Prologue
It was a good night. A night that I had hoped to save my current life.
***
RINGGGG!!!
The sudden ringing of the alarm clock wakes me, pushing these lazy bones of mine to get out of bed. But as if glued to my sheet, the movements are restricted, stuck, and sticky?
My head whips to the right at the sound of metal clanging to the floor outside my bedroom door, the lights from the hallway are not enough to show me the glimpse of the shadows lurking around the house. Another sound of metal and plastics clattering to the floor, followed by something that sounds close to a groan, but inhuman.
Blood rushes to my heart, alarms start to go off in my head, the instinctiveness to run is prompting me to move. But the restrictions on my body remind me of my predicament, which makes me finally look closer to my surroundings.
The furniture is the same, no movement has made, even my belongings are in their place – safe, still. Though the sight above me is not what you would call pleasant to see, it is horrible.
The markings, curves, and lines are enough to make anyone who looks feel queasy. The picture painted on the bedroom's ceiling and the moss surrounding are enough to make me gag. The worms, the stench, god, the stench should be enough to wake me up. But it is still a wonder how I did not realise it before I looked up.
I'm still looking at myself, looking for the source of these restrictions and the painting above my bedroom, through the darkness of the night, only accompanied by the light of my digital clock.
Then the sound of someone coming from the door – mocking.
"Well well well… would you look at that. Somebody's awake now."
The sickening sound of mockery, paired with the hideous pride in their voice, leavesmy gut in dread, even the stench seems to get stronger.
A cold touch slides up my feet, creeping to my ankle before clamping around it with a freezing grip, leaving my breath trembling in my chest. But the uneasiness in my heart keeps growing, uncaring of the danger nearing my still body on the bed.
And they continue talking alone, leaving me panicking by myself.
"I had hoped the glue would prevent any movements, but I didn't expect it to work this well. Looks like I owe Aray a compliment for the new concoction."
Then a scoff, followed with an amused chuckle in a gruff voice.
"I don't think there is any need for that. Aray's works are good. Everyone knows it."
Another pair of feet approaches my bedroom, making this medium-sized room feel even smaller. The door swings open, letting the light blind my freaking eyes, where they had just adjusted to the darkness, making me unable to see properly for a few moments again.
"What's this? I thought you'd made sure no one is awake?"
His question almost stills my heart. What did they mean by no one? I live alone.
"There's… someone else…?"
My throat feels dry as I ask the question. Each finger on my limbs gets colder as my breathing gets shallower.
Suddenly there is a sudden shift in the air, like it gets heavier and thicker, suffocating. Then there's a rumble of footsteps from the big shadows in my room hurrying out, running, searching or hunting for whatever that switches their gears to move that quick, leaving a gush of wind before I am left alone again and their voices barking in my supposed house full of people.
"Get the ropes! Make sure no one is leaving this place!" – The inhuman voice.
"Give me the bag! I'm not your dog!" – The gruff voice shouting back.
The tumbling and barking of their voices as they run around my house like they are the ones paying the rent, somehow manages to annoy me and calm me, allowing me to assess my situation.
And I still have no clue on what is sticking me to my bed and not allowing me to move anywhere.
CLANGGG!!!
"What the–! Are you stupid!?" – My body winces involuntarily as the inhuman yells.
"Yeah yeah, keep yelling. Let all of them know." – I would have laughed at their situation and that deadpan reaction of the partner if I was not stuck on my bed.
Speaking of stuck, I still don't understand why I keep losing focus about my own situation.
With that, I look around my surroundings clearly this time, thanks to the door that was open as wide as it was forced to, my eyes can clearly see the green slime thing on my body. Already hardened and rock solid, which means a struggle is futile. Not only I can't move, this thing is heavy, it makes me wonder what that guy Aray they were talking about, put in this slime looking but hard thing.
Just as I was trying to put more strength to move my arms while they were distracted, my body suddenly felt light as I suddenly realised that I was thrown into the air and placed on a shoulder, like a sack of potatoes.
"Ugh–?" – A piece of clothes is shoved into my mouth before I can even groan in pain.
"Alright kid, we need you to be quiet. Don't make a sound and we won't have a problem. Got it?"
Someone may have to smack me in the head, because I can't think of any response as I can finally see the person who has been talking to me since the moment I woke up in this nightmare. It is the most beautiful eyes I have ever seen and the creepiest half a mask I can say. If I can at this moment.
"Ngh–??!" – And a smack I got, right at the back of my head, leaving my head spinning.
"Thanks." – Such sarcasm. So thick I can taste it in my tongue.
"You're welcome." – And the nonchalant response from the one holding me, only makes me feel more dizzy as my eyes close and the images of my daydreams to live the dream life of freedom and power begins.