I awoke shuddering in a dark cave. It's so cold, I thought, feeling around for something to cover myself with. I should've expected there would be nothing there, but I kept searching.
Roughly ten minutes later, I gave up and sat there, hugging myself for whatever warmth I could find. I have to find a way out, I told myself silently. I reached out to my sides and walked around trying to find the wall of the dark cavern. Every joint in my body ached as I moved it, but I pushed on, through the seemingly endless dark.
Eventually, I could see the slightest sign of light, and, forgetting my exhaustion and pain, I sprinted towards it. The mouth of the tunnel-like cave opened to a view that appeared to be from a mountain. A mountain? Never mind. I'll worry about my whereabouts later, once I find some source of sanity.
I surveyed the striking view surrounding me, shielding my eyes against the sunlight's brilliance. Looking to my front and to my right, I could only see farmland and very distant civilizations that I wouldn't waste my time trying to reach. When I looked to my left, I felt ridiculous for not noticing what was before me earlier.
A path of dirt that I followed with my eyes led up to the magnificent building so medieval, so grand. It was a building that could've easily been a castle in previous times, yet seemed so modern in unexplainable ways. It definitely looked like there were living beings there, ones that took care of the shrubbery and grass around the massive building.
Taking one last glance at the eerie cave behind me, I began latching on to trees and bushes -- anything that would support my weight -- and climbed up to the path that led to the magnificent structure before me.
I lost all sense of time, direction, and -- well -- senses. The climb would've made any person with the previous experiences I had vomit or give up, but I couldn't feel any of that. I set my focus on the building, and that's where it remained.
Taking the final steps up to the building, seeing no visible life, tears welled in my eyes, reluctant and angry. I dropped to my knees and buried my head in my hands. I could've been smarter about this. Who would possibly live in such a nice building? Why would anyone live so isolated, anyway? Stupid idea. Such a stupid, stupid idea...
Then I looked up to the sound of something creaking. A tall man walked through the main entrance and towards me, holding out a hand. I took it and he helped me up.
"Where am I?" I asked, my voice barely a raspy whisper.
"Black Rose Academy," He replied. "A school for talented students."
I looked behind him at the doors to the academy. There were a few other people -- teachers or students, I couldn't tell -- staring at me like a deer gazing into the headlights of a car before it's hit. If they were there, did they see me weep like a weakling?
I wiped my eyes and face vigorously, returning my gaze to the man in front of me.
"So what now?" I asked him, trying to make my voice normal.
"Well, you look like you could use a hot bath and some rest, for sure."
Just like that, I felt all my exhaustion fall on me like a weight someone dropped on my shoulders. I watched as the man motioned to some people at the door and issued commands, but I didn't so much as hear him tell me his name, nor ask for mine.
I was zoning out so much, I almost passed out then and there, but when the man rested his hand on my shoulder, I jolted back to real life.
"What?" I asked, feeling like an idiot for not hearing him the first time.
"What is your name?"
Most people would have remembered theirs -- or, most people I know would have -- and spoke it after a short pause or no hesitation at all. I practically stood through an hour-long cadence before remembering.
"I-it's Akiko," I paused for a second in thought. "...I think..."
"You must have a concussion," the man offered.
"Maybe..."
Then I was being ushered to one room and the next, sitting through pointless conversations of the man who found me answering countless questions for me. Finally, I was brought to a room where everyone left me. It was elegantly simple, but when I stepped through a door to some room I couldn't name, I felt just like when I had first stepped through the cave entrance.
The room was so white, I felt like I was a patient at a mental hospital. They may as well have padded the walls as well, complete the set. The only color besides plain white was the gold finish; the doorknobs, the tub's feet, the shower-head, the knobs on the toilet and sink.
I left after bathing and such, then fell in bed, hoping to wake up to this all being a dream. Please, don't be real, please don't be real, I told myself as I fell asleep. Of course, with my luck, it wasn't.

I need to note that the image of Akiko Fang is the image in my signature, so there is no confusion. Just needed to say that, so enjoy the guild and I will see you in the forums. heart heart heart