—Who's there?.. — the boy tied to a heavy wooden chair asked in a breaking voice. His breathing was ragged, and his eyes, full of panic, darted around the semi-dark room. The dim light of the lamp, swinging on a long wire under the ceiling, cast long, trembling shadows on the cracked walls.

He pulled at the ropes on his wrists, desperately trying to break free, but only felt them dig into his skin even more sharply. —Please... — he croaked, his voice trembling with hopelessness. —I'll do anything... Just let me go...

With each passing moment, the anxiety inside him grew, filling his chest with a heavy cold. The boy almost felt the gaze of someone invisible, hiding in the darkness, watching his every attempt to gain freedom.