Imprisoned
Later I would learn that an electrical shock had seared my eyes shut and fused my retinas in place. Later I would learn that the electrical shock had boiled portions of my brain. Later I would be told I was crazy.
I slurp coffee, grimacing from the bitter taste. Who made this? Office coffee was the worst, but I’d forgotten mine at the house. All made the way I like it, just sitting on my counter in my blue company-logo’d travel mug. I take another sip. This isn’t going to be my day.
My office is on the corner of the building on the fifty-second floor. Plenty of reinforced glass and metal gridwork provide me with ample sunlight through the work day. The cityscape replaced the sun at night. Today seems like the day that I’ll work into the night. I’m sure of it.
A knock startles me. It’s my boss, Ernie Mackelson. His green eyes seem out of place with his black hair and eyebrows. He limps forward. No one knows why he limps, but there’re rumors of him getting mugged.
He doesn’t seem like the kind of guy you’d want to mug. Built like a tank, huge chest and arms to match. The guy’s at least six and a half feet tall. Nice guy, though. “Hey, can we talk a minute?”
“Sure, what’s going on?”
He sweeps into my office and eases the door shut. “Don’t talk, just listen. You’ve been living a lie. They told me to keep quiet, but I can’t hold it in anymore. You’re a captive, Sam.”
I roll my seat away from my always calm boss, my eyes widen. “Ernie, man, you’re scaring me. Is this a joke?”
His green eyes flare. “This isn’t a joke! You’re imprisoned in darkness. I’m here to help you get out.”
Confused, and a bit frightened of this emotional outburst, I look out the window. Sunshine meets my eyes. “Darkness?”
“All of this is a lie. You are an angel of the Lord. You’ve been imprisoned for one year by the Prince. Come on! You must remember!” Ernie grabs his face, and keels over. His body trembles.
“You okay?” I’ve never had to help a seizure person before. “Hang on. I’ll go get help.”
I run towards the door, but Ernie grabs my leg. “Wait! You can’t go out there!”
“Wha—”
Ernie’s coat burst into shreds and he lifts off the ground. Huge leathery wings unfurl sending a gust of wind around the office. Papers spew into the air and fall like snow. My chair flies into the window. He stares at me. “I’m the guard. You need to get out of here. You had a message to deliver. Do you remember?”
A screech shatters the silence. Glass shards rocket through the air. Fire engulfs everything that can burn. For the split second I can see it, it looks like lightning tearing through the office. It hits me in the face. My eyes sear. I can smell my own burning flesh. I’m on the ground. I can’t tell if I’m blacking out or just can’t see. Everything is darkness. Someone grabs my arm and drags me across the glass-laden floor.
Suddenly, I can see everything. The office destroyed, only carved rock and hell-made cage. The sunlight vanquished, only shadow and fire. My body radiates a light unlike any I remember seeing, and behind me, large feathery wings. Ernie was telling the truth.
Shouting echoes all around me and a something stabs into my side. I hear Ernie’s voice in my ear, “I tried to warn you. Sorry, Sam.”
Everything is dark. I hear the blip blip blip of a heart monitor and smell pervasive disinfectant aroma. Footsteps come close and a man’s voice says, “Samuel, I’m Doctor Prince. Do you know where you are?”
Unfortunately, now I do.
