The Blindness

My feet splash into the shallow dark water while I slowly lift my head, a gust of wind whistles past. The entrance to the cave enthralls me. Adorning the top rests the dead stare of a stone-carved animal head, which emanates an emerald green radiance from its sunken eyes. Dancing darkness escapes from the cave’s depths beckoning me to enter. I must answer its call. When the water moves, a soft echo reverberates throughout the cave.

The pounding of my heart grows louder, yet I must continue my journey. Pulling one foot out from the water, I freeze. You can always turn back. For this journey, turning back would end all that I have worked for and all that I have sacrificed. I gently set down my foot in the direction of the black hollow. The answers to who and what I am are within reach, one foot at a time. As I wade in the shallow water, my steps become dense, but I trudge along. Into the black void, I go. It engulfs me. Unable to see my own hands and feet, I continue my trek. The water remains shallow and sloshes every few steps.

Left then right, I move deeper into it. Left then right, my foot slips, and my body tumbles into a chute. The water pulls me further down. A growing symphony of moving liquid nears in the distance. I reach out to grab hold of something, but I only feel the touch of wet, smooth stone. My heart quickly palpitates as my mind leaps to what lies at the bottom of this pit. Where does it end? Jutted rocks or a cliff?

The current spits me out. My limbs float within the depths of the cave. Catching my breath, I struggle to regain footing. The water is much deeper and warmer here. Finding my place, I stand firmly on the ground; the warm liquid sways against my collarbone. Taking slow breaths, I shut my eyes. Suddenly, a bright lime green light pierces through my sealed sight.

It appears to come from everywhere with no source point in sight. Upon further inspection, I am within this large body of water. Strange etchings wind up and down its stone walls. Some look eerily familiar, so I slowly move to one of the walls. Before making it to the nearest wall, bony tendons grasp my right ankle. It yanks me hard, yet its pull is too strong for me to fight. Taking one last deep breath, I submit.

Under the water, I notice that the scraggly arm’s locked embrace extends through the ground of the cave. Through the smooth stone, we go.

Blindness consumes, as I frantically search for recognition of where I am. A sensation of furry wool caresses my cheek. Grabbing hold of it, I twist and tug on the piece of cloth. A cascade of metal hangers and clothing falls on top of me. A closet, but how? My hands frantically search for the doorknob. The coolness of a metal piece erupts on my palm while I slowly turn and push open the heavy door.

I climb my way out of the closet only to enter a plain bedroom, complete with a small window and full-sized bed. A dim light pours through the window, illuminating a simple path of the room’s wooden planks.

A prickly sensation crawls over my back and shoulders. Exposed am I within the light. Someone’s watching me, but whom? In the corner of the room stands a dark shadow. Within the shadow, a glob of darkness pulsates.

My vision tries to reason, but my mind is convinced: it’s there! As fast as I can think, the glob breaks away and hurtles through the air. Under its erratic display appears a hand, which clasps around my neck. Hauled into the air, I cling to the outstretched arm and close my eyes.

Hoping for this nightmare to end, I think of my home. My vision spins with the smiling faces of my family and friends. NO! I must get to Earth! Gripping the boney arm tighter, I fling myself free of its clutches. The roar of a thousand voices spews in every direction.

I have to get out of here. To my right, I see the small window. Hurrying my steps, I look for a way out. Colorful lights decorate the colossal buildings. A city unlike any that I have ever seen in my world stands in my midst. I turn to see the dark shadow closing the distance between us. Quickly, I raise the window’s pane. Without a second more, I jump.