No Escape
by Patricia Hatley
My breath was heavy, rattling in my chest as I clutched my stomach, trying not to hurl. Shivers trickled down my frigid fingers, sending signs of fear through my veins. I could feel my blistered hands throb as I scraped my palms against the brick wall surrounding me. My cuts stung like a raging wildfire slicing through my skin. Every moment I moved my hand a sheer amount of pain enfolded me. It was like a dark embrace, clutching my body and tearing at me every time I tried to break free. I could feel my throat tightening, causing me to gasp. I didn’t realize how dehydrated I was. Even the blood on my fingers looked like a suitable source to consume at this point. But I couldn’t bring myself to do it.
I peered through the vast darkness surrounding me. The brick walls were dark gray, nearly chipped into black flakes. The cascading shadows gathering around my fragile body contributed to my uncontrollable shaky movements. I touched my fingers to my lips and inhaled, taking in the musty air. The air was cold, stiff, and made me nearly gag. I had to keep moving. There was no choice.
Near the ground, there were bright minty-green lights. They were surrounded by metal bars, like an emergency siren light. They flickered, shooting occasional sparks onto the ground. The sparks faded and fizzled out in the multiple muddied puddles scattered on the floor. Occasional drips from leaky and broken pipes splashed against my cold skin. It helped to push me forwards instead of clutching my sweatshirt sleeve and remaining frozen solid in one place. The light however didn’t make traveling any easier. I was still nearly blinded by the swelling darkness, making my fears come alive. I had always been afraid of the dark, ever since I was a little kid. It was always something that bothered me. But there was no dwelling on the past now.
I stepped forwards, quickening my steady pace as my boots slapped against dirty puddles. The water made an echoing sound, so I was quick to remove myself from the loud noises. I don’t want to get caught. But my skin was crawling, nearly pushing me to turn back, just let the darkness take me. I was already hollow, not caring about my imminent death. That was until I saw my mother’s pale face flashing a big grin towards me. Before I had gotten to hug her, I woke up here, telling myself I needed to fight in order to win. I couldn’t let the same thing that happened to my father happen to me. My mom and my sister wouldn’t be able to handle it. It would be too much.
That’s when I began to hear scratching noises.
I could feel my blood run cold, making me stop dead in my tracks. I didn’t dare turn around. I already knew what was behind me. And I was tired of letting it get to me. I bolted. Sprinting as hard as I could down winding pathways surrounded by pitch black brick and stone. I shifted my blistery hands side to side, trying desperately to pick up speed. Water sloshed around in my boots, splattering my pants with icy imprints. I was gasping for breath, eyes wide as I ran down hallway after hallway. Turn after turn, I could hear the claws growing closer. I was completely trapped.
And that’s when I turned around, and stared death straight in the face.
I peered through the vast darkness surrounding me. The brick walls were dark gray, nearly chipped into black flakes. The cascading shadows gathering around my fragile body contributed to my uncontrollable shaky movements. I touched my fingers to my lips and inhaled, taking in the musty air. The air was cold, stiff, and made me nearly gag. I had to keep moving. There was no choice.
Near the ground, there were bright minty-green lights. They were surrounded by metal bars, like an emergency siren light. They flickered, shooting occasional sparks onto the ground. The sparks faded and fizzled out in the multiple muddied puddles scattered on the floor. Occasional drips from leaky and broken pipes splashed against my cold skin. It helped to push me forwards instead of clutching my sweatshirt sleeve and remaining frozen solid in one place. The light however didn’t make traveling any easier. I was still nearly blinded by the swelling darkness, making my fears come alive. I had always been afraid of the dark, ever since I was a little kid. It was always something that bothered me. But there was no dwelling on the past now.
I stepped forwards, quickening my steady pace as my boots slapped against dirty puddles. The water made an echoing sound, so I was quick to remove myself from the loud noises. I don’t want to get caught. But my skin was crawling, nearly pushing me to turn back, just let the darkness take me. I was already hollow, not caring about my imminent death. That was until I saw my mother’s pale face flashing a big grin towards me. Before I had gotten to hug her, I woke up here, telling myself I needed to fight in order to win. I couldn’t let the same thing that happened to my father happen to me. My mom and my sister wouldn’t be able to handle it. It would be too much.
That’s when I began to hear scratching noises.
I could feel my blood run cold, making me stop dead in my tracks. I didn’t dare turn around. I already knew what was behind me. And I was tired of letting it get to me. I bolted. Sprinting as hard as I could down winding pathways surrounded by pitch black brick and stone. I shifted my blistery hands side to side, trying desperately to pick up speed. Water sloshed around in my boots, splattering my pants with icy imprints. I was gasping for breath, eyes wide as I ran down hallway after hallway. Turn after turn, I could hear the claws growing closer. I was completely trapped.
And that’s when I turned around, and stared death straight in the face.
“I’m sorry Ms. Hawthorn. She’s gone.” The female doctor gave me a cold hurt stare. I instantly felt my heart crack. No. This couldn’t be happening. I began to stutter but lost my breath. I let out a raspy sob, bringing my hand close to my mouth. My blood was still but my body shook with every breath. Tears began swelling in my eyes, making my vision increasingly blurry. My daughter was gone. She was trapped in that coma for weeks, yet her dreams appearing on the scanners like normal. But the dreams turned to nightmares. The scanner would bounce up and down, sending my heartbeat racing. I couldn’t imagine the pain she was feeling.
But I knew one thing, she was in a living hell. She finally became trapped, letting cancer destroy and shut down her body. She couldn’t keep fighting.
She was lost in her own head.
But I knew one thing, she was in a living hell. She finally became trapped, letting cancer destroy and shut down her body. She couldn’t keep fighting.
She was lost in her own head.