Broken Memories [I Did it for You - Book 2]

8

The air was thick with the stench of urine and vomit as Scarlett choked on the sweat pouring down from her face and dripping into her mouth. She spat constantly with the burning sensation of alcohol mixed with the bitter metallic taste of blood inching down her throat, making her feel like she was suffocating. She tried to look around her, but her neck refused to move as her vision blurred. Staring up at the ceiling, Scarlett could see planets hovering above her while lights curved around them that belonged to UFOs racing each other. She saw tufts of grass sprouting from the interior surface, growing downwards with flower petals that were almost shaped like tiny hands that reached for her.

Feeling her mouth smile without her telling it to, Scarlett reached up to try and grab the petaled hands, when her body jolted as it felt as though her arms were glued to whatever surface she was lying on. Looking down as far as she could, wincing against the throbbing and stiffness in her neck, Scarlett felt sick when she noticed that her wrists were bound with thick, leather straps to some type of stretcher, like the ones she'd seen on medical shows. She always imagined what it'd be like to be dragged into an ambulance strapped to one of them. She imagined it'd feel safe and cosy as the paramedics always wrapped their patients in thermal blankets that hugged their sick or injured bodies. However, Scarlett only felt fear as she darted her wide eyes across the dark stretcher that was caked in rust mixed with droplets of crimson blood and vomit that had dried onto the metal. Her body shivered as her bare arms and legs lay exposed in the cold, dark room.

As Scarlett lay there, she watched with wonder as her skin began to change colour, blending in with the stretcher she lay on as though she was suddenly an octopus or - what was the name of that lizard again? The one that could camouflage itself to protect itself from danger and had a spiral tail. The name slipped her mind. It was her favourite lizard and yet she'd forgotten its name. She wanted to yell out in frustration, but within seconds, her body returned to normal, making her stick out like a sore thumb against the darkness surrounding her.

Trying her best to ignore the flashing lights of the racing UFOs, the soft murmurs of music sung in some ancient language that she didn't understand but at the same time felt that she could understand, and the planets dancing above her, she looked around her, only to see the objects near her jumping in her vision as they split off in two like they were being cloned again and again.

Scarlett shook her head, trying to figure out what had happened to her and why she was seeing all these things when she heard a noise that made goosebumps prick across her skin.

Metal chains clinking together.

The young woman couldn't see where the chains were or what was moving them, but she cowered in fear, feeling her body shake uncontrollably as she tried to break free from the straps tugging at her wrists. As she struggled, Scarlett glanced back up towards the ceiling, letting out a terrifying shriek as the planets above her began falling towards her dragging all their moons, stars, and galaxies with them as they enveloped her vision with their dark, overpowering shadows.

Closing her eyes, Scarlett screamed, wishing this would all stop as the ancient music and singing grew louder and louder until it was shaking her eardrums.

"How is she doing?" an angelic voice asked, causing the ancient singing to halt immediately as though the song was scared of whoever the voice belonged to.

Prying her eyes open, Scarlett jolted when she locked eyes with the ceiling again, only to see the tufts of grass with petaled hands reaching for her like earlier. She suddenly longed to be with them, to hold the tiny hands and be dragged up into the interior surface and become one with it. There, she'd be safe. There, no one could ever find her or hurt her again.

"She's been experiencing some bad trips, my saviour" a deep voice answered as Scarlett twisted her throbbing neck, trying to locate the voices in the darkness.