A cold, hard floor. A room so dark that sight was out of the question. A foreboding, unfamiliar feeling that made me feel queasy. Not the best way to wake up.
I contemplated just lying there until I actually woke up, because there was no way that this was real. But if it was a dream, I wouldn't have considered it to be one. That wasn't how my brain worked.
I slowly sat up, then immediately regretted it. Now I felt more vulnerable and uncomfortable. I could've been absolutely anywhere, with absolutely anyone, and there was no way that exposing more of myself would make this situation any better.
I hugged myself and considered scooting backwards so that my back was against the wall, but what if there was no wall? What if there was something else behind me?
Why was this happening? Why to me? Today was supposed to be testing day at school, and here I was waking up in a completely strange place. My stomach practically disappeared. What if I couldn't get out? What if I was stuck here forever? Hey, at least no more tests for me.
I mentally slapped myself. Sure, no more tests, but pretty much no more life. "Focus," I whispered to myself. "Just focus and breathe. Try to relax."
'Relax?' my brain replied. 'How are we supposed to relax? We have no clue where we are or how to get back home. This could be the death of us.'
Way to make the situation worse. There was no way I could relax now. So I did the next best and stupidest thing: I stood up, held my hands out in front of me, and started walking forward blindly. I made sure I took slow steps without lifting my feet off the floor, just in case there was anything sharp or dangerous in front of me. I'd know before I stepped on it.
Eventually I felt something hanging in front of me. It felt like cloth. What was it? I felt around before realizing it was a curtain. I pulled it aside and a dim light filled the room. Turns out it wasn't as terrifying as my imagination made me believe.
There was a bed, a dresser, a night stand, and even a vanity with a cracked mirror. They were all covered with dust and cobwebs, as if this room hadn't been used in a long time.
I walked to the vanity and looked in the mirror. My reflection was disoriented, as expected. Sure, it was possibly the dumbest thing ever to look in a mirror in this situation. It was something the main character in a horror would do that literally the entire audience was yelling at them not to do. But it just felt natural, possibly because it was the action with the most predictable outcome, and I really couldn't handle another surprise right now. At least I knew my fate.
But there was no strange reflection of a person behind me, or surprise shadow, or even a handprint in the dust. Not very exciting, but a good sign that nothing paranormal would happen. Either that, or a sign that something extremely bad was to come.
I inhaled sharply, doing my best not to breathe in any dust, and then exhaled. I was doing breathing excercises to calm my nerves, which wasn't working, but at least it was something familiar.
Then, naturally, out of nowhere, just as I was letting my guard down and trying to tell myself that this wasn't one of those horror movie plots, a voice spoke behind me.
"Hello there, Nora. Glad you could finally make it. Welcome to the Game of Life or Death. Are you ready for your first challenge?"

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