Ashi

Chapter 6

Dying vines cover the ashen stones that rise high into the blackening sky. The wooden front door, held together by bars of steel echos a haunting tale as we enter. All the windows are covered in round, steel bars as well; and one tower looms higher than the other three.

Hew pushes us in through the doors, creaking as they open. A musty smell, as well as something else I don't want to even know greets us. Oliver's nose scrunches up.

"Yuck. What do you think that smell is Donnie?" he whispers in my ear as we're lead down the halls.

We walk on a deep red carpet, the same ashen brick walls, a few candles lighting our way. Everything is bleak and the further we walk the more hopeless our situation feels. If Oliver wasn't by my side I'm pretty sure I would be trembling by now.

I squeeze his hand. "Oli, are you sure you want to know what we're smelling?"

He stiffens. "On second thought, I don't want to know. You're right. I mean, what if it's something like rotting food? Or worse yet...never mind, I really don't want to even think about it."

"I will protect you, don't worry, Oli. Everything is going to be fine."

He relaxes, nodding his head, slowly swishing our bound hands back and forth, but barely.

However, he stiffens again when we stop in front of a cell. There's not one single candle; a single, flimsy bed; a window the size my head at eye level; but nothing else. It's completely barren in terms of our needs. Yeah, there's a bed, but it's really just a large rectangle bag that's filled with straw. We don't have any sheets either.

"You mind sharing a bed, Oli?"

He shakes his head, clinging closer to me. Hew opens the cell, it screeching and screaming. Then we're shoved in and the metal bar door closes, locking us up.

"I will be seeing you tomorrow, Donnie. Have a good night, if you can." The demon cackles. I can only imagine what he plans on doing with me tomorrow, how bad he plans on beating me up.

Though, soon we're huddling closer together in the small bed, comforting each other to no avail as we fall asleep.

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The morning comes and dull light shines through the metal bars of our poor, pathetic window. I stretch silently as I watch Oliver sleep. Nothing seems to be disturbing him tonight, that's good. Every muscle in my body aches as I take a few steps closer to the bars to peek at our surroundings. However, when I near, I find Hew nearby, peeking into the cell himself.

"Up already?" He hums.

A knot forms in my throat. I feel like nothing would come out of my mouth, not even a shout at this point, but somehow I manage to speak. "W-What about it?"

"I'm just saying you should have slept in longer, you would have needed it."

I gulp down the knot as I watch his nearly nonexistent smile turn crooked. "I'm not leaving this cell for any reason besides freedom with Oli."

He sighs. "I was planning on waiting, but seeing that attitude of yours burn again, I change my mind. So, we can do this the easy way or the hard way. I'll let you decide."

I glare at him.

He laughs. "I can't wait to break that spirit. But I'm telling you, you're not going to like the hard way. Hmm, though I would rather enjoy watching it. I wonder what reaction you would give if I bring another one of us to hold you back as I beat your friend senseless."

"You wouldn't," I growl.

"Oh, I would. So, will you come with me peacefully or am I going to have to involve your friend in this?"

My heart drops. I have absolutely no idea what he plans on doing with me, but there's no way am I going to involve Oliver in Hew's insane activities. Yet, if I go, I won't be able to watch over him.

I bite my lower lip. "I'll go," I mumble.

"What was that?"

"I said, I'll go, but you better not lay a hand on Oli while I'm gone."

"I'll leave him alone, and I'll tell the others to leave him be too, as long as you come peacefully every day."

This is going to happen ever single day!?

"Fine." Quickly, I whisper a goodbye to Oliver. He tosses a little, still smiling in his sleep. For that, I'm grateful. I would be even more if he stayed asleep the entire time I would be gone. And as I linger a little longer, Hew opens the cell calling me to follow him.

"Sleep well, Oli,"

"Hurry up," he says while pulling me out of the cell.

I don't remember the route we take in order to run back in case of trouble, but when I see the door that I'm destined to go through, but blood freezes. Splatters of different color liquids paint ghastly designs. Instantly, I understand what's going to happen to me.

And when he opens the door, quickly pushing me inside and closing it behind me, my fears are confirmed. I want to scream for help, run back to Oliver and escape this retched place, but there's no hope here. No one is going to save us. We're on our own.

"I always knew you were a devil," I mumble under my breath.

He cackles. "You haven't seen the worst of me yet. Now let's get started." He gazes shortly around the room before pointing and saying, "Go over there and stand still."

I gulp at the contraption nearby. It would only bind my wrists and ankles, but I would be wide open, stuck and at his mercy. There's also a small bench, chipped and cracked.

"Now," Hew commands, holding a piece of rope loosely in his arms, "Take your shirt off and bend over, hands on the bench."

I do as he says, nipping at my lower lip as I place my hands lightly on the poor looking wood. He binds my hands. I peek up at him as he does and a cruel smirk petrifies me.

Oliver, I whimper silently. I'm scared I won't be able to protect you much longer. Please, you, at least, have to get out of this alive. I wi-

Thwap!

I scream. My thought are broken at the surge of pain erupting from my back. I glance behind me. Hew bends the whip slightly, loosening it. His eyes burn with sadistic excitement as he meets mine. Swiftly, I stare back down at the ragged bench.

Thwap!

Another scream. But I won't let him break me. I have to protect Oliver, I won't let him get hurt again. No matter what this beast does to me, I have to stay alive at least long enough to get Oliver home.

Do your worst, Devil! I won't let you get the best of me.