Hunted

Chapter 6.

My current cell was much worse than the last. I laid on my back on the cold and wet ground. The intense odor of urine and feces that saturated the air would make anyone gag with every breath they took. My empty stomach churned painfully and the thirst I was undergoing was worse than the desert.

I missed my previous cell and that was saying a lot because I despised the monotony of my life there. I craved my thin bed, I yearned for the crappy food, I desired to be clean, and I missed the light. I lost count of the days I had been here. No one had come, and I was beginning to lose all hope of anyone appearing at all.

I gazed into the darkness softly muttering nonsense to myself. My mind has been playing tricks on me, pushing me closer and closer to insanity. Running water in the corner or footsteps coming to my door. The aroma of food in the air and the voices. The whispers that overflowed the room informing me how I was going to die here. They taunted me. They laughed at me. My throat was raw from me shouting and ultimately pleading with them to stop. They didn't, so I did my best to disregard them.

My body was drained. Battered and exhausted. My hands were bloody and held on tightly to clumps of my own hair. I couldn't take this any longer. I detected heavy footsteps walking towards the door, but I didn't bother to get my hopes up this time. No, my mind wasn't going to win this time and bring on false hope. The door flung open and bitter voices flooded in.

"I should have been notified immediately. This is entirely unacceptable."

I clenched my eyes shut from the beam of light that flooded into the room. I instantly scrambled to the corner of the small room and cowered. The light brought pain to my eyes. It was too much and that voice. I knew that velvety voice. A giggle escaped my lips at how appealing even his voice sounded at that moment.

"Oh my God. That smell is atrocious," he said, gagging. "Get her out of here now. Then, have her prepped and clean this up immediately."

No. This isn't real. I'm tired of their tricks and their torment. Their lies.

I felt a set of hands grip my arms harshly as I was hoisted up. My joints were stiff and protested from the sudden movement. I thrashed against the tight grip on my arms.

This isn't real.

The voices. They were playing tricks on me and now they were trying to harm me. I yelled at them to stop, but they wouldn't listen.

"This is disgusting," a guard seethed. "Move. Now."

I was shoved into the light and I let out a blood-curdling scream from the brightness blinding my eyes. My eyes seemed like they were burning. The darkness I need the darkness.

Is this real? No. This is my mind. It's the voices. They're angry from me ignoring them. They designed this illusion. Yes.

A strong grip on my hair tugged me out the door and into a white corridor. The fluorescent lights that trailed down the corridor attacked my eyes. My screams filled the hallway as I was dragged down to the double doors. The double doors that led to the cafeteria.

Please let there be no one in there. Please.

I had been through so much, the utter embarrassment of everyone witnessing me this way was something my delicate mind wouldn't be able to handle again. I let out the breath I was holding when the room was empty. Relief overwhelmed me like a wave washing over me from head to toe. I began to laugh hysterically. The guard yanked my head, so my face was looking at his.