Linear – To say something is linear is to say that said something may come across as having a beginning, a middle and an end or at least that something may be thought of in terms of moving forwards in a straight line. If you were to take that straight line and loop it into a circle then it becomes continuous with no clear beginning, no clear middle and no clear end, something destined to go on and on, forever doomed to repeat itself.

1.

To begin at an absolute beginning is something that cannot be done for who is to say where a circle begins or ends? A start that is not necessarily a true beginning but a place to get going from is as just as much a beginning as any other beginning can be, besides who is to say that such a start isn't a true beginning at all?

If you could choose a time of year or a certain date in particular to be born upon, then October thirty first may not be your first choice but then again maybe it would be. Sure, a date, especially one like October thirty first, could go some way in determining certain aspects of your personality. One could even say that a life beginning on this day is destined to be ... haunted.

Yeah, a birthday that coincides with something like Halloween could go some way with influencing likes and hates but for Christine Evans ... birthday and Halloween are two separate things no matter if they fall on the same day for her, still in many ways it could be said her life was always pre-determined. It was always meant to be what it became.

Some may embrace a gothic nature and acquire interests outside of the norm, where others may grow to detest all things dark and eerie. Some others may not even give it a second thought, managing not to connect a birthday and a holiday as the same thing whether or not they do fall on the on the same day.

On All Hallows' Eve 1994 a girl could not know of the brief visits she received in the hospital of her birth nor would she aware of the origins of a gift that came her way on this day. A grey and white stuffed bunny rabbit would stay with her for years to come. Even mum and dad would be unaware of where this gift came from.

As a young girl, she went nowhere without that rabbit, and it remained by her side each and every night when the lights go out. When a time came to take on a college course or two then that grey and white rabbit went too. It did not constantly stay at her side, but it was never all so far away either, a home comfort for times when she was not ... home.

2.

Christine Evans sits at her dining room table staring at the plain white clock hanging on the wall right ahead of her as it ticks off the last few seconds up to nine o'clock. Nine in the morning and she has yet to even think about going to her own bed never mind actually even thinking about getting some sleep. With how the previous twenty-five hours or so went, it would be understandable as to why she would not want to find sleep, as it would also be quite understandable that she really needs to get some.

She was up early enough for a Saturday, the day before this sitting and staring moment, after having been woken by close friend Karen Devlin. It was a call to her phone just before seven that brought her sleep to an end that morning of the twenty sixth of May 2018. Christine was happy or perhaps not so happy to just let the phone ring out. Whoever was calling her could just leave a message or something and Christine may get back to such person later, but the phone just kept on ringing and ringing.

It was a horrible way to wake and even worse with the fact that she knocked her phone off from her bed side locker thus forcing her to roll onto her side and extend and arm having her hand fumble around reaching for it. On the floor the phone kept on ringing, there was no let up at all.

'What?' she said turning onto her back, having picked-up phone and it not yet reaching her ear.

'Christine, you up?'

'No ... Karen, is that you? Do you know what time it is?'

'Yeah ... funny you should ask that. There is something you need to see ...'

'What, at seven in the morning? What's wrong with half past two this afternoon?'

'Trust me; you wanna see this, like right now.'

'Whatever it is, I am sure it will still be there later on.'

'Christine, please. Meet me out by the casino at eight.'

Karen Devlin ended the call before Christine Evans could even think about protesting. What the hell? ... Christine thought. I'm awake now; I may as well go see what all the fuss is about. At nine the following morning sitting at her dining room table staring at a clock on the wall, she debated with herself as to if the previous twenty-five hours or so had actually happened. It had indeed happened; all of it and because of how the previous day went, things are only really beginning now.

How that previous day went, this is just the thing; it was so much more than just one day. There must be some reasoning behind all that has happened. It cannot have happened by chance. If there are answers, then how can Christine find them? She may not have to, maybe they will find her and that is if they haven't already found her. Something must have found her otherwise why is she sitting alone in this very moment?

On a shelf not far from the ticking clock there rests a stuffed rabbit, a grey and white stuffed rabbit. If this grey and white stuffed rabbit could speak then what would it have to say to Christine? It will come to her, one way or another it will come and sooner too rather than later.

3.

Three minutes past eight is when Christine arrives to the casino. This is Karen's place of employment, so Christine knew exactly where to meet her friend as she has come out to Karen here on more than one previous occasion. The casino is open twenty-four seven and Karen has been working here for almost ten months, not straight through of course.

With how curious her nature is, it is surprising to an extent that it took Karen as long as she did to make the particular discovery of which she has, and surprising too that it took so long for her to inform Christine about it. Thing is that it may not have always been there and at that too she had been informed about its presence by someone she had not previously met.

Karen's shift has ended, and she had been waiting as patiently as she could for Christine to arrive. Being as eager as she is, Karen rushes Christine before she can even get out of her car and being so eager and excited, Karen begins speaking at a hundred miles an hour.

'Alright, alright' Christine speaks not understanding a single word her friend since childhood says to her in the here and now. 'What's so important that it couldn't wait until a Godlier hour?'

'C'mere and I'll show ya.'

Karen grabs Christine by the wrist and begins to lead her to that discovery she has to show. It is not all so far away and the two soon come to a halt. Right here is where Christine becomes even more confused than she had been since Karen called her.

'It's a door Karen. Is this what you got me up out of bed and out here to see ... a stupid friggen door?'

'Yeah, it's a door but not just any door, just you wait wait 'till we step through it.'

'We are gonna step through a door? Yippee ... can't wait ... like, what's all this about?' Christine says with absolutely no excitement at all. She looks at her friend and sees that Karen has more than enough excitement within her for the two of them. 'Alright, seeing that it is for you, we can step through this door together. I hope there is something worthwhile on the other side.'

Karen smiles for she knows what indeed is on the other side of that door. 'As far as I know, there is only one key for this door and since I have had the key a while now, and that the door is locked when I am not around, then no one ever goes through, no one other than me that is and hell yeah, there is something worthwhile and unique on that other side ...'

'And all this matters because? ...'

The smile on Karen's face grows. She reaches into a pocket and pulls out the key she spoke of, then holds it out before her, putting it on display as if it were a very important trophy. She then moves to the door, inserts the key, and turns it. 'C'mon, let's do this.'

As confused as she is, Christine is also intrigued. There must be something of importance or of possible interest to her beyond that door, if not then why the heck is she here? Karen may be an easily excitable person though she usually has something worthy of getting excited over. Following Karen's lead, Christine moves beyond the door. The two ladies have moved into some sort of storeroom with plenty of shelving, containers, boxes, and the likes.

The room looks clean and appears to be a place in regular use. Lighting is also on so what the heck? Alright then so, there must be another door to this room for according to Karen no one ever uses the door they have just gone through, and this room is definitely one which is in use so someone must be coming in and out of here from another access point.

Christine is about to inquire as to what is going on, but Karen prevents her from doing so. There is someone else within this room. With such being what it is, Karen attempts to ensure that Christine doesn't speak. A small and brief thumping noise, however, accidentally occurs between them.

'Is someone there?' inquires an out of sight person, a male from the sounds of the inquiry.

More confusion for Christine, what is going on here? Who is that guy? What is Karen up to? Why is there a need for them to be quiet? Are they somewhere that they are not supposed to be?