As I step timidly into the darkness, I swallow hard at my disdain for this place, for it is a prison I’ve found myself in countless times before. And once again I seem to forget how I got here. I walk slowly to one of the darkest corners of the room, my eyes widening at the prisoners gnawing away at their own flesh. Part of me wonders if this was a mistake. I put away the thought of turning back, however, because I know I wouldn’t remember the direction back to the place from whence I came.
Nearing my destination, I can feel the air growing so cold it’s sending chills throughout my entire being. The rats at my feet are large in number - 20, maybe 30 awaiting their prey. I sit down in my chosen corner, as damp and unwelcoming as it portrays itself to be. My heart is starting to sink now. If I can just ignore the emptiness of this place, I think, maybe I can keep it from consuming me. I focus my attention on the chains awaiting me. I take them in my hands and quickly lock myself within their grip. I glance around me at the other captives - there’s so many - but none of them even see me. Some of them are trying to break free from the shackles that they’ve trapped themselves into. Others are screaming curses into the air a
t whoever must have helped them to this place. Still others are gazing happily into the stale air, which baffles me because there are monstrous-sized rats eating away at their bones. They’re all decomposing and they don’t even realize it.
The voice continues, “I’ll take your place.”
He looks sadly around the room and I can see a tear fall from his cheek. He continues, “So many of them end up back here. Most of them just choose not to see me. They say I am crazy. They say I am a liar. But all I want for them is freedom.” My face turns red as he stares at me. His eyes are piercing, but I am not afraid. “What will you choose? Who do you say that I am?”
The stench is getting stronger now. Odors of blood, burning flesh, and open, infected wounds fill the air within the walls. My heart is beating faster by the minute. I’m so scared. What have I done to myself? What was it that brought me to this hell? For nothing in this world - nothing - is worthy of this death. I pull violently away from the cinder block that assists in holding me back; using every ounce of strength I have in me. It’s no use. Exhausted, I sit against the wall and let the pain overcome. I decide that if I can’t be free, I’ll just become complacent. Apathy will be my escape.
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