Chapter 8 (The Sky)
Kaliah
My eyes fluttered open, and I found myself confined in a small, chilling cell. The sensation of cold stone beneath me sent shivers through my body. My head ached, a pulsating reminder of my dire situation, and my thoughts were muddled, as if wading through thick mud.
Struggling to rise, I became aware of the icy grip of metal against my wrists and a subtle pressure around my neck. My fingers traced the contours of a metallic collar, its unforgiving surface wrapping around my knee like a necklace. The central section felt smooth and unyielding, akin to stone.
Desperation surged within me as I attempted to remove the collar, but my efforts proved futile. I reached for the wellspring of power within me, hoping to unleash my arc energy and shatter the metallic restraint. Yet, as I tried to channel my energy, the collar seemed to absorb it, leaving me gasping for air. It felt as if my very breath had been stolen. Dizzy and defeated, I sank back onto the cold stone floor, aching and vulnerable.
"Help..." My voice emerged as a feeble plea, brittle with fear. Shame washed over me, laying there in such a weakened state. The body of a young girl lacked the strength needed to confront this terror. Despite my previous efforts to maintain my fitness, I was powerless now. My rational mind urged calmness, advising me to think my way out of this ordeal. Yet, my emotions overwhelmed me, thoughts of home and family flooding my mind. "Mommy! Daddy!" I cried out, tears streaming down my face, consumed by a mixture of panic and despair. "Please, help me, Daddy!"
"No one's coming to save you, sweetie," a man's voice echoed from just beyond the cell bars, his words dripping with cruelty. "Nobody cares about you, and they never have. They sold you off because they wanted to be rid of you." His voice slithered through the bars like a toxic poison, seeping into my very soul.
"That's... That's not true! You're lying!" I screamed back amidst my sobs, desperately trying to fight the onslaught of despair. I sniffled, attempting to clear my nose from the mixture of tears and mucus, my eyes refusing to cease their flow. "My daddy would never do that!"
"Poor kid, if that's what you want to believe, go ahead," the man retorted with a bitter sigh. "But the harsh reality remainsâyou're here, and they're not."
A fact I couldn't deny. In truth, I had no recollection of how I ended up in this nightmarish place. The last memory I had was drinking that awful tea. The thought struck my mind like a boulder dropped into a pond. I had been drugged and kidnapped, now held captive by a faceless tormentor. Why? That question echoed in my mind, the only inquiry amidst the chaos of my thoughts.
"Stop crying and shut up!" The man bellowed, his anger reverberating through the cell. He lashed out, kicking the bars violently. I jumped at the sound, the chains that bound me rattling in tandem with my trembling body. I hadn't even realized I was still crying. Attempting to stifle my sobs, I futilely tried to conceal my pain by clenching my fist.
In defiance, I retorted, "Come in here and make me!" Despite my tear-filled eyes, I stood my ground, trembling yet resolute, and glared at the man through the unforgiving bars of the cell.
"Heh, you're quite the feisty little kitty, aren't you?" The man sneered through the bars. He held my gaze for a moment, and I matched his intensity. He didn't back down, and neither did I. Laughing, he reached for his keys, signaling his intent to unlock the cell door.
Steeling my resolve, I took a step back to create some distance. "Just remember, you asked for this," I warned him, my voice steady despite the fear pulsing through me. With a taunting grin, he swung the cell door wide open. The man loomed over me, his massive frame casting a daunting shadow against my small stature. He seemed to tower at what felt like an imposing 6 feet.
I attempted to dodge his slap, but the chains hindered my movements, and the confined space of the cell limited my options. My punch aimed at his leg proved futile, so I redirected my attack to his vulnerable spot. Before I could land a blow, he anticipated my move, seizing my hand before I had a chance. Effortlessly, he lifted me and slammed my back against the unyielding stone wall. Pain shot through me as my skin scraped against the rough surface.
In a desperate frenzy, I clawed at his face, my fingers lashing out, slapping and scratching in a wild attempt to defend myself. One of my swings hit him square in the eye, feeling the gruesome sensation of my finger grazing his retina.
He slammed me against the wall again, my head jerking back violently upon impact. My vision blurred, but amidst the pain, I heard him scream in sheer terror. "My eye! You little-"
"Davy! What the heck happened?" Another man rushed into the cell, Davy clutching his injured eye, his cries filling the confined space.
"I can't see, Vic⦠this brat scratched my eye out, and I can't see!" Vic shot me a sadistic smile before leading Davy out of the cell. "Let's get you taken care of, man." Vic locked the cell door behind them, leaving me once again caged alone.I could hear distant voices and rushing footsteps down the hall coming to Davy's aid
A man wearing dark clothing was the first to reach my cell. "Ah Jeez what happened to you man." The man asked his voice with a twist of confusion and pity.
"Rus, watch the little kitty. Be careful; she's got sharp claws." Vic warned, while ignoring his question. Essentially passing the responsibility of watching me to the other guard named Rus.
"That was a big mistake little kitty." The man called Rus said " My dad is going to come and save me, just you watch." I I gritted through my teeth and pain. I could feel the burning pain on my back, and my ears rung loudly as if i'd gotten a concussion. I maintained my confidence and I was intent on staying strong. I knew I needed to hold out just long enough until somebody could come and save me from this.
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"Hahahaa!'' The man will laugh scornfully in my face despite my confidence in my family and their ability to come save me. "It doesn't matter who your father is. Doesn't matter who your mother is. They could be king and queen of Osmira for god's sake"
As the man started talking I could better see him as his hands grip onto the bars of my cell. He leaned his face in to mock me. I can finally see his full face. A twisted smile stretched across it; his skin was fair but with dark lines underneath his eyes. His hair white with a few remaining strands of black creeping through. "We're not in Osmira anymore sweetie, we're in Gratan now. and if you don't know what that means, it means nobody will ever be able to find you."
My head throbbed in pain as it raced in confusion. My mind and spirit once again clashing. Despite being about 25 years old in total, my mind is still that of a five year olds. This clash of Mind and spirit often leaves me wanting to draw on mental strength I haven't yet built up yet. As my childish mind gazes at this terrifying man before me I couldn't help but back up into the depths of my cell in horror. The look on his face was one devoid of any humanity. He was nothing more than a demon in human skin.
"Oh⦠scared of me are you?" He says with a chuckle. I felt the wall once again against my back despite it still throbbing with pain. I stayed as far back as I possibly could. Although the cell wasn't much bigger than the handicap stall in a bathroom. I bit my lip trying to distract myself from the pain but tears began welling up in my eyes regardless of my efforts to ignore it. "I haven't even done anything yet and you're already cowering like the scared kitten you are."
I could hear the jingle of keys as Someone else's footsteps echoed down the hallway. They walked quickly and didn't take long to arrive at my cell. It was Vic, And he was with another man who was clothed in dark clothes too, although he didn't wear a hood. Vik opened the door to my cell, I didn't even realize it was still unlocked.
I stared at him scornfully, trying my hardest to piece daggers into his heart, but my glare didn't do anything for me. Vic laughed along with the two others. "Grab her." Vic order the two of the other men stepped into the small space and reached for my. They were quick and strong. I couldn't do anything as I kicked and squirmed.
" Get off of me! No Stop!" I screamed but it was in futility. Vic stepped up while the other two keep a hold of me.
"I hate to damage merchandise but we have to teach you a lesson kitty." Vics voice was naturally raspy as he spoke slow and quietly. My eyes widened as the new man held me securely, while Rus Pulled my arm out towards Vic. I felt my heart racing as I worriedly started squirming more desperately.
It seemed so sudden as A Burning sensation spread across my cheek. "STOP MOVING SO MUCH!" Vic barked in my face. Shocked from his slap my eyes began welling up again from the pain and the boom of his voice. Shaking with fear I stood still, although my feet were barely even touching the ground.
"Much better." Vic now whispered calmly despite my whimpering. His grimy disgusting hand touched my face. He grasped my chin and moved my face in his hands to meet his face eye to eye. I started terrified into his Dark green eyes wanting to vomit from the amount of pain I was in. "Have you ever heard the term⦠Eye for an Eye?"
At his mention of this My eyes widened I felt my anger boiling over with an intense mix of fear. "No don't you dare!" I demanded in objection to the notion he presented to me.
"Oh I won't. After all your face is too cute to destroy it like that. But your arm should do nicely." Vic said snarkily. I tried to Jerk my arm away but Rus held onto it tightly.
"oh no you don't." Rus whispered.
"Nooo! No No Nooo!" I started screaming, once again jerking around wildly. They men held me securely and all I could do was kick out with my feet. Vic Slapped me again. The shock of the slap made me grit my teeth as I continued to sob in pain. "Stop this! STOP PLEASE!" I began to beg. They didn't care though. They all had a taste of vengeance. Vic grabbed a hold of my arm and in one clean motion snapped my bone in two.
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"I- I am⦠I am O-okay⦠I⦠Am⦠O-kay. " I Whispered through my shivering. I sat covered in my own piss and excrement. Despite My efforts to stay clean, I had nowhere else to go but the far corner of my cell. And there was nothing I could use to clean up afterwards. "I am⦠O-Kay..." At that moment I had nothing left to base the claim on. It was just me trying to comfort myself since no one else would.
By this point I'd been here for what felt like a month. Although I couldn't be sure since there were no windows. Not even a crack in the walls shed a hint of natural light. Despite the stone being sealed well, they were at all insulated. Cold radiated through them like how heat radiates from a fire. If nothing else, I could tell that it was the dead of winter.
My body had become numb from the sheer amount of cold. My fingers refused to move even as I attempted to flex them. Although that could be because my arm was still broken. Despite it having been so long ago, they never treated my arm, so I've just had to put up with the pain.
I'm the quiet of the facility, a loud Squeaking noise echoed through the hallway. It was followed by the resonating sound of a metallic door closing shut. A few cells down I could hear a metal door slide open, A tray pushed against the concrete floor and then the metal door fall closed. Each cell had a slot cut into the bottom of its door. Hearing this sound let me know it was feeding time.
It's been at least a day since I last had something to eat. Or maybe it was two? I crawled towards the slot using my left arm and waited for the man to reach me. It didn't take him long he wordlessly opened the slot and slid in my food.
A Piece of Bread, a cup of water, and a bit of porridge sat on a tray. With my filthy hand I drank down my water and began eating my bread. When I finished with the bread I hungrily Scooped the porridge in my hand and shoved it in my mouth. The smell of myself and this prison made it difficult to find any enjoyment from food but at least it was something.
About an hour later another man came into the cell block and collected everyone's food. As a gift back to my beloved Captors I shoveled some of my fecal matter onto the tray when I gave it back.
"You're absolutely disgusting." He growled as I stared back at him through the bars. setting the tray down he took out a set of keys and opened the door to my cell. He then picked up the tray and threw it at me. Covering me in crap. "Look how filthy you are⦠Ugh."
After closing the door he continued down the hallway collecting the rest of the trays. When he left I started to cry again. I regretted lashing out, once again it was just so pointless trying to resist. It's what they kept telling me and it was what I was starting to believe.
"Get up." I heard from. just outside my cell. Looking over I saw a man unlocking my door. I stood up pushing my back against the wall and shimmying up. "Come on." The man commanded simply. I followed him out of the cell. Its the first time Ive left the cell since I arrived here.
As He led me through the hallway I could see three cells to my left and two to my right. Only two of the ones to my left were occupied. In one sat a girl who looked about 12 she laid on the ground balled up much like how I slept. She was just as filthy as I was, and she looked like she was covered in infected wounds. In the cell next to her sat a boy who seemed to be about the same age as the girl. His body was covered in bruises as he sat against the wall.
The man opened a door which was locked. Opening that door, I was instantly assaulted with a gust of cold air. It rushed into the corridor making me whimper form it's chill. Grabbing my arm the man pulled me outside into the cold air. the ground was covered in snow and more fell on top of it adding to the pre existing blanket. Despite having a thin shirt and a soiled pair of pants the clothing did nothing to help keep me warm.
looking back would come to understand just where I was being held. It was a bunker just outside the main building. Up ahead stood two men who held something I couldn't see what it was. As I struggled walking barefoot through the snow I could feel my feet freezing over.
"Stand right there." The man who has been pulling me told me. It was hard to see anything as it was night time and snowing, but I did stand where he had asked. "Take off your clothes."
"What? It's⦠" I exclaimed, as its cold enough as is.
" Don't make me tell. you again." He said simply.
I complied though it was difficult to get my shirt off with my arm in the state it was in. After they realized I couldn't get my pants off someone went and got some scissors and cut them off of me.
" Don't move. " After bringing me out into the freezing cold and taking my clothes off, they hosed me down with high pressure and equally as cold water. it was the first shower I got in a while, but it was more torture than refreshing.
When they finished they took me in and put me in a different cleaner cell but left me with thin rags and still soaking wet. At least this time they gave me a bucket so I could properly relieve myself.
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Chapter Continues