Day 0
What time is it? What day is it? I don't know anymore. It must be five years since I last felt the warmth of the sun.
I'm hungry, and I'm thirsty. My sister hasn't come back. She told me she was going to fix a problem, but she chained me here, knowing I can't leave. I'm blind, and on top of that, I have no legs. I've been this way since the accident five years ago, and my sister keeps me locked up here, claiming the world has ended or something.
Day 1
She still hasn't returned from outside. I'm starting to get a serious headache, and my throat is so dry that I've tried licking the water droplets on the wall in my attempt to escape. Yes, I've tried to escape several times, but it's hard to move without legs, and I can't see a thing. At least in the light, I can see the colors of objects, but here it's complete darkness.
What was that noise? It's the first time in five years I've heard such a sound here. I think it came from over there.
Feeling around, I come across something soft. No, wait—it's a button? I press it. *Beep.* "Please validate the password," the mechanical voice demands. A password? I don't know any password!
"Hey, I'm blind!" I shout.
"Deficiency acknowledged. Please vocalize the password."
"I don't know... cucumber?"
"Password accepted. Welcome, Miss Alexandra Silver."
What? That's my sister's name!
I hear a clicking noise. What could it be? A man tapping on the wall next door? No, that's impossible. We're in a basement.
It's a mechanism. I approach it. And then, I feel it—a gentle warmth on my skin, the sensation of sunlight.
I inch closer. I can start to see a bit of light. But something metallic blocks my way. An... an escalator?
Great, just what I needed. I climb the escalator slowly. The sunlight grows stronger. But then the escalator ends. What's in front of me?
Grass? That's not normal. The smell of sulfur hits me. And iron. Blood. What's going on here?
Day 2
After emerging from the basement, I spent half a day feeling my way around, realizing I was still enclosed by walls. This place is indeed my garden—the same garden where I played as a child.
I searched for my house, which should be in the center of the garden. Finally, I found the front door. But something worries me. I should hear the city sounds, but there's complete silence. Just the wind blowing. It's creepy.
Now, I need to open the door. Where's the handle? Ah, found it.
I push the door, expecting it to be locked. But it creaks open. Dust covers the floor, and the air smells stale.
"Hey, you!" a voice calls out behind me. I don't recognize it.
"Hey! Answer when I'm talking to you!" the voice commands.
I turn around. "Me?"
"Who else? How come you're still here?"
"I—" I stammer.
"Stop talking and tell me your name. We don't have much time!"
"Émile. Émile Silver."
"Hmmm, Émile... Let's see. Nothing. No records. Are you telling the truth?"
I feel immense pressure. My body trembles as if my bones are about to break. Fear grips me.
"Tell... me... your... name," the voice demands again.
"But it's really my name."
"Hmmm, you're not lying. Are you human at least?"
"Yes, I am human..."
"Look at me when I'm talking to you!"
"I'm blind from birth," I explain.
"Blind, huh? But your body is perfectly fine except for your legs. Why... Oh. Kid, I can give you your sight back, but you'll have to do something for me in return. Specifically, you'll have to sign a contract. But since you can't read, I'll state the terms: First, the signee, Émile Silver, agrees to fulfill one request of the contractor [##############]. In return, the contractor [##############] will restore the signee's sight."
"It's simple. Fulfill one of my requests, and I'll give you your sight back. Plus, I'll throw in a little gift. Accept it, it's better for you considering the state of this world."
"I don't know. I've always lived without sight, so it doesn't bother me."
"Alright, if you don't want that, I'll propose something else. I'll give you back your sight and your legs."
"How do you plan to do that? Limbs don't grow back."
"I have my ways. But more importantly, how do you plan to live ALONE without family and friends, handicapped and blind? It must have been hard enough finding the front door, right?"
Honestly, his offer is tempting, but I don't trust him. I want to refuse, but if my sister comes back, I'll end up in the basement again.
"I accept."
"You made the right choice!" As soon as he says this, an immense pain shoots through my body, and I lose consciousness.
"Ah, my head..." Disoriented and with a splitting headache, I wake up.