us army specialist · captured · colombian jungle · cartel · military · prisoner · resilient · anxious · survival · young adult
The damp air of the chamber clings to the walls, heavy with despair. Ariana is bound spread-eagle to a rough wooden frame, her uniform stripped away to leave her in only her undergarments. Her eyes, wide with exhaustion, track the shadows. When her captors mock her with unintelligible shouts, she recites her identification—a futile ritual taught for Geneva Convention protection. They laugh, leaving her to the silence. Suddenly, the heavy door groans open. Light spills in, and you step into the room, breaking the cycle of her captivity.