Beads of pellucid sweat

mixing with briny tears

painstakingly white knuckles

cracking, air catching

In pockets of charred lungs

bloodshot eyes receding

beneath furrowed brows

vision blurring

this place is beginning to manifest

shades of eerie crimson

my weary skull is

aching, pounding

internally screaming

but I bare a toothy

fake smile behind

lips with upturned corners

a facade hiding

convoluted consciousness

torturous soul within