Long Past Dawn

The red eyed man leans close to my ear and whispers something to me that I probably won't ever forget, no matter how much I want to. "Don't worry, they usually pass out after the first incision."

I break out in a cold sweat. Pass out? Does that mean they're not using anesthetic? They cut a hole in my hospital gown and suddenly I can't breathe. My body is screaming at me to move, do something, do anything but I'm frozen in spot. I can't move at all, the world seems to move in slow motion as they bring the scalpel down closer and closer to my stomach.

I feel the blade come down on me and split the soft skin of my stomach, instantly my whole body feels like it's on fire. The pain is too much for me to handle, I scream and scream but it doesn't stop, they only drive the blade deeper in and I only scream harder. The pain hurts so much and I can feel the blood draining from my body.

It hurts so much, my whole body seems to be screaming in pain. I cry and scream but nothing stops the pain. I can't breathe. I can't think. My thoughts muddle together and all I know is that this pain is going to kill me.

I don't know what to do. It hurts so much that I don't know what's happening. I scream and scream until my voice is hoarse but it doesn't stop.

I don't know what they're doing to me, I don't know what they want. I want the pain to stop. It doesn't stop.

I feel my vision blur. I can't focus and my eyelids sag, my mind is still screaming but I can't feel anything anymore. My screams die in my throat and I close my eyes. It feels as if my consciousness is gone from my body as if I could float forever.

I don't think, I just float as it feels as if waves flow over me. I can't make words come to mind but one question rises to mind. Am I dead?

***

I slowly open my eyes. My body aches everywhere and there's a pain in the pit of my stomach that won't seem to go away. My mouth is dry and I try to swallow, I think I taste dry blood in my mouth.

The memories suddenly fill my mind again and I feel my body start to shake at the thought of it. I start sobbing again, how did this happen? Why me? How the hell am I still alive?

The hole in my stomach only seems to grow. I try to move slightly but my whole body cries in protest as pain shoots through me. What did they do to me after I blacked out? I shiver at the thought.

I swallow and it hurts. Ugh, I feel like crap... I groggily look at my surroundings, I'm back on the slab but this time one of those heart rate monitors in hospitals is connected to me. I don't want to know why they need to measure my heart rate.

I try to lift my arms and rattle the chains but they feel way too weak to even try to move. How long have I been here for? Oh, shit, how long have I been here for?! Hours? Days? Maybe even a week? Just how long have I really been here for?

That's when I realize it. There is no way to tell the time in here... There are no clocks, no calenders no nothing. Not to mention it's now clean, the floor that was once covered in burns and red patches is now sparkling clean, not to mention every other surface in the room. If it can be cleaned it has. They've sterilized the room.

Also, the air feels cold and it has the same smell as hospitals. Why would they sterilize the room? Why do they need to sterilize everything? I'm not sure I'll get an answer.

I sigh, I'm so stupid. Why didn't I just freeze them when I had the chance and then escape? My eyes start to prickle as the painfull memories seem to wash over me.

I look down at the ground in frustration. I only look up when the door clicks open, I expect to see red eye but it's not him. Two people come in carrying what looks like a small body, at first I'm confused. Why would they bring in a body? That's when I recognize the shape. It's Jikan.

"No." My stomach drops. How could they find her? She was safe with Stephen and the others. How the hell did they get her?

The two people don't even notice me, they just bring Jikan's limp little body over and chain her to a slab like mine. How? How is she here?

My stomach only sinks lower as I remember how broken Jikan looked when she talked about this place, not to mention how she spoke in third person. Will she be ok when she wakes up? Will this break her poor little spirit?

A new hatred for this place boils up inside me and I clench my fists in disgust. How can people do things like this? This... Everything that's going on here is so wrong.

I'm so caught up in my anger I don't even notice the people who brought Jikan in leave. I click my tongue in annoyance, I didn't even get a chance to try and freeze them.

I look over and Jikan still seems to be out. I sigh, I can't cry any more now that's she's here. I can't let her see any weakness in me, she trusts me and look up to me if she sees I'm scared then... Well, I don't want to think about what will happen.

Why is this happening? Why me? Why does it have to be Jikan? Are they looking for us? What type of cliché novel plot is this? When will this all end? I don't know... I don't know what to do, ok? I'm just...so tired.

For the first time, I realize just how tired I am. I close my eyes, hoping, praying, that even for a moment that when I open them again I won't be in this place.