Rough Writing

“Ms. Streep, are you ready for your leap?” the technician politely asked.

“Yes, yes I think I am, thank you” Cherian replied. This would be Cherian’s fifth leap. So much changed each leap she mused as the chamber was gently sealed by the technician. To her no more than a heartbeat would pass but the world and life outside her sterile steel chamber would have experienced another twenty years. That was the farthest she, or any leaper, was allowed to leap. Twenty years if she had enough finances to back it or less if her Leap fund didn’t mature as expected. There were always contingencies and backups that would automatically suspend her leap if needed but so far every leap left her enriched and excited to experience the joy of getting to know the world again. Leap providers did their best to ensure those who used their services would be in the financial position to continue paying for further leaps.

A woman’s voice smoothly began the countdown.

“Five, Four, Three, Two, One, Leap Commencing”

A flicker and suddenly Cherian was plunged into darkness. She blinked. This had never happened before. Silence filled the chamber as she began to peer into the darkness around her vainly straining to see the gleaming steel walls that had just been there. Every time she’d heard that same recording count back to her leap it had always ended and then almost immediately the chamber’s door was opened by yet another polite technician who would lead her to post leap orientation.

“Hello?” Cherian said with concern beginning to seep into her. She was not excitable by nature so while the darkness was disconcerting it had not yet begun to disturb her. Slowly with small steps and hands stretched out feeling in front of her she made her way towards the chamber’s door. Her fingertips touched freezing metal and she stopped and began moving her hands across the frigid surface of the door to its sides and then to the small hatch panel immediately after the small ridge of the edge of the door. There was a small emergency panel that should let her manually communicate with control or open the door. The comm was dead so she pressed the manual release button. With a click and the beginnings of a groan the door began to open.

As the door strained to open and the sounds of metal on metal screeched Cherian began to be concerned. No light entered the chamber with the door’s removal. The way before her was still dark. She began to walk forward out of her chamber. Her foot crossed the threshold of the chamber and her soft pleather shoes gingerly graced across the carpet as she moved into the hall. Underfoot she felt gravel, which seemed impossible to her and her heart rate began to climb and she felt very cool. Relying on her memory she started moving towards what she thought was an exit. Her foot came down on what felt like a branch so she paused. Unnoticed her breathing began to increase. She knelt to feel with her hands. Her hands touched a dried leathery cold rod shape. With terror growing in her she moved her hand towards the edge and felt shrunken knuckles and fingers. Muffling a screech with her other hand she quickly stood up and proceeded to move towards where the elevators to her level should be in a controlled panic.

With her increased pace she stumbled over debris she could not see while moving towards the elevators as fast as she dared in the dark.

After reaching the elevator and finding it non responsive she forced her way through the doors and into the shaft. Steeling herself from her almost overwhelming panic she felt around the interior of the shaft and found a rung. Pulling herself onto the ladder she began climbing up in the unending darkness and quiet. All leap centers had their leap chambers buried beneath the ground to some degree to aid in stabilization. She had a long climb ahead of her.

The hours passed as she fell into a monotonous pattern of climbing till her arms ached and then resting till she was able to climb again. Saving her strength she ignored the other levels she passed on her way to the top. She took her longest break on top of the stopped car in her shaft. A dusty grit clung to everything and she knew she was covered in it. Wiping sweat from her head she could feel the oil and grime build up on her hands and face. She finally reached the top of the shaft and with a surge of adrenaline pushed her bruised and aching hands between the elevators doors and thrust them open.

Light struck her face and almost knocked her down the shaft with its brilliance. With clenched teeth and scrunched eyes she pulled herself over the edge and onto the carpet and with her whole body trembling collapsed into sleep.