I sat in the corner holding myself in the little ball I had become. The silence was deafening and I wanted to scream, but when I opened my mouth nothing would come out. The dark, dank, room made me feel as though I were all alone in the world. How many days had past? How long had I been there? My throat was sore and my body drenched in sweat from the unbearable heat of the place. As much as I complained about being alone it had never been like this before. I sat in the corner holding myself in the little ball I had become. The silence was deafening and I wanted to scream, but when I opened my mouth nothing would come out. The dark, dank, room made me feel as though I were all alone in the world. How many days had past? How long had I been there? My throat was sore and my body drenched in sweat from the unbearable heat of the place. As much as I complained about being alone it had never been like this before. The silence was enough to drive me mad! I passed the first few hours humming or talking to myself. It helped me get pass the feeling of being deaf. Now I had nothing. I had cried all my tears and used all my voice. I could see nothing. It was as though I was trapped in a box that I could never get out of. Time felt infinite and I started to question my own sanity. The loneliness of the place had long since taken over the fear. God I wanted to scream! That feeling of being so utterly alone sent a chill up my spine. I hadn't seen or heard anything since that last night. How long ago was that? I was walking to my car when I felt something hit me. What happened? Where was I? "I hate being alone, alone in the dark. Why am I alone in the dark?" I thought silently. I hadn't heard anyone. There was no light at all. No windows, no cracks in doors, nothing! "God, someone save me please." I prayed silently. I sat up and rocked myself back and forth trying to find some comfort. I wondered if anyone missed me. I didn't have anyone in my life, but I was never alone. Not like this. I had my friends and family. This kind of loneliness eats at your very soul. "I don't want to be alone anymore." I whispered hoarsely over and over again. "I don't want to be alone anymore." I buried my face in my hands rocking faster and faster. That is when I heard it, a heavy grating sound. I looked up to see a small stream of light coming from above me. "That's a good girl, now that you have learned your lesson I will set you free." The voice was dark and foreboding. I backed up against the wall squinting in his direction. I saw the large, ominous, figure looking down at me. I couldn't make out more than the outline of his body against the overwhelming light. But, that was more than I needed to see. His presence made me pray to be alone again. That is when I heard his laughter, deep and terrifying, it sent chills up my spine. I pushed my body further into the corner as though I could become part of the wall. He continued to laugh and stare and I continued to rock faster and faster, shaking my head, trying to get the sound of his laughter out of my mind. SLAM! He was gone, but his maddening, mocking laughter echoed throughout the room. I was alone with his laughter ringing and bouncing off the walls. Was I going mad? Was he playing a recording of his own laughter to drive me mad? Why wouldn't it stop? Why wouldn't it go away? I started to bang my head against the hard concrete wall trying to make it stop. I had to make it stop! I don't know how long I had been unconscious, but I awoke to the old familiar silence. And I was still alone, thank God, I was still alone.