Never Free ~ Merlin x Reader

8 - The End

I scream out as the thin tree root weaves in and out of my leg. My throat burns from the screaming but it distracts me from being threaded by a root. The branches holding my wrists dig into my skin. I can feel blood running down my arms. My legs are burning, the sharp root finishing at the top of my left thigh and running over to go down my right.

I told Regina to do her worst. She's definitely delivering. 

"Give it up, insolent child!" Regina growls. "It'll only get worse the longer you wait."

I suck in a breath, forcing myself to speak through the pain. "I don't care what you do," I spit. "As long as I outlive you, I'll never give up."

Regina only growls. The root that sewed through my legs severs itself so the root stays there. The branches holding my arms move me back to the desk. I'm dropped onto the wooden surface, the edge of it digging into my spine. I try hard not to scream, not to give her the satisfaction with this one. Before I can even think to get up, the branches come back and pin my arms in a t-position. The thin roots come back, three on each side. My eyes widen when I realize what they're about to do. 

Fuck it. I can take it.

They shoot down and pierce straight through my hands, nailing me to the desk. A scream tears through me and I'm unable to stop it. The desk suddenly moves under me and I'm pushed to a standing position. However, my legs refuse to work so I slump down, all my weight on my nailed hands. 

Regina's laughter stings my ears. "I'll nail your whole arm to the desk if you don't take them off," she sneers.

I spit in her face. I don't respond with words. I have nothing to say. She only wipes my saliva off her cheek with her sleeve. Looking me directly in the eyes, she reveals a forearm-length stick that's sharpened to a sharp point on both ends.

"How about we make it a set," she grins. I can't move as a branch clamps over my mouth and pulls my head back to expose my neck to her. "I say we add a little style to this side."

The tip pierces my skin. The pain is worse than I remember. My muffled screams echo through the room. I can't tell what she's doing, but I can tell this one is going to be a much worse scar than the first. 

She removes the sharp point from my neck and stabs it into my leg. My legs are already numb from being sewed so I barely feel it. All my focus on the warm liquid gushing down my neck. 

She leaves it there. Tears fall down my face but I don't sob. I don't scream. I only glare at her with every ounce of hatred I have.

I can see her frustration building. As if on impulse, her fist flies at my nose. I hear cartilage crack and pain explodes in my head. I taste blood; a taste I'm accustomed to. 

Regina cries out in frustration. "Always choosing the hard way," she growls. "Fine then. I'll make you a deal."

She flicks her hand and Magichard opens the doors. My eyes widen when I see Merlin emerges from the light. 

"Merlin...?" 

His eyes snap to mine, horror written on his face. 

No. No no no no no. I won't let her hurt him! He's not a part of it! He doesn't deserve it!

I whip my gaze to Regina. "Let him go!" I shout, anger evident in my tone. "He's not a part of this."

"Oh, but you made him a part of it when you fell in love with him," Regina taunts. I can see Merlin's eyes go wide in surprise. "Since you're in love dear old Merlin, I can do this:" With a wave of her hand, Merlin is hung upside down and a sharp root points directly at his jugular. "Take off the shoes, or he dies," Regina says darkly.