Swampy Nightmare

Chapter 6

I woke up with a start. My body bolted up as my mind played the memories of before. Mom getting up, attacking me, laughing at me. Was it all just a dream? Or did it really happen? No, it couldn't have. All that happened was probably some horrible dream. Or maybe just some terrible trick. Either way, whatever happened is over with. I don't need to worry about it now. What I need to worry about is where I am. I'm not where I was. I'm not in that hallway anymore. Instead, I'm in a small room with a little lantern by my bed. I know I didn't come here by my own accord. After all, I was unconscious. Which brings the question, how did I get here? Hmmm. Someone must have brought me here. But who? And why? I don't know. But again, I don't think that's important right now. I need to get up and get moving. I won't be able to get out of here by just sitting here.

My body begins to move. My legs and knees pop as I stand up. Quickly, I make my way to the door. I open it and find a boy standing in front of me. My mouth moves as I try to make a surprised sound. But when it does, the boy's hand goes over my mouth. Without a word, his finger goes to his mouth.

"Shhh! Do you want them to find us?" He asked, his voice barely a whisper. Immediately, I shake my head. The boy takes his hand away from my mouth. When he does, I speak as quietly as I can.

"Them?" I ask. The boy nods and gestures to follow him. However, my body stands firm. Can I trust him? Am I sure? I mean, I only just met the guy. He could be leading me into a trap. But then again, he might know the place well and is willing to help me escape. But then again... suddenly the boy speaks.

"You going to stand there all day? Come on." Again, my body stands firm. The endless debating in my mind stops. I can't trust him. And I won't go anywhere until I get some answers.

"No, I'm not going with you. Not until you tell me what's going on here and who you are." The boy turns around and walks toward me. His expression one of impatience.

"Fine, but I'll explain in there." The boy points to the room I came out of. I nod and follow him back to the room. When we got in there, the boy locked the door behind us. Quietly, I sat back down on the bed and watched him carefully. I should be cautious. I don't know if he can be trusted. He could very well be a backstabber or worse. I need to watch him at all times.

"So then, I guess we can start with introductions. My name is Richard. And I found you near Cell Block A. I heard some gunfire and a body fell. When I got there, I found you and brought you here. What about you?"

"My name's Kit. And I can guess you know I'm not a prisoner. I came in here looking for my mother. When I found her she... well... anyway that's done with now." The boy looks at me, his face filled with confusion. To be honest, I don't blame him for being confused. I still don't know if what I experienced was real or not. But whatever. It's over now. Whatever it was. 

"So you came in here to look for your mother? I only found you. There wasn't anyone else in here." Wait what? But that's not right. My mother was laying right behind me. This doesn't make sense.

"What do you mean you only found me? My mother's body was lying right behind me. Didn't you see it?!" I asked, my voice steadily growing louder and louder. Richard shook his head.

"I'm sorry, I didn't see anyone there. Only you." Only me? So... that means that... no, that can't be true. That's not right! Mom was there! I saw her didn't I?! She was there, injured. I tried to heal her but she got up and attacked me. Then laughed at me. He doesn't know what he's talking about.

"I saw mom there! I found her there and tried to heal her. She got up and attacked me! She laughed at me! She laughed at me for being too strong! Don't you get it?!" I asked, fury beginning to sweep my voice. Richard shook his head. When he did, I felt my fury burn my insides. He just doesn't understand! He won't. He will never understand. Suddenly, I felt a cold stream fall down my face. My vision began to blur. Tears began to stream from my eyes like a waterfall. Each droplet began to cool my burning face. Seeing my tears, Richard came over and offered me a hand. But my hand smacked it away.

"No thanks. I don't need your pity," I said, my voice racked with sobs. Richard started to sigh.

"Kit, I know this may be hard for you to hear. But you have to hear it. I just want you to listen to me. Can you do that?" Listen to him? No, I won't listen to someone who can't understand! He will never understand anything. I shake my head vehemently. When I did, Richard sat right beside me and began to talk anyway.

"Kit, trust me, I know what you just went through. I know it's hard the accept it, trust me, it feels so real. But, that thing with your mother was a hallucination. It was a hallucination created by the fever here. It feels real, but it isn't." A hallucination... but it was all so real. Everything felt real. I thought it was real. But, does that mean, that the whole time, my mother was truly gone? That she was really dead? That my thoughts of escaping together were nothing but a lie? That can't... but yet it explains everything. Why my mother laughed and suddenly turned to dust. How she appeared before me despite being dead. And why she was so cruel when she laughed. It was all in my head. All because of a fever. All perhaps because of the Gift that man gave me. Immediately, my hands wiped away my tears. My body sprung up from the bed. This man, this crazy man, gave me this so called "Gift". The "Gift" that has caused me all this pain. I'll make sure he pays for it. I'll find him and make him pay for giving me this stupid "Gift"! That will be a promise. Immediately, I went towards and door and opened it. Then, with Richard right behind me, I went out into the prison. My mind set on finding the cause of my misery.