Selective Breeding | EDITING

Part 1

For many months a lone captured human knew nothing but darkness and the cold steel of the chains that hung from his neck, against a metal collar that weighed on his shoulders, and the other set that clung tightly against his wrist keeping him tied against the walls. While there were others that circled about them, all of them also stuck in chains and drenched in grime, he was alone to himself as they all were silent. No one really wants to reach out to the other. During this time, they had to live with hearing the haunting, unnatural sounds echoed and bellowed around their small dingy prison.

The smell emanating from this place was putrid, as the small holes, meant for relieving oneself, that were stationed near every prisoner were nearly full. The times when the prison rocked unnaturally the motion caused the smell of faeces to kick up, and they could hear it slopping beneath them. For some of the unlucky ones, the slop of human excreta would flop out of the small holes and coat the prison floor around them.

On top of the human waste, piles of old rotting food were thrown to the corner of the room, piling nearly as tall as a child. Making Any more food pushed through the small grates on the large reinforced door made the man revolt instead of wanting to eat. It added to the heavy musk of the unwashed, stale air that burned their nose and eyes. Each breath of the foul concoction scorched the lungs.

His hair was horrifically matted and it clung against his dry, itchy, and oily skin. Even though the feeling of it against him made him feel like he could lit his own sin on fire and it would still feel better than that sensation, he no longer bothered to try and move it, as it wouldn't help anymore.

"What is happening?" a gruff old man's voice broke the dead silence. Causing the young man to pull his attention away from himself. For the first time in months, the sounds of multiple chains moving could be heard, as if everyone was finding their wills in figuring out what the old man was speaking about.

It was then everything in the world started to shudder and shake. The man began to get tossed around, being rolled into the others that were near him unable to hold themself up any more.

Voices reverberated as people's panicked whispers quickly escalated into manic shouts. All while everyone was trying to figure out what was happening around them. "Settle down." the sound of a stern voice of whoever was sitting in the dark next to the man rang out drowning out the others. Causing a swift wave of silence to befall the prisoners.

A few deathly silent moments passed. Then the loud metal screech of the door that hadn't been opened fully in months had everyone's attention. The last time it had been opened was when he and all other hundred plus prisoners were filed in and chained up. His heart started pounding, as he felt his body tremble. Was this excitement or anxiety? He had been so far disassociated that he couldn't quite tell.

The light poured in. The sudden shift of brightness caused him to gasp out in pain, using his arm to shield his face. His eyes throbbed in their sockets, causing a sudden migraine to shoot through his skull, racking his body with further pain. It had been far too long for him to witness actual lighting. This light was piercing; it was also not any distinctive colour. Or not one he could remember, but he wondered if he could even remember colour. This was the light from outside, not out of this holding area, but outside what held the cell. It was sunny. Truly genuine sunlight.

He lowered his head, taking in deep, steady breaths. Trying to stabilise himself. Everything was changing so quickly, even though he hadn't moved he felt as if the world was racing around him. With a few more breaths, he raised his head feeling the throb of his mind pulse. Gritting through the pain, he opened his eyes again, this time prepared for the light. He blinked until he was well adjusted. He slowly moved his head around, causing him to feel dizzy and faint. SO he moved even slower, but took in all he could.

If he could comprehend how to cry out in this moment he would. Rows of dead prisoners were strung up next to living ones, in various stages of decomposition. He could see the revolting state they all were in, some people had massive wounds from scratching at their skin, others were missing hair, all were in a skeletal like state.