[color=b8b8c8]Now, Nathaniel was a strange boy. His mother always said it--devoid of any affection--and his father never seemed to disagree. But he still wasn't strange enough to accept the situation he had just awoken to. It took Nathaniel some long panicked moments to realize that no, he is not paralyzed (just laying down) and no, he is not blind (it was just very very dark.) As he adjusted to his conditions, it took him even longer to understand that he was not dying even though the pain coursing through his body tried to convince him otherwise. 

They were all very simple misconceptions; easy mistakes anyone would've made if they had found themselves in his shoes. However, even after making sure he was all in working order, Nathaniel didn't move from his position whatsoever. Had it been the muffled voices he overheard coming from outside? Or maybe it was the fact that there had been an ominous and annoyingly threatening card that had been hanging above him? Truly, though, he believed it was simply due to the fact that he was stowed away like some unwanted clothes in the corner of an attic, in a box nonetheless. Nathaniel knew he eventually needed to figure out how exactly he was going to escape whatever fate was awaiting him outside his enclosed box, but he had no motivation whatsoever to start immediately.

Of course, he rationalized that it was indeed due to the need for a strategy (not fear) that he chose to stay cooped up. How did he know that the voices he was hearing overhead were friendly? Just as easily they could be his captors. So instead, Nathaniel crumpled up the card that was eerily addressed to him, pocketed it, and then gently placed his hand on his surroundings trying to feel what he could possibly be in. He decided he didn't know enough about wood in general to ascertain what was keeping him captive, but instead settled on accepting the fact that he was trapped in a box. He gave a push in all directions with little effort and was met with resistance. He swallows down a whimper that threatened to escape him, and closed his eyes.

His options were very limited and he knew regardless of choice, something would most likely backfire. Which meant that he had to choose a course of action whose consequences he'd be able to handle. First? He could attempt to get out of the box keeping him captive. Which meant he could possibly meet his death with the very people that kidnapped him. Secondly, he could attempt to make a small hole through the wood so he could observe what was going on around him. But then, what if someone pokes his eye out? He would obviously need his eyes in tip top shape if he wanted to escape. As a third option, he could just will his loud thoughts to cease and attempt to eavesdrop the conversation of the obvious strangers in the room with him. But would that even accomplish anything? Then there was also the option of just talking to the people he overheard. But what if they were just awaiting him awakening to begin some cruel torture? 

At the same  time, there wasn't really much waiting for him at home except bills and homework. Neither of which he was too thrilled to return to. Or perhaps this was finally some holy retribution he deserves from the powers above for his wrongdoings. He knew eventually he was going to be punished, and perhaps that time has come. His thoughts, incessantly loud and nagging, had spiraled down towards a tunnel of self-hate.  Which was a vicious cycle that immediately led to denial and finally uncontrollable panic. Nathaniel's foot began loudly tapping the bottom of the box, a fast steady rhythm that failed to calm him down. [i]No....no...no one knows, no one knows.[/i]

His mantra failed to calm him down and forgoing  any of his previous solutions, Nathaniel decides to take a break. Obviously, the only reason he's not able to escape is because he's tired, so with his eyes shut closed Nathaniel drifts away.[/color]