My eyelids flutter open and I gasp.

I'm alone in a box, a midnight black box. I'm moving upwards, my speed gaining. I can't see a thing, and my breathing speeds with every intake of breath.

"He-hello?" I croak, wincing at the sound of my cracking voice.

There's no response. I attempt to stand, holding my hands out in front of me to keep my balance. I walk cautiously, one step at a time, holding on to the cage-like barred walls so I don't fall. Every step I take causes the box to creak and groan. I figure, judging by the sounds, that the box is held up by metal chains.

The box suddenly stops moving, and I clumsily trip over one of the few miscellaneous boxes scattered about on the ground. I let out a stream of quiet curses.

"Hello-o-o-o...," I repeat, relieved to hear the normal tone of my voice returning slowly.

I don't remember the last time I lost my voice, I think.

A moment passes, and I realize I don't remember the last time I did anything.

I internally panic, desperately trying to think about my past-any memory that could possibly occur to me, but there aren't any. There's only wisps of color, like a painting that's missing too much to be able to interpret its meaning. That's what my memories are: useless, colorful streaks of paint on the mysterious canvas of my past.

Is this a dream? If it is, surely it's a nightmare.

A crack of white hot light explodes above my head. It expands outwards on both sides, creating a blinding rectangle-shaped opening.

Once my eyes adjust, I see faces peeking into the opening. They're boys, all boys, dozens of them.

"It's a girl!" one of them shrieks.

"I call dibs!" another one cries, and I have the nerve to smirk.

A strong-looking rope with a sort of noose on the end falls into the opening, and I stare at it for a moment before stepping into the loop. Someone pulls me up, and then suddenly I'm standing in a warm, grassy area, surrounded by boys.

Fear creeps back into my heart. Who are they? Where am I? Did they do this to me?

One blond boy steps forward with a slight limp. He grins at me, putting a hand on my shoulder, and I'm sure my heart stops altogether.

"Welcome to the Glade," he says in a thick accent. "You're safe now."

If this is a dream, I'm pretty sure it isn't a nightmare.