The silence was paralyzing. Then I heard it – the deafening cacophony of cracks and bangs. At the final crack of the painful symphony, my world fell into darkness. Any sense of self and surrounding were engulfed in the darkness. The fear singed my throat as if it were scalded by a branding iron, with each breath more painful than the last. My eyes had finally grown accustomed to the ambush of darkness. Silhouettes began to form as indistinguishable masses brought my fear to attention again.
Only seeing them now, did my ears pick up terrified whispers of "where am I?" and "stop it". Fear renewed, senses heightened, I heard the impish whimper to my left. Whipping my head in the direction, I made out the figure of a girl, no more than twelve years old, not a meter away. In her fetal position, see appeared much younger. I felt her fear radiate out of her in waves, watch worse than the last. I was able to make out people from the masses. About ten women and girls were in the same pit as me. The only way to note the time was by how bitter the adrenalin form the fear tasted in my mouth. By all accounts, I had been here for quite some time.
A key rattled in the lock of an unseen door, struggling as if it were ever meant for that door. The successful click of the lock told me that whoever wanted in, would be here shortly. A man in white scrubs approached me from the halo of light in the door frame in front of me. Advancing on me, I saw he was clutching a plastic cup of what resembled water and another that contained small blue chip. At the words, "It's time for your pills Beth." I knew I was free.