Lament

Chapter Eleven [pt. 1]

When the room began to lighten, my heart stopped stuttering uncomfortably. My eyes adjusted again to the light as I discovered that we were back in Daniel's bathroom.

And I was still in just my towel.

Daniel cleared his throat and turned his gaze to the floor instead of me. He grabbed a black backpack from behind him and tossed it to me. "Get dressed and then we'll talk." And he left the room without another word

…

Daniel was sitting on the floor by his dresser with the back of his head leaning against the wall and his eyes closed.

"Are you awake?" I asked.

His chest rose as he sighed. "Yes."

I stayed in the bathroom doorway. "Are you going to tell me about my past lives and why Leon still wants to kill me even all of these years?"

He didn't look at me. "I need you to have an open mind. Can you do that?"

I didn't move. "Yes."

There was a pause before he said, "I haven't told you the whole truth about myself."

BOOM!

The room rocked violently and my knees buckled. I came down on all fours and looked over at Daniel, who was looking all around with what seemed to be like an angry face. He cursed and looked at me across the room.

All the rocking stopped and Daniel got up from the floor and hurried over to me with fierce determination in his eyes. "I need you to listen to me very closely," He ordered as he kneeled down before me. "Remember this: straight for six steps, left and the a sharp right. Walk two steps and hit the floor hard on your stomach. Get up quickly and sidestep eight paces. Then sprint to the door."

I shook my head, scared. "I can't remember that. And what the hell is outside!?"

"Eona!" He grabbed my arms a little too roughly and the room shook again. Specks of the ceiling rained down over our heads. Daniel took a deep breath and then said deeply calm, "I need you to do this." His eyes pierced me. "It's time to put your memory to the test. Now go." He let go of me and I began shaking my head. "Go!" He yelled more forcibly.

I flinched and another boom shook the room. I got to my feet and ran to the door that led up the dark tunnel steps.

I looked back once again; I couldn't help myself. Daniel was watching me go. A calm, gentle look on his face that said he wasn't afraid to die.

BOOM!

The room shook again but I didn't move and neither did Daniel. He nodded once and a tiny smile formed on his lips. And I knew that this was the first Daniel that I met at the local grill. The one that didn't care that I was the new liner girl with the hideous scar and made me feel whole and beautiful.

And now I had to leave him behind.

Another boom came and it was stronger than all of the others. Daniel didn't turn from me. "Go."

I bit my bottom lip to keep it from quivering and my eyes stung from tears. With one last look, I turned and threw the door open and dashed through it just as I heard a huge explosion from behind me.

My knees buckled again and I caught myself on the steps. I quickly got to my feet and rushed to the top as fast as I could.

Okay, okay." I muttered to myself. "What did Daniel say?"

I looked around and saw chains with hooks hanging from the ceiling. I took a few steps forward and the floor creaked beneath me. I clenched my teeth nervously and turned right. My foot gently stepped on the board for a second, nothing happened. Just when I thought I'd be okay, I heard something rolling from above I looked up and spotted the object.

I watched as it rolled down and landed in a bucket that fell down to the floor with a thud. Then the string snapped and something went SHING.

On instinct, I ducked low and something whooshed above my head deadly fast. I raised my head and saw that it was an extra long saw... and it was coming back. Quickly, I rolled and jumped to my feet and went left without thinking of where to go next. Something sharp and shiny fell in front of me and I shrieked.

I went right and then hit the ground hard and layed there flat on my stomach. I felt air pass over me in sharp, petrifying ways that made me shudder with fear.

After a few times of whooshing, I made my way steadily in an army crawl, using my elbows to slowly pull me forward. I cleared the swaying logs and got to my feet again. Then I turned sideways and made my way toward the door. After eight steps, I sprinted toward the door and found that nothing would be jumping for me to get.

I threw myself against the door and burst out into the moonlit night. I couldn't believe I had even made it out alive. I excelled without even trying to remember.