Dedicated to Ammi, whose words of encouragement have always propelled me forward. I love you, Mom
RIDDLE OF THE CHAPTER: What has holes but holds water?
The rain.
That's all I remember. I woke up in the middle of nowhere to the cold, wet drops pouring on my face. How did I get there? I had no idea.
I stood up slowly, my clothes were drenched and I shivered as the icy water penetrated my thick, now useless, woolen jacket and froze my skin, my joints ached and I hobbled on my numb feet to the left. I was on a road, there was a forest on one side and a desert on the other. The sun shone brightly on the desert sand and despite my pain I ran to the warmth of the sand. My clothes immediately dried up and the warmth I felt just seconds ago turned to burning heat that made me feel like I had red hot coals being poured down my jacket. There wasn't a single person in sight, my throat had gone dry and parched, my skin burned and started to peel and my lips cracked. I dragged my body, each pull sending dangerously hot pains through my body. Just as I felt I was about to die from the heat, my fingers grasped the icy tar, still pouring with rain. I pulled myself onto the road and felt the freeze numb me once more.
There was only one way left to go, I looked uneasily at the looming trees in the forest, the rain making it seem blurry. I groaned inwardly and rolled myself over the road, tearing my jacket in the process, but I had lost all reason and strength and couldn't bring myself to get up.
I fell off the tar onto warm, moist sand and the sound of birds in the trees. My body slowly started to return to it's normal temperature and I retrieved feeling in my fingers. So far, this seemed like the best option. I wan't burning or freezing to death and I felt slightly calmer despite my confusion.
I sat up slowly, my clothes torn and muddy beyond repair and stretched out my arms and legs. I reached up to pull my scarf back into place and something on the side of me caught my eye. It was a bag. I reached over to pick it up, it was pitch black with two adjustable straps at the back, one small compartment in the front and a large on at the back that looked like it was full.
I opened the clips that held the back flap down and was about to look inside when I felt a hard knock on the back of my head and the world went black to me once again.
ANSWER: A sponge!
