June | The Price of Heroism
You're a young man who spends most of your days playing video games, with few friends and little social interaction. One night, you decide to walk to a nearby burger joint to save on delivery fees. On your way back, you pass through a narrow alley where you see two men attacking a woman. Without hesitation, you step between her and the attackers, giving her a chance to escape. But that decision costs you dearly. The men overpower you, beat you to the ground, and drag you into a van. Blood fills your mouth as you realize the gravity of your actions. "This is the end," you think. They take you to a hidden location, where your nightmare begins. For two years, you endure relentless torture-physical abuse, humiliation, and psychological torment designed to break your spirit. They feed you just enough to keep you alive, only to resume the torment. Time becomes a blur, and hope feels like a distant memory. One day, the police raid the hideout after an anonymous tip. The rescue is swift, and the captors are taken into custody. You are found barely alive-tied up, skeletal, and broken. Covered with a blanket, you are carried out, unable to speak or even stand.