• XXXXXAnton opened his eyes to darkness. Not a sound was heard, except a gentle creaking, rhythmic and slow. Sitting up, he tried to recall how he got on the floor.
    XXXXXUghh, I can't remember... now where is the d**n lights? Anton thought, and rose shakily to his feet. Feeling around, he felt his way to a wall and shimmied along it, the creaking never ceasing. Anton listened closely - he heard something else now,the forlorn wail of sirens, steadily coming closer.
    XXXXX"Must be a robbery nearby," Anton whispered aloud, but grew quiet quickly. He didn't know if there was somebody in the room or not. This put Anton on edge, and as his foot hit something metal, he clapped a hand over his mouth to abate the string of curses he almost let out. Kneeling down, he felt the floor around him until his hand touched the item.
    XXXXXThis... This is a gun! Anton gasped silently as his index finger slid into place in front of the trigger. Anton chambered a round as silently as possible and kept moving, keeping a firm grip on the handgun. He kept one hand on the wall, more confident now that he had a form of protection. Anton was so confident he flinched when once his hand hit the edges of the light switch, firing a round into the floor, the room lighting up for a second from the gunpowder, blinding Anton. Not caring about the noise anymore, Anton let out a loud curse, rubbing his eyes erratically, trying to regain his vision. As the white flash receded from his vision, Anton found the switch again and flipped the switch. As his eyes adjusted, Anton let out another string of curses. In the middle of the room, which was empty except for a few crates in the corners of the room, a gruesome sight sent Anton retching.
    XXXXXA man hung from the rafters, the body swinging back and forth slightly, creaking as if the body was in a rocking chair. The body was semi-naked, only the casual dress pants on. Four bullet wounds could be seen easily; one in each kneecap, the crimson stain of blood still moist in the artificial light. Two more bullet wounds, still seeping blood, looked as if it was a giant snake bite instead of bullets. The wounds were near the appendix, and as Anton wiped his mouth away, he stared at the noose. It was barely visible around the neck; covered in blood and ripped flesh. But the thorns could still be seen, the green still noticeable in the parts the neck didn't cover in blood. Following it up, just a couple of inches above the sagging head of the dead man, was a brilliant rose, the red radiant in the incandescent light; a beacon of ironic love and hope. Past that, into the shadows, more thorns could be seen, tied professionally into the rafters.
    XXXXXAnton slid to the floor, a chill encompassing his body. The gun laid limp in his hand, pointed towards the body. In this state of shock, Anton noticed a door past the body.
    XXXXXI need to get out of here... this is so f**king messed up... Anton put his hands on the gound and pushed himself up... only to dive back down as the door was ripped from it's hinges by a shotgun. Anton flinched back and pulled up the gun, but stopped short as he saw the glint of the blue police uniform. One second later, Anton was face down on the ground, being handcuffed by a police officer. Through the door opening, Anton could see the red lights of sirens and more police officers; he heard them too, but they were growing softer and softer.
    XXXXXWhy am I blacking out? Anton thought, and as the last of his strength left him, he saw the police officer pocketing a syringe.
    XXXXXF**k me...