Bloom

The sun on my face,

the wind in my hair,

and the grass beneath my feet.

The song of birds in the trees,

and the laughter of children in the park.

*Clang!*

The collision echoes throughout the metallic halls, reverberating off the panels and empty beams that make up the corridors.

*Clang!*

...

*Clang!*

The thrumming of power underneath the walls gives way to the irregular pounding within the facility. The origin found within the lifeless labyrinth of cold concrete and sterile paneling, across the halls of inactive terminals and displays.

*Clang!*

*Clang, clang, clang!*

... fresh air...

Great halls can be found deep within, lined with rows upon rows of capsules. Each one equipped with its own display and control panel, each one rigged to the floors and walls with pipes and cables.

*Clang!*

Morning breeze...

In one such room was the source. A single pod, out of countless many, was emitting the resounding strikes from within.

*CLANG!*

The strike forcing a display to come to life. Medical statistics and scan results of all sorts began pouring through both the screen and holographic projections. The data is transmitted in a rapid and efficient manner.

//ERROR DETECTED//

//INITIATING EMERGENCY RELEASE//

The capsule hisses with ferocity as the machine roars to life. It creaks difficulty, then immediately the mechanisms break free and open up. The cold, recycled air rushes to embrace its occupant. A man rigged to the machine through a sort of suit.

cold morning

In spite of his earlier efforts, he is suddenly struck with a sense of fatigue. As though the energy to rise has completely left him. He can sense the sluggishness of his own blood coursing through, and the weight of his suit. In spite of the comfort it provided, it seemed heavy and hard to in. Beeps and clicks were blaring from the machine, colors flashed at regular intervals as the display demanded urgency.

The alarm clock

Sluggishly, the man churned and shifted himself into activity. He feels not only his blood rushing from his efforts but of a strange slinking sensation from under his own skin. Sudden cramps and aches erupted across his body. Some feel as though they demand he move and others demanding stillness.

Still, he eventually forced himself up, feeling the last of the pains slink out of him as he did. The alarms and noises needed to be tended to. Half-awake, yet still so heavy. Just as soon as he stood, he fell onto the floor. His knees and open hands slammed against the metal panels as the machine continued to ring. Already he can feel himself slipping back into darkness.

Moments passed as he knelt there, desperately fighting to remain conscious. The alarms faded in and out from his mind, they felt so close and so loud, yet also so far away.

Laughter.

Spontaneously, he rose from the floor. A surge of anxiety hit him as he began to clumsily bolt to the exit. He did not make it far before he had to lean on another pod to support himself. The pod was open, yet it housed no one. There was nothing to indicate recent use, yet it seemed clean and untouched.

Most other pods were shut but still humming, or open and empty. A sense of unease began to creep in. It was a sense of loneliness, he was surrounded by people yet still alone. To rouse them could have consequences. The first thing to come to his mind at this was going to stick with him. It was the urge for help.

the company of friends

Slowly, he walks once more. Each step was ponderous and heavy, as though trying to shake fatigue off like dust through impact. The force of his steps and the cold floor under his bare feet course up his legs. The shock sends creeping pain up his spine that climbed higher and higher with every step.

He leaves the alarm as it was, hopefully, his thoughts focused on reaching the exit. Its constant and consistent blaring was already naught but a memory by the time he left the door. His attire felt lighter, yet also seemed to drag him down. Groaning and half-conscious, he slowly makes his way through the cold and dimly-lit corridors.

Warmth of life

The long winding halls and dreary environment deterred him none. It was all a haze to him, his body was spurned on only by his own will. Yet he cannot even explain why he felt he should go on. He slowly adapted to his state, with his mind becoming more and more alert and aware. Yet his body still felt heavy, his clothes still felt foreign and heavy.

The embrace of the sun.

Still, he pressed on. The drowsiness slowly going away, and coming back again. Flight of stairs and trips up and down elevators. The sifting through paper documents and drawers. The corridors with their sharp turns and cramped confines littered with all sorts of furniture and obstacles.

The freedom of the fields

The man navigates through them all, fatigue and hunger knawing at him in his search. Sweat begins to form, in spite of the cold. He barely remembers how he got to where he is, barely even recalls the circumstances of his awakening. All that matters is escape now. He finally, he finds the object of his search; a card.

Clear blue skies and rolling plains.

The elevator continues up, the ascent seemingly forever. He droops over the floor, tired yet still standing. The cold underground having been enough for him. The only thing that mattered now was to return to the surface. He needed to see spring again. The desire to return pushed all other thoughts out. Yet at the same time unease lingered in his breast.

All he has are memories, but they feel so far he must question if they are just dreams, is it even spring, and is he ready for the surface? The uncertainty was brushed off with all other concerns by the belief that there was only one way to find out.

Anticipation well up inside him as he walked towards the long-forgotten entrance. Excitement overpowering fatigue, and the thought of resting underneath the shade of the trees ushered him forward.

The warning lights blared up as he input the commands and inserted the keycard, triggering the alarms as well. The lights and sounds reminding him of something. The hiss and rumble of the machine seemingly familiar. Yet the most recognizable aspect was the cold.

Snow poured forth, illuminated only by the lights of the entrance underneath a sunless sky. The howling blizzard immediately numbed him, and it was only his quick thoughts that allowed him to close the gate again. Now he was freezing cold, and oh so tired.

He has his answer now, as dissatisfied as he was. However, he can now return to sleep. The journey here was long though, and he felt so tired. It would be bad if he just lay there as he was, but surely a short rest on the floor would help him return to his bed. He can already feel the homely embrace of the mattress and blankets as his vision grew dark and the cold soothed him to sleep.