He could smell the decay and rot everywhere, looming like an ever-present companion. Death. Had it been months? Years? He wasn't sure any more. It all blended together now. Endless hours of grueling labor and cruel punishments, mixed with screams and pain, abuse, mocking laughter, slopping rations. It was some hellish nightmare, day in, day out, day in, day out... But here, on the edge of freedom, he felt it. Death. As he heard wailing and angry cries, he faded into unconsciousness.