I am back in the darkness. How did I get here? I was running, and fell back into the shadows of the trees, hoping to hide until I was safe, only to fall back into the darkness. I lean down to feel the ground, hoping it will provide me clues on what my location is. My palm scrapes against the rough sandy ground, the same one as before. As the granules massage my palm, I feel my body lifting again, yet not by my own will. I am being pulled upright, my body being tightly stretched into a standing position. The voice bellows again “Move you fool, can’t you see the clock is ticking!” I stare into the darkness, as the words echo in my head. Should I move on, or stay in this solitary wilderness? My leg starts to lift, and I close my eyes as I take the fateful step forward, not knowing where it will lead me.
My body has suddenly become cool, and I feel water lapping gently against my legs. I open my eyes. I turn to see a beach, with turquoise water surrounding my body and the sun beating down onto my face. I start to wade out of the water to the fine white paradise, and as my feet hit the sand, calmness fills my body again. I look ahead at the beach, and its surrounding palm trees which hug its fringes, like a mother figure protecting their baby. I lie down on the beach, and breathe in the ocean air, letting it fill my lungs. The ocean continues its gentle lapping at the shore, pleading with me to join with its rhythmic flow. I raise myself off the ground and start to walk into the cool waves. I paddle, enjoying the warmth surrounding my body. Yet the sun suddenly disappears, and the shadow returns, watching over me. How do I escape this demonic being that controls me? “Swim!” it orders, “Swim as fast as you can!” I continue my paddling, but I feel my body thrusting downwards. My head is sinking under the water. I want to scream, I want to swim upwards, but the continual pushing thrusts my head beneath the surface. The water that had been such a haven to me is suddenly murky and brooding. It is no longer inviting, and as my straining body gets pushed further into the depths of the water, fear catches hold of me. What monsters could lurk in this threatening place? Where am I going? I want to get out; I need to break away from this watery grave I most surely am going to meet. The voice booms again “Swim coward, swim!” There is no escape.
My weary body is furiously paddling; my lungs desperately fighting to retain my last breaths of air. Yet the water drains from around my body, and the darkness again engulfs my body and my senses. What is happening to me? The once alluring aspect of the darkness has dissolved. Now all I see is a dangerous and foreboding wasteland that frightens and confuses me. My leg is being pulled upwards. No! I don’t want to proceed any further, please I don’t want to! My foot is pulling towards the dusty ground. I furiously try to pull it against the thrusts that have come to control me. I tug furiously at my leg; I grip it, holding it tight. I slip-my foot slams into the ground, sending a cloud of dust upwards into my eyes.
My body is weak, my head aching, and my mind filled with strange and horrifying visions. What will I open my eyes to find? I clamp my eyes shut, afraid of what I might happen to glimpse. I grasp the floor around me, not sure of where I am. But it is soft and fluffy, caressing against my hands, soothing my soul. I cautiously open my eyes to hues of reds, oranges, yellows. A cool wind comes over me, stinging my neck. The shadow is back, forcing me away from my security. I am forced upwards. It wants me to jump to another cloud, but it’s too far away. It urges me on, pushing me to the edge of my platform. I feel myself moving, and then falling through the air. Downwards I spiral, downwards, downwards.
The screen before me starts flashing. ‘GAME OVER’ it announces, taunting me and my efforts. Another message fills the screen. “So close young explorer! Play again?” I move my hand over to the joystick, positioning myself for another set of adventures. I look back up at the screen. I type in ‘YES’. I am back in the darkness.
