Hey, peoples!
This is (as the title implies) the Concept Intro to one idea in a collection of story ideas I’m currently referring to as “Project Psyche”. Constructive critique and your opinions on this short piece (and if I should progress it into a full-length tale) are appreciated. 🙂
The Black Inanimentum—a void of encompassing shadow in the dream world—a place where many waylaid souls are cursed to reside in a perdition of nothingness. No time, no stimuli, no companionship.
Most perish in grief and insanity before long, succumbing to the abyss, willfully allowing themselves to be embraced and consumed to forever sate their longing for acquittal. The majority barely survive a mere few days.
The Inanimentum has that effect on the unfortunate persons condemned to call it their penal residence. Fear. Hopelessness. Melancholy. Seclusion.
Even those who fight it do so in futility, and pass away eventually as do all others—like wisps of smoke in the wind, none last long enough to make a lasting impression—or, for that matter, escape to witness and revel in light’s warmth.
So, how then, do we outside the Inanimentum know of this black tarnation?
Because one rarely noted person survived. He, with other accounts from legends and research, has created a plausible theory that the Black Inanimentum exists, and is not simply the workings of distraught subconscious minds.
Dr. Leayel, with Arcane Research and Exploration (A.R.E.), documented the single survivor’s recollection of his experience in the Inanimentum and presently assists Dr. Craig Williams (Head Director of “Project Psyche”) in further research.
The fallacy of the Black Inanimentum and the survivor’s experience still remains probable, though everyday it seems to lessen, and the story seems to become progressively more viable as reality…
That sounds creepy. I’ve thought of that before–to me, it sounds like if there was no afterlife at all, I would be stuck in nothingness for eternity. How do you get in there? How do you get out? The idea of getting stuck there sounds so sad…and scary. I’m not sure what you would do with the concept. How would you write about nothing?
I’m not a fan of psychological thrillers, because I hate it when ideas that the universe doesn’t exist, everything is a figment of your imagination, etc. makes everything feel so meaninglessness. But some people like that, but I don’t. It’s not the story that I don’t like, it’s the genre.
But do what you want, OK? I’m not the only person in the world with an opinion.
Hmm. Your outlook on the subject is interesting.
As for the concept, I’m thinking it wouldn’t revolve completely around the Black Inanimentum; I might have the M.C.(s) have flashbacks and recollections of their live(s) before the nothingness, telling who they were and how they were condemned to the black perdition. “Project Psyche” deals mostly with the dream world, so the story could also feature other places from there.
Thanks for commenting!
– P.G.S.S.