I woke up knowing my life was about to end. I could almost feel my heart stopping, could see my breathing stop. That was my nightmare. I was cold, no pulse, my family crying, getting buried, screaming,
"I'm in here! I'm alive!" but no one ever hears me... I tried to shake off those thoughts.
Maybe we'll survive. Maybe... Emler opened my door. He cleared his throat, a bit too loudly for my shattered nerves. I jumped.
"So, er...you... ready?"
How can you ask that?! Of course I'm not ready! I'll never, in a million years, be ready. I can't do this, I can't do this, I can't dothisIcan't dothisIcan'tdothis.
"Yeah. Let's go." He led me through more of the maze. My breath was coming in short puffs. It reminded me of the noise the lie detector made during our tests. Every time it gave an answer... Puff puff PUFF Puff puff PUFF. Emler stopped in front of a door. He looked at me clearly, and met my eyes. I startled a bit. He had never held my eyes, and I could see that they were a very clear, vibrant blue, like the sapphires on Blake's necklace.
"Stay safe." He told me quietly. "Please. If not for yourself, do it for me, and your teammates."
"Alright Emler, don't be going all soft on me." He chuckled, but it sounded more like something was stuck in his throat.
"Goodbye, Whynne."
"Goodbye Emler." I watched the old man shuffle away. Then I turned to the door, where everything, all of my fears and horrors, were trapped, waiting for me. I collected myself, and managed to walk through it.
YOU ARE READING
Among the Vinca
AdventureWhen four teenagers signed up for a study of teenage reactions, they never expected their lives to be permanently changed. When the experiment leads them to be placed on a deserted island, they are forced to band together and do their best to surviv...
