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Prologue

Natalie

I never realized how scary the darkness could be if you’re surrounded by it against your will

My body lies frozen on the cold, hard floor,teeth the only sound I hear for hours

I don’t knohere I am Or how I came here

All I remember is him

The man with a smile so cumbersome it made mine disappear

Crack Crack

I lift ht breaks through, a sliver of it blinds ht compared to the shadows I’ve lived in for hours on end

“Wh-who’s there?” My voice breaks when I speak My throat is so dry I can barely utter the words

I try to peek into the light where a tall figure stands, clutching the doorway I say the lu to do with me? Is it a man or a woman? Alone or with many? So many questions … and zero answers

So them

That’s what this place does to you No matter how es to turn you into an animal Raw Rudimentary

“Hello, Natalie”

It’s a h to command respect

How does he know my name?

“Who are you?” I ask