Shadows in the Dark

"Ok who's...?" Ark started to get up, but the restraints held her down. Bright lights shone in her face. Wherever she was it smelled a great deal better than whatever muck and mire they had just been through.

"Relax it will do no one any good to have you struggle." A voice said calmly from behind the lights. "I would not want you getting hurt. Help our friend relax."

Two darkly clad figures came from the lights wearing bizzare robes. Ark could not tell what the color was it seemed to change as they got closer to her.

One held her head steady. The other smacked her arm. He took a linen bandage. He if it was a he. He placed some foul smelling liquid on it. Ark felt her arm grow unnaturally cold for a second. Then it was gone.

Ark tried to turn her head. Whatever creature held her head held fast. Instead Ark tried to look through the corner of her eyes. She felt a pinch in her arm. Ark could feel the room spinning.

The creatures robes were shadows that attempted to engulf her. The creatures walked away wordless, soundless. They were shadows upon shadows. Ark had heard of this before, mages, bloodelves, and others told her about this. This was not real, but that didn't assuage the growing fear within her.

Ark assumed she was alone, but where was Verloren. Was this Jaq? Had Verloren abandoned her? Had Verloren gone to get help?

She looked forward. A raven was flying at her face, talons outstretched. The raven stopped and formed into something else. Something mortal.

"I want to start with something easy, shall we?" A voice asked, it was a mortal voice, but the face.

Was that a face? Was this a druid? It sounded male, which meant this was not Jaq. But that did not mean Jaq was not behind this.

"We know that you are chosen, and we want your help. That is simple, yes?" The voice wasn't so much asking as telling.

"You have a strange way of asking for help." Ark said defiantly.

"Well you are a hard one to get alone. But enough chatter, shall we get started?" The voice was too calm. It was eerie. It was the voice of death come to take what he wanted.

"Who are you?" Ark wanted to get this over with. If she could finish it early she would.

A sharp pain pierced her whole body. "Ungghh...What do you...Ungghh" Ark resigned herself to silence. The pain wracked her entire being.

"That is the neural needler. You are familiar with it yes?" The voice asked as it seemed to glance at it's fingernails.

Ark nodded. Ark did not dare answer audibly again. On top of the drugs she was on there was going to be torture. She could not see straight. She could not think straight. Ark did not understand how anyone could do this on purpose. Or for fun.

"I don't like this, but I am your Master, and I must be obeyed. You understand of course." The voice said.

Ark nodded again. She had to be careful what she agreed to, clearly this creature was trying to break her.

"Now what is your name?" The voice asked, calm as an ocean before a storm.

"Arkadelphungghh AAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!"

"Wrong answer, you do not choose your name the master gives it. Now what is your name?" The voice said again.

"Arkadunnnnggghhh AAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!" The room went black, the pain was unbearable.

Ark awoke water splashed in her face.

"Don't make me do that. It is very unpleasant for me. Are you awake?" The voice asked calmly quietly. The creature returned to his seat. "I have all the time you do."

This was almost surreal, like a nightmare, but all too real. Ark nodded to indicate she was awake. In case he used the device again. Ark could not tell how long she had been here. Time had no meaning. All she knew was the bright light and the shadowy figure.

"Now what is your name?" The voice asked again.

Ark feared there was no answer to this riddle. But if it was a riddle then she might solve it.

"What would you call me?" Ark answered. unnggghhh The pain came again, but later and lighter. Was the device in need of power? Was the magic wearing off? Her sight was still hazy, but not as bad as before. How much time had passed?

"An answer closer to the truth, perhaps, but I am not The master, am I?" The voice seemed pleased. Had Ark said too much? "You may now ask a question."

"Is Jaq the master?" Ark asked. Knowledge was power, and the more knowledge she had the better.

"Jaq is a pathetic pawn who will be dealt with when the time is right." The creature said. The creature stood up and walked to her, touching her face. Caressing her cheek like Verloren might have. "Knowledge is power, and power does not come without pain." The voice said.

A fist met Ark's face. Her nose bled. Ark assumed it was the creatures fist that punched her in the face. But she could not make sense of anything.

"Feel free to ask what you wish, when I, your master, grant you leave. But the more knowledge you gain, the more painful the response will be. And I may not be able to answer. Now something I don't know is still knowledge isn't it. Then I will use the needlers."

"I am determined to get an answer from you before we end this session you understand, so what is your name?" The creature asked returning to his seat.

"The master may call me what the master wills." Ark said. Ark still refused to surrender herself no matter the pain. But the answer was close enough to what this thing wanted, and Ark could retain her sense of self. After all she had been through Ark would not surrender that easily.

"Close enough. I will permit you to rest. I will return when I wish, and you will tell me what I want to know." He bowed deeply. "Good day miss."

Ark struggled against her bonds. Partly she wanted to know if they were going to drug her. And partly she wanted to know if anyone else was there with her. Ark attempted to stand, but whatever they gave her made her legs jelly. Ark pushed the chair against the side of the wall. She heard an echo, but nothing else. It seemed she was alone.

Alone in the darkness Ark heard whispers. The whispers of darkness. The whispers of death. The whispers of the endless madness. The whispers of forever. The whispers of silence. The whispers of never.

Hopelessness rose in her throat physically. Ark tried to hold it down. Hopelessness exploded out of her mouth in a foul and painful black form. Ark refused to let go. But hopelessness demanded release, and bound as she was it fell into Ark's lap.

Ark thought of Verloren.

Was Verloren experiencing this same torture? Was Verloren dead?

And in the darkness cold and alone Ark wept.