Cruel Fate

[Heuschrecke]

Darkness.

Everything was black. Even as she opened her eyes, she could not see anything. Almost as though there was nothing to see. She had no idea where or when it was, but there was no indication for anything other than the beating of her heart. Rapid, panicked, fearful. Nothing felt her own, not even the clothes on her back. Sweat dripped down not from the heat, but the feeling of being trapped and in danger. Silence too surrounded her. A silence almost deafening. There was nothing she could trust, no senses she could rely on. A whimper as she slumped forward in defeat.

Moments passed before she managed to steady herself enough to reach out towards anything. Slowly at first, almost wishing the wall into existence. The heat-draining touch of metal brushed her fingertips: It was there. Cold and unforgiving, but there. A breath out, almost calmed by the contact. Now, to find the corner. Running her left hand along the wall as she stood up carefully and moved forwards, her right hand in front to stop her walking into what she hoped would be there. The very same cool contact to her palm was a relief. "A door. There must be a door..."

No sooner had the words left her lips, did a door open. Not to her cell, but to another wing of the place she was in. A single ray of light, from some unknown source cut through the black. She squinted and sat down in the corner. It was blinding in comparison to the surrounding black. Then, footsteps. Heavy clanging each pace, Rubber on metal, foreboding. Louder and louder, though the shadows did not shift. "Please don't come here, please... don't..." She closed her eyes tight as each pace continued to increase in volume, each one sounding akin to an impending doom.

Silence. The pacing stopped. Shakily opening her eyes, she saw the silhouette of a man, one she had seen before.