Chasing White

Chapter Two:

Hazel blinked endlessly at the photo. Her mind raced, and she struggled to remember any details of her life before she had woken up a few minutes prior.

She was about to run back to the room from which she had come, when she heard heavy, uneven footsteps approaching. Her eyes darted around the room, searching for any place she could hide.

Quickly, Hazel darted underneath a small table with a long, sweeping white tablecloth covering it. She picked carefully at the hem, pulling it up just enough to peek under it. Suddenly, a dim light enveloped the room. A pair of large, stockinged feet loped past Hazel's hiding spot.

The floor creaked, and Hazel heard someone open and slam a cupboard door closed.

Someone coughed, and then Hazel heard a sound, like water being poured into a vase. Another cupboard was opened, and this time, Hazel heard the somehow familiar sound of pills being shaken and then poured out of a bottle.

Heavy feet once again walked past Hazel, this time stopping just next to her. Hazel's heart pricked in fear. Had he spotted her? Time slowed to a crawl, and Hazel held her breath, afraid that the man would hear her.

Suddenly, another loud scream from before pierced Hazel's ears. Another bloodcurdling scream followed, and another one after that. The screams continued, like a vial piece of audio on repeat.

Hazel couldn't stand it anymore. She began screaming as well, her cries matching the ones that continued to pulse around the room.

The man must have heard her. He yanked up the table cloth, and jerked Hazel out from underneath it. He threw her against the wall, and before Hazel knew it, he had pounced on her.

He screamed slurred words in her face, his breath the smell of alcohol. He stood up and kicked Hazel in the ribs. Feeling the sharp stab of pain in her side, Hazel screamed louder than ever before. The walls shook, and the ceiling crumbled.

As pieces of plaster buried Hazel, she took one last look around the room. The pristine walls and spotless carpet, now littered with dirt and dust, began to fade. They were replaced with a black nothingness, swallowing everything in its path. Hazel was soon left alone, floating in space, until she too, was consumed by the black.