Survive
The words never come. You try to speak, and fail. Mouth moving. Still breathing. In. Out. In Out. In out in out in out.
Alive. Yes, you’re still alive. Heart still beats. Blood still pumps.
You check your limbs. Still attached. Bruised. Battered. Bloodied. Bound. But still attached.
Where are you? Do you know? It was dark, after all.
That’s right. They grabbed you. Gagged you. Threw you down here.
Where is here? Think.
Think harder! Think think think think think think. Nothing.
Dammit. You’re going to die down here. Yes. No. No! Have to get free.
Legs? Also bound. Something sharp. You need something sharp.
You grasp around. Rocks. No, bricks? Not good enough.
What are you sitting on?
A tangle of limbs. A body. Shit. A body! No. Not just one. Fuck!
Keep your head, or you’ll die. Keep looking. Find something to cut the rope.
...
Got it! A knife? How? Don’t discount blessings, just cut!
….
……
Ropes fall free. You spit out the gag. Free! You’re free! Everything aches. Wrists. Ankles. Arms. Legs. Chest. Head. Throat.
They gagged you. Strangled you! Threw you down here.
The bodies broke your fall.
The stench. Oh gods the stench. You gag. Vomit. Spew your lunch on the floor. Ham sandwich. Boring.
Focus! Have to escape.
The flashlight on your key-chain. Turn it on. Oh no. Oh no no no no no. That was a mistake. How many have they killed?
One less than they thought. The thought comforts you.
At least there’s an exit. You wonder where it leads. Away from here. That’s what matters. Can’t be worse than here. Can it?
…
It’s been hours. You’re starting to ache more. Probably broke some ribs. Maybe internal bleeding. That’s how they get you.
Not like on TV. Can’t survive down here long. Maybe there’s a camera crew? Waiting to surprise you.
That’d be a sick joke.
…
You’re lost. It’s a maze. Or a tomb. Your tomb. You can hear footsteps. Following you. Leading you, maybe? They echo from all around. You call out to them.
They don’t answer.
It’s cold, damp. You shiver. How long did this flashlight last? Maybe a day. Maybe longer if you dim it. If it goes out it’s over. You’re dead.
Not yet! You are not dead yet.
…
There! The sound of running water. A river? Just where are you? No time for that. River means escape. Follow it.
Yes! It has to lead out. You’ll have to swim. Your lungs can handle it. They have to.
You dive in.
The cold punches your chest.
Stay conscious! You have to stay conscious! Swim!
HARDER.
Your lungs burn. The darkness calls you. There! Light! SWIM!
…
You crest the waves. The ocean. The sky above roars. Crackles with lightning. The beach is not far.
…
You did it. You’re alive. The sand feels like a bed. Surely a nap is okay. You can sleep. Just this once.
Just once, you can sleep.