Lienna.
I watched on helplessly as I was being dragged along by the two burly men, following them to heavens knows where. My stomach wouldn’t stop twisting itself into knots, my heart hammering in my chest and my body felt like it had been dipped into icy water. It was at the tip of my tongue to apologize, beg for my life even but for some reason, I couldn’t bring myself to do it for this woman, so I just let them take me to wherever she wanted to.
My heart dropped to the ground when I realized we were approaching the dungeons. I started to panic, struggling to get out of the soldiers grip but it was of no use. They didn’t even budge, just kept their gaze straight ahead, their faces grim. We entered into the dark space, the air grew thick with the scent of rust and decay, walked through the maze like corridors before arriving at a heavy, iron-reinforced door, adorned with intricate locks and hinges. The door creaked ominously as it swung open, revealing an enclosed space that made my blood run cold.
The room was small, with walls lined with various types of torture tools, each one more sinister than the last. Iron shackles hung from the ceiling, alongside whips, chains, and strange, medieval devices that seemed designed to inflict maximum pain. The walls were adorned with rusty hooks, holding an assortment of gruesome instruments: pincers, branding irons, and knives of every shape and size.
In the center of the room, a large, wooden table stood, its surface scarred and stained. I couldn’t help but wonder how many people had suffered on that table, how many screams had echoed off these walls. The air was heavy with the weight of pain and suffering, and I felt a chill run down my spine as I realized that I was now a part of this twisted world.
Mistress Veronica stopped, pointing at the center of the room and I was pushed there. I tripped over my own legs and almost landed face down on the floor but caught myself just in time. My body trembling, I looked up at the mistress who was sneering down at at me.
“Please….” I started to say but cut myself short when I saw the devious look in her eyes. There was no way I am going to escape the wrath of this woman. I was really doomed.
“I should have killed you when I had the chance. It was a mistake to let you live this long. Clearly, you do not value the life that you had.” She said and I could only look on in fear and anger. She walked towards me, placing her fingers under my chin and raising my head up so I was staring into her green eyes that seemed to be gleaming in the dark. “Don’t worry, I will. After I am through with you.” She promised with a cruel smile. Something in me curled up and died and I started to tremble.
“Guards! Strip her naked and give her twenty strokes of the whip!” She announced and I stiffened, the fear in my heart multiplying by a thousand fold. I looked up at her, but she only had that that cruel satisfaction on her face. The guard immediately approached, one pulling me up to my feet while the other one got busy tearing my clothes off me. I screamed, trying to cover my nakedness from their eyes, the cold air in the room slashing through my skin.
“Please, stop! Why are you doing this!?” I yelled when I could take it no longer. My clothes were already in tatters on the floor, my body now fully exposed. My feeble attempt to try to shield myself didn’t stop the guards to cast lustful glances at me.
“This will teach you to never cross me again.” Veronica said. “Now, get on your knees, present your back and receive your punishment!”
When I hesitated, I was forcefully pushed to the ground. I yelped out in pain as my knees scraped the ground, my head hitting the floor. I heard them crack the whip in the air and I flinched, cold sweat breaking out of my skin. A guard took his place behind me and I trembled when I heard the slight groan that escaped his lips when he raised the whip high in the air before letting it land on my back.
I screamed, seeing stars as I collapsed to the floor. It pain was excruciating, my entire body feeling incensed by the pain. I had to grit my teeth to stop myself from sobbing but even that was not enough. Another strike landed on my back, even more harshly than the last one and I screamed out again, tears streaming from my eyes. I held to the ground, my body trembling.
There came another, and another. I could feel my skin ripping from my back, each strike feeling like a thousand blades had been pushed into my skin. Every hit made me feel like a wretched animal and I was dangerously close to abandoning all of my pride and begging for forgiveness and mercy. I clenched my teeth so hard I feared it would break, trying to endure the mind numbing pain coursing through me. I soon started to feel something trickle down my back and dropping to the ground. When I finally registered what it was, I realized it was my own blood. I whimpered in pain, struggling to breath.
My vision grew hazy, the pain unbearable. It was too much for me. I desperately prayed for someone to save me, bring me out of this hell. I didn’t think I could handle anymore. I distinctly heard Veronica laughing at me as the whip struck me over and over again and I couldn’t comprehend it. How much of a monster is she!? Cowering with my hands over my head, I burst into sobs.
The lashings abruptly stopped and I began to tremble, trying to catch my breath. “Aren’t you going to apologize? Beg for your life so I can spare you?” She taunted me, her voice condescending. I wanted to but I didn’t think it would change anything. Plus, I would rather die than beg for this crazy woman in front of me.
“Oh, you won’t?” Veronica said, sounding surprised. “You definitely have a lot of pride. Continue.” She ordered and the lashings resumed. I couldn’t take it anymore. The corners of my vision had begun to turn white, the excruciating pain dulling to a low hum, the room spinning around me. I collapsed to the ground, my breath coming in little wheezes, and I was loosing consciousness fast.
I was vaguely aware of someone walking in and a deep voice booming through the room but I couldn’t make out who it was. I breathed out my last and allowed my consciousness to slip under.