AL935 (first installment)

1
“Late! I’m late!” a voice echoed through the dark abyss, repeating over and over words that seemed so near and yet ever so distant. The black void continued into eternity. Her heartbeat began to race as wind whipped by, stinging the skin. Out of the darkness came the ever apparent ground.

With a jolt a young girl awoke, gasping for air. Her body felt as though it had been thrown upon the cold metal floor she lay on. Confused and dazed, she tried to sit up but found that she was far too dizzy to even lift her head. Staring up into the gray that greeted her eyes she could just make out a ceiling and four dirty walls that surrounded her. They seemed to taunt her as she lay there, as though they knew something that she didn’t. Mocking her and the floor that cradled her.

How had she got there? The girl tried to pry into her memories. What was the last thing that happened? Someone was late. And then falling. And then this. But there had to be more. There just had to be. Things like this don’t just happen. Why couldn’t she remember?

Tired of the fruitlessness of struggling to jog some form of a memory prior to this she decided she needed to get up. Swallowing hard (as this was difficult for her mouth was completely dry), the girl began to force herself up. Several painful minutes went by as she battled with gravity. Finally she got into a sitting position against the closest wall. Panting, she used her sleeve to wipe the beads of sweat off her brow that had formed during the move.

As the girl sat there a florescent light from the distant ceiling came on. This blinded her, making her eyes burn and water. Flinching, she squeezed her eyes tight, throwing her head down into her lap. It took some time before her eyes finally adjusted to the bright white light. Slowly the girl opened her eyes.

Where did these come from, the girl thought to herself. The shirt and pants she found herself wearing looked as though once a very long time ago they had been white. Now, they had a slight yellow tinge and were soiled with dried blood, grime and what the girl hoped to be dirt. On the right breast of the shirt was the inscription AL935. Was that her name? She couldn’t remember. Better than being no one, AL935 thought to herself.

AL935 now had a better view of the prison she found herself in. All the walls, floor and ceiling were metal. On the wall to her right she could see that someone had vomited and left it to harden. The wall she was sitting against had a full body dent in it. Opposite her the wall also had dents but what was more apparent was the fact that it was covered in dried blood. The ceiling seemed as though it was miles from where she sat and it was filthy. AL935 wondered how so much dirt could get itself way up there. The floor from which she seemed to have had her rebirth was stained with blood, coated in dirt, plastered with dried bodily fluids, and littered with rodent corpses. It felt more or less like hell than anything else.

The last of the four walls had a thick groove down the center of it and glowing ominous circle. Curious as to what these must be, AL935 attempted to stand. She brought her toothpick-like knees to her chest, planting her small bare feet on the filth-sodden floor. Stretching out her arms the girl grabbed the walls and began to push up with all her strength, using the walls as guides.

As she ascended toward the ceiling AL935’s nose began to bleed. But this did not stop the girl from continuing. She persisted till she was at a full standing position. Her legs felt heavy as lead and yet much like jelly. For a few minutes she just stood there holding the walls for fear that she would fall. And what a fall that would be, AL935 thought looking at her dirty cold feet. The ground is a good mile beneath me, though she only stood five feet above the floor.

With a deep breath she, still holding fast to the walls, the young girl stepped onto an unsure foot. AL935’s knee buckled under her and she felt herself begin to collapse. Digging her nails into the walls she quickly brought her other leg out placing her weight on that. Already worn out from just the fumble and two steps the girl panted. She could do this she knew she could. Now she was half there. Just another step and a half. Heart racing she took two more steps toward the glowing orb.

AL935 fell into the corner nearest the circle. She breathed heavily as sweat ran down her face and back. Her heart was beating so fast it hurt. How could something so simple hurt so much? The girl shut her eyes, licking her scabbed lips. A few moment went by before her breathing went back to what she hoped was normal.

Opening her eyes AL935 gazed at the glowing circle. Unsure of what it would do she pressed her thin bony fingers against it. The circle sunk into the wall. As this happened the wall with the thick groove began to part. Startled, AL935 quickly took her fingers away from the circle.

The wall continued to separate till it was a foot or so apart revealing another wall. Confused, AL935 reached out her palm, running it across the wall, searching for something anything that might possibly help her out. There was nothing particularly special about this wall. It looked exactly the same as the other walls only it lacked dents, blood, or orbs. With everything she had, AL935 put her entire weight against the wall. Still nothing.

Well, that helped, AL935 sighed. Her eyes began to well up with tears. The one way to freedom and it just proved to be more of hell. Out of frustration she balled up her fist and beat it against the barren wall. At that moment she heard a squeak from above her.

Turning her gaze up toward the ceiling, AL935 saw two beady eyes looking down at her. Attached to the eyes was a furry gray head. The little creature sat on a lip of the wall a little ways from the ceiling. AL935 extended her arm toward the animal. Placing her hand on the ball of fur.

It was then that she realized there was more there than just an edge. Taking her hand away from the animal she got on her toes trying to see above. The creature scurried into the darkness past the room toward a dim light in the distance that preceded the gap in the wall. If only she could get up there.

She looked around, hoping to find something to help her up the wall onto the landing above. Try as she might, there was nothing to assist her. With a deep breath, AL935 placed both her hands on the ledge and began the long strenuous struggle up the wall.

It took an eternity to reach the top. AL935 was forced to use her feet to help hold her weight. She thrust them into the sides of the opening climbing up until she finally made it. The girl had to throw her nearly lifeless body onto the landing. Her hair clung to her face due to the copious amounts of sweat and tears the climb had brought on. Her heart beat hard and fast. She found it hurt to breathe. If her body wasn’t soar before, it was now. Much worse in fact.

Is this what death feels like, AL935 thought to herself. If so I want never to die. The girl lay there hurting until she blacked out.