The Voice in the Dark

She woke to silence.

A deep, heavy kind—the kind that swallowed everything, pressing down like an unseen weight.

Her eyelids fluttered, and a dull, throbbing ache settled at the base of my skull. Where—?

She exhaled shakily. Cold. The surface beneath her was cold, smooth metal. A floor.

Her fingers twitched against it, but the movement sent a sharp sting up her arm, like she hadn't moved in hours. Maybe longer.

Her breath came out unsteady as she sat up. Her head spun, and for a split second, everything blurred.

She squeezed her eyes shut. Think.

…Nothing.

Her chest tightened.

Who am I?

The thought sent a fresh wave of panic crawling up her spine. No, that was wrong. That was wrong.

She had to know her own name.

She had to—

Lena.

The name settled in her mind like a stone hitting water. Lena. That was her. That was hers.

But—that was all.

Everything else was missing.

Her breath hitched. Where was she? How did she get here?

Her hands flew to her temples, pressing against them. Focus. Think. Try harder.

But the harder she reached for something—*anything*— the more it slipped through her fingers like sand.

A sharp, awful thought cut through her panic:

What if there's nothing left to remember?

The realization sent a shiver through her.

She forced herself to breathe, her eyes adjusting to the dim surroundings. The room was small. Too small.

Smooth black walls. No doors. No windows. No lights, yet somehow—she could see.

Not natural. The glow in the walls pulsed faintly, an eerie, rhythmic light. Like… a heartbeat.

Lena swallowed hard. This isn't normal.

A sinking feeling grew in her stomach. She was trapped.

A prison? A lab? A dream? No, a nightmare.

Her heartbeat thundered in her ears. She scrambled to her feet, muscles stiff, her breathing coming too fast.

No way out.

Her nails scraped against the walls, searching for a seam, a panel—something. But the surface was smooth, seamless. Perfect.

Panic curled its claws around her throat.

She spun around, pulse hammering, every part of her screaming to move, to do something.

And then—

"Lena."

She froze.

Her breath stopped. Her hands clenched into fists.

A voice.

Low. Deep. Male.

It came from everywhere and nowhere.

She swallowed hard. She was not alone.

Her voice was barely a whisper. "Who's there?"

Silence.

Then he whispered—

"Stand up."

Her body reacted before her mind did.

She shot to her feet, obeying.

A second passed. Then another.

And the realization crashed over her like ice water—

She hadn't meant to move.

She hadn't meant to listen.

Her pulse slammed against her ribs. What the hell was that?

Her jaw clenched. No. No, that was wrong.

Her muscles tensed as she forced her legs to stay still. "Who the hell are you?"

A pause.

Then he replied—

"That's not important."

A slow, creeping chill slithered up her spine. His voice was calm. Unhurried. Like he had all the time in the world.

She swallowed. "Where am I?"

Another pause.

"Somewhere you shouldn't be."

Her stomach twisted. That's not an answer.

Her hands curled into fists. "Are you watching me?"

A soft hum. Amused.

"Does that scare you?"

Her jaw tightened. "It pisses me off."

Another pause. Then—a quiet chuckle.

"Good," he murmured.

Something in her bristled. He sounded too entertained. Too at ease.

She glared at the walls. "You think this is funny?"

A hum. "Not funny. Interesting."

Her stomach turned.

She took a slow breath, forcing steel into her voice. "Where are you?"

Silence.

Then—

"Far."

A sharp pang of unease cut through her. What does that mean?

"Why are you talking to me?" she asked, voice firmer.

A pause. Then—something clicked.

One of the walls slid open.

Bright white light flooded in, forcing her to squint. A corridor stretched ahead—metallic, sterile, endless.

Her breath caught.

That wall had looked solid. It shouldn't have moved.

Her feet stayed rooted to the floor.

This is a trap. It has to be.

Yet the air in the corridor felt heavier. Something about it made her hesitate.

The voice returned—soft, certain.

"Walk."

Lena didn't move.

She didn't trust him. She shouldn't trust him.

And yet…

Her feet shifted.

Her body wanted to listen. Her pulse pounded in her ears as she stepped forward One foot. Then another.

The wall hissed shut behind her.

And the voice in the dark?

He said nothing else.

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