I awaken in the dark
Several figures cluster at the end of my bed
I can not see their faces, but I can feel their contempt
I can not see their eyes, but I can feel their hatred
I can not see their forms, but I can feel their intent
I open my mouth
A hand slaps against my face
I am left in a daze
"YOU"
The leftmost figure speaks
The bile and venom in his voice makes me shrink
He sways like a tree
"You waste your potential.
"Act before you think.
"And ignore the advice of others because you think
"You know better.
"For that, we shall remove your means of creativity.
"We shall remove your hands."
I open my mouth
To protest
To proclaim my efforts to better myself
To beg for mercy
I am met with more slaps
My arms burn
I look down at myself
Stubs replace my hands
"Champ"
The second figure speaks
The affability in its voice a thin mask
Static prickles around me
"You criticize the state of the world
"But do nothing to fix it.
"You decry the exploitation of the working class
"But order delivery in the same breath.
"You wish for rebellion to succeed
"But stay in your home instead of sacrificing yourself.
"For that, we shall restrict your movement.
"We shall take your legs."
I open my mouth
To protest
To bring up my philanthropy
To remind of my acts of kindness
I receive a punch to the gut
I scream as if sliced by a sword
I look down
I am now but a torso
"Coward"
The figure in the middle speaks
The voice of Legion
Some masc, some femme
One robotic
"You let your anger consume you.
"You push others away.
"You find a way to fuck up even the strongest of bonds.
"You are a pariah.
"And it's of your own doing.
"For that, we shall trap you in your loneliness.
"We shall take your methods of escape."
I open my mouth to protest
But a kick silences me
My door vanishes
My windows fade
The room becomes pitch
I squeeze my eyes shut
But not even my mind can offer me respite
"Piece of shit"
The fourth figure speaks
A low growl formed into words
I feel claws against my chest
"You speak when it is unwanted.
"You justify it with pointing out problems
"Injustices
"Corrections.
"But you alienate everyone you speak to.
"You are a cunt that ruins any space you talk in.
"For that, we shall silence you forever
"We shall take your voice."
I try to scream
Nothing comes out
I hyperventilate
A cocked gun makes me freeze
"Failure"
It is my own voice
But there is no anger
Just a dissonant calmness
I feel cold metal against my stomach
"You are sick in the mind.
"You catastrophize to everyone's detriment
"Including your own.
"You only have yourself to blame for being coerced
"Gaslit
"Abused
"And becoming broken.
"For that, we shall seal you within your own mind.
"We shall take your agency."
They all speak in unison
"You fear death
"But also crave it.
"For that, we shall deny you that mercy.
"We shall take your mortality."
I can't speak
I can't move
I can't form thought
But I can feel the pain of every bullet
Fired into my gut
My chest
My head
My left eye
Every excruciating ache and stab and agonizing decay and entropy of my body
My vision begins to fade
The figures disappear
I am in a hell of my own making
And I deserve it.