Each attempt carries equal risk."

Suddenly, Seda felt as if she had found the answer to a forgotten question. She recalled a place—the sinkhole with its breath taking beauty and a shimmering lake at its base. Her body lay at the wall's bottom, the stone gleaming upon her forehead. Though she remembered touching it, the events that followed were hazy, lacking clear transition. Nevertheless, she sensed the significance of this stone and moment. It seemed that by strapping her to a chair, they had not only restricted her physically but also granted access to the depths of her mind and soul... Why?

As this question reverberated within, fear began to grip her. She longed to escape. Amidst the emotional tumult, time seemed to slow, granting her a sense of relief as she realized she had freed herself from the chair. Calmly, she stood up and walked towards the tunnel that appeared in front of her. Glancing back as she entered, she observed her reflection still bound to the chair. It was as if she had shed her identity. Moving away from the scene, she no longer felt dragged but instead walked slowly through time. Scenes unfolded beneath her feet within the panels, revealing new ones she had not seen before. Empowered and serene, she felt more in control, as if she had mastered a newfound skill.

By now, she wondered how much time had elapsed since she first felt pulled along. How did time flow in this place? Did she desire to return to her life on Earth? She was sure she hadn't died, but as she moved forward, she found it increasingly difficult to recall her past. Uncertainty shrouded her journey home.

With each destination, she became more curious about the ultimate ending. The tunnel was evidently leading her towards a destination where she would find answers to all her questions, all seemingly connected to the sinkhole. Her instincts urged her to return there, yet she remained unsure of the path. The stone held immense significance, and she was determined to safeguard it from theft. Moreover, she believed that reaching the stone would offer her an escape.

Meanwhile, doors carved with red patterns began to appear within the panels. Though similar in appearance, they resembled the entrance to a temple or a church. each door seemed to belong to a different era—some snowy, some decrepit, others shrouded in mist. She headed towards one that seemed bright, reaching out to touch it.

At first, she was enveloped by a gentle breeze carrying the scent of flowers, the cool texture of soil beneath her feet, and the soft murmur of a man's voice singing repetitive words. Her mind calmed down, and she looked the direction of the mesmerizing melody.

When she first opened her eyes, she thought she was in a place where colors didn't exist, just lines of light. After a while, she noticed that these lines surrounded objects like electric wires. Each entity was connected to another through luminous pathways, When she examined further, she realized that these forms belonged to the Earth.

Before her, an elderly man sat, his voice manifesting as a radiant beam of light, a crimson glow emanating from his forehead. She observed the flow of energy, from golden rays to earthly soil. These paths extended to her roots and branches. Though unable to perceive herself visually, she felt every part of her being—sensations of birds alighting on her hair, sunlight nourishing her leaves, and the essence of her fragrance woven into her flowers.

In that moment, she heard the man's voice in her mind, accompanied by his humming melody. It felt as if a channel had opened between two dimensions. "I see you," he murmured, continuing his song. She replied, "I see you too. You have a red mark on your forehead." She felt the old man smile. "You have the same." So, the stone was with her in this universe, and the old man could see it. However, it remained beyond her reach while she existed in the form of a tree. "I can't reach it," she confessed after a pause. Then, breaking the silence, he inquired, "When did you first notice it?" Seda struggled to recall her life before the sinkhole, now distant memories. "I don't know," she admitted. The old man revealed, "I know the soul of this tree; I grew up alongside it. We meditate together, for it recognizes me as I do it. Are you a visitor?" Seda affirmed, "Yes, I am. My intention is not to linger." The old man assured, "Time is inconsequential." Puzzled, Seda questioned his certainty. With a chuckle, the old man explained, "Because you are here now, and I'm certain you inhabited another form before this. You can commune with this tree because it exists as a body between dimensions for you. Haven't you inhabited other forms before?" It was true. The sinkhole was the only place she hadn't inhabited physically—a unique experience.

This was also the reason they wanted to experiment. To reach the stone meant transcending time and dimensions. Gradually, Seda comprehended the old man's perspective. "Yes, I have journeyed to various realms before, but my goal is to return to where I found the stone," she admitted. The old man sighed, "In the material world, everything serves a symbolic purpose in our spiritual journey. You cannot take what is already yours or expect it to serve a purpose other than its own." Seda had presumed the stone was a tool for interdimensional travel, yet the old man suggested it held deeper significance.

Meanwhile, the song ended, and the man slowly stood up. As Seda tried to understand what was happening, he approached her and touched her thick trunk to greet her. Then he quietly moved away.

Seda waited quietly, motionless and thoughtful, in the cool soil for a long time. She waited in quiet contemplation amidst the cool soil, yearning for the old man's return and help. Through him, she had found new answers. While she waited, of course, there were other visitors as well. Mostly people came to pray to her, make wishes, or seek healing. Sometimes she listened to birds and insects and communicated with other trees. She went through days, nights, warm and cold seasons. In the passing days and nights, through warm and cold seasons, she absorbed the earth's light and the essence of living beings. Time flowed differently for a tree than for a human, and Seda nearly forgot about the stone. Each journey to reach it transformed her in subtle ways.

After many seasons, one spring day, a powerful light approached her —none other than the old man returning. Seated before her, he resumed his humming melody. Soon, he posed a profound question from within, "My dear friend, are you still here?" Eagerly, Seda responded, "Yes, I am still here. It's been a very long time." The man smiled, "Indeed, 45 years have passed. How did they pass for you?" His words stirred despair and fear within Seda at the realization of time's relentless march. "It can't have been 45 years; I thought it was only a few months," she protested. The man explained, "When we first met, I was an old man. I returned to Earth and walked the path of enlightenment again. It's a curious twist of fate; I never forgot this sacred mountain and the 600-year-old monastery you reside in. I returned to find you." Curiosity piqued, Seda pondered the events of the intervening years. If someone else had found the stone, her return might be thwarted. "It might be too late for everything..." she lamented. The man reassured her, "If you've journeyed before, you can do so again. In that case, time ceases to hold significance." However, Seda was uncertain how to depart from a body she never slept in nor controlled. The man offered to teach her some methods, though Seda wondered why he remained in this dimension, inhabiting a mortal body despite possessing such knowledge to the man, she wondered why he was still in this dimension, living in a mortal body if he had this knowledge.

The man revealed that he deliberately refused to reach the final stage of enlightenment, opting instead to guide souls on Earth. Through his teachings, Seda mastered the use of her third eye and entered a trance state. With newfound clarity, she prepared to embark on another journey to retrieve the stone.

Upon arriving at the sinkhole, she found everything unchanged: the serene lake, the vines cascading into the water, the sun's shimmering reflection, and the melodious birdsong. It all exuded profound peace and tranquility. As she floated in the water, she beheld her reflection and gently traced the bright red stone adorning her forehead. The realization dawned upon her— the figure she encountered at the base of the rocks during her initial visit was none other than herself. Everything fell into place.

This return marked the final act, a completion of the time loop. She thought for a while. Now that she could go back, she could change some things. — avoiding experiments, distancing herself from others, safeguarding against breakdowns. Yet, such actions would disrupt the sequence of events. Without encountering the stone, she wouldn't be able to visit different dimensions, and initiating an entirely different loop.

Deep down, she recognized the wisest choice was to wait patiently. Yet, a lingering fear persisted— fear of mortality, solitude, or transitioning into the unknown. This feeling clinging to her heart was the last human instinct she had, echoed the remnants of the Seda she once knew.

Arriving at the spot where she encountered her past self among the rocks, she invoked the techniques taught by the old man. Delving inward, she sought an alternative path.

Upon reopening her eyes, she beheld a figure gliding across the lake's surface. This slender being, with pale, gray-tinged skin and cascading white hair, bore a human semblance yet emanated an otherworldly aura. It’s gender was indiscernible, with small stones adorning its eye sockets and coral red lips. Gill-like clefts adorned its ears, and as it drew near, it greeted her calmly. A sense of familiarity washed over her, as if they had met in another universe. Though gaps in her memory stirred fear and uncertainty, Seda awaited its approach serenely. As it sat face to face, its coral red fingers reached out, carrying scents of moss and salt. Upon touching her forehead, it unleashed a torrent of memories within Seda— a boundless flow without beginning or end.

This being hailed from a superior, sacred race, embodying the spirit of the lake for eons. Despite its spiritual prowess, it too were fragile. Inviting Seda to a new universe, it offered glimpses of unparalleled joy. Seda could not compare anything she left behind with this, except for love. As magnificent as it was, the most important thing was that there was no return on this path. Seda knew there was no other way, and this was the most beautiful chance.

The being stood up and hugged her. As she was carried towards the lake in their long arms, she felt no fear. When her connection to the earthly realm was severed as her feet left the ground, it felt like a detachment from the material world. She left her body among the rocks on the beach. The spirit of the lake would preserve her among its flowers and cold rocks until the right time came. She was ready for the next stage now.

Perhaps she was leaving a cycle behind, but new stages and discoveries awaited her ahead...

As the being rose and enveloped her in a hug, Seda felt an overwhelming sense of peace. Cradled in their long arms as they glided towards the lake, she harbored no fear. With each step, she felt her connection to the earthly realm loosen, a detachment from the material world. Leaving her physical form nestled among the rocks on the beach, she entrusted herself to the care of the spirit of the lake. There, amidst the fragrant flowers and cool rocks, she would rest until the appointed time. Ready for the next phase of her journey, she embraced the unknown with anticipation.

Though she may have bid farewell to one cycle, she knew that ahead lay new stages and revelations, waiting to unfold.

She opened her eyes, awakening from a deep slumber as the pilot announced their descent. Screams and cries echoed from the rear of the plane. A stewardess approached swiftly, opening the window with a concerned look. "Are you okay, ma'am?" she inquired, sensing something amiss. The man beside her was in tears, while others remained deep in sleep. After opening the windows at the back, the stewardess brought water for Seda. Bending down to offer an explanation, she struggled to compose her words amidst the fear in her eyes. "There has been an incident. Some of the sleeping passengers aren't waking up, but don't worry, our pilots are capable of landing the aircraft. We'll be landing shortly. Things don't look good on the ground either; some of the staff have been sent home. After landing, please make sure to follow our instructions. Please remain in your seats for now, okay?"