Choices -- Rob Borcic

I wake to the sound of rushing water. A dank, musty smell - earth and mold and... something else - a sour smell like bile. Fortunately, it is very faint. I open my eyes - nothing. Blind? Or just dark?. Cold stone presses against my back, something softer under my head. Reaching back to touch it, my hand finds worn leather, ridges. I lift my head and try to pull it out. It comes free easily. Rectangular, like a pillow but smaller and harder. Leather on both sides, but not on the edges. Paper, pages - a book! But what does it say?

I explore the boundaries of my world. Raising my arm, I find rough stone. It continues down the right side. More of the same behind my head. Empty space to the left. Nothing within reach, anyway. A slight draft chills my fingers. Beneath me, the surface is polished smooth, almost slippery. A sudden realization, I'm in a crypt.

I reach down, trying to find out how far it is to the ground. My hand touches water - icy cold. Drawing my hand back, I continue probing along the boundary of the enclosure. Rough rock, smooth rock, a button! I push it and am immediately blinded by a bright light. My eyes adjust slowly. Bright lights shine out from behind my head. I am surrounded by rock, but lying on a metal plate. Across from the opening is another niche, like this one, but unoccupied. More niches line both sides of the wall for as far as the light reveals. The water is clear, and looks no more than a foot deep. I remember the book. It looks old - very old. No title on the cover. I open it at random. The language isn't familiar -- even the characters look strange.

I notice my clothing. White overalls made out of something like vinyl. Boots seem to be an integral part of the suit. Is it waterproof? Only one way to find out. I roll out of the enclosure and land on my knees in waist-deep water. The suit seems to be keeping me dry, but I can still feel the cold. I try to stand, but stumble, grabbing hold of the metal plate that was my bed. I push myself upright and take a step. My joints are stiff, like they haven't been moved in days. The room continues on in either direction as far as the light reveals. I notice the flow of the water. Upstream or downstream? Upstream. The ground beneath my feet is flat, but not smooth -- not at all slippery.

I continue walking, pressing buttons to turn on another light when it gets dark. Legs aching, I press forward. Toes starting to go numb -- Got to get out of the water. A glitter catches my eye -- there's something sticking out of the wall -- a ladder. I walk up to it and start to climb into darkness, continuing for what seems like an eternity. Finally, my head hits something. It yields to pressure -- a door. It swings away, revealing a light. Poking my head through I see white ceiling, walls, floor. A large room, empty except for a man in black overalls. The man turns to look at me. "Well, it's about time. We've been waiting for you."