m-m-ward

[m-m-ward]

The Betrayal of the Underneath

Chapter 1- The Great Awakening, or Some Shit

My memory was hazy and my body, heavy against the hard ground; I woke up very uncomfortable. 

This is what I get when I drink too much and go home with Brittany. I thought through the daze of a hangover. Alice probably took the couch. 

I tried to turn onto my side for more comfort but something abrasive scraped my shoulder. Startled, I opened my eyes to total darkness. 

What the fuck? What was that?

Moving my arms around to find what had scraped my shoulder, I hit a wall with my hands, six inches in front of me. It was rough and felt like wood and it was angled, like a triangle over me.

Am I in a crate? What happened last night?

My heart began to race as my thoughts bounced between the bars and the drinks. The smell and taste of stale vodka made me want to throw up. Wherever I was, it wasn’t good. Searching for an answer in my mind, I could only piece together the first half of the night. 

We were bar hopping, we went to three, no, four bars and two breweries? I thought, unsure of whether it was true. What happened? Why can’t I remember?

My breathing became panting, my heart raced, pounding against my chest, threatening to burst. I hit the walls in front of me with the sides of my fists. There was a loud echo of the thud. 

Oh, we’re echoing? Great, that can’t be good.

I listened for anything that would tell me where I was. Panicking will only make everything worse, stay calm. 

There was utter silence, not even ambient sounds, like cars passing by, or birds chirping. All I could hear was my own breathing, starting to hasten even more and making me dizzy. Moving my arms about, I felt around the box. 

There’s gotta be a door or a weakness, something to get me out of here. I thought. Britt and Alice must be pranking me. Focus on escaping, if you panic they’ll just make fun of you. Refocus, calm your breathing, find a solution. 

As my hands glided over the wood, the uneven and fraying pieces pricked into my palms. I winced at the pain, but the need to find something to help me get out of here, made me keep searching. 

On the right side, around the area by my pelvis, there was a curve in the grain. Running my hands over it several times, I could feel a bit of cool air coming in from the center of the curves. 

There’s a hole. Maybe a knot in the wood. Maybe it’s a weak point? This could be my way out!

I contemplated my escape, and what the best leverage would be. I thought of all the times my self defense trainer explained confined spaces and how to escape, but it was difficult to remember with my hangover and headache. They were louder than Jimmy’s instructions. He taught me and my sister self defense three times a week. As the clouds in my head began to subside, I was finally able to remember how he talked about confined spaces and how to keep your head space focused.

“If you ever find yourself confined, your mind will wander in an attempt to calm down. Let it get halfway, then refocus on getting out. Don’t get too distracted though, it will make the panic worse if you forget where you are…. Check to see if you have any tools on or near you and if you do, put them to good use!”

He always explained things as if they were happening in the moment. He was a great guy. Kind of nerdy, but not the kind that was intimidating. More like the, ‘video gaming to spend time with my friends but also really enjoying being boring’, type.

His hair was the nice dirty blonde that would make anyone stare, even though he wasn’t conventionally attractive. I had been crushing on him for quite a while now.

Okay Eli, reel it in. That’s enough about Jimmy. Time to get out and play the pity card on Alice and Britt. Check for tools, check for tools.

I felt myself for my phone, keys, or knife, but they weren’t there. The clothes I was wearing didn’t feel like mine either. 

Did someone change my clothes? They know I can’t handle that….

My heart started to race again, and the thought of someone touching me was too much to bear. 

Therapy is a hell of a thing but I’m not ready for that! What the fuck?!

I tried to focus but the thought of someone touching me was too much, even if it was one of my best friends. I could feel the tears welling and the sobs beginning to bubble up. There was an intense pain in my chest as my lungs struggled for air. I closed my eyes and let the panic take over. I was too deep in to over take the attack, so I had to just let it happen. I screamed in my head, crying harder than I had in a long time. I beat against the box, moving uncontrollably. In my panic, I exerted so much energy, my body went limp and I couldn’t move anymore.

[m-m-ward]

As she looks around she saw the smiling faces of other people enjoying the company of their friends. She looked down at her phone; no one told her it was cancelled. No one thought she would come. It's been a rough few months since he left. Her first love. The only love she'd ever known, gone. Her friends didn't get it or didn't care. She wiped away the tear that was starting to fall and turned to leave. That's when she saw him.

It was as if this stranger was someone she knew. Someone she was close to, but she had never talked to him. He saw her staring and as he went to say hello she abruptly left the restaurant. She didn't know how to this. She'd been with one man her whole life and he didn't want her. Why would this seemingly perfect guy want her?

She walked in her apartment and was greeted by her cat Foofy. He was hungry and attention deprived. She filled his food bowl and sat on her couch. She'd never felt an instant connection like that before. Where did it come from? And why for this guy she'd never even seen before?

She read a bit of her book then headed to bed. She had an early day the next morning and if she was going to keep her job, she had to sleep.

A character arrives at a meeting spot only to find out that everyone else canceled