Pastel colors washed over the existing landscape. Waves of yellow, orange, and violet covered the expanse that she saw as she walked through the calm chaos that surrounded her. Walking in a slow pace, she looked around at the wondrous environment to soak in t he once in a lifetime experience. Losing her conscience, the colors started to shift violently, forced her to the ground, and started to drown her. Horrendous images started to form in front of her eyes, even as she shut them. She leaped into the air, waving her hands vigorously, trying to make the pain go away. Suddenly, the ground beneath her morphed into a mucky thick liquid, and dragged her down into its bleak soul. Grabbing on the edges didn’t work; they too collapsed into clay-like fragments, disappearing into the warm colors that hovered above her. After long, she just gave up and let her body collapse into the black underbelly of the ground.

“Wake up!” Yelled a voice that snapped Melanie back into reality. She was laying in a hospital bed, surrounded by nurses and her closest friend, Larissa. A nurse came into the room along with an old but intelligent police officer. He motioned for the remaining nurses to leave until there were only the three of them in the room.

“What happened?” Melanie asked, knowing that what happened must have been serious.

“Where were you the night of Sunday the 26th?” The officer asked, with an urgent tone. Melanie paused in hesitation, shocked by the hastiness of the man, and looked at her best friend.

“Answer him,” Larissa told her imperatively as if she was on the side of the officer.

“I don’t remember,” Melanie replied, as she tuned to the officer.

“We have no time!” The officer exploded, causing a disturbance in the room, “look Melanie, something very serious is about to happen, and if you don’t tell us where you were, lives will be at stake!” Tears started to form in Melanie’s eyes.

“What is the last thing you remember?” Larissa asked, trying to take the attention away from the frustrated cop.

“There was a man,” Melanie started as the event came to her, “and he offered me some drugs…”

“What did he look like?” the officer interrupted loudly.

“I don’t remember,” she responded, although by the look of the man’s face she knew that wasn’t the answer he wanted.

“Melanie,” the officer said looking in to her eyes and trying to hold in his anger, “the drugs that you took have been secretly distributed among 30 people, whom have all died from them. You are the only person who took them that has survived.”

The realization of the situation stunned Melanie as the horror sunk in. It was all up to her to remember, possibly saving more lives. The only problem is that she knew she didn’t remember. She stayed quiet and looked at Larissa who had a disappointed look on her face. The police officer turned and gazed out the window of the hospital room.

“I didn’t want to resort to this,” he said to himself almost in regret, “but if you don’t tell me right now,” he said as he pulled out his pistol, “I will have to shoot you.” Melanie froze, along with Larissa.

“There are no nurses or doctors on this floor since what were discussing is confidential, so there is no one to save you.”

“Killing us will do no good,” Larissa said, trying to reason, “you’ve gone mad, and I think we can settle this easier if you put that away.”

“Don’t talk like that to me! I know what I’m doing!” yelled the man as he pointed his pistol at Larissa.

“Don’t shoot her!” Melanie said, “I…know who the man looked like; I remember now,” she lied, hoping to save her friend’s life. The officer calmed down and lowered his gun, “ What did he look like?”

“Um, he as white, had black hair and a dark beard.”

“What color eyes did he have?”

“I couldn’t tell. He was wearing sunglasses.”

“At night?” the officer responded, assuming she was lying.

“Yes,” Melanie responded doing her best not to make a mistake.

“Lie again, and I shoot your little friend,” he yelled, “I need to know. I can save lives!”

“You are wasting your time with us!” Larissa said, “Melanie clearly does not remember.”

“Then I’ll make her remember!” The officer said as he quickly aimed his gun at Larissa and pulled the trigger. The bullet pierced her leg and she collapsed onto the floor in pain. Melanie screamed as the insane man took aim again.

“Lie to me again and I parallelize her for life!”

“I said I don’t remember!” Yelled Melanie again, knowing that was all she could do. Larissa, rolling on the floor screaming crawled toward the window.

“No…” the officer said to himself as he saw multiple police cars coming toward the hospital, “They must have heard us.”

Melanie exhaled knowing help was coming. The officer freaked and tried not to stand in the window’s view. He reloaded his pistol and ran out of the hospital room, closing the door behind him, leaving Melanie and Larissa alone. It was only a matter of time before the police made it up and took down the rouge officer. They waited, not making a sound. All they heard was the officer pacing the hall, cursing. Suddenly, the elevator door opened.

“Drop the gun and place your hands on your head!” yelled a policeman.

“You don’t know what your doing!” the officer responded, “There is a girl in there that knows who the drug dealer is!”

“He was already captured,” replied another cop, “now put down that gun and nobody will be hurt.” Suddenly the girls heard an exchange of gunfire that broke the silence. It lasted only a couple of seconds, but many shot were fired.

“We got him,” the voice of one of the cops stated. Before long, they found the room Melanie and Larissa were in. “You’re safe now,” the cop stated as more cops came in to help them, “it’s over.”