Carolina’s Story

There they went through the time warp again. It was quite a different feeling then the other time. Something was definitely wrong. The great tingling sensation when going into the past now felt as if a thousand knives were slicing through their skin, as time slipped through them. It was one of the most painful sensations that they had ever experienced.

As the machine ceased its high velocity slowly, it was almost an undetectable slowing that when stopped it still felt like it was moving. The machine was acting really strange. Instead of being set down easily after separation the entire shell of their room slammed down so hard Carolina’s breath was knocked out of her and soon succumbed to unconsciousness. Adelaide's chamber shell caused her to fall and injure her head leaving her unconscious as well, though in a more critical condition. Something was unmistakably wrong. The machine had never acted so erratic. They had never had such a rough time of making an entrance to any time. It was as if the machine had said, “Oh, hell no.” And was trying to get away from an unwanted force.

It was hours before Carolina awoke to find she was in the now damaged shell of the machine. It must’ve been night for it was dark except for the moonlight that seemed to light the world surrounding her. Carolina was in pain, she must’ve hit her shoulder when the machine hay wired leaving the shell to slam into the ground. Her shoulder didn’t feel attached to her body anymore. It was definitely a horrible feeling that a limb that you’ve had your entire life now doesn’t feel your own.

“Oh, I’m dead. I just know I’m dead. And I brought Adelaide down with me.” Carolina thought to herself as she tried to shift her position drawing only more pain to herself. Her breath got shallow as she kept trying to shift her body to try to make an assessment of her predicament, a few broken ribs, a dislocated shoulder, a gash around her abdomen and a migraine that no amount of aspirin could quench.

After assessing her predicament, Carolina started to notice something peculiar, there seemed to be closeness about the place. The air was cool and humid less yet there was oppressiveness about her. There was no denying the fact that she was like a wounded bison on the plains, just waiting to be killed.

Every move she made brought such a burst of pain that her eyes blurred and was about ready to give in to the pain. Carolina felt the air around her crystallize into fog. The oppressive air was now a crushing blow to Carolina’s lungs, each breath harder than the last. Her eyes in constant blurring and all her injuries only held her in her state. A rustling coming from a direction unknown to Carolina reached her ears, pushing Carolina’s panic button in a series of hits. Something was out there and Carolina had no way of protecting herself. She was as helpless as a newborn joey. Ice dripped onto her forearms then suddenly the next explicit pain came to her shoulder in an instant of fire and heat. She was only awake enough to see a orange haze.

There was a dull stabbing pain in her shoulder that had somehow become relocated and a restraining feeling around her chest bind her breaths to short shallow breaths. Every part seemed to be aching and unmoving. She had to be dead there wasn’t a light at the end of the tunnel only an unceasing sting all over the earthly body.

“Icwoclo-not dead yet.” An icy cold voice emanated from directly south of her. The hair on the back of her clammy neck rising dramatically at the sound, strange sensations running from her toes to her fingertips resulting from the chillingly insensitive voice.

Trying to speak words yet only hoarse moans of grotesque’s nature formed. Her throat felt like sandpaper. Not a moment later, icy cold liquid slid down her throat roughly, easing some of her discomfort.

“Where am I?” Carolina finally spoke with a struggle.

“Himwalo deva coralo.” It was a very singsong voice that shot icy daggers. She didn’t understand any of the language yet it seemed familiar in a way.

Being blindfolded and tied to a hard surface was getting to her sore muscles and bones. She now understood why her body didn’t want to respond to her failed attempts of moving.

“Wh-“

“Migeta Golag-no more questions you silly beast. You will hold your tongue or I’ll rip it out.” The voice belonged to a different icy cold voice, more feminine than the last but still singsong.

“Untie me and we’ll see whose tongue is ripped out.” Carolina stated with a calm sincerity that brought a new meaning to chilly.

All at once her entire body felt like it was on fire and pain shot through her system, crippling her. It seemed like hours before the pain subsided, a ringing of bells interrupted the torturous fire consuming her entire being. Moments later, doors clanked open and a silence came over the two singsong voices that had been murmuring during her torture.