And there before the Mentalist were scores of humans enduring horrible tortures, some suffering beyond what mere words could describe. After recovering from the initial shock, Cole ran to the first poor soul, hoping to save first her and if possible the others trapped there. The majority of her body was imprisoned within a stone as dark as obsidian. Her face was pale and thin, the garb she wore hung loosely over her diminutive body. "My brother-," She wept as she struggled to free herself from her prison, "-help me." Picking up a sword conveniently placed beside the rock, Cole attempted to shatter the obsidian prison with its blade. In reaction to his efforts, her dark prison began to grow further outward until the sickly young woman was completely enveloped by the black rock. The Mentalist looked to the mist-covered ground and felt his heart begin to sink as he failed yet again to end another’s suffering.
He came to another, a child who looked not more than ten years old. The boy was bound by manacles worn on his ankles and wrists, hanging by chain upside down from the branch of an ebon tree. Scanning the hellish landscape Cole saw other trees with others restrained in similar fashion. Drawing closer to the child he saw scars over his eyelids indicating that the child had been blinded. The child remained quite but turned to Cole’s direction as he heard the approaching Mentalist come near. "Who did this to you?" Cole asked.
"The man in white, he’s the one hurting all of us." The boy replied, as tears seeped out from scarred eyelids.
"Where is he?" Cole asked looking around with the sword still in his hand, preparing to slice the chain holding the boy.
The boy seemed shaken with fear as he responded to Cole’s question. "He’s...everywhere." the child quietly whispered as if trying not to draw the attention of his captor.
"We’ll see about that," Cole replied, with a greater determination in his voice. "Now hold on," del Tigre told him, ready to strike with the blade. "I’m gonna try to get you out of here, wherever here is." He then swung the blade but as it passed before his eyes the Mentalist, he saw the blade was gone and a serpent was left in its stead. The snake hissed before bearing its fangs menacingly at the Mentalist, who threw it far off into the mist before it could strike.
"He’s coming! You have to go!" the boy shrieked as the Mentalist tried in vain to pull the child free from the chain. "No!" the child told him, "Run away, now, before he gets you to!"
"And where would he run that he would be safe, little one?" A voice echoed across the landscape. "As you said, I am everywhere..."
