Bumps in the Night

What is life? What makes it so valuable?

Why can it be given and taken so easily?

These questions are always left unanswered.

Well, this is my story.

Three boys, trapped inside a seemingly infinite ward of darkness.

Only one way out - live through the night - survive.

But the night never ends, as a constant nightmare.

I think my eyes are still closed, but that's not the case.

It is dark beyond belief.

I'm sitting on the cold, hard floor.

Snuggled up next to me is a large, metallic can.

It's full of utensils and other cookware.

It's icy figure makes me shiver, but I pick it up anyways. I don't know what use of will be, but might as well take it.

Even if my eyes don't adjust to the darkness, I can use these tools as a sort of sound radar, like a bat, or a sonar on a ship.

I decided to use one as a test.

I reach into the can, but I pull away a bloody hand.

Tch, there is something sharp in there.

Carefully this time, I feel my way around the innards of the can, searching for what had injured me.

That’ll be the first to go.

I grip its handle, and aim where I hope a wall is not. The rebound can prove dangerous.

I toss the item. It makes a few zig zag bounces before coming to a halt.

Nothing after that.

Maybe I should go pick it up.

It seems safe enough.

But maybe that’s what they want you to think.

… whoever “they” are.

I might just be making things up as excuses.

Being nervous and afraid can do that to a guy, you know?

Finally making up my mind, I decide to leave my item where it has landed.

What use will I have for it anyways?

But I still walk the direction I tossed it.

As far as I’m concerned, that’s the only open path for me to travel.
I could just use more of my can to explore my surroundings, but um…

I’m conserving. Yeah.

I realize that even if I had wanted to pick up my item, I would not have been able to.

It really is pitch black here.

No matter how much I strain my eyes, I can’t see two inches past my nose.

So this is what it’s like to be blind, huh?

I start to think about how I ended up here.

Where was I before this?

At school. I’m still wearing my uniform, actually.

I never liked school uniforms to begin with. The button-up shirts are tight and the jeans are too hot.

Sneakers are fine though. Snug fit.

Oh what am I talking about? This is completely off topic.

After walking a while, I spot a light in the distance.

I-is there someone else here?

My heart gets a bit excited. Maybe I don't have to be alone anymore.

I quickly make my way towards the light.

To my dismay, that's not the case.

There is indeed someone here.

He is a slumped body on the floor now.

The scene saddens me.

The source of the light is a flashlight that has rolled away from its owner.

As much as I would like it in my possession, that's not who I am.

Pity the dead.

I pick up the flashlight, switch it off, and lay it within the grasp of the body.

May he rest in peace.

Heart in the pits, I slowly make my way... Somewhere, really.

Somewhere, anywhere, as far as my legs can take me.

I'll just keep walking until I pass out. Maybe.

Something hits the wall next to me.

I turn towards the sound, but continue walking backwards in the direction I was headed.

I back straight into a wall.

My can drops to the ground with a large amount of clattering.

My ears ring.

The collision isn't friendly. It's cold.

The result is a headache.

I need to sit down for a bit.

I...

My hand lays upon an object the shape of a... Shoe?

I look up at the figure above me.

I catch a glimpse of a metallic object about to strike me down.

The last thing I see is the heavenly light approaching me.