Where my Mind Wanders

A Prologue of sorts

The first thing she was aware of was the distant chatter of a moving crowd. There was darkness for a short while, and she was too frightened to try struggling or screaming. After a few minutes, however, the empty darkness lifted away, revealing a scarcely furnished room, with walls, floor and ceiling all the same dull grey colour. She looked down to see exactly where she was - standing inside a coffin shaped metal box, the reason for the darkness earlier being the lid.

Looking up once more, still not daring to move from her spot, the woman jumped as she caught sight of a man stood in the corner, seemingly studying her for a few moments. He was bald, his face tired, and his eyes told her that he'd been through a lot. His uniform was unusual - completely black, an almost skin-tight body suit made out of some strong, elastic fabric, but black metal armour covered his forearms, shoulders, chest and shins. A band of red ran around the middle of each arm, and a utility belt of the same colour was slung tightly around his hips. Upon eye contact, he strolled in front of her and spoke.
"Do you have any idea where you are?" His voice was calm and, surprisingly, kindly.
"No," she replied, finding the sound of her own voice unusual.
"Do you remember anything?"
"No."
"Not even your name?"
"No." It was evident he wasn't getting anything out of her, except "no". That was good. Meant they'd been successful. The man held out his hand for her to take. She was hesitant at first, and stepped out of the box herself, but upon finding that her legs had forgotten how to walk, she grasped his hand like it was a life ring on a rough sea.

"Who am I? Where am I? What's going on?" She asked, the manner of her voice not unlike that of a child, despite her obviously being a young adult. 26 to be exact. The man looked down at the young woman and saw fear and confusion in her eyes. He had to turn away. He remembered how strong she once was. And it was his fault she was this way.
"Come on, we need to get you to your room. You'll meet the others. They're your friends! I'll answer your questions when we have you settled in," he reassured her, feeling like a father consoling his scared daughter. That's what it had once been like, a long time ago.

The pair slowly made their way out the room and down a corridor, furnished and coloured the same as the room she'd awoken in. It was lined with multiple doors, all automated and electrical which slid neatly into the wall when opened. Out of these rooms came many others like the woman - shaky, confused, scared, unable to walk. They each had their own helper to walk them to their rooms. In single file, they trooped down the corridor and through double doors at the end. There was some delay as they ones at the beginning of the line exited. There was some raised voices coming from their direction, but nothing clearly understandable.
"What's going on down there?" The young woman asked, her voice wobbling. What if they were being hurt? Killed? She shivered, and the man discreetly patted her shoulder, making sure he wasn't seen.
"You aren't going to die, don't worry. They've just seen where we are, which is shocking to everyone when they first come here," reassured the man. This would answer one of her questions.

Eventually they reached the doors. Swinging open, they revealed a large hall, as big as a football pitch. People buzzed back and forth. There were rows of tables spanning through the middle, where others in the same black uniform hung around. Some had the red bands and belts, however, there was an array of blue, yellow, orange, purple, green, pink, cream, teal, black and white, and more which the woman's eyes hadn't picked out. Along the long wall she had come from was a line of shops, differing in their wares and functions. Clothes, food, equipment, hair and more were being advertised at each, and people wandered in and out. On the shorter walls, at the left and right of the door, was a small corridor leading away from the hall. The rest of the expansive space was covered in large screens which flashed various messages, from seemingly urgent reports from official looking reporters, to adverts for the latest released food stuff.