Coffin Scent: A Testimony

Chapter Eight - Afraid

AFRAID
Eight little pigs, they pulled me to the grave,
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I breathe air into my lungs and open my eyes. What is this place? The oxygen is scarce, and I can barely see anything. I shift, trying to feel my surroundings. The space is not big enough for me to stand in. In fact, it seems like I'm not even in an actual room; there is dirt all around me, no room for breath. I feel like I've been buried alive, except this grave extends before me indefinitely. I listen for any voices, but there's only the silence of death around me. My breath quickens and I start to flounder; no.

"Adrianne!" I call, panicking. There is no reply, not even an echo. "Adrianne, did you bring me here? You know I cannot stand tight places. Let me out of here!"

Memories that are not mine start to float into my conscience. A lightheadedness overcomes me once again, but I do not lose my consciousness. "Adrianne, I know it's you! Come out here, now!"

I crawl through the underground tunnel, finally hitting a dead end. I feel around for another path, my breathing quickening even more. How small is this place? "Adrianne!"

"Hello, father," comes the reply. "So, you've come. Welcome home."

Her voice is rasp, calm and smooth. There is a hint of something else in it, but I cannot pick out what, exactly. I feel a rush of warmth at hearing her voice again, knowing that she's here with me again in the same space, but I cannot focus on that feeling. "Where are we? Let me out; I can't breathe."

Adrianne sniggers. "Humans become so selfish when they're in life-threatening situations," says Adrianne. "Just a few minutes ago, you were calling me out for kidnapping Haze, and now you're begging me to let you go? Do you know how much pain you've put me through? Why should I help you?"

In the back of my mind, I register the guilt that these words cause me, but they do not take priority right now. "Let me out," I beg. "Let me out, please."

Adrianne does not concede. Something inside me stirs, as if knowing that things were about to go very wrong from here on. Now, I finally recognize Adrianne's tone. It's bitter; like she had heard something that made her very disappointed, but that she almost expected. "Let's play a game. Right here, right now, you'll have to make a choice that leads either to life or death. If you give the right answer, I'll tell you where you are and how to get out. If you don't," she pauses. "I'll tell you where to find Haze, but neither you nor her would ever get to see the sun again."

My thoughts swim. I cannot focus on Adrianne's words. Instead, my body takes action. I lunge in the direction of the voice. I can feel Adrianne's body beneath me. We struggle against each other, grunting and breathing heavily. Adrianne has gotten much stronger. She must've grown into a fine woman, too, but right now, I can feel her losing her strength against my body. In my blind rage, I lose myself, and another side of me takes over.