Pain.

Cold.

Blood.

Repeat.

It echoed in my head like a broken song. Pain first- it was always pain. Then cold- make yourself numb, and you don't feel it. And then blood- always the blood.

I gasped awake, clutching at my chest. My heart hammered like it was trying to escape.

Where was I? Where was I going? Who the hell was I?

The questions tangled in my mind, but no answers came.

I blinked once. Twice. Darkness swallowed everything around me. I was moving- no, rising. The ground trembled under me, the walls shuddered.

Feel around. Found out where you are.

The voice inside me was steady, calm. I didn't hesitate. My hands slid over cold metal walls, the floor, the ceiling. A create. That's what it was. My fingers brushed over stacked boxes, rough and sharp-edged. I pried one open and found a knife glinting faintly in the dark. Without thinking, I shoved it into my pocket.

Then- light. A bean cut down from above as the ceiling ground opened. The whole crate jolted to a stop.

I sucked in a breath and pushed the hatch open.

The sun blinded me. Heat kissed my skin, so harsh it stung. I squinted, listening for voices, for anything. But there was only silence.

Slowly, I climbed out and scanned the field.

Four massive stone walls surrounded me, each split by a door gapping open at its center. At the far end of the field stood a house and a fenced pen. I frowned at it, confusion stirring- until a goat bleated behind me. I jumped, whipping around toward the create.

Animals. They'd sent animals up with me.

My pulse slowed. I took it all in one last time- the walls, the doors, the empty silence. Was this home now? No. I didn't even remember my home. I didn't remember anything. No parents. No friends. Not even my own name.

Nothing.

I shoved the ache down and got to work. Box by box, I unloaded the crates. Goats into the pen. Supplies stacked in the dirt. By the time I hauled the last one out, the floor rattled and the whole thing sank back into the ground.

I stepped away quickly, unprepared for the movement. My breath came shaky, but I steadied myself.

Food. Knives. Blankets. Clothes. Everything I'd need to survive. And every box stamped with the same letters: W.C.K.D.

Whoever they were- they were some damn psychopaths.

"I'm in for one hell of a ride" I muttered as the sun dipped low and the giant doors groaned shut on their own.

Day 31

"Hello again, nobody, if you're listening, I'm still trapped in this square field surrounded by walls.
The doors open, the doors close. And I'm alone."

I chewed the last of my breakfast, staring at the sky.
"Day thirty-one, I think. I remembered my name day two. Reyna. In case I die, I carved it on the wall so the next poor soul knows who was here before them."

My voice cracked but I forced it steady.
"It's not just walks. There's a maze out there. And monsters. Things that prowl at night. So for now, I run it every day, mapping, searching for a way out. God, if anyone can hear me...get me out of here."

Same routine as always. Pack food, pack weapons. Run when the doors open.

Expect this morning, everything changed.

An alarm shrieked from the box. Red light flashed like fire.

"What the hell?" I shouted, sprinting to it.

Minutes dragged, then silence fell. My knife was already in my grip as I forced the hatch open.

"Hello?" I called down, wary. My boots hit the metal floor, and I crept around the crates. That's when I saw him.

A boy. Eyes wide, body frozen. He looked like he was about to fall apart right there. His gaze darted from me to the blade in my hand.

"Look- I don't know how I got here. Please- please don't hurt me" he stammered

I stared at him, then slowly lowered the knife and set it on the floor.

"I'm not going to hurt you, okay? My names Reyna. Can you remember yours?" I ask

He shook his head quickly.
"N-no. I can't. Why can't i remember anything?" He asked, panic sharpened his voice.

"Hey. Breath. It's alright."  I kept my voice firm my steady.
I didn't remember anything either. Climb out, and I'll explain what I can" I said

Suspicion lingered in his eyes, but finally- finally he climbed out of the box. I followed close behind.

"Well, newbie. Welcome to what I call the Vale" I said, gesturing at the field.

Later, we sat beneath the trees, the supplies piled near us. He stared out, questions brimming.

"Where are we? How'd we get here? What's out there-" he spilled out

I cut him off.
"One at a time. I don't know where exactly. Just that there's a maze beyond those walls. And this Vale in the center." I answer

"How did I get here? How did you get here?" He asked

"The crates. They're stamped with W.C.K.D. Same letters carved into the walls. Whoever they are, they sent us here" I say

"Why can't I remember anything?" He asks

I let out a slow breath.
"I don't know. I woke up the same way. Empty. The only thing that came back was my name, and that was on the second day" I said

His shoulders sagged.
"So...what do we do now?" He asks

I looked out at the towering walls, at the doors that would open again soon.

"Survive" I answer