You step up to the plate,
“Dear God why have you put me here?”

The abomination with your name on it sits in front of you.

The people whom you thought you knew are now crowding around closely,
They’re smiling joyously and you wonder what kind of nightmare you’ve stumbled in.

You say a quick prayer to the Greek gods, Chuck Norris, and anyone else who could possibly save you.

You watch as flames flicker to life and the lights dim,
“Let it be a quick end, if not anything else, let this horrible torture end quickly!” you want to scream.

The crowd gathers close, suffocating in the heat of the bodies that press closer and closer,
All the oxygen seems to vanish as they close their glazed eyes and suck in air to begin some horrible chant that will no doubt make your demise a slow and painful one.

White flashes go off and they hold their breath, grinning stupidly at one another while you’re blinded, you have to smile too. It’s required to make your death faster.

They all turn as one to the mass of sugary happiness in front of you.

A collective voice starts, a low drone, “Happy Birthday to you…”

It has begun.