Dawn Of Rebellion Collection

6. Gabby

My skin is on fire. Is this hell? Did I die? I can see the flames dancing around me. Sweat pours down my face. Water, I need water. “Somebody please help me.” There"s no one here to hear me. I"m alone, I"m on fire; what else can possibly go wrong? The heat has finally gone to my head and I faint right there, with the flames still refusing to go out.

“No. Please. Put me out.” I wake and there is no fire. The heat persists, but I"m not burning to death. I can"t think of a worse way to die. But where am I, if not dead?

I can"t control my breathing as I start to panic. It"s too hot; I don"t know how long I can stand it. I"d give anything for a drop of water, just one drop that isn"t my own sweat. I"m alone in what seems like a small box. It"s too small for me to stretch out my cramped legs, but the pain is the least of my worries.

My head pounds from the heat. I know enough to realize that if I keep sweating like this, I won"t survive long unless I get some water.

I don"t know if it"s because of the heat, the thirst, or simply a left-over effect from whatever they drugged me with, but I can"t stay awake. I just need a little kip. At least, that"s what I tell myself before I pass out.

How long does this go on? A day? A week? I pass in and out of consciousness. I wake up to a hand reaching through a small door at the bottom of my prison. The mysterious hand places a small cup of water and a piece of bread on the floor and then pulls back. I want to cry out to whoever is out there, but I can"t find my voice. I reach for the cup and could swear that the water sizzles as it hits my tongue. That may just be the delirium talking. My thirst is worse than ever as I suck the last dribble of water from the cup. When it"s empty, I throw it to the ground and attempt to eat the bread. I can barely choke it down my swollen throat. I curl back up and sink into the darkness once again.

In rare coherent moments, I can"t believe this is happening to me. It"s not like I"m a danger to anyone. I"m a teenage girl! And I"m all that my sister Dawn has.

I just wanted my sister to have a nice birthday in the middle of this shite world. She deserved it. What will happen to her now? Oh, Dawn, I"m so sorry. The tears fight to come, but they lack the water so I end up dry heaving instead.

I have nothing left to give.