Scarlet Crypt

Nightmare

When I was little, my mom used to give me visits at night when I begin to scream from my nightmares. She would stroke my hair and tell me everything’s alright. That it was just a dream. I wished that she would come right now and do the same. To tell me that nothing has changed, it was just a nightmare. But I knew better. I am not the little boy I once was. And this may seem like a bad reverie, but it never was one. It was reality, and sooner or later I’d have to face it.

I knew it was morning because there was a single window up in a wall outside. The single ray of light stood out from where I was. I wondered, how even in dreadful days like this, the sun could still shine like the world was at peace when it wanted to. I wished I was as carefree as the sun, just a ball of hot gas floating amidst the universe and giving off life to living things.

Someone shoved radish stew and a chicken leg by my cot side. I ate it slowly, thinking that it was probably the last meal I was about to take. After breakfast, I paced back and forth the room. I also tried to open the door, but it was absolutely shut closed. Once, out of desperation, I started thrusting myself against the ironed door. All that achieved was a throbbing shoulder and some angry retorts and curses from the others. But there, as I rubbed my shoulder, I took sight of a tiny thing in the corner of the room. I went up my bed and looked at it closely. Small, shiny lens greeted me. I tried pulling it out, but it was too small and slippery. I gave up removing it.

I was sitting by the door when I felt a presence moving closer and closer. I prepared myself and used the only thing I could use as a weapon- my combat boots. The door opened, and a man with a rod pointed at me tossed some things at me. The rod…hummed with electricity. I held my ground. And as soon as he came, he left. I heard some rustling and opening of doors and guessed that he was giving the same stuff to the others. 

I opened the bundle. Inside was a black jacket paired with thick rough pants. A thick shirt was also present. Oddly, a wooden bat the size of my forearm was there. A voice boomed from somewhere-it sounded like it was micro phoned. “Attention, everybody!” A man’s voice said. “We have now completed our full cast mates and opponent members. You have been given these things as a preparation for the battles ahead. Wear them now. Or else risk losing a valuable thing you would probably need. I’ll get back to you all later.”

I peeked outside once again and saw that most of the prisoners here were doing as told. I guess the thing he was talking about was really important. I started doing the same.

Half an hour later, I was dressed up and waiting. I still didn’t know the use of the wooden bat so I simply inserted it in my butt pocket. The voice boomed from the hidden speakers once again. “I see your all ready and done with what was told. Very good. I guarantee you an easy end. And now for the instructions.” He continued. “Each of you shall be released in the Titanic Stadium one at a time. Formulate strategies, if you will, but make sure you do so at your turn. You shall be released by your number, from the first ‘til the last.” He paused for a while. “And now let the Scarlet Crypt commence. Good luck to all.” And then the world grew silent. I stood my position at the door, looking and searching for what was about to happen. And then I heard it. A chamber door opening. The door sliding from its hinges. And then swift footsteps. That continued on. One door opening after every five minutes. A few hours later, as I was making weird patterns on the metallic wall, I heard a shutter open. And my door began to unlock. It was odd, but I could’ve sworn somebody whispered in my ear as I started moving out towards the silent outside world. The sentence echoes eerily at the back of my mind…

            Welcome to the start of your personal nightmare, the Scarlet Crypt…