Inside my Cell

I can't sleep right anymore.

I lay down as best I can, I close my eyes and I just... it doesn't stop. The everything. That feeling when you lay down to rest but your mind is too busy, when you don't quite feel tired enough and you just lay there listless. In your bed, it's a comforting nothing.

Here, it's agony.

All I can do is feel. The rubbing of... scales against the ground, wings against the walls, face against this Stupid Muzzle. The sound of the scratching outside, the cries of those who broke elsewhere, the march of guards, the cold steel, the endless quiet... nothing out there.

I hate it. I feel... trapped. Locked. Isolated. Alone. Nothing but me and my thoughts. And even those don't quite feel like mine.

Have you ever looked into a mirror and looked at yourself? Not just who you see, but who's there? Ask "Who are you?"

I don't recognize myself. This blasted little mirror... I don't see me when I look into my eyes.

No, that's wrong. I do recognize me. But it's wrong. And that's worse.

I look into that mirror and see the ridge of scales on my cheek and I'm scared. Scared because I can tell they are drooping, that I'm low on something to help shore them back up. Scared because I'm not supposed to have scales, and certainly not tell how I'm doing by looking at them. I see where my hairline would be and my first thought is "Why would I have hair?" The closest I ever got to lizards was visiting The Reptile house! And now...

It hurts. Everything.

These chains... their stupid. Worthless really. If I tried, I could break them, and push and break my way through the wall and make for the exit.

If I knew where that was.

And if they hadn't beat me within an inch of my life last time. I broke bones I didn't know I had.

I just...

I want it to stop.

I want them to hurt. To suffer like I did. Like they've put me through. This living Nightmare I'm trapped in. Why? WHY?! None of them ever even answered Why. They broke me, stole me, and made me.... wrong. And they won't even say why. There is... nothing I wouldn't do to make them....

I'm not supposed to be here. I'm supposed to be at home, working on a latest sale, or hunting for a better job. I should be out there fighting and securing my future, not in this stupid place, rotting away. I'm better than some low lying experiment of theirs! I'm not meant to be here, to be up in chains, locked up and away from the Rest of the World! I'm a Dragon! I'm meant to be-

I'm a...

When did I start thinking that?

I'm a human.

I was a human...

I...

I want to go home

I want to be free

Please