When I was 19 years old, they took me. They stole me from my bed and dragged me into the night. I didn’t even know who “They” were. They were so strong and fast, I didn’t have a chance. To me, they were monsters.
They blindfolded me and bounded my hands and feet. They threw me into a dark room, and told me to be quiet. I didn’t listen. I screamed and yelled, pounded my feet on the wall. But no one came to save me. I was alone, and I was trapped.

Sometimes one of them came in, poured some slimy water down my throat and stuffed a few bits of food into my mouth. Several times I choked and they would slap me on the back. The pain loosened the food and I was able to breathe. I was always afraid that my spine would break from the abuse and I would be even more helpless then before. I remember always being afraid.
Then one day, or night, I’ll never know, they came into the room, three of them. “You’re stronger then the others.” One of them said. “You’ve been here a long time, and you’re still alive.” Hissed another. “Maybe you will survive the change, we shall see.”
Before I knew what was happening, I was grabbed by two of them and dragged into a hallway. Everything was dark, and made from stone. I got the feeling that we were underground.
They dragged me to a room lit with torches. I remember this room well. The walls and floor were stone, but all around me was red. Red fabric piled neatly in corners. Red pictures hung from the walls. And along the floor, trails of red liquid. I shuttered at the smell. Blood, fresh blood, and the smell of decay. Then they dragged me to the middle of the room. To an altar. One of them grabbed me and began to place me on the altar, but I struggled. They chuckled darkly, but continued to force me down. I tried to fight, but I was too weak, and these monsters were too strong.
After they got me onto the altar, they constrained my hands and feet with chains. Then one of them leaned down, and bit me on the neck. I gasped at the sudden pain. They began to snicker. “Now…. let us see if he will survive.” At first I didn’t know what they were talking about, until the burning began.
It started at my neck, but continued to spread through my body. I felt like I was on fire. My skin, my bones, even my soul felt like they were in flames. I screamed until no sound would come. My body bucked and lurched, to the point that the chains were the only things holding me to the altar. I felt like I was going to die. Then, in what felt like years, the pain faded and I fell into darkness.