***
Marina floated in a sightless and soundless darkness. Everything was blank. Nothing existed. She knew not what nothing even was. She simply floated, unaware. No thoughts skittered across her empty mind. In that all encompassing blackness. She didn't even know of her own existence.
Suddenly a small light flickered in the distance. As if a switch was flipped, her mind suddenly began working. Where am I? Who am I? She thought to herself.
“Remember...” A voice whispered in the darkness.
“Marina Elderol” She said aloud, her voice echoing in the shadow.
“Yes...” The voice hissed.
“Where am I?” She called into the darkness. “What has happened to me. Did I die during the divination?”
“You are not dead...” The voice whispered. It was silent for several moments. Then it continued. “Shaila, her divination opened the gate... You have retreated deep inside yourself.”
“Opened the gate?” Marina asked, puzzled. “Who are you?”
No whisper responded. Suddenly the darkness felt oppressive. Marina grabbed at her throat, suddenly feeling as if she was suffocating. “Who are you!” She screamed into the darkness.
Still there was only silence. Marina's chest burned, and her mouth gaped open and closed like a fish out of water. She could no longer draw breath at all. She fell to her knees, then crashed to her side. As she curled into a ball, her knees pulled up to her chin, a small whisper echoed in her ear.
“I am the past.”