• Hiding in the shadows, I hear the screams of the others, echoing from the surrounding darkness. I can almost taste the bloody pain, can almost see what’s happening to them. It reminds me of what I’m running from. The feeling of blood drying on my hands and arms causes me to shudder, knowing that only some of it is mine.

    Fear courses through my veins as a bloodied girl is taken past by two men. She was obviously unconscious from the agony that had been inflicted upon her. But no thoughts for her well-being come to my mind, since my mind is so wrapped up in its own dilemma.
    Sickened by the trail of crimson blood left by the girl, I watch as they turned the corner. Shaken from how close I had been from failure, I quickly look down the hallway, trying to make sure that no one else was coming. Relief spreads through my body to find only a dark, empty, stone hallway awaiting my passage.

    Ignoring the coppery smell coating the hallway, I quickly, but quietly, run down it. I’m trying to push the pain from my wounds to the back of my mind, which is only possible because of the terror that is overwhelming it. Biting my lip, I push forward, hoping that the wounds wouldn’t become more severe from my flight from the fear and agony caused here.
    Pain echoed behind me as I ran, the screams almost distracting me from the freedom I sought. My feet fumble from the combination of fear, pain, and lack of sleep. But I can’t stop. My body won’t let me rest. Won’t let me stop. Even as my sight darkens, I continue on. I can not give up.

    A silent red light begins to flash, alerting me that they finally found the body of my keeper. A whimper almost escaped my throat, but is choked down from my lack of breath. I force air into my lungs, hoping that I’ll make it out safe before they can stop me. I need the air.
    I no longer know where I’m going, as fear clouds my mind. I make a blind dash down the hallway, gaining a slight amount of speed from my fear. My eyes widen as I see a man ahead of me, blocking the narrow path. But I don’t slow down. I give a feral growl and tackle the man to the floor, clawing at his face.

    The man throws me against the wall and I silently cry out in pain. I almost collapse from the pain as he stands up, but I force myself to lunge again. He simply backhands. I fall to the ground and he walks up behind me, picking me up. He roughly pins me to the wall, making sure to pin my arms. I growl again, knowing that it’s the only sound I would ever make again, and also knowing that it is my last act of defiance against this towering bulk of a man.
    I watch as the man looks around, my vision slowly darkening. The man tosses me over his shoulder and calmly walks down the hallway and out the door. Cool air hits me as I see red and blue lights flashing in the dark night. The last thing I think before I pass out is, What a lovely night.