scidram

I open my eyes and find myself lying on my stomach. As I try to push myself up, my entire body aches, as if it’s been crushed underneath something. My head throbs, and I slowly roll onto my side and into a sitting position, but the sudden lurch makes me nauseous. Clutching my stomach, I lean forward, my dark braided hair spilling over my face. I want to vomit, but all that escapes is an empty retch. My right hand wanders up to my forehead. I don’t feel sweaty or feverish, just sore and stressed. Pushing away the braids, I get my first look at my strange surroundings. Where the hell am I? The floor beneath me is metal, so I assume I’m indoors, but when I look up, I don’t see a ceiling, just diffuse light coming from far above. The sky is white instead of blue, and air flows around me too easily, so I guess I’m not indoors. It doesn’t make sense, and nothing looks familiar. “Hello?” I call. “Is anyone there?” There’s no reply, not even my echo. There’s nothing, only an expanse in all

I never saw these persons before… Do not be afraid. You are one with us now. …nor I never was in this place before. Nature will provide, and you shall rise. Bridget awoke with a start, the voices from her dream dispersing into the morning melody of chirping birds. The comforting sound reassured her of some normalcy in the otherwise large world. A narrow beam of light, indicating the sun had risen, pierced the crack above the boulder blocking the entrance to the one-roomed chamber. Unfurling the grey animal pelt she used as a blanket, she stood and then neatly refolded it. She had skinned the creature herself, finding the carcass shortly after her arrival. It took several days without a proper blade, but it ultimately provided her with warmth and nourishment. She’d been confined before, but why her captors would deposit her alone in the large forest defied explanation. The isolation wore on her psyche, with night bringing mysterious voices. Were they apparitions trying to summon

The crescent moon is tilted in the night sky outside my bedroom window when I hear someone calling, “Help me, please!” I switch my phone from an unsent email to dial 911. Someone more qualified can handle this; I can’t deal with much more right now. “I’m trapped!” The voice is louder. The window’s closed, so they must be inside. Setting the phone beside the glass of water on my nightstand, I stumble out of bed and look underneath. No one’s there. “Something’s coming!” The voice feels like it’s echoing inside me. In the corner by the baseboards, something flails inside a spiderweb. I squint to study its dark body: about half an inch long, four limbs but no wings, it looks almost human—like no insect I’ve ever seen. A spider crawls closer while it squirms among the sticky strands and screams for help. I sweep a hand through the threads, slicing them instantly, and the strange creature lands softly in the center of my palm. Its long hair, brown skin, and feminine curves are more