• It was the blue light that first drew her gaze. Calling it mysterious was like calling the abyss she was trapped in dim. It was the only trace of existence in that god-forsaken darkness. It was not as bright as Earth's sky on a warm summer day nor was it as dark as the same sky at midnight. No matter how hard she pondered, she couldn't name the color. All she knew was that it was the only thing that she had seen in what had felt like a century. The glow baited her towards it.

    Was she walking or floating towards it? Was she awake or deep in a dream? Who was she, anyway? Had she always been here in the dark? Her mind was a dim as the world around him. All she knew was that there was a small glowing orb that was drawing closer.

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    Hours drifted by in the abyss as the orb floated closer. Or was she moving towards it? She wasn't too sure. If only she could remember the tiniest detail, the smallest trifle, she might be able to start answering the questions. Maybe she could start working forward.

    “Luka.” The voice was soft, soothing, and engulfed her. It was as if the entire realm she was trapped in had decided to talk to her. “Your name is Luka, isn't it?

    “Y-y-yes. My name... is Luka.” Her voice was cracked and harsh, making her wonder how long it been since she had used it. “I think.”

    The voice chuckled. “You think? You forgot your own name?”

    “How long have I been here? Where am I?” Who am I, she wanted to ask.

    The blue orb finally hovered above her, bathing her in its warm light. It was so bright that she had to close her eyes not be blinded. “You certainly are talkative!” the voice proclaimed. “The others just continued to sleep when I came to check on them. Except for Miss Leone. I certainly got an earful for waking her.”

    “Please... How long have I been here?”

    “Go back to sleep, Luka. I'm sorry to have awoken you.” The light began to leave her again, leaving her trapped in this horrible abyss.

    “Wait!” she called after it.

    Thankfully, it stopped. “Is something wrong?”

    “Don't go. This place... I think I've gone crazy.”

    The light seemed highly amused. “That's nothing new. Everyone here has.”

    Everyone? The little piece of her working brain knew that wasn't the way things were supposed to be. Why couldn't the blue light make any sense? Why did it make her even more confused? At least she now knew one thing. Luka. Her name was Luka.

    “Is there something wrong?”

    “No...” The darkness was overtaking her again. Already she could feel the abyss sucking her back into oblivion. Would she be free again? Was this the only moment Luka would ever live before being stolen away from her by the shadows? “Yes. There is.”

    It was as if a switch had been flipped. Suddenly the light had taken a more serious, fatherly tone. “What is it? What do you need help with?”

    Why would it comply with this one little wish in her fading heart? It was so much to ask for, but if this would be her last, and only, moments, maybe it would be compassionate.

    “Just stay with me until I'm gone.”

    “Gone?”

    She nodded her head, even though she knew it couldn't see. Or could it? Luka didn't know. “Please stay with me just a little longer. I don't want to be alone as I go into the peaceful night.”

    The orb bobbed and the voice chuckled. “Oh, is that it? I'll stay until you go back to sleep.”

    “Thank you, blue light.”

    “Tash is the name. Doctor Tash Reynolds, although you can just call me Doctor Tash, if you want.”

    Doctor Tash? Such an odd name for such an odd glow.

    Luka closed her eyes, the blue light still bouncing in her head, as she slowly slipped back into the shadows. Luka. Luka. Luka. It felt like a warm life raft as she drifted back into the sea of nothingness.