Blue Slaughter (1)

I taste rotten eggs as I lie on the cold ground, my cheek pressed against it. I make a slight smacking sound as my eyes slowly begin to open. All I see is dust, the floor beneath me, and a wall to my side, illuminated by a blood-red, almost scarlet light. A shadow, darker than wine, looms above. It is a silhouette I have seen before—Vienna. She stands behind me, but I remain on the ground, my eyes fixed on my lifeless arms. My face is pale, my lips dry. The shadow on the wall shrinks and shifts to the left. I follow it with my eyes.