This chapter is dedicated to @dracollavenore (AKA: Moi)

[For best experience possible, play youtube video and turn on sound whilst reading]

§*§*§*§*§*§*§*§*§*§

Agnosiophobia ~ Fear of the unknown

The bars are cool to touch.

I don't know how long I've been in here and I don't want to know. As I am now, I'm safe. Not all that comfortable, but safe. There could have been so many dreadful things that could have happened such as being awake during the Witching Hour, being forgotten, falling into street pizza, or even trapped against my will. Now that I think about it, the latter does sound a little familiar but I have to remember - I want to be here. Because I know I'm safe. Because I know that I won't be struck with disaster. Because I know... I know to a point.

All those potential scenarios have haunted me ever since I got here. The nightmares unending, the madness ascending, it's alright though. As long as nothing happens I'll be fine. All I have to do is survive, they said and I would win. They weren't explicit and I don't know what I have to survive from or for how long but I do know that I know that I have to survive. I know that much at least. I have some knowledge of what's going on. Something to dampen the fear of what may or may not happen.

I shake my head violently. I can't think like that or at least I shouldn't.

Think of the present.

Dwell in the past.

Ignore the future.

For it is what may come that is true fear. I have to stay brave lest I fall prey to madness. Fear is just a figment of my imagination so as long as I don't imagine, I won't be scared. Fear isn't real but the danger is. The danger that could happen any second. Danger like a dull knife scraping away chunks of my flesh as I'm chained to the wall. Danger like having my toes slowly being mashed up by a meat grinder. Danger like-

No!

I slap my cheeks raw. I can't imagine that! I musn't! Thinking like that is bad for my health which could lead to cancer which could lead to a painful death which could-

Stop.

Stop!

Stop. STop! StOp! StoP! SToP! StOP! STOP!

No! As an Agnosiophobiac, I need to focus. Focus on the positive side. The side that is not corrupted by madness. The side that isn't swarmed by wasps, zombies, spiders...

I tremble as I chew my fingernails down to the flesh. Rock back and forth. Rock back and forth. Think happiness. For every negative, there is a positive right? Think unicorns and rainbows. Nice cool walks alongside the beach. Pillow forts and bouncy castles. Ice cream and gooey chocolate.

My pulse slows as I take a deep breath in.

"See?" I whisper to myself. I don't need to. It's not like I'm deaf to my own thoughts. Why am I even explaining this? Who am I explaining this too? Why am I rambling?

"Deep breath again," I whisper calmly. "Just another deep breath."

I do as I'm told. I need to speak to myself. It's not like anyone else is stuck in this cage with me, am I right? This cage reinforced with diamond plating. This cage from where there is no escape.

But there is. They said there was. As long as I survive. Survive what though? Survive this insanity? Survive the despair of not knowing what may or may not happen? I'll go mad before that and what happens if I don't. What happens if I do stay sane but then lose? What if I lose? Isn't there somebody I can speak too?

Suddenly I feel the air around me begin to swirl and with a flash of light, a girl appears. She has a crystal emboldened monster hunting whip gripped tightly in one hand, how I know that I don't know but the feeling is comforting, however, before I can check up on the magically appearing girl, another one flashes into existence in much the same way. This one though is covered in popcorn and... wasp stings? I don't have time to ponder before yet another human poofs into existence, or rather a ninja. Following the ninja is another girl and then another, one empty handed and the other with a rather expensive looking camera.

The portals of light flash right and left and before I have time to tally every one, two more guests further the claustrophobic conditions with the ever-shrinking cage I'm in. The two guests are a boy and girl respectively and by the white gowns that they wearing, I can only assume that one is a nurse and the other a patient. How I know this, again, I am unsure but knowledge is power and the more power you have the greater the chances of survival.

Most of the sudden guests are unconscious or at least fazed into the plane between reality and the Wattpad afterlife. They all came in flashes of light and from the states of their bodies it can be concluded that whatever way they go here, it was mostly action packed and fast paced. I mean, their breathing is still ragged and I'm pretty sure your body doesn't get beat up for no reason at all.

Normally when people drop in to see me I'm usually cowering in a corner somewhere pretending that I don't exist but for some reason, these seven total strangers almost appear familiar and as they start to stir, by the strange glint in their eyes it appears they know me too.

I gulp as fear hits me straight in the chest. I didn't anticipate this. I don't know what to do!

I feel a manic laugh bubble in my throat and an anxious grin tears its way onto my face. Just act calm. Just act natural.

I take a deep breath.

Welp. This is going to be interesting...