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The homeworld I had been abducted from.
Once again, I shook my head of the past and focused on the present moment, that darkness that might have been infinite.
Of course, it wasn’t and only seemed that way because I knew what was in it.
I swallowed what little saliva I had in my throat and began to inch forward into the light.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” a deep voice growled.
I froze again, chastising myself for being foolish enough to go against my instincts and attempt to head into that blackness.
“If you choose to step into the dark,” the voice snarled, “you must accept all that happens from that moment. Are you sure you wish to risk it?”
“W-What o-outcome?” I stammered, struggling to control my fear. “M-My n-name’s E-Ellie. I’m h-here to h-help you.”
Something slid across rough fabric, and heavy footsteps thumped the floor as they approached me.
I gazed up into the darkness, searching frantically for what was in the depths.
The footsteps — or were they hoofsteps? — grew so loud I realized the cell must be much larger than I thought.
Just when I thought the figure would appear from the shadows, they stopped.
I caught a glint of light that bounced off the edges of his horns… but no more.
Only the snorting rasp of his breath through his flared nostrils.
He breathed deeply and let out a long breath, and it sounded… hungry?
Oh God, please help me!
I didn’t know what I had agreed to!
I don’t want to be here!
I whimpered in the back of my throat.
“The future is a messy place,” the prisoner said. “Like fractals of light bouncing off a diamond’s face. Do you wish to finish taking that step?”
My foot was shaking now and, too fearful of what might happen, I placed it back down onto my side of the cell, back into the light.
The beast snorted and returned to his bed, still wreathed in shadow.
It groaned as it took his weight.
Within moments, his breaths became heavy, and he slipped into a deep sleep.
I cast around at the half of the cell with light spilling across it.
There was no cot on this side of the room, but I was happy even for the floor.
Just so long as I don’t have to share a bed with that thing!
I put the medical supplies down and used what I could to get comfortable.
The floor was hard and dug into my hips, but it was made a little more comfortable by the packs of bandages I lodged underneath myself.
I cupped my hands together and used them as a pillow.
