Reality

Chapter 10

"History as we know it, will indeed disappear someday. None of us will be remembered, none of us will make a mark. But it isn't the future we should be worried about. Amongst the devastating dark world are corpses of the past. The world of the unknown, the world that was wiped clean from history and memory. The only remembrance is now, the only mistakes are now. Be curious, be free."

Copeland, W. (5005). Days End (1st ed.). Capital, Europa

A cold breath escapes my lips, I see the fog at the tip of my nose rise into nothingness. I'm standing, my feet are bare against the cold ground. The pads of my feet digging into rough concrete. A breeze wisps up my body like the fingertips of a ghost. Every hair across my body stands in a shuttering chill. My hair blankets my shoulders to the middle of my exposed back.

The sound of a door opening slowly fills my ears, it sounds so far away as it echoes from one ear to another. I can't turn my head to look, I can only look straight into a dark void. My eyes try to make shapes amongst the crepuscular blackness of night. Though I'm not sure what time or day it is.

The clanking of keys sends tingles up my spine, behind me the noise is just above a whisper. There's a voice following, I can't understand what their saying but they're coming closer. I try to pick up my foot to walk but the weight on my legs prevent me from moving. The keys sway taunting behind my eyes, it's a warning. The itching feeling that I need to move bites at my nerves, as if it were essential to run. I slide my leg forward, the rough ground scoring my heels. My eyes are fixated ahead, looking at an invisible target. A door slams, loud in my ear. I force my other leg to keep up, the air around me is dense. Keys. Reverberating around my head.

Unremitting, I trudge in the only direction I'm allowed. Another door slammed in my right ear, like the strike of a baseball bat. The voices echo muddled together like a far away audience. My body begins to shiver from head to toe, fear clenched my mind in a tight fist. The rasp of an ancient door slowly opens, the fatigue of old age and use called to me just out of sight. A bead of sweat drips down my forehead and tickles my brow as it drops onto my eyelash. I blink.

I'm stunned by the sight of my mothers face. However she has no eyes and no mouth. But I recognize the tightness of her bun atop her head, the dangling diamond ear rings, and the navy dress suit that fit her curves with every pinch of the fabric. I can't breath. My eyes blurred erasing every outline of her silhouette turns to mush. I want to scream but I can't whimper through my clenched jaw. My chest swells with inexplicable fear. I squeeze my eyes shut till I see stars, she begins to moan trying to talk. I can feel the breaths from her nose against my face.

My eyes fire open with a harsh gasp, I sit up sharply in bed letting out the breath and a queasy feeling in my stomach. Black peppers the side of my vision, dizzy I grab my head in realization. My face is cold with fresh tears rolling down my cheeks, I stare down at my lap afraid of the darkness of the corners of the room. I wipe my eyes and steal a glance around the room. Alone. I scoot back slowing my breath and lean against the wall pushing the pillows out of the way. I hold my chest feeling the pounding of my heartbeat.

The camera's little blue light flashes in the farthest corner overhead, noticing it's presence I look. Usually it's a steady three second flash. Then everything pieced together all at once, tonight's the night. I look at the door and see that it's cracked. My heart picks up again, thumping in my ears. I feel apprehensive at the sight of the sliver of freedom. Remembering that time is of the essence I pick myself up and grab the door. Carefully I open it peaking my head out to the empty dark hallway, except for a single light to the left. I look back at the camera in the room and leave impulsively deciding there's absolutely no going back now. I walk towards the light practically hugging he wall.