Chapter 10:

I was thrown into a dark room and I listened as a key turned in a lock.

Where was I? What new nightmare lay ahead?

I reach out my hand and felt a smooth wall beside me.

I wondered around in the darkness trying to figure out what he had meant by a taste of Hell.

Then suddenly the room filled with light.

It was so bright that I had to shield my eyes with my hands to keep from being blinded.

I could hear a scrapping sound coming from the walls.

A shiver of fear ran down my spine.

Once I had become accustomed to the brightness I looked around and saw a forest.

It was almost beautiful.

But this could not be right! my mind screamed.

It is only an illusion, another way for him to torment me.

To show me what was no longer mine.

I sat down and enjoyed the warmth upon my skin.

At least there was warmth here, I thought. Unlike that cold dark dungeon that was to be my home.

I thought I could here birds singing, but there were no birds.

Time passed and I became drowsy.

I laid down on the smooth warm floor and rested my head upon my arms.

I fell to sleep.

When I woke up my skin felt like it was on fire and I was very thirsty.

I could see the trees all around me, but they gave no shade.

I thought I heard a breeze blowing through the branches, but the air was still and stifling.

Then my mind cleared and I remembered Erik saying something about a taste of Hell.

Is this it? Is this what he meant?

To be forever baked in a forest without shade.

Did he expect me to cry out, to beg for his mercy?

I would not give him that satisfaction.

I sat up and ripped the skirts from my dress and used them to protect myself from the merciless light.

I don't know how much time passed but I continued to lie there and sleep off and on.

My mind drifting from one thought to the next, but never truly focusing on anything.

I was so thirsty.

When I awoke for the second time the light had faded and the scene before me had changed.

I could hear creatures scurrying through the trees and was that an owl hooting in the distance.

The heat was still so intense but I no longer needed to worry about the light burning my skin.

I had to focus, to remember that this was only a room.

There was no forest, no creatures, and no escape.

I was so thirsty. I ran my tongue over my lips only too taste blood.

My throat felt like it was starting to close and my head was pounding.

I felt like I was going mad.

I curled myself into a tight ball as I lay there.

I will not cry out, I will not beg for his mercy!

I would rather burn in this Hell, than serve in his dungeon.

Is this what my life had come too?

To choose between life with a madman, or death...

Then so be it, I choose death.

I closed my eyes and said a silent pray that death would come quickly.