Silence – Part Four
My eyes struggle to adjust to the darkness. I blink, trying to remember what happened. I’m lying on a very uncomfortable, very lumpy mattress. I sit up and survey my surroundings. It’s a bit hard in the dim light, but my vision is slowly getting used to it. It looks like I’m in a barren cave. I can hear slow dripping in the distance and small puddles are scattered on the dirt floor. Footsteps echo around the space, getting louder as they draw near. Should I be afraid? I don’t know. Fogginess has settled in my mind and I can’t remember where I am or why I am here.
The footsteps come closer and a shadow begins creeping up the wall. Someone is coming. Where am I? I sit up and hold my breath. It’s Alexander and he has a huge grin on his face.
I jump up but immediately regret it. I feel dizzy and lightheaded and I stumble as I sit back down. Alexander rushes over, as if to catch me. “I’m alright.” I close my eyes. I hold my head in my hands and slowly images start coming back. The last thing I remember is the icy water of the lake; did I drown and this is where I’ve ended up? I open my eyes and look around. Surely I wasn’t that awful a person that I’ll spend eternity in a cold, damp cave? But then again, if the cave has Alexander in it, it can’t be so bad. I look into his bright eyes and he is still grinning. He’s sitting next to me now, and I’m suddenly acutely aware of how close he is.
I get up, but more slowly this time. I can’t risk almost fainting again; I don’t want Alexander to think I’m weak. But then again, if I’m dead, what does it matter? “Where are we?” I ask, more to myself than to anyone in particular, as my eyes are drawn up the walls of the cave. “Under the lake”, his voice is even and serious but I can hear something more in his tone. Excitement?
“How did we get here; am I dead?” I turn towards him and search his face for anything he may be hiding. “No, you’re not dead and neither am I. This is where you belong.”
“I’m pretty sure I can’t live here and I’m pretty sure a cold, dark cave is not where I belong if I’m not dead.” The agitation I felt over his vagueness is starting to come back. It’s taken him ten years to just meet me in person, why would I expect to get detailed answers out of him quickly.
“Not this exact cave. I had to hide you here so the others aren’t made aware of your presence before you are ready to face them.”
“There are others like you?” And like me. This realisation increases my heart beat. I can feel it pounding against my chest. If there are others like me, I need to find them. I start heading towards the entrance of the cave, my footsteps echoing as my pace increases.
“No, wait!” Alexander runs up behind me and grabs my arm. “You can’t go out there; not yet. We need to wait here for Anastasia. She has more answers for you than I have.”
“Who is Anastasia?” I turn and face him, frustrated that I have to wait for someone who is probably just as vague as him.
“Your sister.”
