HUMMMMM!!!
A low hum vibrated through the air like the distant buzz of a powerline. My eyes fluttered open, slowly at first, then wide with confusion. I lay flat on my back, gazing up at a colorless sky — no clouds, no ceiling, just empty space. Blank. Infinite. Silent.
I shifted, and a cool, slick sensation touched my skin. Beneath me, the ground wasn't ground at all. It rippled like liquid silver, smooth but constantly shifting. I blinked, trying to understand, but my thoughts felt tangled, like static-filled radio signals. Where am I? How did I get here?
Before I could even process it, the world ignited.
FWHOOOM!!!
Flames erupted in every direction. Waves of fire swept across the metallic sea, turning it into a molten inferno. The air turned blistering hot, searing my lungs as I gasped for breath. Too hot. Too hot. My body refused to move. Panic clawed at me as the flames raced up my legs, crawling over bare flesh like thousands of biting insects. The stench of charred meat hit me, sharp and nauseating. My meat. My flesh.
I thrashed, heart pounding like a hammer against my ribs. MOVE! MOVE! MOVE! But my limbs wouldn't listen. The fire claimed my arms, chest, face — every inch of me caught in a storm of pain. I refuse to die. I clenched my teeth, eyes wild and full of rage. I refuse to die!
Suddenly, the weight lifted.
The fire vanished.
Gasping, I sprang to my feet, drenched in sweat. My chest heaved as I sucked in air, cold and sharp like a winter breeze. The migraine hit next — sharp, stabbing jolts of pain burrowing into my skull. I staggered, clutching my head with one hand while my other arm hung limp at my side. The ground beneath me felt solid now. No more liquid silver, just cold, smooth tile.
A dream. It was just a dream.
I took a breath, long and slow. The raw ache of burned flesh was gone. I glanced down at my hands. No burns. No scars. My heartbeat slowed. It wasn't real. I exhaled sharply, wiping sweat from my face.
But where the hell am I?
I turned slowly, taking in the room. Rectangular. Cold. The faint buzz of a single caged light bulb flickered from the ceiling, barely enough to illuminate the space. The floor was a checkerboard of white and gray tiles, so clean I could see a warped reflection of myself staring back. Naked. Vulnerable. The walls were plain concrete, solid and unmoving. The air smelled sterile, like a freshly scrubbed hospital.
Hospital?
No. I've never been to a hospital.
…Right?
A chill slithered down my spine. Why can't I remember?
I pressed my palms to my temples, fingers curling in frustration. Think. THINK. My name. My name should be easy. Everyone remembers their name, right? Static flickered behind my eyes like an old TV set trying to find a signal. My skull pounded harder, teeth clenched, but still… nothing.
Who am I?
A crackle of static hissed through the air, and then a voice echoed from a speaker embedded in the wall.
"Subject 0173, advance to Testing Area A."
My head whipped toward the sound. "Subject 0173? What the hell does that mean?!" My voice was raw, sharp with confusion. My gaze landed on a metal intercom box near the ceiling, next to a steel chute that jutted from the wall. I lunged. My hand slammed against the intercom.
"Hey! Who are you?! Why can't I remember anything?!" My voice cracked with desperation. Silence. The only sound was my ragged breathing, echoing in the cold air. "Don't ignore me, you piece of—"
"You are not human," the voice said, calm and cold as frostbite. "You are Subject 0173. Advance."
I recoiled like I'd been slapped. "The hell I'm not human! I'm standing right here, aren't I?!"
"Advance or die, 0173."
Her voice was flat. Dull. The kind of voice you'd hear from someone counting down your last seconds.
"You're lying," I said, my breath shallow. "You're lying!"
"You are disposable. If you refuse, Subject 0174 will replace you."
My stomach twisted like I'd been kicked in the gut. Another one. Another me. Another number.
I doubled over, dry heaving. Acid surged up my throat, bile spattering across the clean tiles. The sharp, sour stink mingled with the sterile air. I wiped my mouth, heart still racing, eyes locked on the single steel door.
Advance or die.
I gritted my teeth, eyes narrowing at the cold steel knob. No choice, huh? I took a slow, steadying breath.
I reached out, fingers curling around the cold metal handle. It was colder than the floor. Unforgiving. Merciless. I twisted the handle.
Whatever's on the other side…
I'm ready for it.