Clank. Clank.
The dull clang of iron on stone echoed. I was back in the mines. Heavy chains pinned to the wall, clasping around my sore wrists and pulling against my shoulders painfully. My legs were slumped against the floor. My back was pressing against the jagged stone.
I had failed.
Trying to escape was a serious crime. I knew that. How much time did I even spend, planning it? Months? Years? All for this one chance.
But I was caught.
Now, I had to deal with the consequences.
"Oh? So the little brat's awake?" His voice was disturbingly cheerful. "Hey, guys! The shithead's finally woken up!" I heard a chair scraping. I screwed my eyes shut and prepared myself, but a tiny yelp still slipped out when a kick landed on my chest.
"Guess how we found out?" He giggles.
A hand reached out and grabbed my chin, forcing my head and my eyes up to look at a face. I jump, and my chains rattle. I had no idea he was so close.
But the face that staring back at me punches me in the heart.
***
… I don't know why I thought I could trust.
I close my eyes and slump back. All the fight leaves me. I don't care anymore.
The guard tuts. "Come on, not even a hello? They're your friends, right?" I scowl, holding back a retort.
"And they really were so quick to spit out your plan. They really care about you! Come on. Speak up." He sighs. "Doug, Dan, anything you want to say?"
Now, I look up. Straight into their eyes. Look at me, assholes.
Their gazes were cold, looking at me with contempt. Oh look at that. It's the same. Those fucking same eyes that everyone looks at me with.
"Master, please don't lump us together with a cursed child," Dan spat.
A twisted smirk pushed itself onto my face.
Cursed child, cursed child. It's always the same. They know my weak spots, or they thought they did. Why was I surprised? Of course they're backstabbers. They're human, they owe no loyalty to a thing like me. My head dropped back down. They could do what they liked. Nothing would change, whatever I did.
"Stunned into silence, are we? I'm going to teach you what happens when lowly livestock like you dare to disobey. Go get the whip, Doug." His cheery voice had drained away. It was almost relieving.
I watched as one pair of shoes left my range of sight, and watched them walk back.
He took the whip, pierced with long nails, from Doug's hands. I stared blankly at it.
Why?
Why am I different?
Why do you look at me that way?
"What happened to your mouth, bitch? Still nothing to say?"
Why, why, why? I trusted you, didn't I? Didn't you tell me, I could trust you? For all those months?
But it was all a lie.
"Aww, you're no fun. Say, guys, do you think she'd scream if I hit her?"
Why?
I heard the humour in his voice. "Let's try and see."
WHY ME?!
The sound of the whip hitting flesh startled me. My body jerked, but I didn't grant them any other reaction.
"Scream, bitch! It's not fun without you screaming." He whined. The whip cracked across my leg this time, and I saw the skin tear open, the barbs sinking into the flesh. Red fluid pooled and started leaking down instantly, but I clamped my teeth shut and pressed my lips together. My voice lumped in my throat. I saw the whip slash my skin again, on my arm. My stomach. My shoulder. It was getting dangerously close to my neck.
I wasn't sure what would happen if it cut my neck.
The pain had overwhelmed me, and then it was gone. Was my body going numb? Was it shutting down?
You can die of blood loss, right?
I wondered what it would be like to die. For some reason, this time, I welcomed the thought. Let the pain go. Let it all go. I just want to give up.
There's an ache in my chest and it won't go away.
Somewhere distant, I hear laughter.
Webnovel is weird. I can't write in italics...
I hope you can differentiate the MC's thoughts from the dialogue.
Should I put them between ' ' signs?
Have some idea about my story? Comment it and let me know.
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