The darkness swirled around her, as her head swum and the room sank into the foundation. There was someone there with her, but she couldn't see them; all she could tell were a pair of arms and a distant voice.
It'll be alright, just cry, just cry, the voice said. And she yearned to scream out no, no, it's all wrong, this is all wrong, where is everything? But the tears covered her speech, as the voice continued, as if it was swimming underwater.
Just put your head here, that's it, nice and easy, cry, cry, was all she heard. Over and over, as the sound slow faded. It was like color. Purple. A little blue. And still the tears splashed all over her, like ice cubes, all floating in the sea of color and sound and touch. She didn't know anything still, couldn't really see, except for the splatters of color and the phrases from the swimming mouth.
Swallow, you'll choke. That's it, that's it. Good girl. She felt a soft hand pat her head, as her eyes misted over, blotting out the colors as they ran in front of her. All those colors, soft like ribbons, flowed through the room as it melted away, leaving only the sound of the voice and the tears dripping off her face. Splash, splash, like rain. Like waves. The tide had come in, and was filling up the room slowly. Didn't they see it? Didn't they see it?
Another voice floated around her, and still she wanted to answer. But she couldn't tell what the second voice -- if it was a second voice and not a mutation of the first -- she couldn't tell what it was saying. Another set of hands touched her, trying to calm her. Trying to slow her heart, the heart she saw made the colors beat and the flaming walls throb. Every pulse sent a tear down her small nose, filling her open mouth. Why could she make no sound?
Shh, shh, little one, it'll be alright. You're safe...but it wasn't true. None of it was real, none of it, and no one heard it but her. Pop. The world was popping, and no one could feel it, the thousands of tiny pinpricks jabbing her skin and making her grab the thick air like a blanket. But she couldn't pull it close. No security here, no matter what the swimming mouth confided in her. And as the pools of the room faded to red, she continued her soundless moan; each sob made the floor shake.
She was falling, plummeting, diving for eternity. Nothing stood in her way except the mouth. That mouth; it spat orange onto the floor. The orange swirled like a net, catching her in its arms, trying to console her desperately. Don't worry. Don't worry. We won't tell anyone. Just shh. Shh. No need to shout. You're safe here. You're in good hands. Good hands. You're alive. You're alive. Open your eyes and see...
The orange misted and dissolved, and again she began her rapid descent. She wanted to scream my eyes are open! They're open, can't you see? Can't you feel the pain, the waves of color flowing from them? Can't they feel the pulse of every beating lid? Oh, how they hurt...
Everything slowed as she felt the world slow in one long, drawn out squeal. The walls were no more rebuilt than before, and the room was still sinking, sinking, slowly, and the colors lie discarded on the cluttered floor; cluttered with thoughts, ideas, tears...the sea was no more receded than it had been when she started, her tears slowing like a leaky faucet, and her mouth filled and emptied without a request.
Her shirt was damp. Her face was raw. Her eyes, oh they burned, they burned. And her arm, her soft arm, it flamed up as it saw the mouth pierce it with steel, and the darkness claimed her once again, once again she plunged...
But this time her eyes were closed.
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