The stone wall was in need of repair. We knew it was risky to leave it as it was, but we didn’t realize the severity of the consequences that followed. Now, three of my peers and I are hostages with no idea of what is to come in the near future. Darkness is taking over – growing more and more every day.

It was a Monday morning when it happened. I had left my apartment on the estate and had made my way over to the office complex. As I walked in, everything had proceeded as normal. My boss had greeted me with my usual cup of black coffee and updated me with new information. For months, we had been working to figure out the plans of a global-threatening terrorist group so that we could dismantle them. So, we stationed ourselves at an estate in Turkey along the borders of Syria and Iraq. The community around us was unsuspecting. Or, at least, that’s what we had thought.

Just as my boss had begun to give me the details, the doors burst open, and the windows shattered. At least twenty Iraqis had broken into our complex, and we knew we were in trouble. They were allies of the terrorist group, who had figured us out, as we had feared. Before I knew it, thick, coarse fabric was binding my hands together, blinding my vision, and serving as a gag. At that moment, I was fearfully accepting my fate. I was going to die, and there was nothing I could do to save myself.

Soon, I was thrown into a small vehicle, which was traveling at a deathly speed. I could sense that I was not the only one of my group in the car, but it was much too dangerous to try to speak. I heard the allies chamber their guns, ready to shoot at any given moment. However, I knew we wouldn’t be killed then – if we stayed still and quiet. They wanted something from us. So, quiet and still we were, which led us to where we are now – alone, hungry, and in pain.

When we arrived in a cold and smelly facility, the gags were removed, and our hands were set free. Sacks were placed on our heads. We were chained so that our arms were raised above our heads, forcing us to stand up. Alone, it was pure torture, but when we were unable to answer their Arabic commands, we were whipped until our backs were raw.

At night, we were left alone. It was a solemn and mournful time for my group – which I soon found out consisted of my boss and two other co-workers. We hung there, too tired to stand, but unable to sleep. We would keep a conversation going because it made the pain easier to bear. My boss had told us that the allies had to have made it into the estate through the wrecked side of the stone wall. We all agreed that it was the most likely scenario, but no one knew why or how they had figured us out. We just had to accept the fact that we may never know. We were destined to die.

Another day had come upon us, and it was, indeed our last. The allies had come back and removed the chains that bound us to the ceiling. All four of us fell to our knees, where we stayed unable to see through the sacks upon our heads. Suddenly, we heard the sound of guns snickering. They were being chambered once more, and we knew that these were our last moments. The allies began shouting what we assumed was a countdown to fire. We all began to sob.

Suddenly, a loud bang echoed about the bare walls, and a booming voice commanded the allies to drop their guns. A glimmer of hope had come about, and my spirits were lifted. Soon, strong arms were lifting my limp body off the ground. They were paired with a voice that assured me everything was going to be fine. Right then, I knew we were safe. We were leaving the prison that had tortured us.

It was our last day in captivity. We were freed from torture, and nursed back to health. Not only that, but we were informed that the terrorist group was taken care of, and our job was done. Months later, we were named heroes for putting our lives on the line for an important cause.