March 18, 2023
I felt a pain in my chest, like a ball of needles was pressing against it, and I had no recollection of anything; no memories, no idea of who I was, nothing.
A blank slate.
A light was radiating against my closed eyelids. I awoke, and my gaze slowly focused on the naked bulb above me, dangling by a thin wire connected to a wooden ceiling. It started slow, but I soon became somewhat aware of my body, though it took a minute to realize no movement was possible. My legs were straight as posts, and my arms were stretched out like a butterfly. Pulling my head upward, I saw thick leather straps over my arms, legs, and stomach, tightened like a belt. I could hardly feel them against my skin; only the pain in my chest. My quickening breath was visible in front of my face as I realized I was strapped to a wooden table. Saliva pooled in the back of my throat, and I swallowed, panicked. More saliva came, and over and over I gulped it down as a half-baked method to soothe my mind and heart. Although, it really did little to help. I twisted my limbs, turning my legs and arms, barely feeling the friction of the fabric tug against my skin.
Then a man appeared over me! Strong brown eyes gazed down at me through a mask made from a bear's skull, brown hair just as wild looking. In his hand was a knife, fresh blood dripping down the steel and over the handle and his black glove.
I jolted awake to see Blake tugging on my arm. "Troy!" he repeated over and over again. I sat up, dazed. My body felt numb. In fact, I couldn't feel my body at all. "Troy!"
Good. That must have been some jacked up nightmare. Now I must be awake.
"What?" I answered.
"Troy, we're dead!" Blake yelled in my face. His hands wrapped around the neck of my shirt. "Troy, we are dead!" he repeated while squatting over me.
"Wh-what are you ta-talking about?" I squinted.
"You don't remember?"
"Remember what? What's going on?"
I shoved his hands off my shirt and slouched up against a wall behind me. Still dazed, he was the only thing I could focus my vision on; the scenery around me was a complete blur.
"Troy, he killed us!" Blake panted, clearly shaken.
My mind raced for an answer. "Who?"
The memories then flooded back in my head, and I was taken back in time - back to the moment it happened.
The moment I died!