I saw the thick, black nets holding the bones of various beings; some of the skulls were smaller than my very own hands.
Then there were others much larger than my entire body.
The steel walls of the ship glistened in the dim artificial light. The shadows of all the relics painted movement on the walls, in the hollows and dark places, streaking across my mind. Each one was a predator. No others from my crew were in this...there was no term for this place.
I was glad the Hirogen wanted no one else, but I didn't dare assume there weren't more than one of these places.
A shrieking howl of pain came from behind one of the walls nearest to me. I realized I hadn't moved at all, in fact I'd actually been trembling, boots glued to the spot.
A hatch sealed shut, one I'd never heard open. Armor-clad feet echoed across the cold floor, but I couldn't my companion.
"Captain Janeway." The hulking Hirogen appeared almost out of thin air; directly in front of me, towering, ominous.
"Run."
My legs wouldn't move.
My right hand moved to my chest to hit my comm badge, but the gesture proved useless.
"You are prey. Run."
A little more spite to get my legs moving. His voice seemed amazingly calm, threatening, but almost bored.
This time my limbs obeyed. I ran to one of the nets and grabbed for a long bone. I rammed the dirty white club into the corner of the wall next to me. The bone split and broke with the second blow.
The Hirogen grabbed a long metal weapon from high on the wall, a polished blade with serrated edges and a mean-looking spiked handle.
He followed my path in long strides.
My only hope at the moment was that his heavy metal armor was slowing him down, but I got tired quickly. I was the one running on two days without sleep. The adrenalin saturating my veins burned, making my skin itch.
A second armored Hirogen who'd come in quietly to watch at first, caught me by the hair and raised a glowing prod to my chest. The jolt as it made contact sent me flying backwards into the wall. They'd only ever used it on my arms before, and never at that setting. This was new.
I shook my head to clear my vision, but despite my best efforts I was reeling. I saw the warrior, a clump of my hair in his hands, stalking towards me. His comrade was close behind, the blade singing through the air as he swung his arms at his sides.
-
The next time I was aware of anything my legs wouldn't move, at will or otherwise. I opened my eyes cautiously and listened for the Hirogen. My surroundings came into focus quickly and I had to adjust to the brighter light.
No Hirogen were in the room. I glanced to the tie at my ankles, then to my bound wrists limp in my lap.
My command jacket was dirty and ripped. It had been in good condition before I had blacked out. A watery sensation streamed over my hands. I lifted my hands to my face, in search of the blood source. There were small streams of bright red blood coming from my mouth and nose.
I should know if I'm dying, right?
Just then, a familiar feeling grabbed me deep down in the pit of my stomach, and the hum of a federation transporter filled my ears.
The walls of my ship's sickbay replaced the hunting room and the sight of our EMH comforted me.
My first officers face came into my field of vision, worried, sad, just before everything went black again.