At the End of the Tunnel

I feel a soft, gloved hand brush my hair from my face.

I open my eyes to find myself laying in Mr. Hyena's arms.

"Nigel?"

"Shh..." He smiles, his gaze and presence making me skip a beat. "Hello, princess..."

"Where..." I look around me, but my vision is fuzzy. "Wha...?"

Then a sharp pain in my head makes me jolt, and I awaken.

I feel the bumps of the train, so I'm still on the train, but I'm in some sort of bathroom, quite luxurious.

My breathing is rather heavy, I touch my throat, it's dry and raspy. and I'm on the ground, soaked.

My hurt to recall what happened and I feel too weak to stand.

Then a shadow looms over me. My vision to adjust to see who's in front of me. The darkness masks the figure.

I can't get myself to utter a word.

My throat... so soar...

I can't think straight...

I can't get myself to keep my eyes open.

Scenes flash through my memory like pictures, but are they actually memories? 

At one point, I see water all around me, engulfing me. Am I in the ocean? I've never been there before, just seen pictures. Seems like a relaxing place to take your mind off everything.

Just water everywhere.

So peaceful.

So quiet.

Am I dreaming?

I close my eyes to intake the feeling around me.

Just relaxing, I feel as if I'm now sinking deeper and deeper and deeper...

Until I feel the bottom, quite soft for the ocean. It almost feels like a...

Carpet.

I run my hand along the ground, then my eyes snap open.

It is carpet.

I've finally regained control of my body, I sit up, trying to figure out where I am, just darkness.

What happened to the ocean? I think I liked that better.

But, I'm dry, I feel myself all over. Just, I sit on a damp patch of carpet.

Have I been here for that long?

A low growl interrupts my thoughts.

I look around as if now the room as got any brighter. But I haven't realized that the area I'm in has a faint, little light, as if there's a spotlight above my head.

I could see the beige carpet only in the ring of the light.

I slowly stand, taking my time. With nothing to grab upon, but myself, to help me up, it's a challenge. But I make it.

Now, walking is a whole new challenge.

I look behind me, finding a staircase, probably about 20 steps, and at the top is a door, it had a light underneath. That's my exit. 

But the stairs, though... just thinking about it makes my body ache. And the fact that the stairs also had carpet, a slip will make me end up tumbling down. 

But at least it's a soft fall... at least depending on how I land.

The thought makes me wince in pain.

I turn to the opposite side of the stairs.

I guess the only way to actually see is to get out of the comfort of the light. It's better than staying to allow whatever's out there to find me first.

I take my first step, a little wobbly, but I know I'll get used to it. 

I look into the depths of the darkness and I take a deep breath. 

When I took a step out into the darkness, I hear the growling again. It's as if whatever's out there is waiting for me to move, carefully watching my actions.

If only I had a flashlight, then I could know where to run to. But I take my chances. I walk blindlessly, hoping my eyesight will adjust, but it doesn't.

It feels like I'm going nowhere, just darkness all around. How far does this open space go?

Fate answers my question when I bump into something in front of me. It's a good thing, though, because I was getting a bit claustrophobic. I touch the large object, hoping it would give me a clue on where I am.

It's metal... I can't reach the top... there's stuff on it, like a shelf. I try to grab something from it, something small and smooth, but it slips out my hand and shatters onto the ground like glass, disturbing the silence.

And draws attention my way. 

A loud, animalistic screech pierces my ears, sending blood rushing through my body.

Forgetting my pain, I dart back to the safety of the light. Loud thumping of some sort of large beast in a rhythmic pattern gets louder and louder. I do not want to see what's after me because I know I'll have the image engraven in my mind. Forever.

My only chance, I run up the stairs, only to trip on the 7th step, falling back into the darkness. Yet, I feel something grab me.

My eyes open abruptly. "There's a monster in the closet!" I exclaim subconsciously.

It seems I'm not trapped in that place anymore, familiar faces surround me, and bright lights hang overhead. Scanning my surroundings, again, I'm still on the train.

I lay on someone's lap. "Kayate? W-what are you doing on this train?"

"Who did this to you?" It's not Kayate's voice. I frown a little when I find it's only Mr. Wolf. 

"I... I don't know... what you're talking about?"

"Hmm. What do you remember last?"

"I remember being in a dark closet..." I sit up. "In an ocean... I remember being at your show."

"Did you meet anyone there?"

"Ah! I remember, I was with Ms. Doe!"

"Ms. Doe?" Everyone's attention was on her.

"Don't even!" She huffs.

"We have enough evidence to believe Precious was poisoned," Mr. Jackal says. "Someone on this train did it."

"Oh wow, you should talk, Jack! After how nasty you treat her, how do we know it's not you?" Ms. Doe retorts.

"Look who's accusing who now? You're just jealous of her-"

"There's no proof it's me!"

"You said you offered her a doughnut."

"I offered many people doughnuts. I should bring into question who made the doughnuts." She doesn't wait for anyone to answer. "Our very own chef was alone with her."

Everyone faces Mr. Wolf, waiting for his counter.

"Fine, I confess..." He finally says.