SUBTERRANEAN

INTRO-version

Looking back wasn't an option right now.
It would never be an option ever again.

My hair was flowing in all directions behind me, effortlessly riding the waves of wind rushing against me as I picked up the pace. The cold air stung the inside of my nostrils, enough to make me feel alive.

So alive.

My feet couldn't go any quicker. If they could, I'm not sure I'd be on the ground.

Carrying myself as fast as I could, the end of the tunnel was appearing quickly. The sounds of my feet erupting every stagnant water puddle echoed off the concrete walls. Echo City was no longer my home. I was no longer the Willow I once was. My heart began to flutter and my stomach did flips- it could have jumped straight out of my chest if I let it.

The bright red, green, and blue glow of the city outside the exit of the tunnel illuminated the water puddles right before my foot broke the surface of them.

I was almost there.

After this, I'd never be the same. Knowing the risk of leaving behind everything I once knew didn't scare me anymore.

I was free.

That was until all of a sudden, a loud crash echoed throughout the tunnel as my run came to a sudden stop. The exit was so close, my fingers were touching the outside world reaching for it as if it was running from me.

I could feel the breeze and raindrops kissing my fingertips for a few split seconds outside the exit before a large black, heavy metal gate slammed down in front of them. Stopping in my tracks and quickly pulling my fingers back inside the tunnel, I let out a frantic yelp. Although I was aware that I was as close to leaving Echo as I'd ever been, I also knew that the journey was over now. I thought I could do it. The loud siren blasted throughout the vacant tunnel, causing my ears to throb and my heart to rapidly pick up its pace now.

They caught me.

Before I could think of my next move, all of the light in the tunnel disappeared as the gate of the exit was covered with a giant aluminum wall that lowered, eliminating all light sources coming from the other end.

In the dark, I wept. I had come to the conclusion for what seemed like the millionth time, that I would never be normal. I would never succeed in getting away.

Trying to imagine what punishment waited for me, I heard a pair of heels approaching me as the loud siren stopped. The sound of the heels tapping the concrete bounced off the round wall around me and it got louder and louder. I couldn't see anything but I could feel the presence of someone directly in front of me, as the clicking stopped.

"Willow." A soft voice spoke, sounding too kind and too warm given the situation that was taking place.

It was oddly calm and welcoming.

It was as if some kind of magnetic energy between me and this woman caused our hands to reach out for one another without even being able to see. Grabbing my hand, she gently pulled me to my feet.

I didn't know who she was or what my punishment would be for what had just occurred, but for some reason, I felt warm now. Timid to trust the feeling, I staggered to my feet. We began to walk back, but I knew I wouldn't be going back to my room.

The clicking of her heels began once more as we continued our journey back in the exact opposite direction of which my heart pulled me. The dark and looming doom began to surface inside my chest once more-a familiar feeling.

"Oh Willow, but this is your home."

As if she could read what I was thinking, her response confirmed all the doubt and sadness that had replaced the liberating freedom I felt moments ago. I began to cry, the sounds of my sniffles could be heard all around as we marched on, almost to the entry gate.

The entrance I thought I'd never see again.

A small, LED light hung over the entrance gate. The light hung from a dainty chain at the top of the tunnel and was swinging back and forth slightly, creating that annoying squeaky noise.

We had made it to the gate where a solid white sign read "E.C.H.O." In thin, black letters. It was almost as if normal people would be visiting as tourists. It was supposed to look inviting and new and make you want to be here. But the only people that ever saw these signs were the ones that already had Echo City coursing through their blood. The ones who were tattooed and branded here. People who had never known true freedom.

The lady released her weak grip on my arm, to open the gate with her key. She swung the small gate open, reaching her hand out for me once more and inviting me back in.

"Right this way, willow."

She seemed to know exactly who I was. My name flowed effortlessly from her lips as if it had been there a million times before.

Timid at first, my feet slowly ushered me towards her as I grabbed her hand. The gate shut behind me and I was met again with the familiar environment.

'Home'

We walked down the slim, granite pathway that eventually would lead us to the housing units. They were simple, modern, and empty. Two beds to a room. Two rooms to one house. Each house was identical to the other and the doors to each of them were spaced evenly apart on both sides of the walls.

Given light once more, I took the opportunity to read the woman's features, hoping to match her face to someone I knew.

Her lips were stained red, perfectly lined around the edges. Her skin was soft and pale. She wore the most basic, form-fitting black dress and her almost-white hair was pulled tightly in a bun at the base of her neck.

She wore a small gold plate over her left collar bone, connecting to her dress. A name tag.

I leaned forward slightly to get a better look at what was engraved into the name tag. Noticing my curiosity, her head suddenly turned towards me. Before taking the full opportunity to see her face head-on, I read the small plate.

In bold black font, it read, 'Laura'

My breath hitched and all of a sudden my head felt tight, my cheeks began to heat up as all the blood in my body rushed to them.

Suddenly the grip she had around my hand, became tighter. My tense knuckles cracked slightly, and my palms began to sweat against hers.

My eyes began to fill with heavy tears that I was trying my best to push back. My eyes slowly made their way up from her name tag, to her red lips. My eyes got wider and my limbs became weaker every second.

The ends of her mouth turned upwards slowly as my eyes watched her lips part and there were her teeth, grinning evilly into my eyes. They were perfectly white. Horrified, a small cry escaped from between my lips as I realized just who she was.

I realize now what I had done. I realized exactly where she was taking me and what was about to take place.

I should have run quicker when I had the chance, but it doesn't matter now.

It's too late.