A Light in the Dark

There was an undeniable urge to keep moving through the pitch-black space. As if an invisible tether had attached itself to her and pulled her along.

“Hayden,” a voice caressed her ear, bringing her back to awareness. “Stay awake.”

She paused, blinking as if that might bring some kind of clarity to her vision, but there was still nothing but blackness.

Continuing on, her foot snagged on something and brought her to a halt. She tried shaking her leg to break free, but what felt like fingers tightened around her ankle, making her scream.

“Run, Hayden!” the voice commanded and she obeyed. The hand released her and she ran as fast as she could until finally, a light appeared before her.

A sob of relief escaped her as she sprinted for the light, which grew as she neared it, taking shape into a stone archway. Through it she could see greenery. But as she approached it, a door slammed shut, blocking it and extinguishing the light.

“No!” she cried out, slamming her hands against what used to be a door but was now empty air. Her hands fell back to her sides. “No,” she whispered, wrapping her hands around herself.

“You have to keep moving,” the voice, which had been her only companion in this endless darkness, reminded her. It wasn’t the first time she’d had a…