Chapter 1
I awake to the great halls of a mansion, their height stretching infinitely and endlessly, a sight that makes my head dizzy and my face pale. An unexplainable reality I have woken to; pure madness almost stuns me in place.
Its luxurious decor blinds my eyes as its ever-expanding walls break my mind; I’ve been thrust into chaos... A minute goes by as I try to regain any sense of normality, yet, the creaking wood sends a shiver down my spine, breaking my trance.
I look behind me to see the same endless hall; nothing of note here.
My gaze swivels onwards to a newly formed T-Junction ahead; it wasn’t here a second ago; I guess forward is my only option.
I walk up to the split path staring at the ornate painting on the wall; a familiar face looks down at me, disappointed and ashamed.
I can’t recognize who they are; they’re blurry and – ashy?
They feel faded, yet their presence is everpresent and looming.
Still, it’s just a painting, that’s all…
I look to the left to see another hall; although it isn’t abnormally tall, it twists and turns in place like it’s bending reality.
The hall to the right is overgrown with dangerous spikey plants, prickly leaves, and all sorts of foliage.
I stand here confronted by two seemingly bad decisions…
So I close my eyes and dig deep into myself to find the right path,
I feel a strong and almost insidious draw to the right, and the longer I linger, the stronger the pull gets. I glance over the back to the hall filled with the dangerous wilderness; its once menacing spikes and needles have grown smaller like it’s inviting me in…
I’m torn between these halls; something tells me it’s an important decision, and the painting’s ever-growing gaze doesn’t help.
I just have to make a move because deep down I know the hall to the right will kill me – to the left we go, down the ever spiral…
I walk into the hall with its flat floor beginning to veer off; trekking this is going to be a pain. I step forward and pull my arm out to press against the wall. However, as I do, I become weightless and float above the floor.
My body gets lifted and recentered to the middle of the hall,
at first, I naturally wave my arms around in confusion and the feeling of being in free fall, yet, as I realize that I’m wholly unmovable and stuck in mid-air, my attention goes to my surroundings.
I check left, right, up, and down – albeit nothing is found, except,
I notice the painting looks content; have I made the right choice?
My pondering stare breaks up as I feel my body being drifted forward,
I look ahead to the spiraling hall – it’s more lively than ever.
Vibrant colors soothe my exerted eyes as memories flood the catacombs of my mind, memories of life, filling me with rejuvenation.
Memories of loved ones and all the time we spent together,
even our somber times are touched with light; every minute was a blessing.
The once melancholy-drenched recollections of the people I’ve lost have turned into bright reminders of the time I got with them and the appreciation of being able to remember them still… It’s beautiful…
Tears roll down my cheek, like the ones that would fall when the night entraps me, and reality hits me in the chest. However, the tears come from a different place, not from sadness, but from the light shining upon the gray of life… A genuinely freeing sight indeed.
I float here, getting lost in my mind and reminiscing about all the times I felt alive, times I felt living wasn’t a chore but a gift…
My memories collide and build upon each other, creating a painting,
a mural from start to finish; a moment of true clarity…
Suddenly, the sweet trance of life breaks and sharp vines grab my arms, dragging me back into the poison-filled hall. Once again,
I awake, yet, cocooned in the spikes; their needles digging into my veins.
My body is numb and immovable, but my mind is aware of the danger. I try wriggling my arms. I try moving my fingers. I try to blink voluntarily – nothing happens; I’m stuck in place.
Unfortunately, I’m not so lucky; there is no second chance.
At least, I don’t think so – I hear beeping; it’s peculiarly clinical.
I hear whispering; some of these voices sound familiar…
All my senses feel an uneasy familiarity like I’ve been here before.
A Sadistic Nostalgia
And there’s nothing I can do…
The poisonous vines have grappled my body…
All I can do I scream…
It feels like a lifetime, yet, the spikes are pulling away.
Even so, my body misseses the feeling of the syringes
I feel nauseous; I’m sweating bullets on the floor…
I need to get up – but I feel like shit, and I’m ready to hurl…
The spikes have retreated, and if I can get control of my body,
I can get the hell out of here; I’m not going to be able to fall asleep anyways.
I struggle over onto my stomach and begin to pull my legs in,
managing to get an inch off the floor, however, my trembling arms fall out of line and drop me back to the ground, back to the stone-cold floor…
I give myself a second to breathe and push up once again. With some grit and merit, I achieve to sit on my legs.
It’s a small step, but it gives me some respite as I build back my energy; and mental strength. I slide one leg out, setting forth my next point of movement as I act upon the motion and pick myself up.
My body aches like it’s missing a vital ingredient for life; I think those were more than plants, more than poison…
I try shaking out drowsiness out of my bones, in spite of that
my shallow breathing keeps me in low-power mode —
I’m stuck in a half-awake and head-spinning state of being; just my luck
I slowly amble down the hall, trekking past the receded plants and mindless white walls, taking one step at a time.
I try to understand what’s happening around me, try to piece together the puzzle, try to remember… Yet, it feels like my memories are fading.
In my pondering down the hall, I’ve failed to notice the bright white light only a car’s length away…
I look back, but the wall has closed in on me.
Do I want to go?
They say to never go into the light…
But what’s stopping me? Who’s going to stop me…
I’ve only lost people all my life; now, I have no one…
no one to hold me to the shackles of life…
I’ve always daydreamed of someone coming into my life and freeing me –
fixing the pit in my soul…
Finding someone who could understand me,
someone that made life worth living…
Unfortunately, I didn’t get this chance, a chance at second life…
I want to say I’m scared or sad to leave – however, I’d be lying…
I’m alright with it; not everybody can be a winner.
Maybe I’ll finally find peace; this world wasn’t meant for me anyways…
-Certificate Of Death-Name: Another Lost Soul
Date of Death: Lost To Time
Cause of Death: Overdose
Birth Date: Another Tuesday
Place of Death: A Hospital Bed
-Cause Of Death-Primary Cause: Drug Overdose
Contributing Factors: N/A
-Personal Details-
Sex: Unknown
Race: Unknown
Marital Status: Unknown
Occupation: Unknown
-Next Of Kin-
Name: N/A
Relationship: N/A
Contact Information: N/A
-Physician’s Report-
Physician’s Name: Dr. John Doe
Medical License Number: [17]
Date and Time of Death: Lost To Time
Place of Death: A Hospital Bed
-Funeral arrangements-
Funeral Home: N/A
Burial/Cremation: N/A
Date and Location: N/A
