Seeking Asylum

Take this my child! It will keep you safe, you're going to need it soon! Don't lose it! I love you..I love you!

As my mother thrust something cold and metallic into my hand, the world went dark. Where am I? Where is everyone else? What is happening?! I don't know this place!

I don't remember much before this and I can't tell you how much time has passed, but the world is in darkness. All I can hear is the sound of metal slamming against metal and distant screams! I have to start moving. But wait...what is in my hand? Hang on, my mom gave me this! It feels hard and its has many grooves carved into the surface. It has a chain and its shaped like a heart. I've seen this before. It was Nana's necklace! Her locket! She never took it off! I remember!! I would share her lap with Fat Cat and we would play with it, catching the light. Fat cat couldn't resist the chase!

Aaaah!! The screaming is back! I have to start moving! My legs feel like lead. I'll have to crawl. I think I'm in a cave. It smells dank in here and I can feel a soft breeze across my face. There must be a way out. Follow the breeze! Don't drop the locket.

I'm moving now, it's slow, the smell is getting stronger and the screams are getting louder. Is anyone out there?! I start shouting into the darkness. Can anyone hear me? Help!! I manage to lift myself up and find a wall. It's so cold to touch, but it's something, it must lead somewhere. I'm moving faster now, and I can see some shapes forming around me. Light! But not enough to see clearly. Keep moving! Don't panic! As I slide my arms along the wall I feel it curve, I'm turning. I start to speed up. The screams get louder! They're behind me but I can't see anyone. My heart is racing and I feel adrenaline shoot through my body like a lightning bolt! Danger! RUN!!!

My eyes begin to focus and I can see tiny white spots in the darkness. My body is still shaking but the screams are gone. I'm outside! The stars! I still have the locket! What happened back there? Everything looks so different. The shapes of the trees are all wrong, they're upside down. The air still smells dank..And where is everyone? I'm happy to be out of the cave. For a moment I am relieved, but I'm still confused. There are no people, no cities, no roads, no animals. I loop the locket chain around my fingers and watch the heart sway side to side. It's hypnotic. I'm calmer now.

The upside down trees irk me. I don't want to go that way. To my left the field drops away into darkness. A cliff maybe? Not that way. To my right..More nothingness! Suddenly the sky lights up and a stream of color shoots through the darkness. A bright green comet illuminates the world round me. The ground starts to shake and with no warning the sound of metal slamming metal is louder than ever before! It's coming from the trees! I have to go now! I cover my ears and start to turn around. As I look up the noise stops, the ground stabilizes and there she is. Nana!

Hang on...Nana is that you? She's not moving. Nana, it's me! I'm so happy to see you! As I move towards her, she slowly looks up at me. Her eyes are withdrawn and gray. Her hair is matted and dirty. Her body is distorted and her clothes are all torn. I'm scared - really scared. This is not my Nana!

Where is the locket? She growls.

My hand tightens around it. Her eyes dart towards the movement of my hand.

She knows.

Her body starts to bend forward as she crouches onto all fours. Attack mode. With one last growl, she launches toward me. Faster than any animal I had ever seen. In a split second she is on top of me and her nails dig into my skin. Her strength is overwhelming and she pries my hand open. Blood starts running down my arm, I can feel the warm droplets falling onto my face as I struggle to get free from her grip. I am still holding the chain. I pull on it with all my strength. My mom's word ringing in my ears...

The tension on the locket is too much and, as if time slowed down, I watched as the locket split into several pieces. Each piece evaporated into the air and all of a sudden, a bright light blinded me.

My eyes flutter and burn from the light. I try to cover my face with my hand but it's stuck. I can't move. I'm strapped in a hospital bed. Oh please let this be the dream...I know this place...

The screams are back, and the metal slamming is getting louder.

Wake up!

Wake up!