------------------WARNING, MAYBE UNSETTLING FOR SOME PEOPLE.-----------------
---In the dark chasm of the keep where the two guards had been not long ago.---
Beyond the sealed room at the far end of the pitch-black corridor, sadness and pain dwelled behind the door of past, present, and future horrors, pouring into the realm of the void all around, seeping into the very darkness itself.
No longer fighting the chains for freedom, the cold restraints of thick, rusted, and stained iron dug deep into the skin of the prisoner that was dangling down, the restraints on all four limbs propping up the weight of the broken soul with no hope of escape -An unidentified spell magically sealed the prisoner's cuffs, draining all who bore them of their strength and any hope of ever breaking free.
Faint runes carves into the metal were lost to time, covered in grime and rot.
*SHALLOW SOUND OF CRYING.*
Small droplets formed, being pulled by gravity's grace and forced to the cold stone below.
Tears and trickles of blood dripped down from the cheeks of the chained-up soul, reaching to the chin, then below, soaking the blood-stained stone, bringing up the present and past stains to the surface.
*BROKEN SOBS CRIED OUT EVEN LOUDER.*
Warped sadness reverberated in the small, black-bricked room, devoid of the light and comfort of the world outside, time remaining still but forever moving ahead beyond the stone and steel, but the pain and sorrow stayed frozen, becoming the very atmosphere of the sorrow that took place in the room and beyond.
Somewhere in the corner of the room a strange presence lingered, for the tortured soul wasn't truly alone.
A muffled sound from afar, muffled as it seeped through the thick stones and open slit in the door's viewport.
*RING, RING, RING.*
It was a bell in the distance that began to ring over and over in a constant tune. Stopping for a few seconds as it paused melody, and another three rings rang out soon after, signalling something to the village of Hyrnn and the people above.
*SHUFFLING OF ARMOUR.*
A new noise melded into the ringing, it was metal footsteps moving down the narrow, blackened hall. As time passed and the sounds of feet grew ever closers, a smaller but closer noise crept up; it was coming from the solid blackened door, and the flickers of a flame sputtered through the crack in the view port.
Upon hearing the sound and seeing the flickers of light, the chained body moved and writhed back, trying to recoil from the approaching visitor.
*VIOLENT PULLING OF CHAINS.*
The chains tugged over and over, recoiling in absolute fear, trying to get away but failing, for having nowhere to truly go but struggle in futility at the walls as the door in front of them began to unlock and open.
*TURNING OF A KEY IN A LOCK, HINGES SQUEALED AS THEY MOVED.*
The now-unlocked iron door cried as it opened, echoing down the hall behind the unknown of the darkness, the dead candles not lighting the way, no longer leading whoever walked its way as a guiding flickering rope.
*HEAVY BREATHING OF SOMEONE IN THE DOORWAY.*
A wide figure was now standing in the open doorway as an amber hue washed over the prisoner in front of him, allowing the flicker of a small flame to creep in and reach every corner, washing away all of the stained darkness.
The thick stone all around, covered in moss and damp, came to the light and the spiders and insects scatted from the glow and small warmth the candle had given off.
*LIGHT SHUFFLE OF CHAINS.*
As the prisoner recoiled from the flame, immediately squinting their eyes from the uncomfortable sight, gradually adjusting to it but fighting the discomfort. The embrace of light was coming from the brass-framed glass lantern, creaking and swaying in the man's hands.
The large loop swung from left to right slightly.
The strange presence was now long gone from the room, escaping from the light and into the hall.
All that could be seen were thick chains on large, rusted iron hooks cemented deep into the wall that held the kneeling form in place securely, giving no inch of movement other than the wriggle and pulls on their bonds.
Four limbs were pulled tightly apart and a thick iron collar held the body forcefully down to the ground in an uncomfortable predicament. Grunts and muffled groans came from the prisoner, not trying to look at the guard, mostly with their aim focused to the door, seeing freedom so close yet so far and into the darkness ahead.
*MUFFLED GRUNTS TRYING TO CALL OUT.*
A gruff voice came from the fresh morning guard, dressed in shimmering silver armour that was well maintained and polished, far from the uniform of the pair that were once there before.
The lantern in his metal-clad hand continued to rock as the guard recoiled from the smell of blood, sweat, shit, piss, and tears, all of it mixing into one.
*CREAKING OF A LANTERN'S HANDLE CLACKED AS IT TOUCHED THE STONE.*
The lantern was now placed in the corner as the man skirted to the prisoner's left. Now finally speaking to the chained-up soul, who continued to moan and groan in a gruff voice of an older man well past his prime.
Prison Guard: What? I'm sorry I can't hear you... 'Joking.'
The smiled with a sadistic grin.
Prison Guard: Oh, that's right. You can't talk with that bit wedged deep into your mouth. 'Chuckling.' We do use them for the new horses that are unruly; it looks like a good fit on you! (Looking down.) Don't worry, I think they washed it before they used it on you. I think? 'Mocking.'
*CHAINS PULLED EVEN HARDER AND GRUNTS GROWING, FIGHTING THE BIT.*
Prison Guard: Calm your horses; your just going to hurt yourself. I will be doing plenty enough of that, so don't bother yourself; you don't want me to get the whip again, do you? 'Cold.'
Muffled cries died down and so did the fighting of chains, listening to the guards words.
Prison Guard: Don't worry, I have had my fill of that old thing. Though I'm going to be honest with you. 'Calm.' You could struggle until the end of your time and even then, these chains would still hold strong—that is, until you rotted away. (Looking the prisoner up and down.) You might not have a lot of meat on ya, so that wouldn't take all that long. 'Direct.'
A hatred grew in the man's voice.
Prison Guard: Scum like you deserve that fate, but where you are going, you will have wished that was the outcome... 'Cold.' For your crime goes beyond that of a earthly justice.
The man moved from his stationary position he took as soon as he entered the room and bent down, reaching for something to his right and placing it in the bucket and removing it as he wiped it down with the inside of his leather armour.
*THE SLOSHING OF WATER MOVED AGAIN.*
The bucket that was nestled next to the short, thick wall of large blocks of stone shook. The light from the lantern rippled across the jostling water being moved again; this time it lifted up. It was being held up high, just over the chained-up body.
Prison Guard: Now... let's do something about that smell. It won't be much, but it is something. (Lifting the bucket, the murky water sploshing around.) The higher ups orders.
As the bucket lifted even higher over the kneeling form, slowly tipping over the exposed back. The naked skin trembled as it touched; it was now being thrown over the helpless form that began to shiver uncontrollably from its frigid temperature, chains rustled and chattering with the uncontrollable shivering, still giving no quarter to a chance at freedom.
*LOUD SPLASHING OF A DYING WATERFALL.*
Prison Guard: LOVELY! That should clean you up well and proper... 'Bellowing.' Sorry, next time I will warm it up. Oh, that's right, there won't be a next time. 'Laughing.'
Violent bouts of trembling shivers came from the forced kneeled form as the guards tormenting laugh rang out.
Prison Guard: Just so you know, a royal decree straight from the guild has been determined to your fate for all to hear and see, you son of a whore. (Placing the bucket down.)
A hand moved to the guard's chest.
Prison Guard: May the Lord and the Luminarum have mercy on your soul, for I will not and for what you did, I doubt they will either. (Kicking the chained-up form in the chest.) Until then, I will doll out some earthly punishment—a few more lashings before the big finale.
*KICK, KICK, KICK...*
Almost in tune with the bell, the strong kicks landed on the chained-up form, over and over, the guard stopping on the third set of strikes and the gasping of breath fought threw the bit.
*CHAINS BEING PULLED UPON AND CRIES OF MUFFLED PAINS.*
Prison Guard: You really are a noisy one, aren't you? 'Sadistic tone.' Well, let's solve that.
The large man moved around the back of the prisoner, leaning over him, and began to unbuckle the leather strap that sat on the back of the prisoner's head, connected to the metal bit.
The strict metal and leather came loose for a moment before tightening even harder, not giving the bound person a chance to spit it out or move his jaw, making the prisoner choke back from the force.
Prison Guard: See, quick and easy. There we have it... Much better, isn't it? No more of those muffled wants, nice, and TIGHT (Pulling the strap even tighter.) Pretty silent—well, not too much, I hope! (Pulling the clasp closed on the leather strap.)
The guard leaned in to the prisoner's ears and reached into his pocket for something.
Prison Guard: Now, where were we? 'Pausing.' It seems like this is getting boring... I'll tell you what... what about a game we can both play? It's fun. Well, for me, it is... "Eye see you, but you don't see me!" 'Cruel smile.'
The guard paused, now kneeling down, whispering something into the ears of the young soul of the rules of his twisted game.
Wide eyes perched open, hearing the quiet words, and the continued struggles of chains and cries rang out even harder down the corridor as the door slowly began to shut, fighting harder and harder until they fought no more.
Only the flickering of shadows could be seen through the view port of the unknown horrors taking place behind closed doors and the cries of a broken soul trapped in the darkness.