The Trials : Red

1 | a dark room

A dark room.

That was what surrounded me. A dark room void of anything but mould and a sense of despair. It seeped through the walls and wrapped it's tendrils around me. My breath quickened as I tried to remember how I'd ended up here. Where here even was. But my mind was a blank slate. The only memory surfacing one of red eyes glowing in the dark.

There was a clunking sound and I whipped my head towards the crack of light that had appeared and was slowly expanding to encompass the entirety of the little, dark room. I cautiously watched as black combat boots came into view.

"Get up." a gruff voice demanded, leaving no room for arguments. I jumped to my feet, or at least tried to, when a crippling pain raced up my spine and shot sharply into my head. I crumpled to the floor in a heap, bringing my hands to my head and wishing the pain away.

I felt a hand grab onto my chin and my head was yanked upwards with a sharp tug. I cracked an eye open and was met with a face, all harsh lines and sharp angles, a scar cutting diagonally across his face from hairline to jawline. I trembled. I couldn't help it. His black eyes seemed soulless...empty.

"I said, get up." The man growled viciously and continued to drop me and return to his intimidating stance, legs parted, arms crossed.

I slowly pushed myself up, tears of pain leaking from my eyes. I felt tired. So unbelievably tired. I staggered, feeling light headed. Then darkness engulfed me.

I came to once more as pain exploded across my ribs and my back arched from the pain.

"This is the last time I will say this. Get. Up." Hissed the deep voice, annoyance vibrating through his words.

I stood slowly. Black spots danced in my vision but I fought it, I would not go down again. I would not allow myself to. I am strong, I am not weak. I repeated this mantra as the brutish, beast of a man gripped my arm and all but dragged me behind him. I didn't know where he was taking me. I didn't need to to know I should be scared. And I was. It was crawling along my skin with every door we passed, every corner we took, the fear of the unknown. We climbed stairs that seemed never-ending.

Finally, we stopped at a set of double doors. As they opened I held my breath.

••••••••••••

Looking back, I wished the stairs had continued forever. That we'd never reached that cursed door that started it all. Or rather, ended it all.

The room was large but empty. It held wooden tables with matching benches. Metal sconces hung on the drab stone walls, encasing burning candles, which lit the room with an eerie glow. I was pulled forwards a couple steps then forced to be seated at a bench.

"Who are you? Why am I here?" I rasped, my throat scratchy from little use.

A crack resonated. My head whipped to the side, my cheek screaming in pain. I got my answer.

Don't ask questions.

I sat in silence, the man standing next to me not acknowledging me. Then images started to play across my mind in flashes. A woman rocking me gently with kind blue eyes. A boy with curly hair grinning at me mischievously. A strong hand with calluses encasing mine and with it a feeling of protection. Happy memories.

Then it changed. Houses in flames. I could hear screams and cries of anguish. A child carried away from it's sobbing mother. Scenery blurring as I ran. From what? I can't remember.

And then a man. One with red eyes. I could hear him telling us he was there to help, though I don't remember who 'us' was. I recalled feeling anger, apprehension and fear. I did not know him. It seemed I did not want to.

I shook my head returning to the present. We were no longer alone. Throughout the room sat other men and women. Prisoners, I could safely assume judging by their ragged appearance similar to my own, with men guarding them. Once the benches had been filled there was a silence that descended.

It was broken as a woman entered the room. She was dressed similarly to all the men guarding us prisoners ; black combat boots, black cargo pants and a black t-shirt. She was smaller than the men, yet her presence filled the room. She was in charge, it was obvious. And she had power, lots of it.

She walked to the front of the room slowly, the even plodding of her boots on the concrete floors like a countdown. She stopped and faced the front. Her eyes surveyed all in the room, her expression betraying no emotions, no thoughts. Slowly her lips parted into a sinister smile as she spoke the sentence that condemned all of us in that room,

"Welcome all, to the Trials."

••••••••••••

So I'm trying to write another story, welcome :)

I never manage to write more than a couple chapters cause I get stuck but let's hope this goes further. I hope this turns out to be a good story though I'm not quite sure where I'm going with it yet or how long it'll be.

And I thank whoever takes the time to read it despite the fact that at this stage there is only one chapter.

So yeah, hi, thanks for reading and bye I guess till next time ...