In the dungeon's suffocating darkness, Benson returned like a malevolent specter, his sinister presence oozing from every pore. His eyes gleamed with malice, like two maleficent stars in the abyss. In his hand, he wielded a wicked-looking whip, its leather strands adorned with cruel barbs that seemed to pulse with dark enchantments, like a snake ready to strike.
Inside the cell, Chase appeared more skeletal than ever, surrounded by the lifeless husks of magic bugs, like a wretched prisoner trapped in a macabre insect graveyard. As he saw Benson's return, his heart sank like a stone in an endless abyss."You're back," His voice, parched and devoid of moisture due to the prolonged deprivation of food and water, sounded like the whisper of a ghost. Spotting the new instrument of torment that Benson held, he braced himself for the inevitable suffering to come, all too familiar with Benson's sadistic intentions.
"Time to see how long you can last without sleep," Benson sneered, twirling the magical whip in a sinister display of power. "You'll find that exhaustion can be even more agonizing than any physical pain I've inflicted so far. This is no ordinary whip; it's imbued with a spell that will force your body to remain painfully awake."
As Benson walked over to the lever and pulled it, Chase was lifted into the air, hanging from the roof with both hands restrained. With a menacing gesture, Benson crackled the enchanted strands of the whip, ready to inflict torment. Each lash of the whip across his back, Chase's body to convulse with pain, the pain searing through their nerves like fire, leaving small holes in his skin dripping out blood.
Chase stifled a cry of agony, clenching their jaw to hide the pain from Benson, But the magic of the whip was already taking effect, he could feel an unnatural surge of alertness coursing through their veins, forcibly keeping their body awake.
"You see," Benson gloated, "sleep is a refuge from the torment of reality, and now, I've taken that sanctuary away from you. Your body will ache with exhaustion, your mind will fray at the edges, and yet, you won't be able to escape the pain."
Benson continued whipping, With every lash of the whip, Chase's body convulsed with pain, but he fought through the pain to maintain his resolve, Benson derived pleasure from his suffering, and Chase refused to grant him the satisfaction of witnessing his defeat.
Through gritted teeth, Chase mustered the strength to speak in defiance, his voice trembling with agony. "Your twisted power won't break me," he gasped. "I'll endure this torment as I have endured everything else you've thrown at me."
"You think you're so good, so righteous. But in the end, everyone breaks, and you will be no exception."
With a flick of his wrist, the whip lashed out, its barbs grazing Chase's cheek, leaving a trail of blood in their wake. As the hours stretched on, Chase's body fought against the cruel magic, his back filled with tiny bleeding holes, and his mind caught in a nightmarish haze of pain and exhaustion. Despite it all, he clung to a flicker of hope that Ava, Alex, Luke, or Freya would break free from Benson's sadistic grasp.
Benson's wicked grin only widened, his eyes filled with malevolent glee. "Oh, I know you'll try to resist," he taunted, delivering another brutal strike of the magical whip. "But in the end, your will shall shatter, and you'll beg for the sweet release of slumber."
Suddenly Benson walked back to the lever, pulling it, the chains lit up, burning his wrists, because chase didn't have any strength to scream he just stare at Benson fury in his eyes, the flame slowly burned his wrist down to his bones, his burnt wrist flesh to the ground.
Suddenly, Benson noticed a ring on Chase's finger, which seemed to shine with a peculiar radiance, which his mother gave him, "Oh, what a shine ring" Benson said Intrigued, he walked toward Chase.
"Don't touch it, "Chase said worried.
"Oh by the sound of your voice it is important to you," Benson said expressing his greed and desire" I want it"
"No!" Chase shouted tightly closing his fist, barely with any strength left to hold, as his wrist slowly burn 'Please protect me ring' he thought remembering his mother said, this ring will protect him only when in extreme danger.
'Please, Please' Chase thought in panic, seeing Benson getting closers"I can but it depends on your ability Chase suddenly heard a heavy deep voice in his mind, Chase was shocked wondering who it is but he had no time to ask.
'I will help but if he gets through, that's it, I have been in this world forever meeting different kinds of people worst than Benson and you already have something else to deal with in the future' The voice said with interest and worry.
As Benson was about to grab Chase's hand, the ring glowed orange then a large orange transparent crystal shield surrounded him, that shield spark Benson's hand he instantly pulled it back.
"So... It's a protection ring," Benson said in disappointment, Chase got happy looking at the shield protecting him.
"You see, I thrive on the suffering of others," Benson whispered in a chilling tone, "There's an art to breaking someone's spirit, and you, my dear Chase, that ring seems too important to you and I want it"
At a very fast speed, Benson's fist glowed black, punching the shield, but nothing happened besides his hand bouncing back.
"Ha, Ha" Chase laughed barely audible Dont get so happy that wasn't all his strength'
"Huh" Chase was shocked, then he heard a crack, saw Benson's hand slam onto the shield making a small crack that started to spread, Benson punched the shield with both fists, instantly breaking it into the small crystal disappearing into the air.
"Don't touch me..." Chase shouted in fear seeing the shield broken.
"Ha, ha, Chase just for having me use my strength I will be taking your arm" At a very fast speed Benson's hand sliced Chase's arm clean off, he manage to catch it before falling to the ground, blood spraying out Chase's shoulder showing his exposed bones.
Chase looked at his arm then his shoulder"Ahh!" he screamed out loud his mind broke, after days of torture, losing his arm and his mother's ring his mind collapse as he couldn't take it anymore, Benson pulled off the ring from Chase's dead arm, examining the ancient symbols on it.
Suddenly Chase's eyes flicked pure crimson red"Fuck you!" he shouted his voice so loud it cause the cell to shake, and Benson had to cover his ears.
"Ha!, Ha!" Chase started laughing like a maniac" Even if I die here I will return and place you in hell for all eternity, for ruining my plans."He said before passing.
Benson narrowed, his looked at Chasse in shock and terrified, contorted into a snarl of rage. "There is something very off about you just a shout managed to shake this dungeon" he barked, raising the whip once more."Don't sleep on me" Benson said
But before the whip could land, a distant commotion echoed through the dungeon, catching Benson off guard, Outside the dungeon, Ava and the others searched tirelessly, like determined hunters chasing a phantom, hoping to find any trace of Chase's whereabouts. But the evidence seemed as elusive as a ghost, vanishing into the shadows without a trace. The absence of clues felt like a labyrinth, with no exit in sight, leaving them lost in a maze of uncertainty.
Back in Freya's meeting room, disappointment hung heavy in the air like a thick fog, shrouding the room in a veil of gloom.
"Will still didn't find anything," Freya said disappointed.
"Did the king answer back yet? "Ava asked it's been days since they asked the king for a search squad but didn't answer back.
Freya avoid Ava's face"Sorry, Ava but he denied the search squared," She said, in fear of Ava getting angry.
Ava, hopes were shattered like fragile glass, shattered by the cruel reality of hearing what Freya said Ava kicked a table instantly destroying it"How could he deny the search for one of his own generals" Ava shouted with hatred in her voice, The king's refusal felt like a betrayal, like a dagger plunged into the heart of trust.
"I don't Ava," Freya said, her voice laden with sorrow, like a mournful melody echoing through the room. "I kept asking, but he firmly said no," she continued, her words like heavy stones
In her anguish, Ava dashed out the door not listening to Freya anymore, her heart pounding like a relentless drum,
"Ava!" Freya shouted worriedly seeing her running out, in fear she did something she may regret later.
Freya looked at Alex on the side"Alex follow her," she said.
"Ok, "Alex also dashed outside following Ava.
Ava dashed inside Chase's house jumping onto his bed crying into his pillow wondering what she did wrong and wondering what she couldn't have changed from having Chase killed or kidnapped, Outside the house Alex stood waiting for Ava to come back out.
"Fuck you!"
Ava heard the voice of Chase, like a thunderous echo reverberating through her soul. The house itself seemed to tremble, mirroring the turmoil within her heart. His tone was filled with anger and darkness, like a raging storm that threatened to consume everything in its path."Chase" She jumps on from bed worriedly.
Curiosity and concern 'Where did that sound come from' Ava thought as she walked around the house listening for any more sound.
"Ha, Ha!" She then heard Chase with an evil laugh under her.
Ava bent down, and looked under Chase's bed She discovered a hatch under Chase's bed, Without hesitation, Ava dashed outside, her feet pounding the ground like a desperate heartbeat, running into Alex"Alex I think Chase is under his house we have to hurry and call for reinforcement from Freya" She didn't wait for Alex to talk before running away, making Alex had no choice but to follow.
The Knight outside the cell hurriedly approached, their urgent voices drawing Benson's attention away from his sadistic intentions.
With a growl of frustration, the Benson sheathed the whip and shot a final spiteful glare at Chase "This isn't over," he spat, his voice seething with venom. "I'll break you, no matter what it takes," he said quickly.
"Boom!"
Benson heard and saw his dungeon wall explode, and the blue eagle knights stormed in, "Get down you traitor!" Multiple knights surrounded Chase an shouted, behind the guard Ava and the others arrived spotting Chase's destroyed body, Ava's heart pounded like a drum,
"Chase!" Ava shouted with sadness in her voice about to run toward Chase Freya grabbed her back"Ava stop Benson is very strong he might kill you" Freya said if she didn't stop Ava her mind would of broke.
"I will be back for Chase to finish what I started, "Benson said warning tone was like a dark omen, a lingering threat that hung in the air like a cloud of doom. His disappearance into black mist felt like a sinister vanishing act.
Instantly after Benson disappeared, With determination in her eyes, Ava pulled the lever, having As Chase was dropped down, Ava cradled him like a fragile treasure, her tears falling like a gentle rain, "Chase" She said softly crystal tearing don't her eyes, As Ava cradled Chase, tears filled her eyes, and the others looked on, relieved that they had arrived in time to rescue Chase from further torment.