Infra by Cole Mead

story by Cole Mead

Suspended in a darkness so stifling you cannot see your hand touching your face as you feel around you, a disembodying void, all the while you are desperately trying to get your bearings.

A pinprick of light fading in front of your eyes, feeling like the darkness consumes your only means of hope.

Your heart speeds up and it feels like it takes effort to breathe in the air that feels heavy with age.

The only thing that pulls you back into your reality is the squelch of the mud as you attempt to move forward through dark and unmistakable muck of ages that time has deposited deep below the earth and the distant echo of water dripping from the spikes that hang ominously from the ceiling.

Pulling with all of your might to move your feet in what you can only hope is forward. never taking your eyes off of the light in distance.

Your hands incautiously pulling at the stone that grazes your fingertips to help your feet out of the mud.

Feeling the mud give to your will for just a moment as the adrenaline pumps through your system with the thought of freedom that starts to feel close.

The balls of your feet hitting solid stone and you march forward with the little confidence that you start to gain.

The light grows larger taking your world from an indescribable void of darkness to a light that bleeds so bright it drives away all the darkness yet your eyes cannot take the contrast so you have to shut them.

Dropping to your knees and hands feeling your way forward. The stone smooth and wet under your palms as you inch onward feeling the heat of your hope in the light grow.

Opening your eyes you stand up, squinting, waiting for your eyes to adjust to the harsh contrast of light.

Fully opening your eyes you roll out of bed, still breathing heavy as though you barely escaped your own mind.