BLACK-OUT

chapter.8

Emily's head was spinning as she opened her eyes, finding herself in a dingy, dimly lit room. It was nothing like the sterile laboratory from before; instead, it felt more like a grimy prison cell.

When she tried moving, her whole body ached. Something had been done to her to get her into this state.

The space was small and dirty, with grim gray walls that had seen better days. The floor was scattered with dust and bits of who-knows-what. The air had a musty, unpleasant smell that clung to her senses. The only light seeped in through a narrow window with thick iron bars, casting eerie shadows over the cold, hard stone floor.

In one corner, there was a narrow, stained mattress that didn't seem too inviting. It appeared well past its prime. Nearby, a wobbly wooden table was cluttered with a few old books and magazines. The contents looked abandoned, as if nobody had touched them in years.

Emily glanced around the cell and noticed some curious markings on one of the walls. It was covered in a mix of scratches, scribbles, and even messages from others who had been trapped here. It was clear that she wasn't the first unfortunate soul to find themselves in this dismal place.

Following the etchings on the wall, her eyes landed on a small, barred window high up on the opposite wall. It only offered a limited view of the outside world, leaving her feeling more isolated. There was no sign of life, and the scene beyond was shrouded in darkness.

Emily slowly pushed herself up from the uncomfortable mattress, a shiver running down her spine. She was cold, disoriented, and alone in this eerie, prison-like cell. The realization that she was far from the laboratory, surrounded by strange markings and the lingering despair of previous prisoners, sent a chill through her. Her curiosity morphed into apprehension as she began to wonder what kind of place she had ended up in.

Alone in that grimy cell, Emily's thoughts kept circling back to her friend, Trisha. Despite the dire circumstances, she assumed that Trisha was likely still stuck in the white hall, the place they'd been before. She remembered how they were separated by the guards and wondered how her friend was faring in that sterile, eerie environment.

The strange lab and the unsettling experiments Emily had been through haunted her mind. She couldn't fathom why they had been subjected to such bizarre tests. The fear of the unknown gnawed at her, but her thoughts kept returning to Trisha, who was her anchor in this perplexing journey.

Emily's chest felt heavy with concern, not only for her own situation but for her friend's well-being. Trisha had always exhibited strength, but the uncertainty of their separation weighed on Emily's heart. She wished she could reach out to her friend, comfort her, and reassure her that they would find a way back to each other.

Her body still ached, and every movement was a reminder of the ordeal she had been through. With great effort, Emily attempted to shift her position, but it only seemed to make her pain more pronounced. Every muscle protested as she moved, the sensation akin to attempting to move through molasses.

Warily, she rose to her feet and began to explore the room. It was a bleak, dimly lit space with walls that looked as if they had never been cleaned. The floor was cold and hard beneath her bare feet. There was no furniture, just the bare necessities for survival. The single, small window high on the wall allowed just a hint of feeble daylight to penetrate the gloom.

Emily couldn't help but notice the ominous stains and scratches on the walls, evidence of those who had likely been confined here before her. It sent a shiver down her spine, and she couldn't shake the feeling that this room had witnessed untold suffering.

Her investigation led her to a corner where she found an old, rusted pipe protruding from the wall. It was a stark reminder that the room might have served a different purpose in the past. Her mind raced with questions, but answers were hard to come by in this desolate place.

As Emily continued her exploration, she hoped to discover something that might provide clues about where she was or how to escape. Her body might have been weakened, but her determination was unwavering.

Suddenly, a heart-wrenching scream tore through the air, sending shivers down her spine. The blood-curdling cry was filled with agony, and Emily couldn't comprehend the horrors that might be lurking around her. The room fell back into an eerie silence, leaving her trembling and shaking, paralyzed by fear and not knowing what to do. She was trapped in a nightmarish place with no understanding of what was happening, and the overwhelming sense of helplessness weighed heavily on her.

Emily was about to continue looking around the grimy cell, but then an ordinary-looking man with messy brown hair and a scientist's air appeared behind the iron bars. Clearing his throat, he spoke in a somewhat comforting manner.

"Hello."

"What the fuck do you want!?" She said, scared for her life and sticking to the wall in the opposite side.

"I was sent here to explain things," he said with an attitude.

<><><><>

the next cafeteria break after discovering Emily's disappearance arrived. Trisha was so impatient that the wait felt like years.

Right after being dragged by the gaurds Trisha entered the cafeteria for the next meal break. As she searched for a familiar face, her anxiety grew. She hoped to see Emily but found her missing again. Then she approached jake, looking determined.

"Jake, do we have any progress?" Trisha asked.

Jake nodded, "Yes, I just talked to Daniel's and Kris's team. They're willing to meet you in a few minutes. Let's go."

Trisha felt a surge of hope, ready to find her friend who disappeared.