I sit in the dark room inhaling the foul stench of mold and whiskey. The cold from the concrete floor seeps through my clothes, nipping at my skin. I hear the chains from the shed door up above start to rattle and I become drenched in fear. The man doesn't come often but when he does he makes sure you remember it.
"Someone will save me," I say to the walls. But as usual, its only response is silence which pierces me to my very core.
I remember he brought a boy once, he looked to be no older than 15. He was silent as the man led him in, his head hung low, but as he looked at me he managed a smile and his long brown hair hung over his eyes as he turned away.
Before the boy left he snuck me half a loaf of bread that he had hidden in his coat pocket. He may have seen it as a small gesture but it gave me hope. That was two years ago.
Before I could finish the thought I hear the thud of the man's work boots as he started to descend the staircase.
" Calm down, breathe..." I whispered to no one. I pushed myself up against the wall, but it provided me no comfort, it only makes me feel more closed in. The man entered my room with a serious expression covering every part of his round, scruffy face. He seemed different, more fidgety. Then I realized the expression was not serious at all, his face was more contorted, his veins stuck out on his forehead and his eyes were glazed. This was a look of fear.
" Get over here now, we're leaving." His deep voice echoed through the room as he unhooked the chain from the back door. I noticed that his hands were shaky, he had a hard time getting the key into the lock which made him even more frustrated.
" I said get up bitch!!! What you over there staring at?!" He narrowed his gaze at me with such intensity that I sucked in a harsh breath of air before standing to my feet.
I half walked, half shuffled to the back where the man was standing. At 5 "9" the man towered over me, his intense features stood out before all else. He was a decent-sized man but his face is what brought fear. I knew better than to talk or make eye contact, so I stayed quiet when he undid the lock and led me through a dark corridor.
Each step I made brought more uneasiness. I felt as if the walls were closing in around me, and I found it hard to breathe. I had to stop, if only for a moment. I could feel myself hyperventilating, the air being taken out of my lungs, and then I felt fingers raking through my hair. I yelped in pain as the man yanked my head back walking me forward.
" No stopping yet. We're nearly there." I felt tears filling my eyes as he dragged me down the dark ominous hallway, making it harder for me to find air.
Before the darkness could pull me under with its iron claws we finally reached the end and I could sit down once more. The yellow light burrowed itself up underneath the rotted wooden door, trying to get to me as I breathed in gulps of air, filling my lungs to the brim.
As the man fumbled with the next lock I heard loud banging from where we had just come.
" Fuck...." He said under his breath, moving faster than before. He removed the lock and grabbed my forearm yanking me up to my feet to move me with him.
The banging continued as we made our way outside. The light blinded me, keeping me from seeing what I had wished to see for so long. The first thing that I noticed was how warm and soft the grass was on my rough bare feet. But I didn't get to enjoy it long before the man moved me along with the push of his arm. My vision was coming back, and what beauty I saw!! Trees everywhere!! And so much green!! But why do I feel as if all of this is a dream? Am I imagining things.....and I'm still just trapped in my concrete cell begging for release?
" We gotta keep moving come on!!!!" My legs kept moving but my mind was elsewhere. I couldn't focus whatsoever on the situation before me, all I could do was stare at the colors. What brought me back to reality, was when I stopped breathing. I stopped walking automatically and dropped to the ground thrashing and grabbing at my throat for air. My lungs started to burn, and my eyes started to water at the pain, but the man wouldn't hear of it.
" Get to your feet bitch we gotta go!!! There is no time for this!!" He grabbed at my hair once more but I wasn't going anywhere. The darkness was closing in on me once more, dragging me under fast.
" Fuck it!! You are not worth jail time..." At that, I could hear his footsteps getting farther away and voices getting closer. Before I was gone completely felt a rush of air enter my lungs, followed by relief and some pain. A young man stood above me, staring into my eyes telling me everything was going to be all right. I must have been a mess because he was crinkling his nose up and turning his head away to yell something at his team.
" What is to happen to me now?" I expect to hear silence as always, that's all I've ever heard when I asked a question. But a smooth young voice answers me back.
" I don't know kid...I don't know...." Darkness finally closed in on me, a welcome embrace, a relief from the pain. In darkness you have nothing to fear, makes you almost wish you could never leave.