My body rebelled as I tried to awaken it from an unnatural sleep. My hair splayed out around my head and I groaned with the effort of rising. My limbs felt as if I was pulling them out from thick molasses into a sitting position.
'Where am I?'
I thought. I tried to put my thoughts together but a splitting headache hampered my efforts. Just as I began to remember (a fall) I opened my eyes.
Suddenly I was frightfully and completely awake.
"BLOOD!" I croaked out. My strained voice struggled to let out a scream as I tried to deny what was right before my eyes.
Buckets and buckets of blood!
'What happened here and why God did I have to get thrown into the middle of it!'
Realizing I held a solid object in my hand I looked down. A KNIFE!
I quickly dropped the blood-soaked knife in my hand as my screams took on an even more panicked lilt. I jumped to my feet, then quickly backed away until my back hit a cold, hard wall behind me. I was covered. Completely covered in the...I collapsed into a ball against the wall.
'Why? What...? Oh God. Oh God!'
In some part of my panicked mind, I knew I needed to think rationally. Digging my nails into my legs I brought my mind back to a semblance of sanity.
"Ok," I said out loud, hoping it might ground me further, "Ok. Ok. OK OK-."
I slapped myself, "Alright...you don't know who all this blood belongs too. It might not even belong to you."
Hurriedly, I checked myself over for injuries, so hysterical I didn't care if I cause any more with my briskness. I was fine.
"Ok... that means it belongs to someone...else."
With trepidation I looked around the room hoping that the only rational option for all this blood wasn't there.
My head turned mechanically as I searched the room as if rusty gears in my neck slowed my body to a slow ticking.
Tick. Tick. Tick.
I see a dim room with no windows filled with dusty furniture covered in cloth. Old paintings and thoroughly dead flowers are sprinkled around adding to the atmosphere of neglect. I got the sense that it was once a grand place, now a forgotten storage room. Finally I find it.
In the corner, lies a small dark lump of fabric curled into a fetal position.
With that image, I became completely detached from the situation.
'No.'
It simply wasn't possible.
'It's not possible. I'm not here, this isn't real. This isn't real!'
With great effort I stood up with my back against the wall.
'This isn't real.'
As I took a step closer to the lump of fabric memories invaded my mind.
"No turning back now... *static*... as we head into the new season." A chipper voice called from the radio," Calm winds all day today, perfect for-," My mom turned off the weather report as she looked at me and grinned. "What do you think sweetheart? I tried a new recipe today."
"Thank God for post-holiday breakfast." I said as a stuffed my face with pancakes and maple syrup and hot eggs. The smell of bacon sizzling on the stove filled the air and I smiled.
"Mmm. Mom, you should really patent these pancakes." Mom's special breakfast always made the first day of school so much better.
"Thanks girl," she said as a warm smile filled her eyes. Taking my time, I enjoyed every bite of food on my plate.
My Mom looked at the clock and frowned. "Your gonna miss the bus if you don't hurry sweetie," she said, so I tried my best to unhinge my jaw and vacuum up the rest of the food. I tried to scrape the plate but my mom playfully swatted my hand way.
"Go on now," she said giving me a mock reproachful look, "You're already late now, girl. Get going."
I gave her a sly smile then rushed out the door.
My mom was right. I had missed the bus and was going to be late to orientation.
'Not a good idea.'
I swiveled my head around trying to look for a solution. "Ah, there you are."
A bridge that crossed the river. If I took it, it would cut my travel time in half. Only problem was...it was under construction. I hesitated. Looking at machines and warnings signs that littered the bridge.
'That does not seem like one of your best ideas Elizabeth. Find a different path.'
I turned around to take the long way. But just out of the corner of my eye I saw the most beautiful sunrise I had ever seen. That morning the weather was so calm I could see the pink and violet colors perfectly reflected by the river. Gold light flickered across the water's surface and my fingers itched to take a picture. Well...maybe just this one time it won't hurt.
I walked onto the bridge climbing over traffic cones and machine equipment. I found the perfect spot. Setting my camera up, I laid on my belly then inched my way to what used to be a concrete safety wall turned to ruble.
I lined up the camera with the concrete crescent left from the wall. Barbed wire stuck out at odd angles but that only heighten the image. I lined up the perfect shot with my camera then...
"GOT IT!"
"Wow," I was so happy with the shot.
Suddenly my excitement turned to dread as bridge began to shake.