Time had already been lost. As the heavy door to the cell drew to a close, Sterling had thrown himself against it in a last ditch effort to prevent the inevitable. How long he had pounded upon it, he did not know, but his hands were scratched and bruised from his desperation not to be left alone in the dark again unless by his own accord. He finally turned and leaned back against the barrier allowing himself to slip downward to the floor to rest amongst the filthy remains of straw that was to serve as his bedding. He shuddered slightly, then tried to inspect the useless damage he had caused himself, irons grumbling as reminder that, even locked away in this small space, he was far from free.