Chapter 8: 7.Endure
'....'= Thoughts
"....."= Conversations
____________________________________________________________________________________
Every day, without fail, the leader would single him out, his masked face twisted in a outline of a cruel grin. He would slap Ethan across the face, the force of the blows leaving his head ringing and his cheek stinging. But even that was not enough for the sadistic leader.
Each day, without fail, the leader would aim a vicious kick at Ethan's groin, the pain shooting through his body like white-hot fire. Ethan gritted his teeth and bore the agony, refusing to give his tormentor the satisfaction of hearing him cry out. The relentless cycle of abuse was wearing him down, body and spirit, until he felt like nothing more than a puppet dancing on the strings of his captor's cruelty.
Yet, despite the brutality of his treatment, the leader took care to ensure that Ethan did not suffer any lasting injury. He was careful not to draw blood or cause any permanent harm, as if relishing the torment itself rather than the physical damage it inflicted.
'I will kill you, I will fu*cking kill you, you sick bastard,' Ethan keep repeating these words in his mind. These words and the rage were the only thing that kept Ethan sane all the while.
He constantly opened the system panel to check whether the cooldown period on the 'Travel' ability had been lifted. Unfortunately for him, the travel ability was still in the cooldown period.
As the days passed, Ethan's torture continued. The other captives who didn't have to go through all this were sacred to death by looking at Ethan's torture and there hopelessness was evident as they had lost any kind of will to escape or resist.
The vast wilderness seemed to stretch on endlessly, with no hope of rescue or escape. But deep within the confines of his bruised and battered body, a flicker of defiance was smoldering.
Ethan refused to give in to despair. He hardened his resolve, swearing to himself that he would not allow these ruthless bandits to break him. And once he got the opportunity he would definitely make this bastard's life beyond miserable.
Despite the relentless abuse, Ethan's spirit remained unbroken. With each passing day, he nursed a small spark of hope, waiting for the moment when he could turn the tables on his captors and claim his freedom. And when that moment came, he would show no mercy to those who had taken so much from him.
Ethan even tried to activate his Talent in order to copy the ability of the leader in desparation, countless times. But the talent didn't activate a bit. After observing over the days, Ethan understood why the talent didn't activate at all. Though the leader was beating him black and blue, he was wearing his gloves. Not even once did he remove the gloves.
'Seems like in order to activate the talent, a pure physical touch is necessary. There should be no barrier such as clothes or gloves,' Ethan concluded during the days of the journey through the forest.
....
.....
.....
It had been twelve days since they had changed the carriage and continued the journey through the forest. For past eleven days Ethan was continuously tortured by the leader. The only good thing was that the food and water provided by the kidnappers sufficient enough and not like before.
The captives could eat their full and the feeling of weakness accumulated earlier had already wore off. Even Ethan, despite of the torture was allowed to eat his full.
Though the captives weren't allowed to talk to each other or even mutter a word.
On the twelfth day, to everyone's surprise, the leader stopped torturing Ethan. There was no explanation or reason given, but Ethan was grateful for the reprieve, although his rage didn't diminish a bit. He was internally seething in anger but during the few days of torture he had leaned to control his expressions.
As the days passed, the journey through the forest continued without any major incidents. The captives were still forbidden to speak to each other, but the atmosphere had changed. There was a sense of anticipation and tension in the air, as if everyone knew that something significant was about to happen.
On the fifteenth day, the horse-drawn wagon finally came to a stop in front of a massive house deep in the heart of the forest. The captives could hardly believe their eyes as they took in the sight of the imposing mansion before them. It was a stark contrast to the dense wilderness that surrounded it, and it seemed out of place in the natural landscape.
As the wagon came to a halt, Ethan saw five empty horse-drawn wagons parked nearby, with ten people standing beside each of them. These people were dressed the same and each had a musket strapped to their side. Just as they arrived, they were escorted out of the wagon and lined up in front of the mansion, a sense of apprehension hanging heavy in the air.
The mansion stood tall and imposing, its grandeur evident in every inch of its structure. Made of red brick with white-trimmed windows and intricate carvings, it was a sight to behold in the midst of the dense forest. The front facade was flanked by towering columns, adding to its stately appearance.
The mansion had a sprawling front lawn, meticulously manicured and adorned with colorful flowers and shrubbery. A winding gravel driveway led up to the entrance, where a set of grand oak doors stood, beckoning the captives to enter.
As Ethan looked up, he could see three stories of windows, each adorned with elegant draperies and ornate latticework. The mansion seemed to exude an air of opulence and wealth, with its towering presence and impeccable upkeep.
Despite its beauty, there was an air of mystery surrounding the mansion, as if it held secrets within its walls.
The leader turned to address the captives, "Welcome to your new home," he said in a tone that sent shivers down the spines of the captives.
Before entering the mansion, the restraints on them were removed by the masked people. Suddenly, the masked people who stood behind the five captives, including Ethan, knocked Ethan and the group on their heads, causing them to lose consciousness.
______________________________________________________________________________________________
For 5+ advance chapters visit my patreon. patreon.com/StoryTeller229
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone