THE HIVE

Chapter 1

Why does my body feel like it's been pressed like a sandwich and then thrown into outer space?

I feel so heavy. So groggy and nauseous...ugh.

I cough and cough.

My body feels hot, but at the same time, there's a frigid chill all over me. Don't tell me it's one of those fevers I used to get when I was a kid. I'm so done with those!

But, no... It feels different somehow. It's almost like I'm a little numb. Did someone inject me with some funny stuff! I don't wanna get arrested dammit! I'm still a teen and something like juvie, you'd bet would reflect poorly on my record! I have a reputation for causing trouble already. But what can I do? It's not my fault I was blessed with such a sunny personality. If anything I'm quite proud of it-

But first things first, I must figure things out. I can surmise how nothing's my fault and how innocent I am later.

Hmm...My, what the hell is wrong with me? Everything looks so blurry.

I blink. I blink again.

...

Oh wait. Right. My glasses.

I frantically search for my glasses. As my fingertips reach the surface, I realise that the floor has a matte metallic texture, cool to the touch. My fingers scrape against unfamiliar objects in an unfamiliar environment. What the hell did I get myself involved in this time? Well at this point, I'm just plain annoyed with myself and my poor luck. Couldn't even impress a girl in all these yea-

Oh sweet guacamole-

I fall by what my mind calculated to be no less than three feet to meet hard ground face first.

Slam!

"AWWGHH Mama, that huuuurt."

I wheeze, then try to breathe, curling up my body because of the pain. My face is pressed against solid ground with a metallic tinge to it. Spit has automatically come out of my mouth upon the impact.

Where the hell am I?! Come to think of it...

My eyes open wide.

It's blank.

Oh no. I can't remember anything!

Oh my god. Oh my god.

I messed up. I really messed up. Oh dear.

It's- ugh. No. No. I'm not going to hyperventilate right now. First objective: Retrieve my glasses.

The frantic search resumes.

"Holy Mother Mary!" I prick my hand on something sharp while grasping it. I roll on the ground screaming. "Oh God! Dear God! Why am I showered with misery moments after I woke up!" This is worse than being bathed by gushing cold water thrown by my mother to wake me up every other morning.

Yeah, she has anger issues. She can turn from a timid sensible creature to a barbaric animal in the tick of a clock. Tell me about it.

While rolling my 'okay' hand a bit more carefully this time, I grasp something flimsy and familiar.

"Oh, blessed. I'm blessed at last," I pant. Unsteadily I put my glasses on.

A flood of relief washes over me and my blast-beating heart takes a chill. Now, a bit more calm, I inspect the gash on my palm. It's throbbing. It's bad.

I wince at the sight. Whoa, that cut looks lethal. "Need to stop the bleeding."

With my hand dripping I somehow stagger to my feet and for the first time properly behold my surroundings.