Hi! It's been a long long time, but I'm finally writing a new multi-chapter! This was written as part of a request from becka1. I just want to say thank you to her for encouraging me to write this. I hope she enjoys this, and I hope you do too! Without further ado, here's chapter 1!

P.S. - The Chipmunks and Chipettes belong to Ross Bagdasarian Jr. and Janice Karman.

Pain.

The first thing Simon felt upon waking was pain. His head was throbbing, each throb a rhythmic pulse in tune with his frantic heart. It was the soundtrack to his waking moments here, in what he could only describe as... his laboratory?

Blinking confusedly through bleary eyes, the chipmunk tried to take in his surroundings. Nothing but dark shapes amongst black shadows. Darkness as far as he could see. It was so dark that he could almost feel it blanketing him, smothering him. Yes, he knew this place. By day a white, clinical research laboratory. His work. Career. Professional home. Adjusting his glasses, he attempted to identify the light switch by the door so that he could navigate his way to it.

Trying to stand would prove to be the real challenge, however.

His legs were beset by searing pain at the slightest twitch. Sharp, and burning. Wincing and clenching his eyes shut, Simon grabbed at his legs with trembling hands. Deep breaths. He tried his best to steady his breathing, but the stronger the bursts of pain, the more unravelled he became. With a pained moan, he glanced to the windows by the door, the same windows used for outsiders to observe the working scientists without disturbing. Nothing but black, solid panes. No outsiders. No scientists. Nobody here but him. The other windows, on the opposite side of the lab, were for observing the outside world. But all that could be seen was a moonless sky.

He was left with one more question - how did he get here?

The chipmunk tried his best to gather his thoughts. Thoughts from before this... strangeness. He woke up, got dressed, got stressed, and then what? Agitated, he fished around in his pockets, fingers fumbling for his phone. He needed a hint, a sign. He needed to call somebody. Nothing. His pockets were empty.

Sighing, he deflated. He wanted to forget the pain, but in a space with nothing to focus on but the pain, he was forced to endure it. It was silent. So unnervingly silent. He was used to the low murmur of his colleagues working and experimenting. The running of taps, the bubbling beakers, and the hissing steam. Now he could hear a pin drop, and he feared it would drive him mad. He missed the everyday sounds of the lab. Heck, he even missed the sounds of shattering glass and the alarm bell. He could hear his own heartbeat if he concentrated hard enough.

Thump. Thump.

Closing his eyes, he inhaled. The hard, steady thrum of his heart stole his attention. With each beat he tried to will away the pain, tried to clear the fog, tried to imagine home. He used to dream of this. Of deep silence. No sound, in a home with endless noise. Peace. But that home isn't home anymore. He never had to worry about that anymore, because home is... her. The chipmunk rubbed his head. Pain externally as well as internally. What on earth happened? He didn't just magically wake up here on the floor - the notion of such was ridiculous. He got here somehow. It was no good sitting on the floor; this would never get him anywhere. He needed to leave.

Furrowing his brow, Simon tried to find something to cling to. If he could support himself up, then he could edge to the door, and free himself. It could be that easy, if he just could find something to-

"Hi Simon."

Startled, the chipmunk jumped, shortly wincing after at the sharp pain in his legs.

"Oh, this isn't what I wanted for you at all."

Dave.

"D-Dave," Simon croaked, eyes frantically scanning the room for his father, heartbeat erratic. The window. He had to be at the window. "H-hang on, I'm coming to you."

Clenching his jaw tightly to brace the pain, he grasped onto a plastic stool and shakily heaved himself up onto his knees.

"Still, they're doing all they can for you. We can only hope you pull through."

Weakly, the chipmunk forced all his weight onto his hands and knees, pushing himself forward on all fours, glasses slipping down his sweat-soaked face.

"Dave, please wait. I'm coming." Exasperated, the chipmunk tried to speed up, but his shaking arms stopped him from doing so. Any moment and they'd buckle under the pressure.

"I can't imagine what it's like for you."

"Pain," he choked out, scratching at the tiles on the floor. He couldn't stay up much longer. The door felt like it was a million miles away, constantly moving farther out of his reach. But still, he persisted. "It's pain Dave."

"Everybody's doing fine, don't you worry." He could hear him hum. "It's unfortunate. You were only two days away from going to that high school reunion."

"That's..." Simon swallowed thickly. Frowning, he picked up on the peculiarity of his father's voice.

"It's going to be alright."

It didn't sound... right. It sounded like he was on the verge of something, it sounded stifled.

And more importantly, it wasn't coming from the window at all. It was central.

It was everywhere.

"Well, I better get going. But I'll be back, don't you worry."

At the sound of Dave's footsteps, the chipmunk panicked.

"No! N-no! Don't leave me here!" Grunting, he crawled to the door, dignity be damned. "Dave! Don't go!"

He felt tears of pain well up in his eyes; his legs were screaming out and his head was swimming. Once he reached the door he clambered up to the handle, sweaty hands pulling at it several times.

Click. Click. Click click.

Locked. It was locked. And Dave was gone.

Dumbfounded, the chipmunk slumped to the floor, exhausted. The realisation filled him with dread. He was trapped. Alone in this dark, empty lab.

Scared, and alone.

A dark, mysterious beginning! I can't wait to show you where the rest of this is going. Thanks for reading! Stay tuned for chapter 2!

Peace, love, and COOKIES! ~ MissSteph22 x :)