Glass

The Zones

"Hey! She's awake! How was the nap, bandages?"

I groan as I open my eyes. The boy is leaning over my face, smiling. His soft green eyes look relieved.

"What happened?"

"You got a massive fever spike. Almost killed you, it's a good thing we have a snow room! I think it happened because there's a pretty badly infected cut on your stomach. I cleaned it out best I could," he said, sitting back. "So how are you feeling Bandages?"

I look down at my stomach and pull up my shirt. The white bandages are tainted with blood, but for the most part, they seem to be holding up. "I don't know. I feel dizzy."

"Well, suck it up, because you need to prove to Mr. Smiley over here that you don't have it." The boy gestures with his thumb to a cruncher standing behind him.

I freeze up as I see the skin dripping down its face. The rotted teeth are still pulled into a grin. I turn back to the boy. "It? What are you talking about, what am I supposed to have?"

The boy frowns at me. "You still don't remember? Do you remember anything at all? Maybe the infection is slowing things down."

I look down at my hands. An image of a wrench flashes in my head. "I remember my mom."

"Oh, great. Thanks, Bandages, that's extremely helpful. Bravo, well done, you remember your mommy. Do you actually know anything useful or am I gonna have to explain it to you?"

I glare at him. "I suppose I don't."

He groans dramatically. "Okay, fine. In this wonder-filled magical land of doors and creepy hallways, there are different zones. Each zone has an object inside, called a 'key.' Each key, well, it opens another zone. You following?"

I nod.

"Great. I was worried your dumb ass brain couldn't keep up." He crosses his arms and smirks at me.

I hope the cruncher eats you, I think.

"Every single key has been found, and every single zone has been discovered. Except for the last key, which is inside that magnificent place Smiles for Miles found you in. There's still a key in there, and I have to get to it."

"Why do you care?" I say, interrupting him.

"Huh?"

"Why don't you just leave? Why bother with the zones?"

"Because one of the keys opens the final door. The door to the outside."

My eyes widen as I realize what he's saying. "You can't leave?"

"We're locked in. We're stuck here until we can get that key."

I sit up, then push myself away from the boy. "You're lying."

"Come again?"

"Why would I believe that? That's ridiculous, the whole thing is insane! Where the hell even are we? What's wrong with you!?"

The boy sighs and turns back to the cruncher. "Isn't she fun?" He turns back to me. "Look, I don't know why any of this is happening, okay? It just is, and we're the suckers who have to deal with it."

"No. I don't buy it." I pull myself up, leaning heavily against the wall. "I'm leaving." I drag myself along until I get to the door. I look back, but he just shrugs at me.

"Whatever. If you get killed it's not my fault."

We're back in the square room. This time, I leave through the other door, the one opposite the hallway we were in earlier.

Woosh.

Click.

I step through and force it shut behind me, breathing heavily. Why is this happening to me? Why can I just go home?

I pull the speaker out of my pocket and put it in my ear again. "Hello? It's Kanna."

"Kanna! What happened? We lost the connection with you!"

"I don't know, but that's not important right now. Tell me about the boy." I keep moving forward, clinging to the wall.

"You can't trust him."

"I know that, but tell me more. Why can't I trust him?"

"Look... I can't tell you that. You just can't."

I slam my fist against the wall in frustration. "Why! Why can't I know!? Why is everyone acting so insane!"

"Kanna, please calm down..."

I pull the speaker out and shove it back in my pocket. I look up. The room across from me has Forest scratched above it. I stumble across the hallway and open the door. Inside are dense trees, and I sigh in relief as I look at all the green. I step inside and the door closes behind me.

But when I turn around, the door is gone. 

Author's Note:

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