The Skeld

POV: Brown

Pounding. That is the first thing I feel. My head. It is just. Pounding. I slowly open my eyes. I can’t see. Why can’t I see? I move my arms up to my face gently, careful as to not touch my head too much. I feel a bag over my head. I rip it off as fast as I can, and the lights flicker on. I have to squint so my eyes can adjust.

“Hello? Is anyone there?” I yell.

I look around, unable to tell where I am. It looks like a high school cafeteria? But everything is metal. I realize there is a big red button in the center of one of the tables. I slowly walk towards it, and more lights flicker on. I see one more person, but they are in a... pink spacesuit? I look down at my arms...legs...torso. I am wearing a brown spacesuit. On my chest there is a nametag.

“Brown,” I read aloud.

I look up at the pink spacesuit girl. She looks like she is struggling? I didn’t struggle. I walk over to her, dodging a few of the big circular gray tables on the way. The echoing sound of my footsteps hitting the tile makes her stop. I get a few feet away from her and realize she is tied up.

I gingerly grab her wrists to untie them. She kicks at me but I dodge.

“Don’t you touch me! Let me go!” She screams.

I sigh. “If you would let me, I am about to untie you, but I can’t with you wiggling like this.

She stopped kicking and moving, and I untie her. The rough, tan rope was wound so tight against her skin that it actually left bruises and rope burn.

I step away quickly and she pulls the bag off her head, looking furious. She looks at me and stomps towards me.

“You! You are going to pay for this! Take me home! My father will send a search party! You will be in jail for life if you don’t let me go!”

I cut her off saying, “You think I did this? I have no idea where we are! I was taken here just like you!”

“Oh yeah? And am I supposed to believe you?”

I look down and shrug. I can’t do this right now. I can’t. I need to get out of here. I want to see my sisters again. My brother. I need to get out of here.

I turn around and run to the big window at the front of the cafeteria. I look out and audibly gasp. Is that...space? It can’t be. It has to be some sort of screen or something. I start to bang on the glass. Thud. Thud. Thud. This isn’t real. I’m only 16. I’m not in space.

I have to be dreaming. I have heard reciting things about your life will help you wake up from a dream. Or was it to help lucid dream? Either way it has to help.

Let’s see. I am 16. I have two sisters. One brother. My mom and dad died a few years ago. I’m in highschool. My siblings all have cars, but I don’t. I was about to get my license. My name is...My name...

What is my name?

What is my name?

What is my name?What is my name?What is my name?What is my name?What is my name?What is my name?What is my name?What is my name?What is my name?What is my name?What is my name?What is my name?What is my name?What is my name?What is my name?What is my name?What is my name?What is my name?What is my name?What is my name?What is my name?What is my name?What is my name?What is my name?What is my name?What is my name?What is my name?What is my name?What is my name?What is my name?What is my name?What is my name?

Why can’t I remember my name? Why is my head pounding? Why am I here? Why is my breathing picking up pace? What is happening to me?

I fall to my knees. I feel tears falling down my face. I can’t breathe. I can’t think. I need Sarah. She can help me. She could fix this.

I hear footsteps running over.

I am blacking out.

Please.

Sarah.

Sam.

Keil.

Help.

I feel a pair of arms around me and I black out.