Falling For His Charms

CHAPTER 50

Sophie groaned, every centimeter of her body burning and her muscles aching. She slowly opened her eyes, realizing that she was no longer strapped to a chair; she was actually laying on the dirty stone floor.

She hissed as she sat up, the cold air making her shiver, despite wearing a long-sleeved dress. Getting her bearings, she looked around the room. It was quite a plain room, containing the stone floor, stone walls, and a wooden door near the corner of the tiny room. There was barely any light, just a small candle on the floor in a corner, and two small children in another-

Wait, what?

"Bex? Rex?" Sophie whispered. The two tiny figures didn't move; they appeared to be sleeping. Sophie crawled over to them, and gently shook them awake. "Guys, it's me."

Both of their eyes opened at the exact moment, jumping up in surprise. It took them a moment to register the scenario, but then they both gasped.

"Sophie?"

She smiled for the first time in what seemed like forever. "Yes, it's me."

They lunched themselves into her arms, and Sophie was so happy that she completely forgot about her pain. She then pulled away from the two thirds of triplets, and scanned their faces for injuries; well, as much as she could in the dark lighting.

The duo had a few scrapes and bruises, and Rex had a black eye. Upon further inspection, Sophie realized that Bex's left forearm was bleeding quite a bit.

"Those absolute monsters," She growled. Who would even hurt two helpless children?!

Sophie embraced them again, squeezing them tightly. "I am so, so sorry that you two had to go through that. I am sorry that I couldn't protect, I'm sorry that-"

"Sophie, it's okay," Rex said, his eyes soft. "There was nothing that you could do. And... You're with us now!"

She let out a quiet laugh. "True. Fitz is trying to help us now. I don't know when, and I don't know how, but just... Don't lose hope."

"We won't," Bex and Rex said together.

||

The three of them sat in the cold room for who knows how long. It felt like forever, however the Dizznees hugged Sophie like like baby koalas the entire time. She couldn't blame them; being so young and so scared in this awful place with awful people, they must be so happy to finally have someone they loved with them.

With nothing to do in that horrid room, Rex and Bex slept on Sophie; but she couldn't sleep. Instead, she stared at the dirty wall, wondering what would happen next. There was no way that the Neverseen had captured her, only to interrogate her once. The was definitely more in store for her.

Just as Sophie thought that, she heard the door unlock. Speak of the Devil, she thought bitterly. She peeled the two sleeping children off her and layed them down gently in the corner, so that she could stand in front of them. There was no way she would allow these monsters to hurt them ever again.

A cloaked figure walked in, and closed the wooden door behind them. Sophie shuddered; no matter how many times she saw the dark cloaks, she always felt terrified.

The cloaked Neverseen member walked towards her, and pulled of their hood. Gethen. Stupid, monstrous, evil Gethen. Upon seeing her furious face, he smiled cheekily.

"Good morning to you, Sophie. How do you like your sleeping quarters? Quite cosy, aren't they?"

Sophie glared at him.

"Not a people person? Too bad, but we've got matters to attend to."

Before she realized what was happening, Gethen had her hands tied behind her back, and was leading her out of the small cell.

While walking through the halls of the Neverseen headquarters, Sophie almost pitied these people. The state of the entire facility was almost as bad as her cell: dirty, gross floors, stone walls that were weirdly wet, dark corridors... How could anyone permanently live in the awful place?

Gethen lead the young elf into another room, where he strapped both her legs and her arms to it, rather quickly. Sophie struggled, attempting to release herself, but gave up as soon as she noticed that she was only amusing Gethen.

After a few minutes of stony silence, Lady Gisela, having a disgusted look on her face (that seemed to be the expression she usually wore) and Brant entered the room. Lady Gisela, ready for business, turned to her prisoner.

"Alright, let us begin. Sophie, I will grant you permission to inflict pain upon a victim."

Sophie raised an eyebrow. "What?"

"You heard me. I will bring in a victim, and you will inflict pain upon it. Boys," She said, turning to her two companions. "Take notes. This is going to be valid information."

Sophie, still bewildered, watched as Lady Gisela strutted out of the room, presumably to get Sophie's 'victim'. Why would she need to inflict on someone? Was it to help with their torture sessions? She doubted that; the Neverseen did just fine on their own. However, Gisela had said that Gethen and Brant needed to take notes... Was it for their so-called big plan?

Gisela returned, carrying a little mouse. It squirmed in her cupped hands, but failed to escape her cold grasp. She placed the small creature on a table in front of Sophie, putting a cage over it. The poor thing looked absolutely terrified.

"Do the honours, Sophie," Gisela commanded, staring at Sophie.

But she couldn't do it.

The grey mouse was shivering in fear; it was obvious. Sophie could see his pleading eyes, begging to be set free... How could she, the daughter of a veterinarian of all people, willingly hurt a helpless animal?

"No. I won't."

"You won't?" Gisela shrieked.

"You heard me," Sophie responded, venom dripping in her voice.

Gisela tutted. "Sophie, when will you learn? Denying orders has its consequences."

Sophie knew what would happen before it did. Brant approached her, flame in hand, and she could only brace herself before the burning pain erupted everywhere.