The man slowly sat up and began listening to the ambiance of the cave. The quiet orchestra conducted by the water dripping from the stalactites onto the cold stone floor. Like a metronome, the droplets steadily hit the ground as the sole member of their theatre began to study his surroundings. The first thing he noticed was the smooth stone running below him only blemished by the occasional stalagmite or other rock formation. Continuing to run his eyes across the area he saw a small clear pool of water a few feet to the left of him. He began standing up to complete his inspection and saw that the area he was standing in was shaped like a rather crude circle. As he finished his rotation it slowly dawned upon him that the walls were solid throughout the entirety of the cave, no tunnels, no holes, no cracks or seams, absolutely nothing that resembled an entrance or exit.

A feeling of unease slowly began creeping upon him as he kept staring at the walls of the theatre turned prison. The man turned his eyes upwards and inhaled sharply as the reason he was even able to observe the cave was revealed. Running like veins across the ceiling was a strange glowing moss illuminating its surroundings and strewn across the moss were small crystals that seemed to dance and flicker as the light was refracted between them creating a myriad of colors. The man was stunned as he watched the colors leap and race between the crystals picking up speed as they went. He held his breath as he watched the colors start to blend with each other rapidly forming patterns and shapes over his head. Swirling faster and faster the colors danced above and the man looked on as he began to feel as if he could just reach out and touch them.

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Seemingly knowing his thoughts, the torrent of colors slowly began to take the shape of what seemed to be an arm reaching down. All of the unease the man felt previously was drained away and replaced by a sense of wonder as he slowly reached his own arm forward. He felt that if he could just reach up and grasp the dazzling sight before him everything would be fine. Tears began streaming down his face as he began to feel the pure joy radiating from his entire being as he got closer to reaching the beauty above him. Close…so close… the man kept reaching forward feeling the distance closing as his surroundings began to blur and distort. At that moment the only thing that existed to him was his arm and the one of dazzling color reaching back. Warmth. Happiness. Freedom. Feeling nothing but those three things the man saw the distance remaining, just a few mere inches. Already extending as far as he could the man began stretching with all he had.

Three inches remaining…

His body began trembling as the waves of emotions flooded through him.

Two inches remaining….

The colors above radiating with a blinding brilliance.

One inch remaining…

"A beautiful sight isn't it?"

A voice spoke from the side and the world went dark.