Lady Hell

Chapter 1

Integrity. Humility. Bravery. Compassion. Sacrifice.

The Five Pillars of the Watch. Words made deep with meaning in the fight to defend Brinelm from the firebeasts. The burning of these pillars into the flesh of a new recruit symbolizes their commitment to up hold them.

Helena's collection of the Five Pillars rings her right forearm, burning from road rash as it drags against the dirty streets. She lashes out, kicking her feet, violently struggling to loosen her capture's grip on her legs.

She gets one leg free and plants a firm kick to the man's crotch.

"Bloody hell!" the man releases her other foot, keeling over in pain.

Jumping to her feet, Helena reaches for her mech-sword at her hip only to remember it's gone. Taken from her by that traitorous prick.

Two pairs of strong hands grab her by the arms, yanking her back with painful force. She screams in frustration. There's too many of them and she's exhausted from the fight with the firebeast earlier. Even with her mech, she would be hard pressed to fight her way out of this one.

Still, she struggles against the two men as they continue dragging her forward, further and further into the center of the town. Only a few people watch the show. Most of the townspeople are more concerned with grabbing their stuff and getting out of town. However, those that do catch her eye from the edge of the street spit on the ground or yell some profanity she can't hear over her own.

"Honestly, Helena. Show some restraint." Redern's slick, traitorous voice causes a tremor of hate to roll down her spine as he comes up behind her. "You still represent the Watch. Even a Scout turned traitor should be able to die with some dignity."

"Don't tell me how to behave as a Scout, you sick, pig of a traitor!" Helena wants nothing more than spit into his perfectly manicured beard, but he stays behind her and well out of range.

"Serious accusations coming from the woman with a follow Scout's blood on her hands."

"Here, Captain?" one of the men holding her asks Redern. They've stopped in front of the Verndale Haven, the local community bar. One that Helena has spent many evenings laughing away the hours with good friends and fellow Scouts.

Now though, it holds a more sinister aura. The flames of some far off buildings reflect in the upper windows of the bar. Her stomach drops and she tugs at the hands that constrain her again, but they continue to hold strong.

"This will do," Redern replies. "Tie her to the post, there. Make it tight, she's a slippery one."

"I will hunt you down, Redern," Helena barely fights the bonds being fastened tight against her wrists, tying her to the post of the building. Her full attention is zeroed in on the face of her Captain. "I will prove to everyone what a worthless traitor you really are. I swear to it."

Redern approaches Helena where she stands, hands bound to the post that is supporting the awning of the entrance. He takes her mech-sword, which he has been carrying this whole way, and drives it into the ground in front of her. It stands just out of reach, taunting her. Then he leans in close, his lips near her ear as he whispers, "I'm not afraid of ghosts."

The words hang in the air between them as the sounds of screams and fire crackling echo in the distance. The threat is clear. She is meant to die here. She is going to die. Here.

Helena cracks her head hard against the side of Redern's face and he yells in pain, lurching away from her. The side of her head throbs horribly, but Redern's swearing as blood drips through his fingers around his nose makes it all worth it. She smiles a toothy grin, despite everything else.