Darkness // Trust

*drip* *drip* *drip*

Pain. Pain and darkness.

*drip* *drip* *drip*

Floating in and out of consciousness, the droplets were a lifeline. Proof that there was something else other than the pain.

*drip* *drip* *drip*

An attempt to open his eyes was met with a glaring pain, and he blacked out, once again.

*drip* *drip* *drip*

The water droplets were now falling on his cheek. Must've rolled over in my sleep. With every drop, it seemed his haze was being lifted. Eventually, he opened his eyes, only a slit for fear of the pain.

It didn't come. Braver now, he opened them fully. A second later he wished he hadn't. A skull was staring back only inches from his face. He sat up with a yelp only to be greeted to a massive headache. Vision swimming, he tried to take in the rest of the dimly lit room. He saw a single wooden chair and a TV. At the far end of the room he saw the only thing that interested him; a door.

Using the leg of the chair as support he dragged himself to his feet. His headache was abiding, due to him recovering or just adrenaline kicking in, he didn't know. He didn't care. He used the moment of clarity to limp towards the door, grasping the knob with a shaking hand. Locked.

His heart sank. Just when he was convinced he was going to die in that room like his predecessor, the TV turned on and started playing the national anthem. The sudden light and noise made him jump.

Looking at the TV he saw a man in a suit sitting behind a desk as if he was going to give the evening news. Just as abruptly as it started, the anthem cut out, making him jump again. The man cleared his throat before saying, "You should sit."

He just stared at the TV until the man said, "I'm talking to you. The man alone in a locked room with a body.."

He looked at the chair, back to the TV, and back to the chair. Finally, he understood and complied. He sat down slowly, staring at the figure in the TV and wondered what he was supposed to do next.

"Good. Let's begin," the man said, almost impatiently. "You're probably wondering what you're doing here. Before we dive in to the heart of the matter, can you tell me who you are?"

"Who... I am?" He repeated, the words slurring.

"Yes. I understand that's a loaded question but I'll settle for just your name."

He started to speak, then stopped, the words getting caught in his throat. He tried hard to remember anything before waking up, but try as he might, he couldn't. "I... don't know," he said, fear gripping him as he realized the magnitude of that statement. "My head hurts, I-I can't remember anything at all."

"Good, good," the man said while appearing to jot some notes.

How in the world that was good was lost on him, as fear swept over him. "Are you going to help me?"

The man chuckled. "Good question. But first ask yourself this; do you deserve help?"

"I-I don't understand," he replied, weakly. His heartbeat was deafening in his ears.

The man looked at him, almost solemnly, before replying, "You will soon," and the TV went dark.