Flicker II

Chapter One, The Laboratory

But something strange starts to happen. As I walk, this strange feeling of drowsiness overcomes me, with each step.

I think that prehaps my blood sugar is running low or something, trying to brush off this strange sudden feeling of exhaustion.

I hear Violas voice echoing in my head as she walks in front of me.

"And anyways, as I was saying -" Viola stops and nervously looks round to me.

My eyelids start to feel strangely heavier, and I feel like I'm going to collapse.

"Mason, are you okay? Viola says in a worried voice.

I'm about to respond to her. When I feel my legs turn to jelly, my mind goes fuzzy, and I find myself slipping into unconsciousness.

My legs give way, and my eyelids droop, as that feeling of exhaustion knocks me out.

I feel myself falling to the street, and before I slip away in unconsciousness, I hear Viola screaming my name.

...

Everything is so fuzzy.
My head hurts like hell, my arms ache from those stupid shopping bags, and eye lids feel as heavy as cement blocks.

I don't even bother to open them.

Where am I?

Am I at the hospital?

Back home?

Violas house?

All I can remember is suddenly passing out on the city street, and Viola screaming my name.

My fingers stretch out, feeling the floor. It's not like mine at home.

It feels shiny, smooth, and metallic.
But most of all, it feels unfamiliar.

I finally lift my eyes, open, still in quite a groggy state.

I am blasted with a strong, strange green light that pierces my eyes.

What the hell?

I quickly feel myself up, and my eyes dart around, panicked.

What is this place? I think to myself. It's so unlike anywhere I've ever been before.

It looks like some sort laboratory, covered shiny metal, a metal floor, metal walls, and doors.
Cracked tanks in the walls contain some kind of green acid.

I notice a small puddle of this acid that has been oozing out of one of these tanks.

Shoved into a corner of this room is a supply of what looks like some science equipment. Broken test tubes and large crystals range in shades of fluorescent pink.

"It's a laboratory." I say quietly to myself.

Why am I in a laboratory? I think to myself.

Am I meant to be some sort of experiment or something?

I hope not, I don't remember signing up for something like that.

I take a few steps around, and I start to feel a little less tired.

Just a little.

My hands skim the wall closest to me, feeling the shiny, cool metal. Several heavy looking metal doors are scattered across the walls.

Can I just walk out of here? I think to myself.

I mean, if I've been somehow kidnapped, I don't seem to be exactly tied up in chains or anything.

Surely one of these doors is the way out?

Can I leave?

I burrow my face in my hands.