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With a distinctly hollow popping sound, all I could see was a solid neon blue color. After several seconds, I began to smell the iron-scented aroma of blood. I attempted to move my limbs, and while I could feel them, they felt restrained. My body felt normal, although slightly numb, with a bit of tingling from time to time. It was almost like an itch deep down in my nerves and muscles. It became quite maddening, and after experimentally testing my voice, I began to call out in case anyone was nearby.

I heard a shrill sound of metal grating against itself, and then the electronic squeal of a speaker experiencing feedback. A voice, speaking unintelligibly through static began to repeat something that I couldn't quite make out. Without warning, the neon blue dissipated from my vision and I found myself staring at a white-washed wooden ceiling. I couldn't move my head, but I could make out shapes at the edges of my vision.

The voice from earlier sounded again, shouting a very clear demand of "Why are you yelling?!"

A face hovered over mine, appearing to be the owner of the voice. The face was that of a man, skin tinged a metallic teal, sporting a mustache that had clearly been painted onto his face, but so thick as to be almost realistic in appearance. It was as though someone had painted layers upon layers, for day after day, week after week. He appeared middle-aged and tired, but with eyes that were a bright green and a bit furious. He had a covering on his head like a surgeon would wear, except it was made of a material resembling chainmail.

"I'm sorry for yelling," I said, hesitantly. "I wasn't able to see, and these restraints made me nervous."

"So you felt it was necessary to yell loudly, further disturbing me while I'm in the middle of a very delicate procedure?" he queried, angrily.

"I'm terribly sorry, sir. I was on a beach, and I bent to pick up a strange flow--"

"Yes," he interrupted, "I'm very aware of your entire story!" His words were bullets, cut with malice and hatred.

I cringed momentarily at his angry retort, and wondered what I had done to make him so upset with me so quickly.