The Akhapost Conspiracy

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        Barry groaned and sat up, a hand rising to press against his pounding head. The world was spinning and his stomach lurched. Taking deep breaths to soothe the nausea, he waited until the worst had subsided, then looked around. 

        What the hell just happened?

        Crawling his way over to the nearby river, he took a moment to rest. Kneeling on the edge, he gazed at his reflection in the water, and boy, did it tell a story. 

        Man, I look wretched. 

        With his shorts ripped to shreds and his shirt not far behind, not to mention the stench of smoke from his singed hair and shoes, anyone would think he’d run through a burning building. He splashed some water onto his face, jumping when a hand clamped around his shoulder. He wobbled precariously, but the stranger steadied him. 

        "I wouldn’t fall into the river if I were you," the stranger advised. "All manner of nasty creatures reside within."

        Barry eyed the river, and was thankful nothing had decided to nibble his fingers in their brief dip. He looked up, his worried expression turning into curiosity as he took in the odd dress sense of the three strangers. They were wearing skin-tight latex with an overlay of fabric, resembling a tunic. It seemed an entirely inappropriate design given the temperature had to be close to thirty-five degrees. One of them even had a fancy beaded hat.

        "Um, thanks for warning me." Barry paused for a second. "Also, where am I?"

        "You’re welcome. We are just outside the border of our Kingdom, Akhane." Fancy-hat said. "I am known as Hathor, and these are two of my colleagues. We've been expecting your arrival for some time, Bartholomew."

Colleagues? Dressed like that?

        "Yeah um, Barry's fine. How do you know me? And, how do you know my full name?"

        "As I said, we've been expecting you. We're in dire need of help. After we received your offer of employment, we pulled you across the void and into our world. Naturally, you may return home after fulfilling your contract."

        My offer of employment? Did I contact them somehow? I don’t remember seeing them on SEEK or LinkedIn. Oh, I hate companies that are just initials You forget what they stand for! Wait… did they say they pulled me into their world?

        Barry pressed a hand to his temple. “Okay, hang on. So, this is your world, not mine?”

        “Indeed. The sooner you aid us, the sooner you may leave."

        “You’re holding me against my will?” He demanded. “If I miss work, I’ll get fired!” 

        What about all the rent I just paid? And my groceries will spoil! Oh God, everyone’s going to think I was kidnapped! 

        Well, he was kidnapped. It also appeared he had exactly one choice.

        "Alright, fine." He muttered. "What's the issue?"

        Hathor smiled benignly at him, ushering him upstream towards a well-hidden door in the approaching stone walls - the border of the kingdom. The journey was made in awkward silence - at least, it was to Barry. Most likely because he wasn't wearing pants.

        He was escorted inside, squinting into the darkness. They took a thousand corridors, and Barry was immediately lost.  Up and down, right and left. The disorientation seemed intentional, though he tried not to take it personally. 

        Eventually they came to a lab. Inside, a myriad of creatures were being studied, many residing in a range of terrariums. Shelves were lined with jars, and he glimpsed some of the labels. Hairen feathers. Gorsol sap. Neetle fangs. It all looked, so impossible and unfamiliar. 

        How can I be of any help here?

        "What exactly do you guys do here?" Seemed the only logical question. 

        "We work for a subsection of the government. In our mission we have exhausted our theoretical resources and thus require skills from beyond it. Only then might we achieve our goal to destroy the monster terrorising us.” 

        “And that's where I come in?" Barry asked as they stepped into a final room, the door sealing shut behind them. 

        Hathor nodded. “There resides, inside the nearby mountains, a beast of untold power. It is called Akhapost. We have cohabitated for centuries in a feeble truce where it leaves us alone so long as each month we sacrifice one of our own to it.” 

        This is seriously messed up. No wonder they desperately want help.

        “We have tried everything to subdue, kill, or threaten it, but all have failed.” Hathor continued. “Magic can do many things - things even we once thought were impossible. However, Akhapost is filled with magic of its own, and anything we do only makes it stronger.” 

        “Hold up, you said magic, didn’t you? Magic isn’t real!” 

Harthor looked at him pityingly. “How else do you think we brought you here, Bartholomew? Our worlds differ in this one distinct way. Here, we have magic, but you have something we do not. You call it ‘syensee’, I believe.”

        “You mean science?”

        Hathor snapped his fingers. “That’s it! And your application claims that you have significant experience in this ‘science’.”

         “Hold up, you have magic but don’t have science?” Barry demanded incredulously. “Not even basic biology or chemistry?”

        “I’ll ignore the insult your words imply and get to the point. We only ask that you obtain a basic understanding of our world, and then assist in our ultimate goal; combine magic and science to destroy Akhapost.” 

        “Woah, woah, I don’t like the sound of where this is going.”

        “You will attend our university and take the classes we assign. All tuition is paid for. Your spare time will be devoted to helping us develop the weapon we require.”

        “Weapon!?”

        “And when the monster has been killed, we will take you home.” 

        This is going to take ages: I don’t even know what I’m supposed to make, let alone all of these strange machines I have never heard of - and no team!

        “We have also organised your accommodation.” Hathor said, leading him out and escorting him to what appeared to be the front of the building, to some local form of transport. “I’ll see you in a week, Bartholomew, and naturally, don’t tell anyone of your situation.” 

        Barry didn’t get a chance to respond as he was manhandled onto what must have been a teleportation platform, as he was ripped apart and shoved back together in a scientifically impossible way, into a new location. 

        “Hello!” An entirely too cheery voice called out to him, and Barry turned to find its owner, resignment and dread filling him with their next words. “You must be Barry, yes? I’m Random, and I’ll be your student guide!”