Awareness

By the third day, or at least after my third extended rest, I knew something was wrong.

I woke as usual to the appearance of lighter fog, but discarded the idea as wishful thinking. The light never changed here. Slinging my bag, I set my foot upon the next step. Blue tinged eyes met my gaze. A disturbingly familiar stair further up brandished a tendril crack that split along one side, making it uneven with the other. Then I saw the missing corner from the banister.

My heart tried to flutter into a panic but I forced myself to breathe. I dropped to my knees, trying to make sense through the throbbing pain in my head. I needed water. The only way out was forward.

I walked until I couldn't take another step. Laying down with nothing at my back, exposed between flights, I fell into a stupor.

Burning thirst woke me. I rolled over with a groan of pain as the headache had worsened. Unable to stand, I began to crawl.

Blue eyes, cracked stair, broken rail.

Something was undoing my progress.