Raphael seldom had trouble falling to sleep but this night was different. He assumed it was because of the excitement he would experience the next day. Everything was in place; his mother had prepared her meals, his coworkers would have the office space decorated for the occasion and even his young daughter had been given the task of screaming “CONGRATULATIONS” when he returned home. So why was he having so much trouble sleeping? One could guess that blame belonged to his meticulous nature, but he had gone over all the details time and again and everything was in place. Coming to this conclusion he attempted to rest once again, the fatigue making his eyes heavy, the excitement making his mind spin.

He wasn’t sure how much time had passed but he soon found himself staring blankly at the wall, the sound of his television barely audible and his sleep ever elusive. Shaking himself, he stood from his bed and glanced around his room. A stiff stretch and dragging steps brought him to his desk where a bit of his reading material sat. He took the seat in his chair and double checked the contents of his bag for the next day. He knew it was all present, he had checked twice before, but decided to look again.

Raphael couldn’t tell you when it happened, hell he wasn’t entirely sure he had ever gone to sleep, but it seemed like a split second later he was prone on his back and his eyes closed. As consciousness crept back into him a slight smile emerged onto his face. This is it. This is the day that he had planned so long and hard for. Slowly he opened his eyes and instantly knew something had gone wrong. The picture in front of him was an unfamiliar scene.

Instantly panic gripped him and he felt his pulse quicken, his breaths shallow and worried.

“[I]Relax[/I]”, he thought to himself, unsure of what his next move should be. He began to focus on breathing, separating his lips slightly and sending his exhaling breaths through and inhaling through his nostrils. His thoughts turned to his daughter and instinctively his right hand reached for the shining silver necklace locket.

“[I]Everything will be fine.[/I]”

Raphael sat up, dizziness threatening nausea. “Oh, what happened,” he spoke out loud in a dry rasp. When he looked up, he noticed something that almost set him off again. He wasn’t alone. No there were others and they all looked as if they were having similar experiences of confusion.

“[I]Seven. There are seven including yourself.[/I] he thought as he scanned all the strangers. “[I]Who are they, I wonder? Why are we all here?[/I]

He eyed them all with a sharp eye as he noticed his bag lying next to him and pulled it closer. He wasn’t sure what to do next but think logically and so he stood and uneasily addressed the others.

“Hey, I’m Ralph. I don’t recognize any of you, except her.” He said quietly as he pointed to the Spanish looking lady. He knew he had seen her face in various places when spending time with his girlfriend and daughter. Maybe a magazine or runway show? “So, I’m very confused as to why I am here. Does anyone want to answer that?”