The Ink Infection [Brief hold and Editing]

Chapter 16

I awoke as cold water was splashed in my face, pain taking control over me. My face burned as more water seeped into the cuts and bruises. I winced at the pain and tried to get up, but failed. I was pinned to the ground by a guard, who was holding a bucket of water over me.

"He's awake now. We can proceed," I heard the guard on top of me talk.

Strong arms grabbed me and lifted me from the floor. He shoved me into the seat and started to tie me back to where I was before the beatings began.

My stomach growled, and I realized that the starvation had begun. I was weak and had no energy left to resist.

I looked in front of me to see Doctor Cathy standing in front of me.

"Now, you need punishment for assaulting our guard," she said. "The guard you assaulted will do whatever he wants to do with you. That, I have no control over."

Luckily, I had only punched and kicked him, so he wouldn't be mean enough to put me into so much pain and suffering.

Tubes descended from me and connected to visible areas of my skin. The guard I had kicked was at the controlling desk, pushing buttons and sliding panels.

Pure shock flowed through me, and I gasped, unable to move. Electricity flowed through my veins, and I felt pain flaring up inside me. It felt as if every muscle in my body was having its own cramps. Unable to withstand the pain, I screamed, arching my head back to escape the pain. My body started to shake as more electricity entered my body. I started to scream louder, and soon my voice faltered as I didn't have the energy to keep on screaming and bearing through the pain at the same time. I shut my eyes and squeezed them, wincing, trying to hold on to my sanity. I felt like I was trapped inside my head, unable to move. Unable to do anything about the pain, I just waited for the mercy of the guard.

Electricity stopped flowing through me, and I slowly opened my eyes, my vision blurry. I breathed air through my nose to calm my heart down. 

"Neil Brown, your phase has completed." Dr. Cathy said with a calm voice. I wanted to punch her calm voice out of her throat. Did she have any emotions inside her right now? Did she even see how I got abused? Probably not, considering she was out for half of my punishment.

The same guard who tortured me untied the ropes around my body. I looked down and saw red drops of blood fall onto my shirt. Slowly, I put my hands up to my nose, realizing that it was bleeding. 

Too much shock from the electricity, I told myself. It's all over, you can relax.

I stood up, my legs shaking. I took a step and fell to the floor, gasping. I tried to stand up again, but it was as if the strength had been depleted from my legs. 

"Get him back to his room," ordered Dr. Cathy as she briskly walked out of the door with purpose, her white heels clacking on the marble floor.

I felt myself being dragged, and before I knew it, I was passing the many rooms I had passed before entering the torturing chamber.

Far ahead, I saw a commotion. Five guards were wrestling with a boy who was trying to fight back. I saw bits of white flash between black here and there, and the guard holding me grabbed me tighter and proceeded to walk faster. The boy started to kick and punch with all his might, but the guards overpowered him. Two guards took him by the arms, while the other punched him in the stomach over and over again. The boy groaned, his face still not visible from where I was. 

As we passed each other, the boy looked up. White hair, with blue eyes.

"Neil?" Jack huffed as the guard punched him again in the stomach.