My mind starts to wander as I stare blankly at my bandaged hand. I speak aloud, "I really can't remember anything that happened before falling into the ground. I don't understand how someone could even survive a fall like that. Let alone survive the fall, but then punch a mirror and bleed everywhere, it doesn't make any sense. The dream I had before felt so real, I could hear gunshots whizzing by, and smell smoke filling the room."
I look over towards the mirror, the glass is still shattered on the floor and my blood is still wet. In an act of courage I slowly make my way back over to the center of the room, examining what remains of the mirror. I carefully pick up a piece of broken glass and look into it. "Nothing except the same old me, or, at least I think that's the same me. I don't understand…how could I see something that wasn't there but experience it so vividly. The dream I had about Mary and Jeb was equally terrifying…I need to figure out where I am and what's going on."
I squeeze my bandaged hand and decide that questioning Mary and Jeb should be what I focus on next. "If it's true I landed here in a field, then I must be somewhere out in the wilderness, far away from a city. They might have a phone so I could call someone; but even then, I wouldn't know who to call. I'm not even sure if I can trust Mary or Jeb for that matter." I let out an,"UGH, this is all so confusing..." and I put the glass back on the floor.
I look away from the mirror and take a closer look at some of the war posters filling the walls. Most of them have a general 'Join The Fight Now!' or 'Protect Your Country,' type of imagery, but a few of them have symbols and characters that seem out of place Some of the posters have figures that look human, but also some that depict what looks like animals, but morphed and distorted. The animals shown have giant teeth, claws, massive wings, and some even look like a human, but have animal body parts.
In the background of one of the posters there is some type of hybrid monster encased in flames and surrounded by soldiers. It looks like it has the body of a deer or woodland creature, but with giant bird wings along its side. The head itself looks like a bat, but with large pointed ears and a giant protruding horn in the middle of its forehead. The eyes look wide and similar to a frog's eyes, mostly flat and dark green in color. The entire animal looks surreal, kind of like a painting, or some kind of fantastical mythical beast.
As I focus more on its dark eyes my hand starts to twitch. I wince as my hand feels like it is being stabbed with flaming hot needles, twisting and turning under my skin. The bandages start to smell like they are burning, and I see traces of smoke come from the inside of the wrapping.
I rush to the bedroom door and thrust it open. I turn to the right and run towards the direction of the bathroom Mary talked about. I plow inside the room and turn on the bathroom sink, dunking my hand under cold water. I wince in pain and tear off my bandages. I see small individual cuts disappear and become shut themselves closed. Blood starts to recede backwards into the cuts, until it bubbles and disappears all together.
After a moment, all of the cuts and scratches have completely vanished, leaving my hand as it was before I punched the mirror. I look in fascination and remove my hand from under the freezing water. I stare at my knuckles and say, "Ok…so I'm guessing that's not normal. I guess now I get to add something else to my list of ongoing freaky shit I've had to deal with today…" I stand in place for a moment and stare into my reflection once again. I try to remember anything that happened from before the fall but I can't. Every time I try my head gets fuzzy and foggy, and eventually I have to stop.
I glance down to the side of the sink and a pair of clothes are laid on top of a small vanity. The clothes are plain and simple: a repeating stripe patterned shirt, a change of undergarments, a pair of blue jeans, and an old pair of shoes. I gently place the clothes down and move towards the shower. I undress and stand still as the hot water flows down my body. The only thing I know to do is to let the hot water help me forget...