Darkness

It was dark. Completely dark. A darkness so thick my eyes ached from trying to see. But no light reached them. I reached out my hand and waved it in front of my face, but I could only feel the breeze of its passage - I could not see it. I thrust my hand forward, stumbled several steps, but the smooth plane I stood on was not interrupted by any obstacles. My heart began to beat faster. I spun around, hoping that some small glimpse of light would reach my eyes. Nothing. Darkness. Was I blind? Or was this simply a deeper night then any I ever experienced before? I screamed, a strangled cry for help. Silence. Not even an echo. I cried out again, pleading, begging. Again nothing. A deafening silence that continued unbroken. I sobbed, dropping unsteadily to my knees, pleading with whatever God there may be to help me. But my pleas went unanswered. I was alone. Completely alone in this darkness, this silence, this hell. I stood again and started running, arms thrust before me, waiting to feel a solid surface. I ran and I ran, crying, shouting, pleading. But the smooth plane ran on under my feet, unbroken. I stood, my heart pounding in my eyes, my breath coming in ragged gasps. How did I get here? Where was here? I fell to my knees, bringing my hands up to cover my face and sightless eyes. Tears began to stream down my face. I wanted to go home. I wanted to wake up in my bed and look out the window. I stopped and sucked in my breath, holding it. A sound. A sound had reached my ears. A sound that I hadn't made. I waited. But I heard nothing more. I began to breath again, taking deeper breaths, trying to calm my terror-stricken mind. Then I heard it again. A whisper. This time accompanied by a ever so slight breeze against my cheek. A chill shot up my spine. I raised my head, opening my eyes wider then they already were. But I could still see nothing. I jumped back with a startled cry. A whisper, a rush of air in front of my face. I pushed myself to my feet and stumbled backwards, raising my hands in front of my face. Behind me. Almost a push. A loud whooshing noise, a rushing of air that almost sounded like words. I cried out, my voice shaking and broken, demanding to know who was out there in that darkness. I got no answer. The whispers floated around me, rushing past me, sometimes buffeting up against me. They taunted me, filled my mind with a terror - creatures that I could no see. But they also gave me a sick hope, a hope that I was not alone. Feebly, I asked for help, my own voice barely above a whisper. The whispers laughed. It sounded like laughter to me in my fear. I cried, tears streaming down my face. Where was I? I threw my hands into the air and screamed for the whispers to stop, demanding that they stop. And they stopped. The air became still. The silence returned. But I felt a presence lurking in front of me, close enough to touch. It hovered there in silence, mocking me. I stood, my heart a deafening thudding in my chest, my breath coming in short gasps. A chill terror gripped my mind. But just maybe this being was my answer - I was not alone. My hand, shaking uncontrollably, slowing reached forward, forward into that terrible darkness, that complete, oppressive darkness. I felt something. Nothing tangible. An unbelievable coldness. I gasped, the incredible icy coldness devouring my hand and shooting up my arm. A coldness that burnt like a raging fire. I screamed and tried to pull my hand back, but it would not move. Suddenly I was jerked forward by a great force that I could not resist. I flew forward into that horrible coldness. I fell. The air started rushing past my body and I flew down through the air. The ground had disappeared, the chill was gone. But I continued to fall. I screamed again, flailing my arms wildly. My body spun as it plummeted down into unseen depths. The darkness pressed against me as the air roared in my ears. Then I hit the surface. The water was cold, not as cold as the whispers, but still bitter cold. I plunged beneath the surface, my body quickly sinking into the deep. I kicked and waved my arms, trying to get to the surface. With an involuntary gasp, I sucked a mouthful of water into my lungs. My chest convulsed as my body tried to expell the water. My eyes were open wide, but the darkness remained. I kicked and pushed and pulled in every direction, desperately seeking the surface of the water. And then I found it. With a cry, I broke into the open air, my mouth open wide, coughing up mouthfuls of water and drawing in deep breaths of air. I coughed and sputtered as my lungs emptied out the rest of the cold water. I blinked, straining to see anything. But the darkness remained. I began treading water, taking deep breaths, trying to calm my mind again. Finally, with no other choice, I started swimming. I did not know where I was going or how far I would have to swim, but I kept going. My arms began to ache, my legs became numb in the freezing water. But I struggled on. After what seemed many hours, I slowed to a stop. I could not go any further. My arms were throbbing in pain, most of my body was numb. I thrust out my hand and screamed. And then I stopped in surprise. My hand hit something solid. I reached out again and felt. A ledge. A smooth ledge. I swam up against it and reached up onto it, looking for a handhold. There was nothing. It was completely smooth. With the last strength I had, I braced my hands on the surface of the ledge as best I could and hauled myself from the water. I lay on the ground, shivering, curled up for warmth. I rubbed my arms and legs vigorously, slowly feeling the blood return. After several minutes, I pushed myself up to my knees. I reached out my hand and felt around to find the edge of the ledge. But the plane I knelt on was unbroken. I felt around for several feet in every direction. The water was nowhere to be found. It had disappeared. Tears began to fall down my face again, mingling with the chill water that still clung to my skin. I cried out in defiance to whatever might have been out there, to whatever hellish place this was. But all I heard was silence. I lowered my head and cried. Then, as I continued sobbing, I felt a slight breeze against my cheek. Within the surrounding silence, I heard a slight whisper - a mocking, laughing whisper....

Note: This story was written with a specific meaning/reason behind it, which might not be immediately obvious. If you want me to explain, feel free to ask!