Whumpay 24 Day 8: Asthma Attack
Whumpee was thrown roughly onto the ground. Disoriented from the sudden shift in gravity, they could not stop the door slamming closed.
A garbled voice speaks through the small window in the solid metal. “Two days locked in the cell should learn you some manners.” They start to respond but are cut off by the small yellow light sliding off. Whumpee is now stuck in the pitch black room.
Understanding Whumper came with the knowledge that they were serious in their threat. Two days would be spent in the dark room, no food or water, until the punishment was over. Whumpee sighed, readying themself for the long haul, eyes slowly adjusting to their temporary prison.
It was a typical square room, a few metres by a few metres, made of concrete. Nothing else, not even a bed or a toilet. No stimulation. Whumpee tsked to themself as they realized that the days would be a bit harder than expected.
They stood up, feeling against the walls and floor– the ceiling was too high for them to reach– for anything interesting or useful. Again, nothing. Not a stray nail or unique bump anywhere. Just dust-covered smoothness. Even the door, with only a small seam that was impossible to see and only barely felt.
Whumpee slumped against the wall in a huff.
They aren’t sure how long they sit there, inhaling the dank air and stewing in their anger before they feel a familiar press against their chest. Instantly, they begin to panic.
How had they not noticed all the particles flowing in the air, how had they not taken any precaution for all the dust they felt?
They try to slow their breathing, but an itch starts in the back of their throat, growing more persistent with each second. Despite their efforts to hold them off, Whumpee lets out a dry cough, which is followed by another and another, until they are full on wheezing. Their lungs have tightened to the point of no entry, trachea preventing any air from fueling their system.
Whumpee crumples into themselves, eyes tearing up, and clawing uselessly at their own neck. The sounds that echo in the room are unpleasant, which only sets Whumpee off further. Their attempts at breathing pick up, but no matter how hard they try they can not catch their own breath.
Thoughts of their own imminent demise fill their head, supplying more ammo to their panic. Sure, they weren’t that afraid of death– they had become ready for it in a way– but if this was how they had to go, curled on the floor of a dusty square dark room gasping for a breath that will never come, Whumpee was going to have a word with whatever force was running things. Because, frankly, this was not as fun or interesting of a death they believed they deserved.
As their eyes began to close, the effort of their body trying to save itself only killing them quicker, Whumpee only wished they could rub their unintentional demise in Whumper’s face– a final ‘fuck you.’
But even that would not be permitted.
Whumper slammed the door open, the loud clang of metal colliding against stone echoing in the room. Very unhelpful.
They crouched down to Whumpee’s prone, breathless form, lifting their head and shoving plastic between their lips. It took them a moment to understand what it was, until their tongue traced the familiar outline of their inhaler.
They tried slowing their breaths and inhaled the medicine from the canister. Instantaneously their throat relaxed, muscles finally allowing for the intake of air. Their heart rate relaxed and they shakily took the puffer from Whumper.
They gave Whumpee a few minutes to come down from the attack before ripping the item out of their hands again. Whumpee stared up at them, unabashedly glaring at Whumper.
Whumpee didn’t care for ‘learning their manners’. They lost their fear a long time ago; they knew they would see Whumper in hell. So, they felt no apprehension talking down to their captor.
“Maybe put me in a closet instead, next time.”