One Bright Spot

Chapter 11

Breakdown:

My head is pounding. I open my eyes in a daze. It is dimly lit and extremely warm in here. I am laying on a couch, covered in a mound of blankets, and dressed in a black sweater. My hair is loose and either sticking up in all directions or laying flat on my head.

I sit up slowly, so not to jar my head too much. Sleep still clogs my mind and I yawn. I swing my legs over the side of the couch and stand up. I wobble, dizziness crashing into me like a wave. But I maintain my footing.

I feel like a zombie as I shuffle towards a light up ahead. It is a single bulb, hanging from the ceiling. My eyes are half-closed, but I can make out a table with five chairs around it. Four are occupied. Three of the faces sort of blend into the dark, but when I reach the table, I see that they are Kota, Theo, and Josh. The fourth guy does not fade into the dark. He has light brown or blonde hair. He's wearing glasses and a lopsided grin. It's Ethan. He jumps up from his seat and pulls the empty one out for me.

"Thanks", I say as I sit down and he pushes the seat in.

"Sure thing", he says, winking at me. I feel myself blush. "Welcome back to the Land of the Living."

"Ahem."

The clearing of a throat draws my attention away from Ethan's eyes. Kota is talking now,"So, I'm pretty sure that my mom keeps the controls for the building in a secret room behind her book case." He gestures to something on the table. There is a blueprint resting on top of it. The plans are for a building; I'm assuming this one.

I look around the table at the four boys gathered with me. Josh is to my left. Our elbows are resting against each other. Ethan is to my right and sending Josh dirty looks. Kota is sending them both dirty looks, but when he looks at me, his eyes soften. Theo just looks amused by it all. Me? I'm trying to figure out why all of this feels so familiar.

Then I remember: I had a dream with this same scene, but before I knew Ethan.

"And then we can just walk out the front door?" Josh asks.

"I'm hoping that's all it will amount to", Kota replies.

"You know she won't let you go without a fight", Theo points out.

"I don't know what else to do. Its the only way out."

The only way out is up. It comes back to me like a blow.

"What?" Ethan's voice asks.

I didn't realize I had said it outloud. "The only way out is up", I repeat.

"What does that mean?" Kota asks quizzically.

Up. What's on the top floor again? "Crelis."

"Chris, are you feeling all right? Its not time for more pain medication", Josh's voice is full of concern.

"Huh? Yeah. I was just thinking", I rest my head in my hand. My fingers brush along my forehead and my stitches. I wince. I had forgotten they were there.

"Would you care to share?" Kota asks.

"I had a dream where a voice told me that the only way out is up. It told me not to forget, but I only remembered just now."

"What is 'up'? Besides the little laundromat", Theo asks, leaning forward and inserting himself into the conversation.

"Drake told me everything before he put me in the tank." I shiver, remembering his evil laugh, and him waving at me, just before he shut the door. My breathing becomes labored,"He put me in the tank. I almost drowned!" I begin hyperventilating.