By time I flop down onto my bed it feels like heaven.

“I’m taking a nap, so don’t wake me, ok?”

Aiden rolls his eyes and replies, “Sure, sure.” I close my eyes and start drifting off.

I open my eyes and see I’m in the same tunnel that I was shot in last time. I look around, and this time there’s a slight discoloration in the wall where it opened up before. I walk up to it and give it a slight push, and the wall slides away in the same fashion as before. I didn’t think it’d be this easy, but I’m ok with easy because it means I’m not killed right off the bat. I first stick my head in the opening and look around to check that nobody’s around, then step inside. It looks kinda like a wrecked spaceship, with wires hanging from places they probably shouldn’t, tubes spouting steam, and the floor covered in a metal grating. There’s three hallways leading to who-knows-where, so after playing a short game of randomly-pick-the-non-lethal-hallway, I push aside some wires and walk down the one to my left. Hopefully I win.

After wandering for a couple minutes I haven’t yet encountered anyone else, but I’ve come

across a few offshooting passages. I didn’t even bother exploring them now since it would take too long, but if I come here again I’ll be sure to look into them. I’m still not sure what this place is, but whatever it is it sure is huge. Maybe it’s a high-tech bunker? Or an abandoned underground system? Suddenly, a clanging sound comes from behind me, and I whirl around in time to see a metal bar swing at me. I dodge just barely, but a second bar comes up from underneath and hits my side with a whack. I curl into a ball from the pain, then look up at a shadowy figure right before the next blow hits my head. I think I might’ve picked the wrong hallway.

*************************

I wake up later in what looks like a prison cell, with chains on my hands and a huge ache in my skull. Trying to sit up is an ordeal, with me taking periodic breaks in between intense moments of pain to lessen the pounding in my head. I might have a broken rib or two. I look down at my hands to see they used cuffs on me. I’m able to slip them off fairly easily since they didn’t tighten them enough, which is odd. The next problem is getting out of this cell. It seems like a typical cell, with bars and a padlock, but this place seems pretty high-tech, so I wouldn’t put it past them to have more layers of security than it seems.

A door opposite the cell opens and a guy around my age walks into the room. On his hip is a holstered weapon that looks really similar to the one I was shot with last dream. Wait a minute, is this the asshole who shot me? I narrow my eyes at him as a growl escapes my mouth, and he takes a step back in surprise. We stand there glaring at each other for a second longer, but then he breaks the standoff by pressing a button on the wall that slides my cell door open. I warily step out into the open, then give him a slight nod. He nods back and slips back through the door he came through. What a mysterious guy. Kinda weird. I should probably stay away from him. I’m about to escape when I realize-I have the opportunity to snoop in what I’m guess is one of the more secure areas of this place. No way am I passing up this chance.