Awake

Day 15 | 2:15 am

He crept up on me in the midst of my preparation

My hands trembled

 “Damn it!’ I think to myself as I return to my quarters

His presence was expected but sooner than anticipated

He seems overly zealous tonight. I sense his eagerness.

“I applaud you my foe I see you’re a man of dedication

But tonight is the night I surely shall win

The battle has begun… Let the stand-off begin”

Aimlessly, I greeted him. No response as usual just my silly rambles to the air

As the drifting echo from the closing door reminds me of how alone I am.

“You asked for an easier way out of here

Therefore you have been recruited for a special program.

 All you need to do is… close your eyes!”

Day 15 | 2:51 am

They call me a psycho, while they are the ones playing these psychotic games.

They drugged me

Poisoned me

And now keeps tabs on my resistance.

Nothing but your mind exists in this facility.

No rewards for your achievements, no feedback on your performance

Days merged together with only one possible conclusion

As the single hanging clock is a reminder, seemingly, counting down…

“Tick tock, tick tock

I just can’t escape the sound of the…

Tick tock, tick tock

Resonating in my brain why doesn’t it…

Tick tock, tick tock”

I mumble to myself

Reading the now fading words scribbled on the wall

Signs that I was not the only rat trapped in this lab.

Day 15 | 3:39 am

It’s peaceful on the other side he says

It’s easier to close your eyes he says

With his many attempts at my heart’s desire

Yet I refuse to be his pawn

Refuse to be used or treated as a fool

I’ve heard it all before

I’ve been here times before

Made note of his tricks now known as his trade

So I do not care for his false promises and intangible trinkets.

Day 15 | 4:42 am

Hour after hour the unending contest vigorously prolonged.

Limbs begin to tire and I sense him mocking my every futile attempts

But my flaw was in a blink which lasted a second too long

A vision of life looms into focus

She touches my skin

Hands so soft

Skin so radiant

“No! This is not real!”

I must hold on to reality my faith cannot so easily be sealed.

Desperately I fought to not give-in to his illusions

But as the days toll now takes effect

I’ve failed – tricked – and willingly I’ve fallen into his grasp

It was evident the contest was over even before it had begun

For the Sandman; the ruler of sleep, is a contender impossible to outrun!