Where was I just now?

The wind hit the windows with a tremendous shake, drawing my attention. Looking outside I could see only the trails of rain rolling down the glass, beyond that there was only darkness, obscured by the glare from the bright, single hanging light above. "Where was I just now?" The thought popped into my head before another great gust shook the room. The room. Where was I? I looked up to the small, naked bulb swaying so gently above. The ceiling was low, open with rotting rafters and made of a dirty damp looking wood, same as the wall. Cobwebs scattered about here and there in dryer looking spots. In one corner of the ceiling there was a dark spot ,the light couldn't hit, that seemed to be dripping something thick. It was pooling up on the floor below. I thought to myself "I should clean that up." Do you know where you are? Thunder in the distance rolled in with a rhythmic pulsing in the sides of my skull. Tick tick tick tick tick. Turning to the other wall I saw a small clock hanging. Old looking and traditionally ornate, it was tick ticking away. Was that there before? Before what? Why didn't I hear it? "The clock is an hour behind." I mused anxiously to myself. It chimed a low, off key, worn sound four times. The thunder rolled by again. The windows shook again. The ceiling dripped again. I then saw the person sitting across from me.

Though there was a bag over their head I knew I didn't know the man. It's a man. "My mouth is so dry." The sound of rain made me think. The man wore a green tattered jacket, buttoned all the way up, dirt and mud stains and one shoulder tore up. His face was wrapped tightly in bag, tight enough to make out the shape of his nose and eyes, and tape wrapped around a few times. His arms were tied behind the chair. The clock chimed again. The pulsing in my head. The sound of the thick sludge dripping into the puddle. The wind shook the whole shack again. Where was that again? "I think my chair is off balance." I couldn't help but notice. I put my hands on the table in front of me. It was a dirty wooden table with paint spots and scratches. The only thing on the table was a little bedside radio alarm clock on the left side of the table between me and the other person. What was...I couldn't keep my mind on one... The wind and rain and thunder howled outside. Was it louder, closer or was I blocking it out? The clock chimed. A different tone then before as if from a different clock. Many different clocks. The pulsing in my temples hit again. Banging, shaking like the windows in the wind. I covered my ears and closed my eyes. Chime. Drip. Shake. Rumble. Hum. I opened my eyes, I hadn't heard a hum.

Sitting on the table, between my hands, was a fly. It darted up to the bulb. The ceiling dripped again bringing my eyes back down the man with the bag on his head. It was now that I saw he was slouched, and had not moved in sometime, if at all. From the edge of the bag around his neck, seeped a pustulent dark color. The side of the bag was blown out and little flies dipped in and out of the hole. The clock dinged. The radio clock on the table crackled on. Tones and static bled through the howling winds and rains outside. Voices. Not words. Just sounds. "EXIT". Wait. "NINE". I just want to leave. "LIBRARY". My head hurts so much. "OCEAN". The man across from me shook his head and struggled, making hoarse muffled cries. The radio crackled again. "Now pick up the gun". I grabbed my head, looking up. The dark spot crawled and writhed. It hummed and whispered. Teeth like needles. Looking back at me. The windows kept shaking. Had they been shaking all along? The bulb swung around, throwing light with it. The walls covered with rotting things, Bugs crawled over my feet. The floor felt damp and spongy. "STARLIGHT". Please stop it. "Now pick up the gun". The man shook fiercely.

I picked up the gun and shot him in the head. I opened my eyes to see the mans head blown out from the side. My skull was pounding, slower and slower. The clock ticked slower and slower. The wind gently shook the little windows. I looked up to the lonely light bulb which swayed softly above. Looking around the cramped shack, I saw the empty chair across from me. "Where was I just now?" I stood up and turned to the crooked door behind me, lifted the rusty latch and stepped out into the darkness.

I could see the stars.