I’m alone, cold, isolated. This is the way it has always been. For as long as I can remember. Although I cannot remember any other lifestyle I am certain that there is something better out there for me. I know this because it is what keeps me going from day to day as I wander the endless

passageways, which I call my home. Its hope that keeps me going and its hope that will get me out of here.

I don’t know who I am, or what I am. Although what I do know is that I am not normal. If I were, people who have come into contact with me in my home would not have run off screaming or tried to kill me. It is not my destiny to get killed in a trap so I have decided to myself that once and for all, I will not continue to be like a mouse in a maze. I am going to escape.

The doors to my chamber are opened every full moon, and its then when the strangers wander and prepare for their attacks on me. Although this time will be different, after this time I will be free.

Through the squeaking of the rats and the dripping from the roof comes the voice “Come on everyone, this is the way I’m sure of it. Now don’t attack until you hear my command, we are going to kill it, just wait for the command.” This is my home, they are intruding on me and they know me as ‘it’. Hearing this just fuels my rage more and I am ready for the battle, ready to escape.

They are close now, I can feel it, and if I listen carefully enough I can heat the pitter-patter of tiny feet. Just a corner separates us now. I venture tip toeing quietly like a mouse in a maze.

There they are. I can just make out their shadows creeping along the walls. They don’t look too big, in fact none of the past intruders looked big. Maybe I am just a monster and maybe this is my punishment. However there is no turning back now.

Our eyes lock and before I know it they are running towards me “Now” screams one member of the group. I am outnumbered for there are about six of them and only one of me.

The first one lunges at me and hurls a fist towards my face although after spending my life in the maze, having to feed off rats my reflexes have grown strong and I manage to avoid his punch. However I am not so successful at ducking the next punch, and the next or the next. “Take this nigger,” One screams.

“You don’t belong in this world,” another says. “You’re nothing but a black monster.” They now have me pinned down on the ground, I can’t get up, and still they keep punching my chest and head. “What have I done to deserve this?” I say. “You killed and raped my sister,” one shouts.

“That’s impossible, I have been trapped here for at least the last 10years.” I explained.

“Doesn’t matter, you niggers are all the same. We are doing society a favour by getting another one of you off the planet.” One says to me.

Suddenly it occurs to me that I have been planning this evening all wrong. I think to myself ‘Why do I want to go out into a world full of people like this group?’ Maybe this peaceful world is not past the same doors that these people crawled through. Maybe it will be more peaceful when this life is over. So therefore I won’t fight back.

I just lie there and take the punches. I cannot fight any longer, I have given up. Hopefully life after death will be better that the life I live in at the moment.

The punches are starting to grow stronger, and then one of the members of the group pulls out a long shiny sword, to finish me off. As the attacker lunges it towards my neck, I see myself in the swords reflection. This is the first time I have ever seen myself as everyone else sees me, the only difference between me and the men beating me is the colour of my skin.

‘I’m a black monster I think to myself, then what are these men, they’re nothing but white monsters. It’s with this glimpse I am positive that I am going somewhere better, somewhere where people don’t kill others just because of the colour of their skin. “I will be free.” I say to myself as the sword plunges into my neck.

The world around me is now all dark; it’s all now over. Or is it? All of a sudden I’m outside. “So this is what sunlight feels like” I say to myself. “Where am I?” I wonder I look over to my right and see golden gates; I know where I am. I am finally home.