Look, she was no wild animal, but she wasn't exactly used to unexpected things happening either. Up until this point, being laid off work and breaking up with temporary boyfriends had been the extent of her trials in life, and none of that prepared you for a trip down these kinds of rabbit holes.
At least the guy was patient and didn't yell at her. Plus points for not yelling. The ringing kept going in her ears, but the tried to do as he said, and breathed, in through the nose, out through the mouth. Her hands were shaking uncontrollably, and something like ice kept streaking down the back of her neck... but slowly, very gradually, the roaring in her head subsided.
She swallowed. Hard. Looking up, she stared around again, at the bleak landscape, the black tower - what had they been compensating for, those who designed it? - and slowly, hesitant and with a shuddering gaze, her attention focused on the guy crouching before her.
"Where am I?" The feigned composure had crumbled spectacularly, all nerves left exposed. She wasn't sure she wanted to know, but... Not knowing was even worse.
At least the guy was patient and didn't yell at her. Plus points for not yelling. The ringing kept going in her ears, but the tried to do as he said, and breathed, in through the nose, out through the mouth. Her hands were shaking uncontrollably, and something like ice kept streaking down the back of her neck... but slowly, very gradually, the roaring in her head subsided.
She swallowed. Hard. Looking up, she stared around again, at the bleak landscape, the black tower - what had they been compensating for, those who designed it? - and slowly, hesitant and with a shuddering gaze, her attention focused on the guy crouching before her.
"Where am I?" The feigned composure had crumbled spectacularly, all nerves left exposed. She wasn't sure she wanted to know, but... Not knowing was even worse.
