-Catharsis of Penance-

A/N: I wrote this a little while ago and thought it was about time to share it. It is structured as a first-person perspective story told as a series of journal entries, and has been finished for some time, so there is no need to worry about being left hanging for long. I will post a new entry or two each day until all 14 parts have been posted.

Rated T for Teen, mostly for the adult subject matter.

Enjoy. And please feel free to post a review to tell me what you did or didn't like. I welcome all types of reviews, but concrit is greatly appreciated. :)


PROLOGUE

I woke slowly, blinking against the harsh lights that had just disturbed my sleep. As my eyes started to adjust, I heard the creak of a cell door grating on its hinges, and it filled my soul with dread. I sat up and looked down at the torn remnants of a rough linen bed cloth clutched in my fingers. My heart pounded, leaping up into my throat. It was the same familiar cloth from the same terribly uncomfortable bed I'd slept in for almost two years… I trembled with disbelief and horror.

A voice in the darkness laughed at my abject terror.

"No! This can't be real! You can't be real!" I desperately scrabbled for the cell door, but the dark figure backhanded me across the face. My jaw hurt like hell and I fell back into the corner next to the bed. "But my friends... They came for me. They already rescued me!"

"It was just a dream, Doctor. It's time for you to get back to work."