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A Chapter by KalmeChaos

The dark skies spread across the city. But she would never know. The coldness of the dark room had numbed every inch of her body. The hours no longer turn into days, just a dark hole. A moldy towel that had more holes than fabric kept her head from touching the cement as she rest for an uncountable of times within an uncertain idea of time.

She lie awake, starring at the ceiling. The hopes and dreams of a world outside these four walls faded long ago. Vicious noises filled the exterior of the door that was no longer forbidding her to leave. She no longer knew what was on the other side, she no longer wished she was there.

The dark cold room had become her fortress.

Two years prior the sun had shined. The flowers bloomed in bright yellow and blue. Spoken words filled the air in a sing song melody.

As she walked to school the day felt different than it had before. The cars were quieter. The sidewalks more empty than usual. She let out a peaceful sigh. Little did she know, it would be the last peaceful sigh she would ever release.

She lost her train of thought as she watched the crosswalk sign, waiting to safely cross. Mesmerized by the orange lights. In an instant her head began pounding and the world became dark. There was still no sound in the air, until a door slammed so hard it shook her body.

The five-year-old who was once holding her mother’s hand walking down the sidewalk peacefully, felt her heart racing through her chest. It was a feeling she had never felt before. But something told her things were about to get bad, very, very, bad. Her eyes closed, as she faded with the motion around her.

The screeching sound, that sounded like a bird dying, woke her as the vehicle came to a complete stop. Could this have been a dream? The vehicle’s engine starts up again as it turns sharply sending her flying to one end of the car. Her fingertips cold, tied behind her back. Her eyes are open but she cannot see, she has been blindfolded.

The feeling of something crawling on her leg, woke the seven year old from a deep slumber. The mouse ran across the floor, fleeing to a corner.

“Good Morning Scratches” she said in a soft squeaky voice to her furry friend as she reached out to the mouse. A loud voice came from the other side of the door, and it sounded like it was getting closer. After all the locks had been released a woman entered the room. She was carrying a plate with two carrots and a piece of dry bread.

“can I please have some water?” the little girl muttered.

“You’re never f*****g grateful.” The woman exclaimed as she threw the plate down and slammed the door behind her. As dry as her throat was, Mercy was thankful the door was closed. She felt safer that way. When the door opened she never knew what to expect. When the door was closed, she knew what would follow, dark and cold.

She broke the cheese into little pieces and set them out for Scratches, as she herself nibbled on the pieces of carrot. Scratches came out of his corner and swiftly began to eat the cheese.

“That a girl! Or boy. Whatever you are.”

The mouse had become her only friend, and only need of socializing. Even though he nibbled her toes as she slept and made them bleed, she was thankful he never disappeared.