The Awakening

My eye lids flattered open to the sight of darkness enveloped around me. The nostalgia for illumination, my heart craved for. I sat up from the aching posture on the softness of the bed. My mind felt numb. I was aware of my inability to process any thoughts. I looked down at myself, my attire, a pink t-shirt and blue jean, was dusty. I looked around the room, it was dark, dull and lonely but I did not care. The room looked messy and dusty as if it has been shut for a long time. An open almost empty closet stood to my left with its content spilling as if someone was in a hurry. I turned my head towards my right. The soft eerie glow from the digital clock registered the time as five in the early dawn. How did I know that fact? A fading memory reminded me of it, a time when I used to sneak back into my home after a night out. A memory that felt so distant. Did that matter to me? No.

I slowly slid off the bed and placed my feet on the ground. I looked down confused. I had placed my feet on a grayed rug but somehow I knew it was White. I knew it from a very faded memory that swam through my mind. I stood up. My feet felt wobbly as if I had not walked for days. I fell back onto the bed. I attempted twice before I could regain a balanced position. I looked around the room once again, I felt nothing. I felt lost. What was I supposed to do now? I did not know. Where was I supposed to go? I did not know. Most importantly who am I? Even that I did not know. In past all those questions would have mattered but today none of those questions mattered. Why? That is a riddling question to which I had no answer in my possession. I was purposeless.

I stood there gazing at the nothingness for a long moment. The eeriness echoed. After what seemed like forever a small ray of light seeped through the thick dusty curtains of the room.

That is when I heard it. A voice. No, voices. Someone was here and I knew it. I walked towards the only door in the room, towards purpose. For some unknown reason, I knew I need to find the sources of those voices. I dragged myself to the door and slammed my body against the door. I repeatedly slammed my body against the door, but it did not budge. I realized that I had somehow forgotten how to open the door so I decided to explore the door, I touched something round, I pulled it, pushed it, turned it this way and that. Click. The door opened. I fell to my kneels because I was supporting my weight on the door. I suppose once upon a time that fall would have hurt but today it did not because my purpose was greater than pain.

I struggled on the floor once again to get back up. After several attempts I somehow managed to get back up. I could hear voices more clear now. They were close. I looked forward, a hallway stood. As I began walking towards the voices, I could make out their words.

I heard a woman say, "Are you sure this is a good idea?"

I hear a man say, "Erin, I think she is still in there"

The voice of the man somehow perked my ears. It sounded so familiar.

Another faded memory flashed by me, "Hey princess Alicia, how was your day?", a man with cheery eyes and a bright smile on the wheel asked me as I opened the door to the car.

As the flash back settled in the door at the other end of the hallway the door clicked and I heard the woman say, "I unlocked it but still I don't approve of this idea."

I could see the door cringe open and a dark silhouette of a manly figure at the entrance with light seeping into the hallway. He took a few steps into the dark hallway before he noticed me. I heard him gasp, "Alicia!"

The woman behind him spoke with an insecure tone, "It is too dark in there."

The man took a few more steps into the hallway, "Alicia, is that you? Can you hear me?"

From the previous flashback I realized that my name was Alicia. I began to recognize the man in front of me as I cocked my head to a side and took in the details. A tall well-built man, fully geared up with the same cheery eyes but somehow they looked sad. He was my dad. Yes. My memory though faded, I knew this was the man that loved me and cared for me like no other, he was my dad. I do not know how I got locked up here but I knew he was backed to save me.

I slowly staggered towards him as he kept towards me. The woman behind called out, "Wait James, we don't know for sure! Please wait!"

He refused to listen to her. He kept walking towards me, into the dark hallway. He grabbed me and hugged me. "I am sorry, Alicia for leaving you. I am sorry, I thought you were long gone. I knew you'd be here. Are you okay?"

His warmth felt so good. It felt too good. Suddenly I felt the convulsing need, an unbearable burn in my throat. I hugged him back tighter and closed my eyes as I replied, "Yes, dad. I am okay."

I let my feelings take control of me. I smelt the sweet smell of blood as it dripped between my lips as savored the flesh between the teeth. The virus took over the last of humanity and the beast in me was unleashed. That was my last experience as something sharp hit my head.

Crack!

* * *

His eyes flattered open...