A sudden noise made everyone jump. “Summer time rain drops!” the same person called. No one moved. Where was the noise coming from? Glances passed around the dark room. Who was screaming nonsense?

“BUTTERCUP!” it screamed a piercing scream.

A shadow stood up, though I couldn’t really see him since it was so dark. Was it him making all that noise? The shadow glided from spot to spot, glaring down at each of the others sitting there. Each bound by a tightrope, even him.

“Who is that?” he demanded.

The voice remained quite. Who was shouting? Even I was annoyed; I just wanted to sleep. Why couldn’t I sleep? I never got to sleep. Someone beside me snickered into a cry. Guess they want sleep too.

“Shoes. I ate those once” It said again. This time, the visible shadow threw his hand through the darkness. “Oh boy sir. Great shot”

The man grumbled like thunder “Shut up and go to sleep”

“I would very much like that sir. Very much”

“We all would” I found myself saying. The shadow turned to me and I felt his glare. “I’m sorry. I’ll shut up now” I put my head down.

This wasn’t in anyway fun at all. Snickering filled the tiny dark room. The shadow passed us and sat back down on his side.

“Tsk. Tsk. Tsk. Says Harley. Oh no sir. No. We are all together. Yes thats right. We hear” the voice sang. All shadows surrounding remained perfectly still like the night. “Reach your head held high” more snickers.

I sighed, resting my head back on the wall behind me and closing my eyes. Sleep was hard to find, the soft whispers got in the way and the uneasiness in my gut did so as well. How long had we been here? Hard to tell. The light was blind to us.

“I love pancakes. Anyone love pancakes?”

No one answered the voice. Shadows shifted around more, some sobbing silently as rope moved around and burned skin. I felt a dribble of warm water run down my face. It itched as it reached the bridge of my nose, but it remained there.

“Sweet sweet aroma. Hey, lets set down cakes!”

It was official. The voice had lost its mind. I laid back as far as I could, but the wall behind me dug into my skin and I pulled up again. Heat swept through the small space as I could hear some panting.

“Oh no! Looks like I’m getting hot! Wait, I’m smokin’’

A loud smack could be heard that echoed in our enclosed space. The trapped and bound shadows snickered at one another. I snickered. The heat continued on and on until I was baked and wishing I hadn’t worn my heavy jacket today. Without even trying, I knew my hands would not unbound to reach the zipper and pull the coat off me.

“Steam sucks. This sucks. Well, make the best. Pickles! Think pickles!”

Another loud smack, whimpering following closely behind. I straightened out, looking into the darkness around me. Shadows grew into bodies and faces. But I’d wish they would revert back to their unseen selves.

Small bodies hugged closely in womens laps. But oddly enough, for all their trembling and looks of confusion, all had a slight crack of happiness. It was small, and barely noticeable through the night we faced stuck in here.

“Great Bacon! My face is missing!”

Small faces cracked joy on the corners of their mouths. It was a sight to see, small, scared, all pale to the face, yet smiling and trying their best not to laugh. This sight made me crack a short smile. Another smack and the voice was screaming.

“Would you quit it! Have some real--respect” The voice complained. “Wait, I know. Hey you, grab my squik”

More faces, even the ones from larger shadows began to crack with amusement. All snickering. Soon, our small hole of uneasiness was a comedic tv show. And, all the snickering turned to squeaking laughter all in due time.

“Aw, you jelly of my belly!”

Small shadows cried tears from laughter, hugging the women they rested upon. Then, silence. Metal cracked and bent. All of the shadows stopped their laughter, hearing the cracking of metal around them.

“Mommy?” one small shadow asked. The larger shadow shushed him gently.

The voice chirped. “We have met a great end, my folks. Carry on”

And as he said those last words. The metal cage around us slipped, falling down into a dark abyss. All shadows screamed, clasping their eyes shut from horror. Our last joy and last words. A laughter until no one could see a single thing but a small light.