CHAPTER 1
I am floating in and out of consciousness stuck between worlds. I feel my body sinking into the abyss getting heavier by the second. Where am I? I can't recall how or when this feeling crept over me. Was there an accident, is this Limbo? I need to get my head out of this fog its smothering my thoughts.
I have to get back into my body, but how? What anchors me to this world? My senses!
I tense my muscles and a sudden pain runs up my spine, my chest is heavy as I suck in air. I flatten my palms against a cold wet service; I'm soaked through to the bone. Why can't I summon up enough energy for my sensory system to deduce my surroundings?
I can see stars or is my mind playing tricks on me. Momentary brain static clouds my vision as I try to stand up this must be brought on by orthostatic hypotension and I drop to one knee. I scan my body searching for the cause of the lightheadedness. A hot thick liquid runs through my fingers I lift up my hands barely making out deep cuts over my palms, wrists and forearms. Can this be defense wounds?
Where am I? What happened? The memory loss must be brought on by a concussion.
Come on Maura think!
Do I dare scream for help when these cuts and bruises might be from shielding my organs and face from an attack
Drops are falling soft and steady on my bare shoulders. I did see stars when I lay on my back. The stars were now replaced by dark clouds snuffing out the the soft glow of the moon. I guess I fell through that opening in the ceiling. Jane would have been so pleased with that statement. Jane! Where is Jane?
I need to orientate myself to my immediate environment.
I start washing of dried blood in the light but steady rain. I follow the thin red lines running down my legs. A trivial discontented thought attacks my consciousness as I sigh at the state of my designer suit and bare feet. My skirt is caked with mud and blood lots of blood. This cannot be my blood, my hands move to my thighs examining each muscle, my legs are sore and bruised but there seems to be no deep lacerations. I feel the water pool around my feet and ever so slightly running through my toes. The only logical thing to do is to follow the water; it might lead to an opening out of this cavern. I need to get to Jane. What if this is her blood?
I sudden load explosion lights up the cavern and my ears ring as the the thunder echo's against the walls but it jolts a memory loose; I am running through a forest, shrubs pulling at my clothes and Jane shouting at me "Run Maura!" My stomach turns and I fold over as my innards contract and I start vomiting.