|
Info
Humanity is at stake, our peers are lost and soon it'll only be us. One by one we are lost, not in space, or time, but our humanity. What even makes us human? And why do we lose it? (An An Anthology Page) All An Anthology Pages:
|
Tale
Act I: Departure
Oscar
I miss them, of course I do. But then, why is it so hard for me to think about them? Every moment I picture their faces, their smiles, I feel that hole that was put in my chest years ago. I stand at the edge of a time, in one direction I see the past and in the other I see that all the future can be. So why do I only want to go back?
As I am everyday, I'm lost in thought. Gripping back into the 'now', I find myself at the wall. I'm holding a package that I can only vaguely remember picking up a few minutes prior, and I ask the wall guard, "So… uh, where do I need to take this?" I gesture at the package.
"Oscar, you've done this same route before. And you know that's not how you're supposed to hold the package." Her voice is feminine in nature, and there's a black smudge over her face. A hole in my vision. She grabs the package from my arms, "Here, let me tie it on for you." She heaves the package on my back, and I feel the weight shift behind me. It's by no means a large package, and she easily attaches it to my shoulders and harness.
"Thanks ■ ■ ■ ■ " I say plainly, then grimace at the fact that I don't know what I just said. I step past the boundaries of the wall and a shiver runs down my spine, I will be alone once more.
Maple
"Damn, there are so many MIA reports lately." I say, looking at the wall on the Research Facility that's covered in papers. I'm exasperated and filled with an odd sense of fear. Not the kind that makes your heart race and your anxiety spike, this is the kind of fear that takes my breath away.
"I say they're all dead. Nobody just disappears and survives. Not anymore." Mel sighs, glancing away from me, "Y'know…" She stops. She's hurt, isn't she? "Just don't become the next person I have to make a report for, Maple." Her eyes barely meet mine. As I begin to walk, she says, "Don't die, please."
"Don't worry, Mel." I say, impatiently or restlessly even though my heart flutters with emotions I can't make words to. "If I die, I'll be in your arms, not alone." As I say this, I start walking away from Mel, exiting the base. I glace behind my back: Mel is holding a paper, and crying.
Filled with what could only be second-hand sorrow, my pace picks up from a walk, to a jog, to a run. And just as I'm running into the depths of the Backrooms, I'm running away from what I fear most.
Oscar
I stumble, and cough. A fierce, sharp pain rips through my throat and lungs. I swear blood is coming out, but it's not. I reach to my surroundings for balance. I miscalculate the distance from me to the mono-yellow wall by a foot and stagger to the ground. Goddamn it. My breathing gets heavier and my thoughts are tripping over each other, all telling one thing: get yourself together, ■ ■ ■ ■ . Who?
Who is that? I am screaming in my mind. Who is that? Who am I? I want to tear my skull to pieces, I want to…
Breath.
Shut up and breath.
■ ■ ■ ■ , breath, damnit, breath.
I listen to the voices in my head. In and out. I'm covered in sweat and reach to my mouth, it's covered in saliva and blood. It's not painful when I'm this numb. I get to my knees then stand. I can't, I can't stand! What is wrong with me?
Momentarily, I forget everything that just transpired. Like everything, I can't remember. Who am I? How do I know I'm me if I can't even see their faces anymore?
Maple
I'm panting, trying to catch my breath. Each twist and turn is familiar, welcoming. Something aches from my heart and I can't express it properly. Just, hurt, I guess? Exploring the Backrooms is a weird thing, and thinking about it is even weirder. I just kinda feel, I don't really think about it at all. It's intuition. And if you don't have it, well… you'd already be dead.
I stop to rest, and lean on a wall of mono-yellow. My hand recoils as it slides against a wet spot. I glance over to my hand, what the hell? It's covered in blood? I can feel my stomach wrench, inside and out wanting to become one.