The Steam Lounge

Disc 1 - Track 2

When Are We Waking Up? - Mallory Knox
"My head keeps spinning at the thought of the past with these memories built on stone, I don't think you're lying alone."
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Mercy was awoken by a pounding sensation in her head as she lay, encased in clean white bed sheets that were messily strewn across her body.

The teenager opened her eyes slowly, wincing at the pain in her temples. The last thing she remembered was blacking out in that stupid car. Jesus Christ.

As she thought over the previous days events she became more alert, aware that she unquestionably could be in a lot of danger.

Her pupils glanced around the sullen room she lay in and she noticed that almost everything was either a bright white or a dull brown colour. How delightful. They must have paid an arm and a leg for this interior decorator.

The bed she lay on was tiny as well as uncomfortable, springs digging into her back and creaking excruciatingly with her every move. There were no windows so she couldn't even tell what time of day it was. The only light was a blaring bulb that was in the flickering lamp next to her.

It shifted her attention to a small bedside table to her right. On a white coaster sat a clear Starbucks cup with condensation dripping down the side. Mercy took it in her hand, inspecting the label.

Caramel frappuccino. Her coffee order with her name scribbled on the side.

It was too much for her to process after just waking up and, as she heard movement outside the room, she panicked and set the drink back down.

The shadows of two feet could be seen under the door as someone loitered outside and Mercy quickly swung her legs over the side of the bed in a feeble attempt to stand. If someone was going to come in, she wanted to be able to defend herself.

As she jumped up onto her feet pain shot through her right leg. "Fucking cunt, wow!" She screeched unintentionally, falling back onto the sheets. The door was pushed open to reveal a man leaning against the wall.

His curly hair fell messily around his face, giving him a rugged look. He was taller than Mercy but, then again, who wasn't? He appeared pale in the harsh light. While his stance inferred that he was overly confident, the smile on his face confirmed it for her.

"You okay?" He questioned, casually. His prolonged stare was eating into Mercy as she glanced at the slight grin playing on his lips.

"Obviously not." She replied, bitterly holding her ankle in her hands. "How did you know that was my coffee order?" Her words sounding like nothing more than a curious thought.

The guy smiled a little. "Let's just say we had a hunch. You haven't had any of it, surely you're thirsty." He replied. Mercy shook her head quickly.

The man continued his perusal glances. "Hungry?" He asked with a tilted head, looking her up and down with a sense of disgust.

Mercy looked up in disbelief, deeply feeling a twinge of annoyance as he failed to give any explanation.

She watched him step further into the room. He looked down at her ankle and then back at her face. "I said, are you hungry?" He persisted.

She couldn't help but roll her eyes and nod. The man's smile lucidly appeared to widen as she attempted to stand up. He watched her struggle and fall against the cabinet of drawers, hissing in pain. What a dick. He stepped back into the hall, flashing her yet another smile. "Kitchen is on the right. Could take you a while." He muttered before disappearing briskly back down the corridor.

After Mercy stood sending a death glare into the empty corridor for a few seconds, she managed to hobble out of the room at a snail's pace. Instead of immediately turning right as she had been instructed to, she walked left.