Chapter 1 contiues

     Click,click getting closer. One step, two steps, getting closer. With each dreadful footfall the helpless man's heart and mind filled with morbid fears of a variety, heretofore, unknown to him. If only he could free himself, he would scurry away out into the empty city streets and disappear forever, but there would be no escape. Still he struggled trying to move but the heavy weight of his chains kept him always in one place. Then he closed his eyes and gave up hope as he felt the presence of someone standing over him.
"Look up." came a raspy voice in a whisper as tense as wire.
Lifting his head slowly the terrified man opened up his eyes where, to his surprise, stood a small, frail, elderly gentleman dressed in a dark suit with a wide-brimmed hat pulled down over his eyes. His complexion was as pale as a bottle of milk, with deep grooves and wrinkles etched into his face. A strange pale blue light seemed to emanate from him. His eyes were black as coal. He gave a little wink to the bound man as he stared down at him with a look of disgust mixed with pity. He smiled a wide, toothless grin as he beckoned for his prisoner to stand, but stand he could not.
The little man bent down slightly grasping him by the elbow. Smelling like Lilly's he proceeded to lift the chained naked man to his feet. This tiny old man had a huge well of strength in him as he lifted the condemned prisoner up, as easily as if he were merely plucking a weed from a garden. Now standing upright the chained man towered over his captor, and if were not for his chains he could have easily choked the life out of the odd looking little fellow, who smiled up at his prisoner with a laugh as if sensing his murderous thoughts.

Chapter 1 begins

     In the darkness of a long dank tunnel a naked man, in chains, leans against the cold stone wall. His hands are tightly bound behind his back, his head hangs low, eyes closed as water drips down beside him while a violent storm rages. Breathing is difficult as the frigid air cuts deep into his lungs like tiny shards of glass. Every muscle in his body ached from the heavy weight of his chains; which bit into the flesh of his ankles and wrists causing him to bleed slightly. The poor confused, frightened man could not recall how it was he came to be trapped down in this terrible place, with no hope of escape. When suddenly out of the blackness a loud banging of a door being slammed shut echoed down the corridor, followed by the click,click, of footsteps getting closer to his position. Panicking he stumbled forward blindly falling on his knees with a crack! An excruciating painful sensation shot up through his knees to his legs to his groin, finally settling in the pit of his belly; which churned up a bitter bile into his throat tasting of blood and sulphur as it spewed out onto the floor splashing back on his face and chest.