The metallic scent of blood and the stinging pain in my limbs were constant reminders of my grim reality. I had been restrained on a cold, steel table in a dimly lit room, its harsh light casting sharp shadows that danced along the walls. The air was heavy with an oppressive silence, only broken by the occasional creak of the old building and the faint sound of Eleri's footsteps as she paced back and forth.
I tried to focus on breathing, but every inhalation felt like inhaling shards of glass. My skin felt raw, the ropes had been replaced with chains that held me in place. My arms and legs were stretched uncomfortably, and the pressure on my joints was excruciating. The pain was relentless, each movement sending shocks of agony through my body.
She appeared before me, her eyes cold and calculating. She was dressed in dark, fitted attire, her face set in a stern, determined expression. The intensity in her gaze was unsettling, and it was clear she had no intention of letting up.
"Dragonir," She began, her voice smooth but laced with malice, "I need you to understand the gravity of your situation. You've interfered with matters that are far beyond your comprehension."
I tried to meet her gaze, but the pain made it difficult to focus. "What... do you want from me?" I managed to croak out. "Why... torture me?"
Her lips curved into a sinister smile. "I need information. Information about Seraphina, about your plans, about anything that might help me understand why you're so determined to protect her."
"You... won't get anything from me," I grunted through clenched teeth. "I'll never betray her."
Her smile widened, and she approached a table covered with various implements of pain. She picked up a thin, gleaming needle, twirling it between her fingers. "We'll see about that. You see, Dragonir, this is not just about extracting information. It's about breaking you down, making you understand that resistance is futile."
Her words were chilling, and I could feel a wave of dread washing over me. I tried to pull away as she approached, but the chains held me fast. The needle touched my skin, and a jolt of pain shot through me. I could feel something cold and sharp piercing my flesh, the sensation spreading like fire.
I gasped, my breath coming in ragged, shallow bursts. "Stop... please..." I begged, though I knew it was futile.
The woman's expression remained impassive as she continued her work. "You're only making this harder on yourself. The more you resist, the more pain you'll endure. Tell me what I need to know, and I might be able to make this less unbearable."
"I... don't... know anything," I managed to choke out. "Seraphina... she's... everything to me. I won't... betray her."
Her eyes narrowed, and she pressed the needle deeper, the pain intensifying. "Very well. If you won't cooperate willingly, I'll have to escalate my methods."
The room seemed to spin around me as the agony reached new heights. I could feel my strength waning, the pain blurring my vision. She continued her interrogation, her questions punctuated by sharp, painful jabs. Each word she spoke seemed to echo in my mind, adding to the sense of hopelessness that enveloped me.
My breaths became increasingly erratic, and my vision began to dim. I fought to stay conscious, but the pain was overwhelming. The room felt like it was closing in on me, the edges of my vision turning black.
"Please... stop," I begged, though my voice was barely a whisper.
Her gaze was unrelenting. "It's too late for mercy now. You've made your choices, and now you must face the consequences."
The world around me began to collapse, the pain a distant, echoing roar as darkness closed in. I felt my consciousness slipping away, my mind struggling to hold onto the fragments of reality. The last thing I saw was her cold, unyielding face, her expression a mix of satisfaction and cruelty.
And then, the darkness consumed me.