It wasn’t sunlight, but rather the all-consuming darkness that woke me that night. My mind was groggy and hesitant to rouse, where was I and why did I have to wake?
I opened my eyes ever so slightly, just enough to obtain a sense of the unknown environment I found myself in. As I glanced down, I panicked for a moment, sure that I was hallucinating when I saw the long, thin snakes with their mouths attached to my arms. I attempted to scream, but my voice wouldn’t come. The skin of the snakes was transparent and I stared, simultaneously terrified and mesmerized as fluid the color of currant wine flowed through their bodies and into mine.
Averting my eyes from the strange serpents, I took in the entirety of my surroundings. There was a single window in this mysterious cell of mine. The curtains were pulled aside, allowing me a view of the stars, burning brightly against the ink of the night sky. The four walls containing me in this prison were bleached white; they were dull and lifeless. I longed for a splash of color, anything to brighten this dreary place.
There were such strange noises all around me, each one in turn demanding my attention. I tried to block the overwhelming sounds from my mind, but the beeping of the metal box next to my bed overpowered everything else. I dreaded the sounds that dark box made as if it were a bomb, its steading ticking counting down to the time of my demise.
As I lifted my hand to check the state of my hair, I was shocked to realize that my hand wasn’t moving. I tried again, but I simply couldn’t do it. I panicked at the numbness I felt throughout my entire body. Why couldn’t I move? What was wrong with me?
Suddenly, a woman with tired eyes and plain clothes burst through the door. I must have frightened her, for she seemed shocked to see me like this.  Perhaps it was my eyes that brought about that look on her sagging face, for my eyes were blue fire, wild with fear and ready to burn anyone who came too close. I shook my head wildly; hot tears stung my eyes as I tried to scream again, but couldn’t.
But the look of fear soon left the homely woman and was replaced with one of determination and pity. I was confused, why did this strange woman pity me, a prisoner tied to her bed?  Worn out from my protesting, I found that I didn’t have the energy to even lift my head. I watched helplessly as the woman pressed a needle into my skin and emptied its contents into my bloodstream.
Then I slept