Two Kingdoms | h.s

Comfort in hate

Iris

The pain cuts deep but not as deep as lies. 

After being strapped onto a saddle and being thrown back and forth, I was finally yanked off and thrown onto a seat just to be strapped back into the chair. Darkness filled my surroundings, as the thick cloth trapped me in. Stripping me from my air, it became hard to breathe and my throat was clogged with fear. 

My eyes were blinded by the shift in lighting as the cloth bag was ripped from my head. Looking around I saw nothing but a vast empty caved, lined with dimly lit candles. I looked for the bastard who took me and tore the bag off my head, but I saw no one. 

But I was smarter than that I knew I wasn't alone, it was all a lie. All of it. I looked down at my wrists as they glowed red from the burning sensation coming from the leather strap around my wrists. My legs were tied to the feet of the chair and tape stuck to my lips. I pulled my feet up in hopes of wiggling loose from the tight grip. 

My throat had that feeling where the air wasn't able to escape, I could feel invisible hands wrapped tightly around my throat. Stingy and burning as it searched for air. I could feel tears brimming my eyelids, I could feel wet, cold tears as they fell down my cheeks. The pain flowed through my veins as the rope and leather cut into my skin. 

My heart dropped through to my chest and plummeted to the bottom. My head spun back and forth and felt like it was going to explode. My eyes twitching as they filled with tears.  A tall dark figure moved closer as it emerged from the shadows, with each step it took I could feel my hair standing up on edge. But I didn't let my fear overtake me that's exactly what they wanted, they wanted me to be afraid. Wanted me to shake and feel it throughout my whole body. 

I saw his face, and I shifted in my seat. He was the same man who took me in the first place. His eyes filled with hatred and darkness. He was tall but not in shape, he carried a long beard filled with dirt and clumps of bunched hair. He had dark clothing on, I couldn't make it out but he had a loose belt on, a long coat, and big brown boots. He had caterpillars for eyebrows that furrowed together as his eyes travelled up to me my eyes, a sinister grin pulled into his cheeks. I looked away once his eyes met mine, I sat struggling in my chair as I kicked around. 

"I would save your energy for later, princess."  I had no air left to breathe after that, whether it was just a fake pet name. I still couldn't afford to be discovered by anyone. What people would do to me if they found out who I was, or rather how much I was worth. 

"mmfhmmfhh" I feathered my eyes closed in defeat realizing sound couldn't escape the thick tape across my mouth. I focused my eyes on the beat in front of me, narrowing my eyes into a thin line. Kicking at my feet to show him I wanted out. 

"I need something from you, information. If you scream even once, I will make sure you have something to really scream about. Understood?" he said as he made his way to where I was tied up. I hauled my body as hard as I could trying to escape him but he quickly caught up. Grabbing my face with my chin, I could feel his clammy fingertips as they graze my jaw. I looked behind him, as my eyes stung trying to fight back tears. I could feel his heavy breath against my cheeks and his horrid smell as it made its way to my nose. 

My lips fell free from the tight tape stuck to them as I took a deep breath and let my head fall loose. Looking at my feet, as I saw his feet creep up to be inches away from mine. I lifted my head until I finally looked at his eyes again. I pulled a wide grin before spitting at his face. My spit caught his left eyes as he shut them tightly and wiped the spit off with his glove. 

I had no time to retaliate before a small knife was being held right against the skin of my throat. I sucked in all the air I had been saving. He crept up close to me and moved my air to reveal my ear as he whispered harshly.