Black Room

Where am I? I ask myself as I open my eyes in this strange…room, if I may call it that!

A tomb would be a more befitting word thanks to these black walls, but unlike a tomb, this place is neither tight nor suffocating, it is quite spacious actually, the only flaw in it, besides the strange choice of color, is the roof, it is not only black but also low, lower than average that is, not to the point where I can’t stand tall on my feet though, it just feels closer I guess.

The ground under me is black as well, as if made of perfectly sculpted obsidian, it is neither cold nor hot, and surprisingly not hard on my body, it feels as if I am laying on a mattress instead, not the fanciest but one  which is decent enough to not give me sore muscles, what catches my attention though are the small little pattern engraved on the floor, they are beautiful, small, and unique, but above all, familiar, I don’t really recall where I have seen them before, nevertheless, they are really beautiful and I like them.

Unable to resist, I trace them with my finger, they are not sharp but definitely prominent and rough on the touch, what are these things? And how come I didn’t feel any discomfort lying on top of them? The roughness is only there when I try to deliberately touch them, why?

Standing up, I walk all around the room, my body feels abnormally light, and even though my feet are planted on the ground, I feel like I am floating, it is not an uncomfortable feeling though, I actually feel free and unrestrained, this place just feels as if it has less gravity, is that even possible? Either way, walking was never this much fun, I almost giggle with each step if it wasn’t for that one annoying question.

Where am I? and how did I get here?

The room is empty of everything but myself, the roof is indeed close, I could even touch it if I stretched my arm, and just like the ground, it is covered with those unique patterns, some are circular, others linear, and there are ones that look like a child’s sketches.

As I trace what looks like a poorly crafted flower, I guess, I feel a certain joy wash over me, one that is so light and innocent and makes me smile, it is weird how some patterns make me feel uncomfortable while others do the opposite, I don’t dwell too much about it though, for I am still curious about finding out where I am.

The room is empty, it is just me and the walls, another strange thing is the fact that I am able to see perfectly without any source of light, there are no light bulbs, no windows, no openings, nothing! but I am still able to see everything, and by that I mean the walls and patterns since there isn’t really anything else.

This place gets weirder and weirder each second, I tell myself as my confusion grows by each passing second, and I somehow start to feel uncomfortable with all the questions and strangeness, I don’t feel threatened though, I actually feel safe in this weird place, and I don’t have the urgency to leave it!

As I turn around, I spot a door on the wall which was behind me, strange, for I can swear that it wasn’t there two seconds ago, what surprises me though isn’t the door as much as it is the voices coming from it, they are faint at first, muffled and distant, but the closer I walk towards it, the louder they get.

I have a bad feeling about these voices, like a hunch, telling me it is better to stay away from them, my curiosity gets the best of me however and I keep on walking until I am in front of the door, seriously though, how did I miss it the first time? It is right in the middle of the wall, shaking my head, I extend my hand to hold the knob, only to stop midway.

I look at my hand hanging in the air, only a few inches away from the knob, shaking uncontrollably, for I feel this sudden painful coldness creeping up my arm, and the once muffled voices are now clearer, I recognize the screams, the cries for help, the begging, the groans, and the terrifying growls of threat…

Terrified, I look down from my shaking arm to the knob and immediately pull my hand back, disgusted by the rust and the...blood? Why is there blood on the knob, I take a couple of steps back, the further I get the less cold and scared I feel and thus I keep on retreating until I am in the furthest corner from the door, I stare at it with terrified eyes while letting the safety I felt earlier wash over me again.

Earlier, I wanted to know what was behind that door, but now I don’t, I know it is something harmful and scary.

No, no! I’d rather stay in this corner, it is not cold, it is not scary, and I feel safe surrounded by the beautiful patterns that begin to fade away, the roughness is gone, and I lay down back on the ground and close my eyes.

I am safe here, so I better stay here!

“So?”

I heard someone whispers near me, and I am a bit annoyed for I want to sleep a bit more, my head feels like it is about to split in two, especially with this annoying beeping in the back.

“Well, we can’t say for sure.” How about you don’t say at all and let me sleep for God’s sake! I want to wake up and tell these two to take their discussion away from me, but I can’t, I am too tired and sleepy, and my tongue, just like my eyelids, is too heavy to move and protest!

Just great!

“What do you mean?”, The first voice says again, and I can’t help but find it a little, familiar? The thing is, I don’t feel like I have heard it before, it just kind of reminds me of something!

Which thing? No idea!

“Since she came here in a hysteric state, we had to give her a valium injection to calm her down, otherwise, she might have harmed herself…” The other voice replied, in a really, really low voice, now that I think about it, these two, women judging by their voices, are talking funnily, as if they are discussing something they shouldn’t! I want to ask them why, and who is this “Her” they keep on mentioning but I can’t, I no longer feel that sleepy, but my tongue and eyelids are still so heavy!

“So, I understand she didn’t give away any valuable information, did she?”

 “No.” the second woman sighed, “Her body didn’t tell us much either, not about this incident at least.”

“Tsk, I thought we got him this time!” Got who? And why does she sound so frustrated?!

“The Williams’ lawyers are in the department already, and they are not going to make things easy for her, or us.”, I don’t know why but once I heard that name a shiver ran down my spine, I suddenly feel destabilized and agitated, my heart is beating so fast and my breathing is no longer rhythmic but hitched and painful, so painful!

I want air! I need air! but something was blocking it from entering my body, I feel myself gasping and the beeping gets louder and louder and then a blinding light hits me.

“Natalia, calm down, you are alright, you are safe…”

Someone says while I am trying to adjust my eyes to the burning light, once it is comfortable enough, I look at the person sitting next to me, as I expected it is a woman, smiling warmly in my direction, what I notice though, beside her red hair and blue eyes, is her white coat, is she a…what is that word…doctor? she is patting my back and I somehow like the soothing effect it has on my shivering body.

“Finally, you are awake Natalia…” I looked at the other woman, she is wearing some kind of a blue uniform, with a small black box on her shoulder, I know what she is, a…protection…protect…politics…Policewoman! This one is a policewoman, but who is this Natalia they both keep on mentioning?

There are only the three of us inside this room, and they don’t look like they are addressing each other!

But that means…

“Is everything okay, Natalia?” why is she looking at me while saying that name? it confuses me, I don’t know who is this Natalia, I try to correct her but then a wave of utter panic takes over me as the realization sinks in!

Oh God!

I have no idea who I am!