Poison promised perpetuity
And I surrended my caution...

Completely.

Where is this place?
This place where Darkness is defiant
and Light wears heavier make-up than whores.

What is this place?
Dark and implosive
Steamy and grimy
with the scent of blood and broken innocence.

Smoky ruins huddle in the dark
without apology
confident of my fascination.

What is this place?
Discarded girls bring comfort
And useless men find use

Burnt and bitten,
They rise in murky columns of light
to bare their scars at me
in mockery;

Where is this place?
How have I come here
without you?

My breath betrayed me.
Breathing for your lungs,
it abandoned me.

I cut it out.
And went my way.

What is this place?
Where broken things welcome me
with stronger arms than yours,
Their frightening facades just scars
of past mistakes.

It's MY place, suffering
the aftermath of your fickle worship.

And when I asked:

Am I damaged goods?

My new and terrible voice answered:

No, just reborn.