"Hmm..."
I opened my eyes with difficulty, and the dust on my eyelids fell away. I felt like I'd been unconscious for quite some time, but when I regained consciousness, I realized my position wasn't very comfortable. Even turning my neck was a struggle, and I furrowed my brow.
"Cough, uh, is there anyone there?!"
"Nobody, gulp! No one...?!!"
My throat was so tight that I coughed, making it difficult to even utter a word, let alone make a sound. A couple of eerie echoes echoed through the room, but I couldn't detect anyone, not even the slightest movement. It was as if time and space had stopped, and the surroundings were silent.
"Haa... haa..."
As I regained some movement, a sudden question about this space began to arise. The lights weren't on, perhaps because the power was out, and the occasional, unpleasantly chilly air heightened the eerie feeling. I carefully lowered myself, suppressed my fear, and pressed the power button on my phone. The darkness was so dark that I couldn't see clearly, so I tried to turn on the flashlight, but the battery had long since died. Damn it, I couldn't tell the date or time at this rate. Leaving this unfortunate situation behind, I braced myself and began feeling around with my hands. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. My top priority was to uncover the truth behind this pitch-black darkness, even if it meant physically confronting it. It wasn't something I couldn't do.
Knock, knock- knock.
I tried to stretch out my arms as if I had been lying on something, but my legs touched the floor. Judging by the backrest, I knew I wasn't on a chair. If I were to lay down on the chair, it would be slightly bent, but I knew it was quite long if it could hold my height. The floor was smooth, even though there were small objects strewn about. I spread my legs as wide as I could, but it only made things worse and didn't reach the end. This wide space seemed like a good thing. At least if this was a sealed room, I could delay the time I died from lack of oxygen.
...Come to think of it,
'How did this happen?'
I was so focused on the situation right in front of me that I forgot the most important thing. Why, how, and for what reason was I left in this darkness?
Silence reigned once again. It was the resignation and bewilderment of a man unable to deny the tragic reality.
Just when I felt like I'd lost track of time, my body's biological rhythms reawakened me. They say even in extreme circumstances, appetite is unavoidable, and it seems they're right. This time, I was overcome by a terrible hunger and thirst.
'...I have to get out of here first.'
Yes. Once I step outside, there will be light, whether it's the sun or the moon. I clenched my fists, hoping the worst wouldn't happen. I stretched my legs, checked my surroundings for any holes or obstacles, and slowly stood up.
The escape from the darkness has begun.