Yvonne opened her eyes to a blackness and silence that caused her breath to stop and her heart to stutter. She lifted her hands up to feel her face, OK, I seem to be alive at any rate!
Putting her hands down she felt around, perceiving a slightly scratchy covering, probably a blanket, and a cool stiff fabric, a sheet. I can’t be in that much danger if they’ve put me in a bed!
Yvonne turned and put her feet down until they touched the floor. It was warm and slightly slippery. She stood up and, waving her hands in front of her, tried to find a wall in what she hoped was a bedroom.
A noise froze her in place and as her heart rate accelerated she heard a voice, ‘I’m glad to see you’re awake. Someone will come to fetch you in a few minutes. Sit back down and wait.’
‘Hello. Who’s there? Where am I? Who are you? Why am I here?’
Yvonne’s panicked stuttering ground to a halt when she received no answers.
Gradually she could perceive light and then the outline of a door and soon footsteps coming towards her. When they stopped she saw the door begin to open inwards and a dark shadow entered the room.
‘Follow me.’
Yvonne raced after the man who was quickly striding away. ‘Please slow down. I can’t keep up with you if you go so fast.’
‘Not my problem.’
Eventually she was led into a room where several people appeared to be eating. ‘This is the dining hall. All your meals will be served here. You will be given a timetable outlining your daily routine. If you aren’t here you won’t get food. I’ll take you to get clothes next but first I’ll give you your work schedule.’
‘My what? Who the hell do you think you are?’
‘Do you remember the resolution you broke?’
‘What’s that got to do with anything?’
‘That’s why you’re here.’
‘What?’
‘My you have a marvellous conversational ability. Now…’
‘Hold on a minute. Who cares about that? I demand to know what’s happening here.’
‘Do you? How interesting. Do you remember being told that you have to keep your resolutions?’
‘Yes, but…’
‘Do you remember the party you were in last night?’
Yvonne nodded.
‘Do you remember the resolution ceremony and then this morning how you broke that resolution?’
‘Yes but everyone breaks resolutions.’
‘No.’
‘What?’
‘You’re very fond of that word. You have broken your resolution and now you are here, where all people who break their resolutions are sent. Now you must work for us at whatever we task we give you.’
‘You can’t do that. That’s slavery.’ ‘I’m so glad you’ve caught on. To be fed you need to work. To be clothed you need to work. To get a room you need to work. Understand? Good. Now let’s get on with the first day of the rest of your life.’
