Dim lights.

Muted sound.

Pain.

Darkness.

***

His brain barely functioned, but then the distant sounds turned into voices. He tried to connect the words from a male voice.

"Enough already, how...times...let him die."

Darkness.

***

Awareness came slowly. Everything hurt and then pain seared into his back, bringing him off the cold, hard surface.

"Hold him down, dammit, or tighten the ...