And yet the night,
in twisted form,
offered refuge
for sadistic hands.
Breath, not even cold,
did not escape
from vacant lungs.
But the fear
never left the eyes.
Mortal agony
traced lines upon
   the face.
Somewhere a sun
shone bright
in a guiltless realm.
But this world
was dark, then dim,
never breaking dawn.
Rituals replayed
   rules;
death replaced
the once beating heart.
How strange
the scene played
   out.
But strangers
had become a
   way of life --
and strangers
offered up such
mortal sacrifice.
How could they
have known
that darkness waited?
Impenetrable and
   unforgiving.