Is This Safe?

Chapter 22

Darkness.

It surrounded me like a plague, hidden deep inside this unknown force of nothingness. The cold air numbed my moveless body, not even the needles of the chill seemed to cause me to feel. Where was I? Was I alive? Was this what death was like? Cold? Dark? Lonesome?

Surely, I am alive. I'm thinking, am I not? Though I quite can't move on my own, my brain seems to be functioning properly. Then why not the rest of my body? My hands, my feet, my arms, my legs, and even my head could not be felt. Did I paralyze myself? From what? How'd I get here anyway?

My eyes squeeze tightly together numerous times to see if I could see anything besides utter darkness, but there was nothing. What if there was something or someone else in this place? Wherever this place was. Was I in a room? A house? Somewhere outside? Inside?
I had to get out of here!

When I started to move my numb ligaments again, it only caused me to panic. What if I stayed here forever just because I couldn't move?

I would die!

"Calm, calm."
I force myself to be calm, forcing in big deep breaths.
"Just think of the basics, okay? My name is--Jennifer. I have a family with three brothers, no four, no wait--three. I–I love to write and read mysteries or romance.  Uh--I love watching movies and playing video games, particularly war or sci-fi. I love listening to music and sometimes, singing along. I love doing things with the people I care about. My family and my friends--"

Wait--friends?
Friends!
Where were my friends?!
What were their names? I couldn't remember!

"Umm--Maggie, I think. Yes! And Ann! And Chelsea!"
My thoughts started returning back to me in a spurt.
"Then there's Joan and Andrea. We went to a cabin in the summer, and had an interesting time. Then--Mary came. Mary is Andrea's cousin who is Joan's daughter, and Samantha is Joan's step mom. I remember!"

I started growing excited that a rush of emotion including feeling came through me.

I could move now!

Whatever that was, was only temporary, but once I had finally managed to stand up, an awful memory retraced back into my brain.

Mary.

I remembered her. Her face, staring back at me intently with an evil gleam in her eyes and smile. I remembered how she had enjoyed the thrill of watching the terror in my face and the occasional scream that was released out of my lungs. I remember her doll, Cornelia, and how I had accidentally broke it as it fell from the kitchen counter. I still remember how she had pushed me into the fireplace and how I fell--

I fell? I fell! Backwards, to be exact, but where?
Where was I? Was I in some type of secret room? A basement, maybe? There was no other door in the house that led to a basement, but perhaps I was mistaken. Why did Mary want me down here anyway? Why didn't she just kill me when she had the chance? Why does she do this anyway? If she keeps threatening to kill me, then why does she go into all the hassle to let me go, or at least allow me to escape? What's her game?

"How do I get out of here?"

My thoughts swirling around in my brain, I contemplated at what I should do. Should I walk around this place to see how far in width and length it is? Should I stay put or call for help? Should I look for a source of light so I can see? 
I didn't know what to do and quite frankly, not knowing where I was made it worse for me to figure out. Even though, if I fell from the fireplace, it must be either a basement or another secret room. I couldn't imagine it being that large, but it was settled then. I was in a room.