I wasn’t sure how long I was tied up in the cave for, but it must have been at least a few days. It was long enough to fall into a sort of routine, as messed up as that was. I was never left alone, which was worse than if I was. There was always someone guarding me, sitting still and silent in the darkness nearby. I could never tell what they were doing or thinking. I rarely knew who it was. It was maddening.

The only time I saw any light was when the guard was changing. ...