Pain.
Darkness.
More pain.
I let out a soft moan as I fought the battle against unconsciousness. My mind was nothing but blank and darkness. I struggled, trying to get a grip on reality. And suddenly, like a weight had dropped on me, everything fell into place bit by bit. Playing hide and seek with my friend… Sandra. It was my turn to hide. An ice cream van offering free ice cream. Went nearer. Man hiding bat behind his back…
Pain.
Darkness.
More pain.
My eyes snapped open and I took in my surroundings. It was pitch black, just like when I was unconscious. Speaking of black out, how long was I out? I had no idea. Everything was so alien and disorienting. I tried standing up but collapsed down again with a loud thud and my heart skipped a beat. I hoped my captor, whoever he was, didn’t hear that, otherwise it would seal any possibility of me escaping out of my private ‘dungeon’.
Slowly, cautiously, I tried picking myself up again and was rewarded with success. I then began my hunt for an escape route. There was none, or, considering the fact that there had to be some way for my jailer to dump me in here, it was invisible to me. I almost shrieked out in frustration. Almost. I caught myself just in time. “This is just great, Venetia,” I thought to myself. “Scream, and then lights’ out for you”. Oh well, this just proves that there is just absolutely no trusting strangers. “I will not ever do that again,” I made a mental note to myself. “That is if you make out of here alive” a small voice in my head stated and I repressed a shiver. I banished the thought from my head and continued on my search. I don’t know how long I’ve been looking before a door creaked open somewhere and light flooded in, blinding me momentarily. In that same moment, my heart dropped to the ground. I was caught.
When I regained my sight, I saw the man grinning devilishly at me, welding an equally evil-looking dagger in his hands. “Well, it looks like you have finally decided to join the world of the waking my dear” he smirked. “First, I am not your darling and second, what do you want” I yelled in the most defiant tone I could muster which was impressive, as my inner sides are quaking violently. That man cocked his head to one side and sneered “Why, of course, you - you darling. I am sure you can figure that out. You are not dumb are you?” “You…you…” anger bubbled inside me, replacing my earlier fear, and I shuddered convulsively, not of fright this time but of pure, unadulterated fury. “How I wish I could rip off his head” I thought longingly.
“Any last words, my dear?” he sounded impatient, as if looking forward to the cold-blooded slaughter. This was it. I was going to die. However I will not give him the satisfaction of hearing me scream. I will keep silent to the very end. I sent a prayer heavenwards to pray for a swift and painless death. Gritting my teeth in newfound determination, I bit out “No.”. A cold smile played on his lips then and he shifted his stance into a predatory crouch. I clenched my fists together till they were biting deep into my flesh, waiting for the impact.
He lunged.
