Brian stood with his arms raised in front of him, shielding his face, but from what, he no longer knew. His eyes were tightly shut and he could feel sweat running down his forehead and neck. The scent of mothballs and cardboard filled his nostrils. He opened his eyes slowly to find he was fully surrounded by darkness. His arms gradually dropped down to his sides, where they came in direct contact with the skin on his hips.

“Oh shit,” he said, feeling up and down his body for the clothes he already knew were non-existent. He had been wearing clothes a moment ago, hadn’t he? He couldn’t remember.

“Hello?” he said quietly. The faint echo of his voice told him the room he was in isn’t very large. “Can anyone hear me?” he said, a bit louder this time. There was no response.

Brian swept the air in front of him with his foot in a half circle, then mimics this motion with both of his arms. Nothing. He moved forward (one hand always covering his genitals) and repeats this pattern again; advancing once more. His imagination sputtered to life and Brian began to fear his next step will have his hand touch something alive. Why would something alive not respond to him? And then a worse thought – Why would something be waiting for him in the darkness at all?

Brian brought his arms back to his chest. Though he is thirty-four, he suddenly fears the dark like a child. He inches forward, feeling ahead with only his foot. Something touches his face. Brian fights back the urge to scream as he reaches out to where his face just was. There is a string there. He imagines pulling on it will turn on a light, but then he also considers ten other horrible outcomes. What if he pulls the string and it’s attached to a nail gun aimed at him? Or what if it’s attached to the trigger of a real gun? He winced as he pulled on the string.

Nothing happened.

Brian had been hoping for a light, but relieved a power saw didn’t turn on and progress in his direction. He exhaled but quickly sucked the air back in when there is the sound of movement directly in front of him.

“Hello?” Brian asked the silent room again, “Please answer me. I know you’re there. I need to get to a doctor immediately. I’ve hit my head or something and I don’t where I am or even who I am. Please, just help me. I’ll…”

“John?” a gruff voice asked from ahead.

“I don’t know if that’s me,” Brian answered hesitantly, “It could be right, but… I really can’t remember.”

“I suppose that’s a fair enough answer. Let me flip this switch here.”

John heard a click, but nothing changed in the room.

“Mind pulling that string again?” the gruff voice asked, “I think it should work this time.”