The Sound of Water

Drip.

Drip.

Drip.

The slow methodical sound of water hitting concreate is what awoke me from my slumber. Eyelashes like lead moving through cement. Each flicker took every ounce of strength I could muster which considering the circumstances wasn't a lot. The room was so dark it was hard to tell when my eyes were open and closed, had it not been for the small beam of light in the distance it would have been impossible. Despite the slither of light in the distance it did nothing to establish the setting I had been thrown into. The ground was cold and firm, that much I could feel, the walls appeared bear too perhaps some kind of metal plating-

A sharp piercing pain coursed through my head. A vicious paralysing kind of pain. I lay back down all the wind taken from my lungs in surprise. Taking a moment to catch my breath I took my time to reach up with trembling hands to feel for the cause of the pain. In return my fingers dipped in something hot and sticky. Fingertips coated in blood. Well that made sense of the smell of copper.

I needed to move.

I had to get up.

I had to look around.

I had to get out.

With calculated movements I gingerly maneuvered myself until I was on my hands and knees. My head hung low screaming at my to stop, my muscles begging for release as I forced myself to remain still. My jaw tightened as I pushed off forcing all weight onto my knees before edging upwards until I was finally on my feet. My head was swarming. Vision blurry but I fought onwards. I took a deep breath and went to step forward. My balance uneven the moment I lifted a foot forward I was stumbling backwards. I gasp and groaned as I caught myself against one of the walls. I had been right. The walls seemed to be plated with some kind of metal sheeting. They were cold to the touch which is something I was surprisingly grateful for. The coldness burnt my cheek in delight as I caught my breath, eyes fluttering closed once more while I tried to think of a plan.

If the metal has been manually attached then there must be a way to remove it. I reached out and felt along the wall for any kind of contact. Eventually I found what I was looking for, a scratch in the wall where the two panels connected. Sticking my nails between the two I began to pry them off the wall but it was no use. Broken nail after broken nail. Nail. Nails. Maybe there was a way to loosen their attachments. Following the line where the two plates met until I came to what felt like a point held on by a screw. Shit! No matter how I grasped and turned they were not budging. It was no use, I had to keep moving. I had to return to the plan of investigating the light. The thought filled me with dread. I was barely able to stand how was I supposed to walk to the other side of the room. Every part of me wanted to just give up. To accept whatever fate awaited me. My only wish was that it was quick.

But my heart was begging me to keep moving. Pleaded with me to find a way to stay positive. To do anything I could to last just a little longer until help came. But even my brain (as battered as it was) understood that help was never coming. I was alone here.

The solitary drip of water entered my focus again. It sounded like the first beats of a song before the instruments came in. Like it was queuing up something about to happen. The start of my end. Or the start of my beginning. It was hard to tell. With an indignified sigh I forced myself to stand straighter. Using the walls for balance I made my way around the room. Each step a war between my head and my heart and my body. I was sure to be leaving a trail of bloody fingerprints against the wall as I left. That same blood could be felt sliding down the back of my skull, against my neck and down the back of whatever shirt I was wearing. The front of my hair was plastered to my face with sweat and my lips were as cracked and dry as the Sahara desert. Which is what made reaching the dripping water all the more triumphant. I reached out gleefully with a cupped hand expecting the cold water to chill my bones and cleanse my state however what I found instead was the water was warm. Not hot. Just warm. Like the water you get when you leave a glass in the sun for a little too long. Surprising as it was I was still thankful for the small amount of comfort that it brought as I enveloped myself in its heat, taking my time with its leisurely drip... drip.. drip.. to wash not just my hands but my face and hair. Enjoying the sensation of the warm droplets sliding down my forehead into my mouth. Occasionally tasting the metallic earthy bubbles and feeling as the warmth evaporates into my tongue.

With a newly found energy I made my way straight towards the light. No longer using the wall to steady myself I had to be careful not to fall. Each step slow and precise, my arms outstretched in preparation as I ultimately reached my goal. The light was dim. So dim it did virtually nothing to light the way besides act as a symbol of hope. Reaching the light now It was clear this part of the wall was unlike any of the others. As my hands frantically grasped ahold for stabilising it became clear this was not metal at all, nor was it any kind of stone or concrete, this was wood. Thick, heavy planks of wood blocking something. I rested my head against the planks and forced myself to take in the surroundings hidden between the cracks. It was clear the beams of light were coming from here, the light brighter on the other side yet still not bright enough to see. However that was all the confirmation I needed to start fighting my way out

Already holding onto the planks of wood I did my best to pull against what was trapping me inside. But even with all my body weight dragging away from the wall it was no use. Instead I prepared myself with a deep inhale before placing one foot against the wood and kicking down. The wood could be heard splintering but above that was my growl of pain. Suddenly off balance again my body caved and I was sent shattering to the ground. My head hitting the ground so hard I had to bite my lip to stop myself whimpering in pain. My eyes welled with tears as all the breath was knocked from my lungs and I tasted blood in my mouth. I refused to stand again but hope was not lost as I lay on my back and began kicking furiously with both legs at the boards. Bringing my knees up to my chest before straightening down over and over again.

Up and Down.

Up and Down.

Up and Down.

Until the bottom board snapped. A loud echoing crack that made my body tense hoping no body could hear. Still on the floor I wormed myself around until I was able to crawl under the wood when my head knocked against something firm. I reached out with trembling messy hands to find that behind the wooden planks were a set of stairs. I lifted myself up on my knees once more as I crawled like a baby up the set of stairs. They did not appear to be very steep and made of the same cool stone as the floor. Nor where they very long as before I could comprehend where this flight might lead I was already at the top. The rays of light brighter now then ever before and it was clear the light had been coming from a door. Sneaking a peek through the crack of the door it was still difficult to make out any clear picture of what was beyond. It was as if a sheet or blurred plastic covered the door blocking my vision or perhaps it was the head wound.

I reached up and held tight to the door handle, using its leverage to help pull me upwards. My heart was beating strong and fast with a mixture of emotions I was unsure ever had a name. I needed to prepare myself. Stabilise not just my emotions but my body. Whatever lay beyond this door I needed to be ready for though part of my doubted I would ever be ready for what came next. Still I willed myself to stand tall. Pushing away any cries of pain and opened the door. It opened towards me and as I took those final few steps towards the blinding light my muscles went limp. The piercing light from what I assumed to be the outside world filled my vision with white. A high pitched ringing wormed its way into my ears as I felt my fingers release the door. I screamed at myself not to let go. Yelled to just lean forward. To take one more step. But it was no use. My body had betrayed my cries for help. I felt myself leaning backwards. Strands of hair that were coated in dry blood sprang in front of my face as the breeze of falling backwards tickled my neck.

This was it. This is how I die. I was already hurt, loosing blood, and with a fall like this I was sure to either break my neck or crack my skull or both. After fighting to get this far with the warmth of freedom so evidently on my face- I had failed. My eyelashes met each other in a tight embrace as I waited patiently for my end to begin when suddenly something hard pressed into my back. My head lolled back, my hair cascading down as I froze in paralleled falling.

"I got you sweetheart."

The voice was deep and raspy yet something about it felt familiar. Their hand clung firmly to the bottom of my back while the other worked it way under my legs to lift me effortlessly into their arms. I blinked feverously through blurry vision and blazing light to focus on the broad figure before me. Slowly they came into view: his messy hair, his scolding eyes, his heavy set jaw.

"I'm sorry, Dad."

"You need practice my girl," His voice was firm but not mad. Though I could have sworn his forehead was wrinkled and his grip against me harsh though not hurting. "You conduct yourself with too much noise and are far too slow. But for a first run, it could have gone worse."