Day 57

Day 57: (Content warning: Psychological Horror)

Brooke woke with a start, taking in her surroundings. So, last night hadn't been a nightmare, it was all real. She had been taken from her apartment and imprisoned in a strange room, full of bright light, and she had no idea where she was or how she got there. Yet, this room seemed just like the one she had experienced before. The bed was a cloud, levitating above the ground in a gentle, yet rhythmic way. Lying in it almost feels like being rocked as a baby, wrapped in a fluffy white towel. The huge windows spread across two walls, with bright rainbows shining brilliantly outside, with flocks of beautiful birds dancing in-between them. They provided plenty of light, which was supplemented by a night-light carpet. It glowed a variety of different colours, and was nearly an inch thick. In a corner with no window was a plush table and chair, which played host to a delicious selection of any desired food and drink.

It was a hellish prison. Brooke bolted up from the floating cloud, and scoured the room for any sort of exit. She didn't know if there were any guards, or anybody watching her, she had to escape as quickly as possible. She ran her hands over the deep rosewood walls, pushing aside books in search of some hidden passage or lever. There was no obvious doorway, or vent, or even a hole in the carpet. It was maddening. No cracks, no gaps, no handles. She was trapped, totally and utterly. 

There was only one exit that seemed possible. It was crazy, but she had to get out. This was not her home, this was not where she belonged. It must be some sort of illusion. There are no rooms with no exits, because then how would she have gotten inside? Brooke paced towards the other end of the room, turning to face the brilliant rainbows in the windows. The thick carpet almost seemed to grip her, pulling her downwards as she tried to move. But she bolted, and ran to the other side of the room, into the window.

It didn't break. Brooke cracked against the window and fell back into a heap on the carpet. It seemed to glow warmly around where she lay, almost trying to curl up and give her a hug. But she knew she couldn't let it, it was probably trying to consume her. Beyond the window could be anything, perhaps even an endless fall into a void of nothingness. She had to take the risk, she couldn't stay here. She hauled herself to her feet, staggered back to the other side of the room, then ran again. And again. And again.

Crack, Crack, crack.

Brooke could hardly feel her head, which had been smashing against the unyielding glass. Both were unbroken, but her strength was fading, as she teetered on the edge of consciousness. But she had to keep trying, it was the only way out, and the carpet gripped her tighter each time as she attempted to stand. She crawled towards the table, hauling her body up using the soft, cushioned chair, the steadied herself. She ran towards the glass, leaning into it with all her might...

It had gone, faded away. Brooke ran straight through the gap, out into the sea of rainbows and birds. Yet, she did not fall. She looked down, and saw nothing but a weightless blue sky, decorated with fluffy clouds. Floating amongst the rainbows, she looked back to see the room, just as it was. Nobody was around, no sound but the tweeting of the birds. She was free. Elated, but exhausted, Brooke drifted slowly away from the room, and, without really intending to, began drifting off into sleep. A cloud gently acted as a mattress, rocking her slowly as she lay back.

Wait.

Brooke woke with a start, taking in her surroundings. So, last night hadn't been a nightmare.