Glass

Awake

It takes me too long to realize that I can't see.

It's dark. Really dark. There's a crunching noise in the distance, almost like someone stepping on empty soda cans. 

Why can't I see? 

It's cold. Something wet is sliding down my arm. 

Am I bleeding?

Everything hurts, it feels like knives are digging into my skin. I'm laying on the ground. Cold ground. Concrete? It feels like there's something else below me, too. It's something sharp.

Crunch.

Crunch.

Crunch.

Glass.

It's glass.

I'm laying in glass.

Suddenly, suddenly everything stings. I can't tell if my eyes are open or closed. I can't tell where my body ends and where it begins.

Glass.

It's glass.

I'm laying in glass.

Why?

I struggle to shift my legs. I can't. Ok, try again. This time I tilt my body upwards. I feel air rush past my body and more stinging as I slip. It's cold. I try again. 

I'm sitting up now. It's still dark, but I know my eyes are open. Every second becomes less bearable. I feel something wet drip off my chin.

Crunch.

Step.

There's someone else here.

I open my mouth to speak, but glass rips the skin from my lips as they part. I stop and wince.

Crunch.

Step.

I can't tell where the cruncher is going. I hear shards being kicked around a room with endless echoes. The cruncher steps and many steps follow.

Crunch.

Step.

Crunch

Crunch.

Step.

Step.

Crunch.

No, it's not an echo. There's more than one cruncher. I lift a hand from the ground. I can't remember which hand it is. I raise it to touch my head, in the place that hurts most. I only feel sharpness there. More glass. Every time I move I realize another place has glass. My ears, my arms, my ribs. Glass. Glass. Glass.

I reach down to feel my feet. They're bare. My fingers start to sting as I touch them.

Crunch.

I try to stand. Instead, I fall, listening to air whoosh past my ears. The ground stings my hands, and they feel wet. Something salty falls from my cheek, and I can't tell if it's blood or a tear. I have to try to stand again. This time my body swings upward, pushing weight onto my feet. I gasp as I feel glass push into my toes. It hurts, oh god it hurts. I open my mouth to call out for help, but all that comes out is a hoarse whisper. I think I have shards in my lungs, I must be breathing glass.

"Kanna."

I stop. Is that me?

"Listen to me. You cannot let them find you."
My ear. There's something in my ear. It's round.

"You probably can't remember much, but please just do this one thing. DO NOT let them find you! You have to run!"

The voice cuts out as I feel more air, and my palms hit more glass. I slipped again. I think I'm dying. I reach up to my ear, but the round thing is gone. It must have fallen out when I tripped. The voice is gone. I feel across the ground, but pull my hand back when it's nicked by a shard. There's no way I'll be able to find it... I think to myself. I have to stand again. I have to keep going. I pull myself back up and continue to move forward.

Crunch.

Step.

Crunch.

I hiss as glass cuts into my feet. Each step is like walking on fire. I start to sob. Help... somebody help me... The crunchers are getting louder. I think that means that I'm close to them.

Do not let them find you...

I don't know what to do. I have to ask for help, but... I shake my head and stop moving for a moment. Who am I supposed to be running from? The crunchers? Something wet is dripping steadily from my fingertips. It's hard to focus. My thoughts are coming and going faster than I can process them.

Crunch.

Step.

Crunch.

Step.

Step.

Crunch.

I turn away from the noises and start to move in the other direction. Fast, I have to be fast. My heart is slamming against my chest. I cover my mouth with one hand to stop myself from making noise while I start to cry again.

Why?

Why is this happening?

Author's Note:

Thanks so much for reading! I have more story ahead, so please continue on! If there's any tips you have for me on how to improve my writing I'd love to hear them!