I laid on the cold tile floor, holding my hand against my head. My pounding headache caused pain to pulsate through my body. My eyelids felt as though rocks were strapped to them.

“Please...let me out of here. Please…” I mumbled weakly. Looking around, I reached for something in the darkness. The only thing illuminating the room was the lantern placed on a wooden table next to me.

“Maybe if I grab the lantern and look around, I’ll find some kind of exit.” No door was in sight from where I was.

With the bit of the strength I had left, I got up and walked to the lantern. I picked it up and began searching the area.

“Hm...Doesn’t seem to be anything but the lantern and table. But wait, what’s this?” I grabbed the metal rod in front of me and pushed down. Suddenly, the rod went back and made a loud creak.

“A door! Oh, thank the heavens!” I exclaimed.

When the door was fully opened, a long hallway was in front of me. The walls were decorated in a flower pattern with a red background. The walls were peeling off and the carpet on the floor was stained.

“I guess no one’s cleaned this place in a long time. It even smells old.” I said as I shook my head instinctively.

I continued walking, watching out for any missing parts of the carpet. The smell of fire hung at the end of my nose, mixing lightly with the decrepit scent of the hallway.

“God, this hallway is long. Maybe this is just a dream and this just lasts forever till I wake up?” I asked myself out loud, not really expecting the answer I got next.

“This is not a dream. I assure you that this is perfectly real.” The voice was deep and rough.

“Huh? Who said that?” Startled, I looked around for the owner of the mysterious voice.

“You cannot see me. You won’t be able to for a long time. Do not try looking for me because you will fail.” The voice seemed to be watching my movements.

“Fine, but who are you? Where am I?” I asked, hoping that the person was my captor.

“I am of no importance. You do not need to know where you are but why you are here.” The voice responded in a matter-of-fact way.

“Then tell me why I’m here,” I demanded, trying to stand strong.

“You are here to be a performer. You will perform in front of thousands around the world. More than enough attention you’ve ever gotten in your sad, lonely life.” The voice said bluntly.

Damn. But he wasn’t wrong. My life wasn’t as exciting and fun as my classmates’ who always had some kind of party to go to. I wasn’t usually invited to parties or anything of that type. I just wasn’t a social person.

“What kind of performance?” I kept asking questions to get as much information as I need.

“A wonderful show depicting what the human race truly is under its crystallized shell.” The voice uttered.

“How...cryptic. I hope you don’t mind me asking what I must do as a performer.” I said, now becoming a little nervous in response.

“I don’t mind at all. In fact, you’ll be learning the answer in just one moment.” Suddenly, I heard a click and stopped in my tracks.

On the wall next to me, a passageway opened up, pulling spiderwebs apart. I stepped closer and put my lantern close the opening. The floor in there seemed to be descending and the material was metallic.

“W-What is it…?” I whispered.

“Your entryway to a new and improved existence.” The voice answered.

“Do I...go in?” I looked at the ceiling, expecting an answer. But got none in return.

“Okay, Okay. Pretty self-explanatory, Reese. Simple as ever.” I thought as I stepped into the opening.

Well, I don’t really know what I expected at that time. But I fell. Really hard. And slid down what seemed to be a slide. Sadly, while I zipped down the slide, the lantern flew out of my hands and into the air. It disappeared from my vision as it fell down the cavern beneath me. So, I continued to slide in darkness, screaming like a small child on a water slide. To be honest, it could be a water slide from the amount of sweat dripping through my clothes. I probably smelled like sour milk on a hot day. The slide was just like the hallway, it seemed to never end.

But, to my surprise, the slide did end. But in a room that was lit very brightly by a chandelier. The walls were scrawled with vines and flowers. Roses, to be exact, mostly red and white. The floor was tiled but the tiles had a flower pattern as well.

“Whoever made this room must’ve really like flowers…” I mumbled as I walked through. I squinted hard from the amount of light that shone in my eyes.

“Welcome to the main room. Did you enjoy the slide?” The voice appeared once again.

“No, not really. I should’ve told you that I was never really a fan of playgrounds.” I said, joking a bit to see how the voice would react.

I could then hear a soft chuckle and then they said, “I don’t really think I would care very much. But I do enjoy the constructive criticism.”

I smiled through my slight fear, still reminding myself that this person is holding me captive.

“So, where to next?” I asked, hoping that the slide was the last of the surprises.

“Oh, just through the door in front of you. I have a few more tricks up my sleeve.” The voice continued to laugh, but in a more sinister way than before.

Luckily, the door was in front of me. I walked over and opened it up to nothing more than a mask on a hanger.

“What’s this for?” I asked.

“It’s your new persona.” The voice answered.

I looked closer at the mask. Feathers decorated the top and sides. They were blue and purple and mostly cool colors. The area where the nose and mouth were supposed to be, there was a beak.

“Is this supposed to be some kind of bird?” I lifted the mask up in the air.

“Yes. Specifically a peacock. Your new name to your fellow performers is Peacock.” The voice seemed to be a bit happy that I was complying.

“Fellow performers? There are other people here? How many? Where are they now?” I questioned.

“Woah, Woah, Peacock. Calm down. You will meet your fellow performers very soon. But first, you must put on the mask.”

“Put it...on? Why? What’s it for?” I put the mask close to my face.

“Think of it as a costume. A costume for your amazing performance.” I could practically see the voice’s owner smiling as they saw the look on my face.

“So, all I have to do is put it on and then I get to see the others?” I pulled back the strap to the mask and put it behind my head.

“Yes. And then the show may start.” The voice responded.

“Okay,” I mumbled as I placed the mask on my face.

It fit almost perfectly. I could even breath just as fine as I was when the mask was off. It seemed to conform to my face, round and curved.

“Comfortable, isn’t it?” The voice almost read my mind. I nodded and said an inaudible “yes” under my breath.

“Now you’re dressed perfectly. Simply step through the other door and the curtains will rise on your new destiny.” The voice said, sounding cryptic.

I turned around to see another door. I walked over, grabbed the knob and twisted. With a sigh, I pushed it open and a bright light began to shine in my eyes.