Gauntlet (Old)

Part 1: Chapter 1

The interviewer looked down at his papers, then back at me. He squinted. "Mr. Wulf, is it? Could you please stand for me?"

I gave him a weak laugh and pointed to my wheelchair, "That's a joke, right?"

"I was just making sure." He sat in in silence for a second, before continuing, "I want to give you this job, but I just don't think you are particularly fit for it. Think about it. Your job would be to maintain our electrical systems, but one set of stairs, of which we have many, and you'll need someone to help you up."

"Bu-"

"I own a business, and I just can't afford to give extra money away every month to someone unfit to carry out their job. I'm sorry, but I'm sure some other business might have work for you."

Despite my further efforts, I had to just give up and look for another job, not that I haven't tried.
I was excited to get a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering. It was a field I had been interested in for a while, so, when I left school, I spent four years to get my degree. Not a year into my first job as a substation technician, one of the other technicians had removed the grounds of one of the circuits shortly before going to lunch. When I went to clean that circuit, I was electrocuted.

I had a chance to reminisce on my way home since I lived out of town. I also thought about other options for a job. Turning off onto the street where my house is, I interrupted that train of thought to remind myself to stay positive.

Although it might be sad for me to have lost my walking ability in my twenties, it would be much sadder to add depression to that story. I have things to live for, I have people to live for, and other than this, nothing to complain about. I understand why people wouldn't want me working for them and I'll try not to be too difficult. In any case, I might walk again if I get the money for it, so I'll go step-by-step. This is what I told myself and this is how I felt.

While giving myself my pep talk, I suddenly jerked forward. Looking around frantically, I realized that I had crashed. Performing the slow process of getting out of my car in a wheelchair, with the added struggle of finding it, I tried to assess the situation. I might have been deep in thought, but I would probably have noticed a car, animal, or something in front of me.

A crack. Just a crack. The front of my car had caved in, and all that I could see was a simple crack in the tar ahead of it. I wasn't given much time to process this, as it burst open to reveal a green liquid and sucked me in. It didn't suck the car in, or even the wheelchair. I was just flung through the air, crashing into the liquid.

Despite the velocity by which I was sucked in, I was dragged through the liquid with difficulty on its part. It had a much thicker texture than I initially thought. It spat me out a second later onto what I interpreted as grass. I was full of adrenaline, but couldn't do much with it, except look around. The grass and the leaves of the trees in the forest further on, shone a bright green glow.

I just lied down there for a minute, unsure what to make of the situation. Shrugging off the glowing grass as my vision being a little fuzzy, I looked around a bit more. Opposite the forest, I saw a simple structure built pretty high. It was perfectly clear, disproving my theory and stressing me more.

I remained there, helpless, until, not a second later, a shadow loomed over me. It was a sizeable shadow, and didn't give me the comfort I desperately needed at this point. Reflexively turning my head around, I saw a red mass floating in the air. It was too far to make out any details, but was enough for me to turn my head back and crawl as fast as I could. There was no more optimism, no more hope, just praying for my life and cursing my paralysis.

I was determined to get away, but couldn't think about much else. Screaming and whining, I sensed a stronger and stronger feeling to cry; a burn in the sinuses. The first tear came not long before the second. My eyes were flooded, my face red. The shadow grew, its owner coming ever closer. It felt like ages; I felt hopeless.

Every part of my body was dedicated to getting away from this beast, to the point that I was getting lightheaded, and yet a small part of me wanted it to just hurry up. I don't want this emotion; this desperate, futile clawing. I made peace with the paralysis. I made peace with life. I forgave it for what it did. I was happy, for the most part. Must this be how it repays me?

"Just get over here and finish the job!"

My vocal cords hurt from just that one sentence. I screamed a sentence I didn't know if I agreed with so loud that I had strained my vocal cords. Obediently, it landed in front of me and slashed at me. Its appearance was the least of my worries, as I put all of my attention into pushing against the grass, hoping to get away from the slash. It missed my head. It missed my body, but the relief was broken by the sight of my left forearm flying through the air, leaving a trail of blood behind. I began to lose consciousness, looking at the stump of my arm spewing the same scarlet liquid as has now stained the grass.

Why?