Darkness to darkness, fearful isolation to free-floating possibility.

With eyes keen to a thousand unseen risks, Sariah peers hesitantly at freedom. The light without, carried in rippling reflections along shallow channels of muddy water have faded. The sounds of life transmitted through concrete and steel have subsided. Some internal sense of time whispers ‘tis twilight, the meeting of night and day, reality and mystery.

Faltering steps in a humble crouch lead away but stop short. The way is not hard, one left, one right, and one short hop down. Reprisal lurks the shadows, stalking confidence and assurance. Lessons learned weigh like so many dead albatrosses about a delicate, young neck.

A cruel twist of hunger’s bony hand half-doubles over the slight frame, having little reserve upon which to rely. The venture must be undertaken. The window of opportunity must be crudely smashed and crawled through.

Blinking against faint starlight, Sariah steps back into the world, a princess fleeing a dungeon.