Kept In Captivity

1 ~ Locked In (v2)

Awake.
Unaware.

Those are the only words that came to mind as I awoke. The light had flickered on. Though this may seem odd to most, this wasn't unusual to me. It's happened almost every night without fail for the past two years. It's also the only thing I've known.

That's technically a lie.

I'm 15 but can't remember anything before 13. I had to have had a life before. There's no such thing as "spawning in" at 13. Also, I know I had a life. There's proof. It's just that I can't wrap my head around existing but not remembering any of it.

That being said, there's a reason I don't remember.

When I first woke up here, there was a note on the dusty side table. The content was as follows:
"Luna, if you're reading this, it means you have woken up. I have no clue how you must be feeling. Scared is my only guess. That is, even if you remember what happened. The doctors did say that it is possible that you may loose your memory of it. They also said that you may forget everything. We're hopeful that doesn't happen. Although, you must be confused if you did forget.
To put it bluntly and simply, you were in a car crash with your parents. Even though everything possible was done to save them, they didn't make it. You are the soul survivor. The doctors say that you are extremely lucky. Sadly, although you survived, you've been in a coma for the two days since. The approximate time for your waking up is in about a week. Our hope is that you wake up sooner than that. Your 'Aunt' Kassie and I have been here in the hospital with you and plan to be here every day until you wake.
Speaking of when you wake up, you're probably wondering where you'll be living after. Most likely, you'll have to stay in the hospital for a while, but after you'll be living with us. We are honored to care for you as if you were our own. Your 'aunt' and I already love you so much and we look forward to learning more about you as you grow.
Truthfully, I don't know what you're feeling right now. I won't pretend to know. You're only 8. I wouldn't wish this trauma on anyone, but especially not a child.

~ 'Uncle' Jarred
Your father's best friend
2/28/17"

While first reading this, I was devastated. Perfect first emotion. Warm tears fell slowly down my face, soaking my shirt as I continued to cry silently. Why was I crying? I don't even remember my parents. Those were my next thoughts.

As I stopped crying, I looked down at my tear stained shirt.
My body didn't look 8...

A digital clock caught my eye as the numbers changed. It was 3:04am. Not only that, though. It was 3am... on February 18th... of 2023... The coma hadn't lasted a week. Nor was I at the hospital come to think of it. I looked around as that second realization kicked in. It was a normal bedroom. There were only 3 things off about it.
1. The room was lined in book cases full of books of all kinds.
2. There were no windows.
3. The door was METAL. Straight metal. It seemed to be bolted into the doorframe.

Why-

Wait? Wait, wait, wait... The coma hadn't lasted a week... It had lasted almost FIVE YEARS! How could this be? My parents... They've been dead for almost five years... As soon as that sunk in, my knees gave out. As I fell to the rug on the hardwood floor, my thoughts were racing. They would not stop.

*❤️~❤️*

February 20th, 2024

As I snap back to reality, my light was still flickering. I stared daggers at it, as if that would make it stop. With a soft groan, I reluctantly sat up, placing my warm feet on the cold hardwood floor. I flinch at the temperature difference, as I'll never get used to the rough change. A shiver runs through me as the air conditioner kicks on, just like every time I try to get up. I let my body adjust to the new temperature before moving to turn off the light. As I sit there, I look around my room.

My eyes scan the seemingly endless books. There was easily over 3,500 books in here. After 2 years of reading, you'd think I'd have read all the books in there, but even now, that feels impossible. The room was probably a library converted into a bedroom only by putting a few more things in and taking some things out. Most of the books on the shelves were thick, dusty, and old. They looked like they'd been there for hundreds of years. For all I know, they have been. And even after two whole years of reading, I've only gone through about 30% of the books in here. The ones I read were on the smaller side compared to a lot of what's in here. Most of the other ones are thicker than a dictionary.

Also, I know what you've probably been thinking this entire time. "Luna, if you've never left, how are you alive without basic needs?" I have them. Food, water, clothes, a bathroom. "The clothes wont fit. Water goes bad. Shouldn't the food be expired?" I'm getting there. Be patient.

All I know is that every 7 days, I get a selection of food in a box with enough water, plus extra. I don't know who is doing this for me, though. Obviously its someone who cares about me, so why don't they let me out? Whatever the reason, they do care at least a bit. This means they know me. They know my past. They know who I am. Most importantly, they know why I'm locked in here.

I need to contact them. Or better yet...
Find a way out.

Author's note:
Heyyyy.... So this should be be better than my first attempt at this chapter. I hope yall enjoyed it! I started writing at like midnight last night and I actually finished WRITING at like 1am (CST). It only took an hour but I did have to sleep before I could type it out.
And look at that! It's a longer chapter than it was at first! The chapter itself is like 986 words I think it said. I'm actually extremely proud of myself as well.
I wont keep you waiting much longer for more rewrites, so I will be working on writing that right after this. It might be out by tonight.

See you in the next chapter! 💜