Felicity woke up feeling a strange mix of clarity and confusion. The recent events were still a whirlwind in her mind, and she couldn’t shake the feeling that it might all be a nightmare. As she opened her eyes, she saw that only one of the three recurring caregivers was present: a woman with Asian features, dark hair, and penetrating eyes, who watched her with a blend of concern and authority. This woman was different from the other two caregivers. There was something about her presence that, though imposing, was also soothing.

“Stay calm, Felicity,” she told herself. “You need to think clearly. You need to understand where you are and how to get out of here.”

She decided to try communicating. First in Spanish, her native language, but the woman didn’t react. She tried English and then Portuguese, the other two languages she spoke, but still nothing. The woman simply looked at her, her expression soft but unable to comprehend the words Felicity was saying.

“This can’t be happening… Do they not even understand English? Where am I?” Frustration threatened to overwhelm her, but Felicity forced herself to stay calm. She needed to think of another way.

With effort, she gestured to the woman, indicating that she needed to write. The woman understood and quickly brought her a piece of paper and a pencil. Felicity began writing, putting all the words her mind was formulating so clearly onto the paper. But when the woman took the paper, there was no trace of comprehension on her face. Desperate for answers, Felicity asked her to write something in response.

When the woman finished writing, Felicity looked at the paper and felt the ground disappearing beneath her feet. The writing was a mix of symbols completely unfamiliar to her. Some parts looked like they were drawn with stars and hearts, resembling childish alphabets, while others had a hint of Russian or Chinese, but nothing made sense.

“This isn’t my world,” she thought, fear threatening to overtake her. “Nothing here makes sense. But I can’t afford to lose my mind. I need to get out of here. I need a plan.”

The woman watched her in silence, staying in place as if she knew Felicity needed that space to process what was happening.

“First, recover. Then, think about how to escape.” Felicity took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down. She knew she had to be in the best possible shape if she wanted to get out of this strange place.