▂▃▄▅

Abbie had never been a fan of horror movies. It was unfortunate, perhaps; if he had been, he might have had the wisdom to be anywhere but here. He wanted to be a marine biologist, and this seemed like the perfect opportunity to earn that college credit. Yet, as the submarine he and his peers were trapped in sank deeper into the ocean, doubt began to take root. Maybe it’s just the mounting water pressure, but he couldn’t shake the feeling of being engulfed in perpetual fear. He never truly wanted to be on-mission, he wanted to study on land. Thankfully, he doesn’t have to leave the confines of the submarine.

But he can’t think of the positives. He wants to go home. It’s always dark, and if anything goes wrong, it could cost him and his friends their lives. Maybe all the stress is in his head. That doesn’t mean he can handle it.

He’s remained curled up in his room, looking for something — anything — to distract him from this borderline-nightmare scenario. Abbie can’t seem to get up though, his gaze fixed on the floor where the blade of a box cutter juts out from beneath his bed. Who put that there? And why can’t he tear his eyes away from it?

Just then, you enter. He hadn’t expected anyone to check on him, and the sudden intrusion sends the tears he'd been holding back spilling over.