Keeping this log, kept me sane and in control to a point, then things became too realistic and frightening.
27th evening
We arrived at the meeting place in the car park as agreed; we were a little early so waited. I was getting very unsettled as the time grew closer to 7PM.
At exactly 7PM, 2 people approached the car and opened the door, I was taken out of the car and handcuffed behind my back, my wife gave one of the people my toiletries bag and they then both led me into the building.
Once inside I had to give up my phone, wallet, jewellery and keys. My toiletries bag was searched and 3 things were put aside, this being toothbrush toothpaste and shower soap. The remaining items and items already taken were put in a locker and the key put in a key safe. I observed that there were 16 lockers and 12 (including mine) were in use, I am guessing there are 12 prisoners inside currently including myself.
The handcuffs were removed and I was led into a changing room where there were 3 items: an orange disposable suit, paper incontinence pants and a pair of orange crocs. I had to change into these items and present my cloths to the guard. I was then searched and scanned for anything metal.
Now the worst part: I was again handcuffed behind my back and then a hood placed over my head which totally blacked out my view. I was led away through a long passage and down several stairs where I heard a door being unlocked and opened, I was soon inside.
Hood and handcuffs were removed and I was able to see my cell once my eyes adjusted, however while I was adjusting to the light I head the door shut and become locked.
My cell had no widows so I am guessing I was underground in this prison, my toiletries were on the table along with a notepad and pencil, and there was a shower, toilet, bed and plenty of towels. Also a stack of incontinence pants, orange suits, a bin and bottles of water.
I sat down at the desk and read the daily itinerary: 7:00AM – Lights on, 8:00AM Breakfast, 8:40AM Activity, 1:00PM Lunch, 2:00PM Activity, 6:30PM Dinner, 8:45PM lights will flash twice to give a 15 minute warning of lights out, 9:00PM Lights out.
All I can gain from this is that it’s very much organised and I know what I will be wearing daily; however what’s missing is a clock.
I’d better get ready for bed as I am guessing that it must be now around 8:00PM or so.
While showering, the lights flashed twice, so at least I can work out the time.
28th
It was so dark when the lights went out and I couldn’t make out anything, I think I slept pretty well as it was so dark and quiet and I was tired.
Lights came on 7:00AM really bright, so no chance of sleeping through this. I’d better get ready for the day ahead.
Breakfast was delivered 8:00AM, very good and enjoyed.
8:40AM 2 guards entered my cell handcuffed me behind my back and put a hood over my head, I was escorted out to another room.
Once the door was closed, my handcuffs were removed and I was pushed up with my back against a wall, I could hear chains rattle and soon my ankles became shackled to the wall. This was repeated with my hands and I found myself spread out against the wall with my arms stretched about and above my head.
I was left for some time like this in total silence as the guards must have left the room. Suddenly I had what I believe a bucket of water thrown over me and the suite was soaked and sticking to me.
A belly chain was attached around my waist and my hands were released and attached to the handcuffs on the belly chain. My legs were also released and I was led to what I would call a box where I was crammed in and it was closed up.
After some time I was released and led back to my cell where the chains were removed, my Lunch was there, so I guess I have an hour to get out of these wet cloths into new and have my food.
2:00PM 2 guards, handcuffed, hooded and led away again to another room. This time I was place in an upright cage just big enough to stand in, I had to remove my crocs and stand barefoot on the floor of the cage, the handcuffs and hood was removed and the cage door was closed. As I stood there adjusting to the light I was able to look around this room.
It was pretty packed with equipment but when I moved I felt an electric shock on my feet, I soon realised then putting any pressure on the bars triggered an electric shock to my feet. I was here for I guess several hours keep getting shocks every time I involuntarily relaxed, became tired or just had to move.
6:30 at last, released hooded, cuffed and returned to my cell, released and there was my dinner.
I am so tired and aching, but dinner was again nice.
Glad to have a shower and lay down on the bed and before long the lights flashed and then darkness.
29th
Same starting routine as on 28th led away in the same manner to another room.
Today was totally different, I was but in what I would call a cylinder totally padded and very little space, this was rotated at a speed I would guess is 1 revolution every 2 minutes. This was very strange to begin with, but after several hours of being rolled around very disorienting and uncomfortable falling about in this device.
My lunch was this time brought to this chamber and I ate there, I really wanted to visit the toilet but this was denied.
After I finished lunch I was again shackled to a wall and forced to drink water – they wanted me to lose my dignity and pee my pants (now I understand the incontinence pants). Well I resisted for some time until I had a funnel strapped to my head and in my mouth and water was just poured in.
The guards knew when I couldn’t hold anymore, due to the pants expanding absorbing the liquid.
I was then left there to think about what I had done until it was time to go back to my cell.
At last I was led back and got out of these cloths, shower and dinner.
2 days gone and just 3 more to go, so far so good apart from feeling unshaven, untidy and a little tired.
Lights went out.
30th
Same routine, lights, breakfast.
I feel like I have hardly slept, could do with a day off from this but that is not going to happen.
Strapped to frame which can rotate, left upside down, sideways and the right way up.
Shackled to a bed at the corners, ice placed on my chest.
Lunch was back in my cell.
Back to the room for my afternoon session of being shackled tickled and placed in head and hand stocks.
Had my dinner, a shower and then to bed as I was very tired.
I am so tired, now keeping notes more brief.
31st
Same routine, lights, breakfast.
I must be tired, went off before the lights went out last night.
I can believe that this is so tiring, my legs and arms are feeling so weak. What can possibly be in store next?
Morning spent strapped to a bed with ice melting above me a cold drips of water continually falling down all I wanted to do is sleep but totally impossible, by the end of this I was soaked.
Lunch in my cell, thank goodness I can get out of there wet cloths and more comfortable.
Afternoon session again keeping me fully awake as I was back in the cage giving me electric shocks to me feet every time I touched the bars, this is extreme as it’s impossible to stand still for several hours.
Finally back in my cell.
Had my dinner, a shower and was glad to go to my bed.
1st
Same routine, lights, breakfast.
So tired to continue this, I am going to ask to stop. I really don’t feel hungry so only picked at my breakfast.
Last day of this is the only consolation, I am missing daylight.
No such luck having a quiet day, 2 guards came into my cell and put me in a straight jacket, my hood and leg irons to be led away.
In this room my leg irons were removed and my legs were bound together, before I knew it I was hoisted up by my legs and hanging on what can be described as a bungee cord.
My hood was removed and the guards had great pleasure in bouncing my around and up and down. I guess they got bored with that and I was lowered down a bit until the top of my head was in water.
There was a large tank below where I was suspended, I was bounced up and down again submerging me in the water down to my chest and out again.
Released totally and taken back to my cell, that was a horrendous morning and I guess this must be level 3 punishment now.
Lunch was in my cell. Just an afternoon left to go.
Afternoon session was so tiring, handcuffed to a treadmill… I must have walked miles as my legs felt like dropping off before it was finally stopped. I was again shackled to the wall, by my hands and ankles.
I was falling asleep standing up but this was addressed by the guards and a bucket of water was thrown over me every time I slouched.
Back in my cell…. it’s over.
Dinner, followed by a shower and to bed.
2nd
Same routine, lights, breakfast.
10:00AM out of here, I am so tired and could sleep for a week will be glad to be in my own bed.
Time seems to be marching on, still here but nothing happening, still waiting to get back to the reception desk.
It must be close to 10:00AM now?
Something is wrong; I have tried to attract attention by banging on the door, but nothing.
I am worried, stuck in this cell, no one around and very tired.
I must have fallen asleep and woke when the door swung open; it was my lunch (1:00PM).
I questioned as to what is going on, I should have been out of here 3 hours ago, where’s my wife, my flight is in a couple of hours.
All that was said was everything has been taken care of.
This is all wrong, I want out of here now.
I didn’t enjoy my lunch, I am very tied and worried as to what is going on, this is too real to be true, I can’t possibly escape, no one apart from my wife knows I’m here and for all I know she could be in this prison herself now.
At last the door is being opened.
Afternoon
I woke up in a different room, it was huge with a window (dark outside), on-suite bathroom huge king bed, bowl of fruit, my notepad from the cell, my cloths and all the toiletries. Am I in heaven or just dreaming?
I was feeling so rough, tired and dirty.
There was a knock at the door, the door opened and there was a porter with a trolley of food, choice of beer or wine and a letter.
While tucking into the food and drinking my beer I opened the letter, it was another schedule and information…
* Today is 1st February
* The clock beside the bed is the correct time and date
* Your dinner was brought to you at 7:00PM
* The alarm is set for 7:00AM
* Please get cleaned up and prepared for breakfast at 8:00AM
* You will attend a pre-release meeting at 9:00AM
* Your wife will be here as planned at 10:00AM
I soon realised after reading this why I was so tired as they clearly were shortening the days to make me think I was stuck here beyond my expected time, when in fact I had gained a day during the week, this was so cleverly put together.
After enjoying my food I hit the shower, this felt so good, brushed my teeth and went straight to my bed.
What I remembered of the last afternoon…
Two guards came in; put me in legions attached by a chain to handcuffs in front of me. A gag was forced into my mouth and my hood was put over my head.
They said you wouldn’t be returning to this cell anymore – I felt finally good, but uneasy as everything is late.
I was led out and further down a passage than I can remember before into another room.
I was sat down in a chair, as the restraints were removed my legs and arms were strapped to the legs and arms of the chair, followed by straps around my chest.
My hood was taken off and the guards left slamming a door behind them, it was so bright it too several minutes for my eyes to adjust, the first thing that came into focus was a sign saying “LEVEL 3”.
I was getting confused, what is going on, I couldn’t move or shout out and then reality struck as I could now see where I was.
It looked like I was in a large tank or gas chamber, I began to panic but unable to move and debilitating tired, I gave up and just started to accept my fate.
The lights dimmed slightly and a could hear a fan or pump start running, before long there was a smoke or vapour building up from the floor level (which turned out to be dry ice), I was convinced my time was up and just relaxed.
Soon the smoke / vapour was at my neck height and the lights were turned off, I began to feel very cold and that’s all I remembered, until waking up in this luxury room.
2nd again (but this time the real 2nd February)
I slept so well, the bed was comfortable; I was awakened by the 07:00AM alarm.
Up had a long awaited shave, shower and put on my own cloths.
08:00AM breakfast was wheeled in, my dinner leftovers were cleared. I sat down to a fantastic breakfast and fresh coffee.
Time is flying (updated my notes) 09:00AM, I was collected and took into a sort of board room.
It was explained in detail how they gained the hours, what happened during the schedule (I was able to compare this with my notes) and why I was in a location where no daylight was present. If for some reason it was thought that I discovered during the week what was happening then “Level 3” would not have been implemented. However they did the job so well I was totally not aware of the time being shifted.
I thanked everyone for this experience and congratulated them on how real they made this for me.
My wife came in, what a sight for sore eyes, a real relief.
I think from now on, playing at home is preferred. However after this experience I do not think anything can measure up to this again.
Shackled in Steel 