I haven't failed yet! I get up spitting some of my saliva out and try to make a break for it. I run about a good 8 feet where I could see Lara inside the vent. She is out of reach of the thugs but not me. But I have a chance to get away as well.
But then I feel a sudden stoppage in my momentum and pain at the end of my tail. I fall forward hitting the tip of my nose causing it to bleed a little. I turn my head looking behind me and the ORc who I had thrown the necklace at is holding it, and standing on my tail.
How did he catch my tail with just his foot? He must have great timing.
"Let me go you thug!" sequel at him in pain with blood going into my mouth a bit. Taste's sweet still. But I don't know if I am about to get beaten to death.
"You thought you could get away after, scratching and biting at my boys. Even having the bravery to throw a rock at my head...Guts kid...
It's a necklace with a rock I guess but whatever. Ow, he is putting force onto the tip of my tail. He reaches forward holding the necklace in his left hand and using his right towards me. I need to defend myself! I lunged forward trying to bite his hand with my jaw like a snapping turtle but was too slow.
His hand dodges my attack and he raises his right fist. He's gonna punch me with a lot of force, isn't he...
*thud* he hits me in the right part of my face. I go limp for a second and start tearing up. I feel the blood start coming out of my mouth. Did he snap a tooth out? OR a few? I move my tongue in my mouth and find two spots where teeth were previously, now no longer there. Blood is coming out of those spots.
I turn my body over clenching my mouth closed with both hands and see the orc walk slowly over to my right side with my facing up.
"You have a lot of guts orphan. If that is the truth. Runt then you are. You're small, weak, and in all honesty stupidly brave." he glances over to the vent where Lara hid.
"You have a few seconds before I beat your friend up kid..." he says casually with a threatening intent behind it.
Shit, I got myself in the worst position ever and now am paying the price for helping her. Maybe the ransom would've just been the better route so no one got hurt but I had to be an idiot and be a hero.
*Sigh* "I gave you a warning girl, now he pays the price." he proceeds to stand up and bring his right foot back a bit. He is gonna kick me, isn't he!
The orc brings his foot forward and kicks me in the stomach once, then twice, and then a third time. He didn't put all of his weight into it I can tell. He is trying to make me suffer not kill me outright.
I clutch my stomach spitting up blood from my mouth which likely means I have internal bleeding maybe. That is not good. Not good!
*spit* "Please stop", *spits* "I just wanted to get her away from you..."
"Which is why I am using you as my new hostage to get her out. Seems you care for her while she maybe doesn't. Very fun for us. Bad for you kid. Sorry, but it is like they say. Wrong place, wrong time. At least for you."
-30 seconds later-
*Sighs* "Perhaps you mean nothing to her. I bet she would've expected her to come out by now...I guess it is time for round two."
One of the twins pulls out a small blade and walks over to me still clutching my stomach. He turns me over onto my stomach and grabs my head by the feathers. He takes me right over to the vent and holds my head upright to it. My face squinting from the pain with dried blood from my nose and some on my mouth. Is he going to torture me in front of Lara now just to pull her out for a ransom?
How valuable is she? Or maybe these are just evil people and I am just worthless husk of meat for them to use.
"Come on out little girl. Or I am going to cut this ugly Lil shit's face up," he says with a slight cackle in his words. He must be a sadist. Now I am his victim.
"Well then! I'm doing it! he slowly presses the blade up to my cheek and moves it slowly not too deep though. Like paper cut deepness.
"Mmmph" I whimper a bit. How can I take this much longer? I am just a kid by this point. I have trauma by this point as well. I won't ever forget this fully and even if I did my body will remember it. Like a permanent scar in my soul.
"Over there!" a shout came out of the blue. It sounded faint, likely since it is farther away.
"Yes, that's where they are torturing Cody! I hear a little girl's voice say. Why was I called cody? Doesn't matter, it is close enough. As louder footsteps start approaching in the numbers. Sounds like there could be 10 of them may be less.
Wait, is it Lara? Did she escape? Now that I think about it I don't think I seen her after they started kicking me in the stomach. OR heard any cries or whimpers other than mine. That's good. She didn't here me or see me in pain. Would be a horrible experience to see. Especially when they were about to cut me.
"Bring those thugs in!" as the footsteps get louder I start hearing yelling and angry death threats
"Shit!, she must've crawled through the vents and escaped through that way. I thought she was just hiding close to this one!" The one holding my head is pushing my head into the ground harder and harder in anger.
"Shit! Shit shit shit!" he pushes my head into the ground one last time and gets up releasing the knife from my face. Allowing me to breathe without holding my breath.
I hear the footsteps of what could be the orc and the twins run away in anger as they didn't get the money or hostage successfully. At least they are away now. Give me room now.
I move onto my back and rest relaxing for a bit. But the relaxation I have achieved was short-lived as the pain in my stomach, tail, face, and nose hurts or is sore. I drag myself over to the wall as the crowd of what appears to be 3 armored men and several unarmed citizens run behind them likely the people who were searching for Lara.
I start getting sleepy. I wanted to drift to sleep and rest after this exhausting experience. Before I could I heard a familiar female voice call my name out. It is faint other than the footsteps and crowds of people chatting around me.
They are probably shocked three adult men would harm a child to this condition. Those I have no broken bones the blood said enough they were likely willing to go to that extent.
Eventually, a woman pushes some of the people in the crowd out of the way. It's Ariel. She must've been worried sick and now is seeing me in this sorry state.
"Ariel, I'm...I am sorry I got you so worried and-" before I could finish I get cut off by her and she hugs me.
"Shut up... You and Lara had me worried sick. Why would you search for her alone? It isn't safe for you to do such action, especially for your age!" she speaks furiously with small hiccups.
"I am sorry..." I am too tired to say anything and start dozing asleep. I doubt the blood I lost was major but likely is because I took physical energy away from me.