SHE WAS cornered.

She looked around. All she saw were faces, encircling and trapping her.

She couldn't see anything else, nothing that could give her a way out.

Voices echoed and became noises. Their words pierced through her ears, finding their way into and paralysing her every nerve like a poison.

Do it!

Don't be such a coward!

It's what needs to be done!

You don't have any other choice!

"Stop..." She desperately covered her ears, but it was helpless to stop their words from reaching her.

"I don't want to do it, please stop..."

She did have a choice, she did. If only they'd let her choose.

"Please, let me..."

She felt pushes, tossing her from side to side like a rag doll. They forced her onto the centre stage, right into the spotlight.

The light shone down and stripped everything from her. With no escape, no choices, and not a single glimmer of hope.

She was blinded.