You’re very cold.
You can’t see anything.
Are your eyes even open?
Yes, they’re open, but there’s nothing here but darkness.
Where did everyone go?
How did you get here?
It’s very cold.
And damp.
You take a few steps forward, your arms outstretched, searching for something to help make sense of this.
Nothing.
You call into the darkness, “Hello?”
There is no response.
Wait.
You hear something in the distance.
Footsteps!
They’re getting louder, and faster.
Someone is running towards you!
“Who’s ther—” before you can finish the question, something grabs your hand! Fingernails dig into your skin and you hear a panicked voice,
“Please! You have to help me!”
“Elsie? Is that you?”
“Please! You have to hurry!”
The grip on your hand tightens as you feel a numbness start to overtake your body.
You can’t move. You can’t speak.
You feel yourself losing consciousness as the tang of metal permeates your sense of taste.
You open your eyes.
Your face is pressed against a dusty wooden floor.
You’re back!
You must have briefly fainted.
You stand up to brush yourself off and notice that you’re fiercely gripping something in your hand.
