Forty-eight, forty-nine, fifty; a scream erupts from my dry throat. Who knew that staying in a dungeon would take such a toll on you? A growl erupts from behind me, "No! You are falling behind!" Slap! My cheek erupts on fire as my head whips to the side. He slapped me! Suddenly, my head yanks backwards as pain explodes in my head. A snarling mouth and bright red eyes come into view.
"Yes, I slapped you. I am in the position to slap you but you're not in the position to question me. If I ever hear you questioning me again, I will make sure you won't be able to lie on your back for months. Do you understand me?" I restrain myself to not start crying even though I feel my eyes blurring up. Suddenly, agony builds up in my head. I bite down on my lip to prevent myself to not scream. "Do you understand me?" The red eyes turn into black voids.
"Yes, Sire." I grit out through the pain. Just as it began, the pain subsides. I let go of my lower lip and a metallic taste floods my mouth. Ouch! Damn pain receptors!
***********************************************************************************************
A dozen black hooded figures emerge from into a clearing, spreading out to surround the area. Two of those figures drag a woman with black hair and dressed in rags and dump her on the middle of the clearing.
"Let go off me!" a voice erupts from her. A man comes in front of her and bends down to her level. "We can grant you redemption but for one condition." The woman spits on his face, "I will never give you the crystals."
Slap! The sound vibrates into the clearing as the man stands up. "You will submit one way or another, or else." The figures all disappear in a puff of smoke, taking the woman with her.
***********************************************************************************************
"Wakey, wakey." Cold water splashes on top of me, seeping into my cuts and making me wet. As I attempt to shake the water from my hair, one of the bodyguards stand in front of. Michael, I think that's his name, with shaggy black reaching up to his shoulders and a scar from his forehead to his cheek, he didn't look so bad. Michael grins, his indication that he heard my thoughts. "Don't think too much about it," I criticise him, my voice raspy from the lack of water.
"I wouldn't dream of it," he purrs. Suddenly the amusement vanishes from his face and he stands up again, "Paul and Matilda are here to see you." He quickly unties my hands and I stand up, rubbing my wrist to try to reduce the soreness.
"Come on." Grabbing my hand, he takes me out of the dungeon and down a corridor. We stop before a door and he looks at me, "Go inside, take a bath and wear the clothes given. Make sure to cover your bruises and cuts with makeup. I'll be waiting here. You have an hour."
"What did you do to be on babysitting duty?" I taunt.
"None of your business," he spits in my face and throws me inside the room. Tripping over my legs, I steady myself and turn around, ready to give him an earful. Before a word gets out of the mouth, the door slams shut on my face. Reigning in my anger, I turn back around and survey the room.
With brown walls and a stone floor, it was just a simple, empty room. The only thing in it was a bathtub, a vanity and a chair with a bundle of clothes on it. Sighting the bathtub, I quickly run towards and start filling it with hot steaming water.
Grabbing a bottle of soap and perfume, I squeeze them in, creating bubbles in the tub and filling the room with the smell of lavender and vanilla.
As soon as the bathtub fills up, I close the tap and immediately start taking off my clothes. Stepping into the tub, I drop into the steaming hot water. Tension releases itself from my body as I relax in the water. I close my eyes and let my mind drift off.
"I'll be back." I coo, trying to calm him down.
"Mama!" he shrieks, trying to stop me from going. Footstep comes closer as second goes by. Biting my lips, I make a rash decision. I quickly take off my bracelet and hand it to him. His green eyes follow the bracelet as I give it to him. His tiny hands grip it and I pick him up, "Always keep it with you and remember I will always be with you in here." I touch his heart and his curious eyes gaze into my tear-filled ones. Giving him a loving kiss on his forehead, I whisper, "I will love you always my little Arcus." I hand him to Adel, "Protect him with your life if you want to make up for your mistake." Without waiting for her response, I disappear into the night.
"Hurry up! You're late!" I erupt from my sleep and see Michael on top of me. Immediately I forget my dream as sense bangs into me and I try to cover myself, "What the hell, Michael? I'm naked!"
"Oh I know," His eyes glide along my body and I submerge myself in the bathtub, head included. Water makes its way up my nose and in my mouth as I start to struggle. A hand appears in the water as it grips my hair and drags me up to the surface.
Sputtering and coughing, I come face-to-face with Michael's face. "Are you trying to kill yourself?" He snarls at me. I push him and try to make the memory go away. As soon as I calm down, I face Michael, not caring about my lack of clothes. "Get out!" As if sensing my emotions, he goes outside with only a ten-minute warning.
I collapse on the floor and close my eyes, trying to calm down my beating heart. Once my heart no longer feels like exploding out of my chest, I stand up and start getting ready. I put on a plain grey shirt with black pants and calf-high brown boots. I also wrap a white scarf around my neck to hide the bruises on my neck.
I quickly put on makeup, covering my bruises on my face with concealer, glad I only had one bruise. Once I was done, I stand in front of the mirror, admiring myself. I have lost weigh in the past couple of months. I go up to the door and turn the knob.
I open the door and see Michael on his phone, texting. Clearing my throat, Michael looks up to me and pockets his phone. "About time," he grumbles and starts walking down the corridor. I follow him, anxious to meet Paul and Matilda again.