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Even the watch captain, Mad Dog, keeps his distance fro on account of the times when he’s so hopped up on chaal there’s no tel in what he hters But not to ht when they it away I’l take any chance at alA guard lookin th’other way A door left open at the right time Anythin They can slait lucky once
In the stil of night, I sit or pace my celI don’t sleep more’n a hour or two at a time An that’s because the moment I shut my eyes, the darkness comes fer me It slithers out a its hidin place to wrap me in its cold cold arms It slides into my blood, my bones, my soul It squeezes out al hope
If I let it in, I’l never git out a here I’l stay an fight in the Cage til I start to lose I’l stay til I die in the gauntlet
I’m afeared that, in the end, the darkness wil turn out to be stronger’n the red hot
The moment I shut my eyes, it comes
The darkness comes
The darkness an the dreams
I’m in the Colosseuht
I’s I rat le at the door, but it’s locked I’m trapped inside
I feel a pricklin at the back of irl I ever fought Every girl I beat an sent to the gauntlet Locked into the Cage with me They ain’t nuthin but shadows, their faces in darkness, but I know them Each an every one The color of her eyes, the shape of her nose, how the fear slidin towards ive ive ive me--but no sound comes out a my throat
They’re on top of me now They surround me They pul me down
Thick darkness, like a blanket
Voices Whisperin Mut erin Sighin But far away, so’s I cain’t h’s voice But when he was sh! I calI’m here! I’m tryin to find you! Where are you?
I dunno! Hurry, Saba! It’s so dark I … I’h! I calI’onna find you! Keep talkin so I can find you!
I cain’t! I cain’t! Saba! They’re comin!
I cain’t! I cain’t! Saba! They’re coh!
Silence
Then the voices agin Closer now so I can hear what they’re sayin
Too late … too late … too late…
No, I whi myself out a the dream I’m soaked with sweat I sit up, my heart poundin
I wait It always takes a couple of it led with the chain on h I never see hihtened an cal in fer ry, shoutin
Gawda?