The voices echoed through the dark cavern, slithering up and down the walls. 

_Give us escape. Please. _

They got louder and louder each time, until they became an unbearable chorus of wails hitting their crescendo.

_We crave release._

I swiveled around, but nothing was there except for the same darkness.

“STOP, PLEASE!” The words burned my throat, like a brand to wood. I tore at my skin, nails digging in and drawing up dark beads of blood in an attempt to mute the voices. To carve myself up until nothing was left.

A voice materialized.“Who are you talking to?”