"Run!!!"
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I remember that voice, filled with fear and urgency.
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"I won't leave you! You can't make me!"
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I grabbed the hand of a man whose face I couldn't recognize. He was covered in dirt, his head bleeding, his hands rough, arms thick and large.
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"You can't let them catch you! Run, Kai!"
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Looking at this man with brown dread like hair with brown skin and eyes that shimmered with a moribund kindness, l could only think one question.
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"Who are you?"
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l opened my eyes, and the first thing I saw was what seemed to be the bottom of a mattress covered in stains and filth, seemingly held up by four thin metal bars around me. Looking closer, I realized it was the bottom of a dirty mattress. I was lying on a bunk bed in a dark room.
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"Finally up, huh."
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I quickly sat up and turned to my left, hearing a voice I didn't recognize. In the corner of the dark room, a man sat against the wall.
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The man wore a red jumpsuit and black shoes, partially torn from constant use.
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His hair was a messy ball, and he really needed a wash. He didn't have much facial hair, but over his right eye was a crooked scar that went down to his upper lip.
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"Who are you?" I asked, wary of this stranger.
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"Who am I?" The man's right eyebrow lifted as if I had asked a ridiculous question. "That's my question, brat. Last time I checked, this was my cell way longer than it was yours."
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"What?" I yelled. "Did you say cell?"
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The man smirked and stood up with a sigh, walking toward me. "I guess it's time we have our little talk."
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"Stay back!" I yelled, raising my hand as if that would keep him away.
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"Shut up..." he whispered, his gaze shifting toward a metal door with a small opening at the top.
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In that moment, his whole demeanor exhibited nothing but fear. I found myself wondering what exactly was on the other side of that door.
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"AAAAAARRRRRGGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!
!!!!!!!"
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My whole body shivered at the inhuman roar, filled with such pain that it made me wince.
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The man turned his gaze back to me, his eyes showing nothing but rage.
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"Stay quiet, or I'll kill you with my own hands." He said as his eyes trembled in fear and rage.
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"What the hell was that?" I whispered, trying to calm my heart.
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"We'll get to that, but there are a few things we need to go over first." The man walked over and sat next to me on the bed. "My name is Fodrid Rokruth, and I am not your enemy." He smiled as he said those words, a creepy smile that made me uncomfortable.
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This man who had threatened my life now claimed he wasn't my enemy. I didn't know if I believed him.
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Fodrid looked at me as if contemplating something. "What's your name, kid?" he asked, that smile returning.
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I looked down at the dirty floor, pondering his question. "M-my name, my name is Kai." I was unsure of myself as I said it.
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"You sound unsure," Fodrid said, smiling.
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He was right; I was confused.
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"Don't worry, it happens to everyone."
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"What does?" I asked.
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"The memory loss," Fodrid said, standing up and walking to the metal door. He leaned against the far wall, staring out of the small square opening at the top. "Everyone experiences it."
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Fodrid chuckled. "I bet if I were to ask what you were imprisoned for, you wouldn't even know, would you?"
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I tried to think about my past, but no matter how hard I tried, all I saw was a blank space.
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"I can't remember," I said.
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"Told you, kid. It happens to all of us." Fodrid said nodding his head.
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I looked at this man in confusion, "So you're saying that I am a.."
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"Prisoner," Fodrid said, finishing my sentence. "Just like the rest of us. Just check your uniform."
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I looked down at what I was wearing and noticed the same red jumpsuit that Fodrid had.
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"And this is when we get to the juicy part of the conversation." Fodrid crossed his arms and turned back to me.
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I shook my head in confusion. "What?"
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"You, my friend, are a prisoner in a place that's pretty much hell on earth," Fodrid said seriously. "And if you want to survive, you need to follow the rules."
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"I don't understand what you're talking about," I said, feeling more and more nervous, after all even though I wasn't sure, I could feel deep down that I wasn't much of a rule follower.
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"I bet you don't, but don't worry, that will change in time." Fodrid said looking towards the steel door.
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"Huh?"
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"All of your memories are gone, and they will never return. Trust me, you don't want them to. But one memory will return: the instructions given to you before you entered this god-awful place." Fodrid said his face hidden from view.
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"The instructions?" I asked.
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"They will return to you in your sleep." He clarified "You will see them in your dreams, and you will understand the game."
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"Game?" I asked. "What game?"
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Fodrid began to giggle dryly, "the game of cat and mouse that we are all trapped in."
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I had so many questions, but I felt that whatever I asked would only make me more confused.
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"Like I said, you will understand in time, but l'll tell you the simple version." Fodrid took a step toward me. "When you get that one particular memory back, if you decide to leave this place, then always follow these rules."
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"Wait, you're saying we can leave?" I asked, looking toward the door.
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"Oh yes, that door is open, but I highly advise against opening it," Fodrid responded. "But if you do, always remember these rules."
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Fodrid held up one finger. "First, always remain quiet. Do everything in your power not to make a sound." He put up a second finger. "If you are spotted, don't fight back. Run, run as fast as you can and don't look back."
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I began to sweat as I saw a glimpse of madness in his eyes. What the hell was he talking about?
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Fodrid put up a third finger. "Third, while you are outside, don't bleed. Avoid even getting a scratch. They will smell the blood and come running."
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Fodrid stopped talking and let out a heavy breath. "Follow those rules, and you just might live."
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He didn't say another word as he turned around and returned to his seat in the dark corner.
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"Is that it?" I asked, trying to make sense of it all.
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"Give it time, Kai. Give it time. Do yourself a favor and get some sleep." Fodrid said with a laugh as he made his way to his bed that was right above my own.
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I looked at the strange man for a few minutes before lying back down, staring at the bottom of the dirty mattress. I closed my eyes and wondered.
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looked at the strange man for a few minutes before lying back down, staring at the bottom of the dirty mattress. I closed my eyes and wondered.
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"Where the hell is this strange place?"
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***
Authors notes: Enjoying the story? Then please support me on my Patreon for early access to brand new chapters. https://patreon.com/DarkMatteromniverse17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4kfHvW7Ufl
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